The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4
What Jesus Taught Most
Warren Buffet, a billionaire, has taught many aspects of investing, but he has emphasized value- investing more than anything else, believing that buying undervalued stocks and holding them long-term is the key to financial success. Similarly, Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook, discussed various aspects of the tech industry but has focused on gender equality and women in leadership more than anything else, highlighting the importance of diverse and inclusive leadership for innovation and success in the tech world.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth taught about many important things, but he talked about the kingdom of God more than any other subject. His emphasis on understanding the kingdom of God and its impact on individuals and communities, both now and in the future, is crucial for living a life that is just, generous, humble, kind, pleasing, and trusting.
Today, we will discuss various aspects of the kingdom of God and explore how Jesus answers a question we often ask: “How can we bring more of the kingdom of God to earth?” How does it spread?
The Many Sides of the Kingdom of God
1. Temporal: Now/Not Yet The kingdom of God is happening right now. People are praying, worshipping, giving generously, doing acts of justice and mercy, and advocating for the vulnerable. They are caring for the sick and the dying and advocating for the just treatment of the incarcerated. The kingdom of God is active on earth right now.
However, the kingdom of God has not fully come. There are places where corruption, evil, bigotry, greed, and other vices hurt others and the earth. The kingdom of God is present and it is unfolding. It is both now and not yet.
2. Its Spiritual and Ethical Dimensions The kingdom of God involves both internal spiritual transformation and ethical living. Jesus preached against religion that only "believes" the right things on paper but doesn't put them into practice.
In John 4, while speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus corrects her beliefs about God. He does the same with Nicodemus in John 3. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “You have heard it said ‘Do this . . .’ but I say . . . “ What we believe influences how we live.
The kingdom of God is personal beliefs and individual actions.
3. Implications for the Church and Society The kingdom of God shapes both the faith community and the broader society. It inspires communities to live together in covenant and care for one another. The Church can be a reasonable, inspiring voice to the broader community, saying, "Our faith has this to say about this topic we are all facing."
The kingdom of God is not about establishing a physical government. Jesus denied and resisted the idea of Christian nationalism and a Christian government. Christian Nationalism, which is exclusionary and based on identity, is a heresy and a misunderstanding of the kingdom of God.
Christian ideals have a place in the conversation, but not by force. The idea from our sacred text that all people are created in the image of God and deserve equality, dignity, and respect has shaped our national conscience around abolition, women’s suffrage, Civil Rights, and equal rights for LGBTQ+ folks.
The kingdom of God is personal but not private. It is sacred but not secret, but we don’t have to be in control to have influence. Beautiful ideas have a way of winning.
The kingdom of God is now and not yet, it is spiritual and ethical, has implications for the church and society, and it has mystical and cosmic elements.
4. Mystical and Cosmic Elements The kingdom of God has mystical and cosmic elements. Mystical refers to a spiritual reality that transcends the physical world. It describes our personal spiritual experience. For instance, communing with God within yourself, yet that Higher Power cannot be contained within you. It’s mystical.
In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, Jesus talks to Nicodemus about being born again. Sometimes it feels like we get a new beginning. Our viewpoint about God, grace, mercy, reconciliation, or forgiveness changes so dramatically that it feels like we are starting afresh.
Who can explain it? It’s mystical.
We often experience this in prayer, contemplation, admitting our wrongs and showing remorse, participating in worship, taking the sacraments, journaling, or meditating.
Cosmic encourages us to take care of creation. We care about pollution, deforestation, and being good stewards of the earth’s resources.
So you see when Jesus talks about the kingdom of God, he is talking about this radical vision of a healthy life that touches everything. It is very consequential.
How People Respond to the Promise of the Kingdom of God
When people hear this message of the kingdom, they respond to it by emphasizing different aspects. Some emphasize the internal and ethical, some the church aspect, and others what it says about society. Some make it about government and forcing behavior instead of understanding it is about an internal transformation. The kingdom of God is all of it and must include all of this.
There are other ways people respond. Some respond with control. I want to bring about the kingdom of God. They want to coerce people. When they do that, they make the kingdom of God only about external behavior and forget that it is also about the internal transformation of the person. Jesus did not come to control. He came to convince by example not to coerce.
Some respond with complacency or despair. I try so hard, yet why doesn’t this work out? If this is God’s world, then why does it look like a dumpster fire? And they say, I tried to do good and be good and nothing good came about. Why bother?
Others respond with fear. I’m not going to take this step forward and do daring things for God. The kingdom of God can’t unfold and be realized in that situation. Forget it.
Control, complacency, and fear are common responses to the kingdom and Jesus addresses them with two stories.
Jesus Explains How the Kingdom of God Grows
Jesus tells two parables to a large crowd, including his disciples. Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is like a farmer who sowed seeds. While the man lay in the bed and the seeds lay in the ground, the man rested but the seeds worked and grew. He doesn’t know how. He just knows it happens. The seeds grew and flourished and produced an abundant harvest.”
In the second story, Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is like the mustard seed, which is the tiniest seed, and it grows up to be the mightiest tree, so much so the birds find food, solace, and shelter within it.”
This is a flowering mustard plant.
Jesus’ point is that the kingdom of God will grow in places where you thought nothing good or beautiful could grow. It can transform a barren place into a place of shelter and plenty.
To those of us who would control, Jesus says the farmer sowed the seeds and slept and the seed grew automatically. The word used by Mark is literally “automatate” (automatically). (the kingdom is not about domination)
How humbling that is! Ultimately, God will determine the outcome of our efforts. Our job is to sow the seeds. So sow the seeds so the seeds may grow.
Our job is not to force it. God alone is God and will determine the outcome. In forcing or coercing through fear, shame, or guilt we exhibit a great amount of disbelief in the power of God to grow the seed.
The farmer sowed seeds and lay in his bed and the seed lay in the ground and grew. Look, Jesus’ subtle idea is that plants need light to grow, yet this seed grew at night without the sun or human help.
Do we trust a God who is more capable than our largest level of control?
In the second story, Jesus speaks to those of us who respond with complacency, despair, or fear.
By the way, Jesus completely confuses the people on purpose. He is talking to people from an agrarian society. They know farming. The mustard seed is not the tiniest seed by a long shot. The mustard seed does not grow into a tree or shrub. It is from the broccoli family. No wonder the disciples pull him aside and say, “What was that about?”
In Jesus’ time, mustard was prevalent and was considered a weed, an invasive plant. You know how those things are. They grow everywhere. You could plant your favorite plant in that spot and tend to it and it would die, but put a dandelion or crabgrass there and it will thrive.
Jesus’ point is that the kingdom of God will grow in places you thought nothing good or beautiful could grow. The kingdom of God can transform a barren place to a beautiful, bountiful place.
Example from San Quentin
When Barb and I lived in Marin County, California, I was invited to join a ministry group that played basketball with the inmates at San Quentin State Prison. The goal was to build relationships with the inmates and remind them that life outside the walls still exists. It was a privilege to be there with them.
I played on this court. This image is from the great site https://humansofsanquentin.org/anthony/
When you go to play, there is definitely a home-court advantage. Despite the intimidating environment, there are Bible studies, prayer groups, and education classes taking place. People mentor and prepare inmates for life outside of prison.
Every player I talked to was remorseful, thought about their family, and knew they had to prepare for life outside the walls. They thanked us for spending time with them. It was so moving.
That’s a place where you would not expect something beautiful and good to grow, but it does.
Jesus challenges the notion that any place is too bad or too barren for faithful people to sow seeds of the kingdom.
Conclusion
To those of us who would control, Jesus says the farmer sowed the seeds and slept, and the seed grew automatically. Ultimately, God will determine the outcome of our efforts. Our job is to sow the seeds so the seeds may grow with God’s blessing.
To those of us who despair, Jesus says the kingdom of God can grow and flourish even in bad situations. Like a flower pushing through the asphalt, the kingdom grows in amazing places.
To those of us who fear, Jesus says, don’t hold back. Don’t think so poorly of yourself or what God can do through you, that you refuse to act in your beliefs. Let God surprise you.
The vision of Jesus touches your heart. You want that for yourself, your loved ones, and your friends. Sow the seeds so the seeds can grow. Trust that God will bring about the good of the kingdom in your life both here and the hereafter.
