Come with me and open your New Testament to Luke chapter 8. We read about Jesus Christ traveling through various towns and villages, and what does He do wherever He goes? He announces the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is King. He moves physically and geographically. He changes the places of preaching and teaching, but he does not change his message.
The Kingdom of God – where Jesus Christ is king – that is the place of safety, security and security. The twelve were with Him; they would be learning a lot as they listened, watched and observed. There were also some women who followed Jesus, some of whom had been healed and freed from evil spirits. They contributed their money to support and finance the work and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was so pure, holy, perfect, and sinless that he could allow these women to be around him wherever he went, without rumors, whispers, or suspicious talk behind his back. Among all the very real criticisms leveled at Jesus, there is not a hint or suggestion of impropriety anywhere. There was never any doubt about his morality, about his holiness, about his purity in the eyes of the Father.
One day a large crowd had gathered and Jesus began to speak to the people:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed – while he was sowing a part of it fell on the road – this road was hard – the seed could not penetrate – and the birds came and ate it”. Jesus was teaching this in the field, by the lake. He was in a horseshoe-shaped bay, at the water’s edge. It is facing a sloping field, which has perfect acoustics.
There were fields everywhere. They all knew what the situation was. They could identify with what Jesus was saying.
Verse 6. Part of the seed fell on rock. Now there were, and still are, many rocks in those fields. I have examined them on my several visits to Galilee. There would be some soil covering the rocks, the young plants sprouted, but they had no room to take root. They soon dried up due to lack of moisture.
v 7. Some seeds fell among thorns and weeds; whatever grew would soon be drowned.
v 8. Another seed fell on good soil – it grew and produced fruit. The fecundity was 100 times what was planted, that is a high yield.
Then Jesus called out to the people, “Are you listening? Are you really listening? Are you paying attention?” Jesus is saying – use your ears – listening is hard work.
That’s all he said! Now, she studies this carefully. We must carefully study each part of the Scriptures to absorb what God is really saying. Often, Jesus’ parables are brief. That’s all he gave to the crowd. But that does not satisfy the disciples. “What does this mean? What is this all about?”
Be prepared to ask good questions. These enthusiastic and earnest disciples wanted more than just a story: a talk for children. They wanted Jesus to teach them. They wanted some meat. The milk biscuits were not enough for them.
Jesus begins to explain and this is the only place where Jesus Christ explains, develops and expands His basic message.
v 10. You can understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is prepared to share with people like us – Sacred Secrets. Others will never really see, never really understand, and will have to be satisfied with the children’s directions. But for these men, and for those of us who genuinely want to know, Jesus is willing to explain, develop, and expand the basic message, so that we can grasp its meaning, the hidden meaning.
But this happens only after asking a question. Remember: many of the letters that we have in the New Testament are the result of questions that arose, problems that arose, the situation in a particular community. These men did not sit down to write the Bible!
v 11. The sowing of the seed, and the explanation of what it means, is the most important part of my work, and that is what I seek to do in these studies. The seed is the word of God. This seed can come to life. There is potential in this seed. They are much more than black marks on white paper. This is the seed of God.
What gives rise to this question? Were these men a little discouraged by the way things were going? Even cousin John had questions and reservations about how things were going and what was happening. Crowds came, but very few listened and paid attention. And this Word does separate the curious from those who really want to learn. Hearing is just as important as preaching: listening to what God is saying. The soil is as vital as the swaying of the seed. And, Jesus begins to teach those who want to learn.
The seed, with all its potential, has to penetrate hearts before any life can sprout. We should not expect quick results. We are farmers, not manufacturers on a production line. Jesus teaches that the word can fall on hardened hearts. If there are too many things trampling on that heart, too much rush, too many commitments, too many irons in the fire, always having to be involved in something, a lot of effort and movement, all you can be doing is trampling on the person’s heart and making it difficult. . The seed needs a place to rest and germinate. For this reason, at the close of a fellowship meeting, we have to be very careful with what we say. We can easily distract people from what Jesus has been telling them.
v13. Some seeds fall into hearts that are like rocks. Yes, there is land, enough for a little show of life. But that weak seedling is growing in a small layer of soil.
There is nowhere for the root to go down: adversity comes, test comes, and early response fades and withers. Some people give up and give in and disappear.
Jesus says: they turn away. “No thanks, I’ve had enough, I don’t want any more, even though it comes from you, Jesus, the Son of God.”
v14. In some hearts the seed grows for a while. It can look so good. Some people can really impress you: beautiful healthy plants. But the trash and debris in their hearts has never been cleaned up, not really. Soon the weeds start to grow, and can take over, and these growing weeds can choke out promising life. Something arises and grows, something that should have been uprooted, too many demands, too many places to go, too many worries, riches, pleasures. Prosperity can lead a man astray, and such a life never produces any fruit. Early growth was meant to bear fruit in due time.
This is what Jesus is directing us to: is there any fruit? Are there results? Do you sometimes wish you had never been asked the question? The answer is so detailed and so relevant.
The Word also finds good ground. The Word finds hearts and minds of men and women who are open and unprejudiced, ready to receive, willing to be taught, and ready to obey, and determined to cultivate their faith, letting it grow, flourish, and mature, as seed is given. all the stimuli to grow.
Jesus is talking about quality – reliability – perseverance – patience.
sand shaw
