Mark 4:26-29 - Planting, Sowing, Harvesting
Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
Pray
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
Mark 4:26-29
Mark 4:26-29
And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. “The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. “But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Introduction and Review:
Introduction and Review:
The beginning
Jesus and John the Baptist
Jesus message
The mission so far
Parable of the Soils
Seed at the wayside
Seed on Stony Soil
Seed in the brush and thorns
Seed on good Soil
Lights in the darkness
What to do with our gift (seed on good soil)
bear fruit
Diligence
Today - the Christian life
Short parable and only found in this gospel
A way to reflect on our own walk. For true Christians, a model of the Christian life
Jesus uses the experience of a corn or grain farmer as a way of understanding Christian growth
Mark 4:26
And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;
#1 The Planter
#1 The Planter
Firstly, there must be a sower, or a planter
Soil does not bring forth grain by itself, only weeds
Someone must plow the soil and seed it, or no harvest
The heart of men and women, on their own, will never turn to God, Ephesians 2:1-2 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, must first prepare our hearts, give us a new nature. He prepares the ground, and His disciples plant the seed
Grace, the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, does not come naturally - it is sent from heaven.
No man would ever seek God on His own
God works through teachers and preachers and other Christians, they are the sowers
No sowers, no grain
Mark 4:27
and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.
#2 We can’t understand everything in this life
#2 We can’t understand everything in this life
The brightest farmer cannot explain exactly how a seed ultimately grows into an ear of corn or a head of grain- he only knows for sure that he planted it.
knows generally he tilled the soil, planted, covered it, fertilized it, and hopes an ear will grow
Doesn’t know for sure if it will grow or which ones will grow
Cannot explain why some live and some die
Can’t even be sure when the seed will sprout.
Can’t even explain what life is
These things he has to leave alone. 1 Cor 3:7 “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”
How God works in the heart is a mystery
How the Word of God may effect one and not another is also a mystery
Some with every advantage, with every appeal, reject it and stay dead in their sins
Others, who have many difficulties and with no encouragement are born again - become Christians
John 3:8
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
This is humbling to those of us who are teachers and preachers
Why is it that the best preaching doesn’t always produce results?
In the end, only God can give life
All we can do is plant the seed - then we have to wait
Then we leave the work to the Lord - only He can give success
“The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.
Life grows slowly
Life grows slowly
As in the growth of grain, so God’s work of faith - life grows gradually
Someone once said: Nature does nothing at a bound
Seeds don’t just suddenly sprout and produce a corn stalk
Plants grow through stages - first a blade, then the ear, then the corn in the ear
In all those stages though, it is still a living plant
A work of grace - God’s work in our hearts, also goes in stages
New children of God are not born perfect in their faith and understanding
Christian growth begins with a day of small things
Understanding of sinfulness and Christ’s fullness, beauty of His holiness
The newest, weakest child in God’s family is still a true child of God
As weak as he is, he is still alive in Christ
The seed of grace, of understanding has sprouted, though it may be just a sprout
He is alive from the dead. Eccles. 9:4 “For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.”
Weak faith does not mean people are not born again
Everything has a beginning - mighty oak started as an acorn
Strongest man was once a baby
Mark 4:29
“But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
#4 The harvest comes when the time is right
#4 The harvest comes when the time is right
There is no harvest until the plant is ripe
No farmer cuts his wheat while it is still green
Waits for the sun, rain, heat and cold to have done their work and the golden ears hang down
then and only then does he put in the sickle and gather the wheat (or corn)
God deals with the work of grace the same way
We are talking about the death of Christians here
Never takes people out of the world until they are ripe and ready
Never takes them away before their work is done
They never die at the wrong time (though their deaths may be mysterious to us)
Many have appeared to die at the wrong time (can you name some?) (Kennedy, musicians, Diana)
God knows why, and we will know why when we meet Him in heaven
God never cuts the grain before it is ripe
Bringing it home
Bringing it home
Let’s keep this last truth in mind and take comfort about the death of every believer
No chance, no accident, no mistake about the death of any of God’s children
Christians are all God’s crop and God knows best when they are ready for harvest
If you are not a believer, you will be a part of God’s harvest too, but He will separate you from His crops and cast you into hell for eternity. You can change that though, if you accept Jesus message: the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, repent and believe the gospel
Prayer
Discussion
Discussion