The Powerful Word Of God (Just Keep Sowing) - Mark 4:26-34 Series

As the farmer can’t cause growth to happen, neither can man cause spiritual growth to happen. Our role is indispensable, however. Seed doesn’t grow unless it’s sown. We must not become discouraged in the work of sowing.

Mark 4:26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Introduction

They say power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And we’ve certainly seen plenty of examples of that in the world—someone gets into a position of great political power and very quickly becomes corrupt. But today I want to tell you about a power that is greater than any monarch or dictator or king has ever had in this world, and yet it’s a power that never corrupts. In fact, just the opposite; it makes people better. This power that I’m talking about is the power source behind the kingdom of God. Throughout the OT, God promised that someday his Messiah would reign over the whole world in power and great glory and there would be no more rebellion, no more sin or suffering or sickness or death, no more evil—the whole creation would be transformed and all nations would worship the true God. Think of the massive power that will be required to bring all that about. It’s a power unlike anything in this world. It makes a nuclear bomb look like a firecracker. And we’re going to see today how you can get your hands on that awesome power and unleash it in your life and in the lives of people around you.

It’s About the Kingdom

Today we’re going to take a look at the next two parables, which are both about the kingdom of God. Mark 4:26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. And look down at the next one in v.30. 30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? Jesus is searching and fetching in his mind to find what he could use from the natural world to illustrate what the kingdom of God would be like. After the words, “The kingdom of God is like…” they would have expected the most spectacular description possible. Someone in the crowd might have offered some suggestions. Maybe compare it to the coronation of a mighty king with marching bands and fanfare and all the glorious regalia? Or something really powerful—a hurricane, an earthquake, a tidal wave, a volcano. And Jesus says, “No, the best illustration I can think of for the great, glorious, eternal kingdom of God is … a seed.”

A seed? A seed isn’t very powerful, is it? Actually, it is.

26 … A man throws seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The seed doesn’t look very powerful, but it has within it the power to produce life and growth and ultimately a harvest. There is tremendous power in the seed. Look at the next parable.

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”

That imagery of a tree where the birds nest in the branches is used multiple times in the OT to describe a vast empire , and the birds represent other nations that find their place and shelter in that empire. Jesus is talking about a seed that has within it the power to grow up and dominate the entire world.