What Kind Of Soil Are You? Series

What Kind Of Soil Are You?

Series: Parables - Small Stories, Big Truths

Brad Bailey – July 25, 2021

Intro

Today we are continuing our summer focus on the Parables of Jesus. As we’ve noted, parables are short stories or illustrations drawing upon what is familiar to capture great spiritual truth. And Jesus used parables to explain how the kingdom of God was now coming into the world.

The idea of a kingdom can sound a little foreign to some of us.

If you had the opportunity to study history even a little... you may recall how most of the world was ruled by different empires at different times.

If you had lived in nearly any part of the world... that little space belonged to some region...and that region may have been under one empire...one kingdom...for an extended time. But if defeated at its central hub...then the whole region came under the rule of another.

And it helps us understand that a kingdom was less about a defined national border...and more about who reigned and ruled...and the extent and extending of that rule.

A new king may now be ruling over the land... but that rule would still be working itself out...as to bringing its influence to bear.

It is into this backdrop of Kingdoms...that Jesus comes declaring and demonstrating that the Kingdom of God was now at hand.

And this raises some interesting questions.

Did it mean that everyone was subject to the new king? Well... it meant the new king was ruling over all...but each individual would ultimately choose whether they honor the king and actually embrace their kingdom.

If such a change in who ruled took place... was it bad news or good news? Well... it could be bad news of the previous reign had treated the people well and the new king was a tyrant. But it could be good news if the previous king had exploited the people ...and a new king brought justice and mercy. That is the type of good news that Jesus brought...on a cosmic scale.

And how quickly did a kingdom bring change? Well... if the conditions were bad... never quick enough. If one is under constant oppression and threat... they begin to hope for some instant change in regime that will somehow reach their local experience immediately.

Now the people of Israel had known days of flourishing under earthly Kings...most notably King David. Now they were under the reign of Caesar... and the Roman empire. So the people had developed a hope that God would send a conquering king to simply defeat Roman rule and give the nation of Israel some freedom. They could only imagine a warrior king bringing some swift force and political change.

With this in mind, let's read from the eighth chapter of Luke.

Luke 8:1-3?After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2  and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3  Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

In these words that lead towards the parable… we see Jesus is on the move… “travelling from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.” He is breaking powers of evil.

And this breaking the powers of evil includes that of the social structures that divide people. We see this in who is with him.

His twelve core disciples are with him… they are not those who this world would give public authority to...but Jesus has made them those who will learn and lead in this new kingdom.

And who else? Women...including one “who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases.” [1a] This defied the way the world understood power. This inclusion of women is offensive. Adult co-education was not the order of the day in Jesus’ time. Having these women following Jesus around with men…reflected a freedom to women never allowed. [1b]

But Jesus treated them with a dignity...And what is perhaps even more striking is that Jesus doesn’t care what others think. He is treating them with respect… at the expense of his own reputation.

I hope every woman in this room…listening online… can take a moment and take that in. > Jesus… as the very representation of God’s very nature… will defy all the social powers of this world…to love you like you should be loved. No wonder these women were following Jesus.

Luke continues…

Luke 8:4-8

4  While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5  "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6  Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8  Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."