City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

^“13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Mark 4:13-20

Reflection

I would like to refer to Mark’s record of this parable today because of what Jesus says at the beginning of his explanation.  He says that this parable is the key to all the parables, and that if you don’t understand this one, you won’t be able to understand any of the other ones.  Whenever Jesus makes a strong statement like this, it is always worth your time to slow down and make sure you understand what He is saying. 

For most people, I think it is easy enough to understand what a parable is. It’s a story that is trying to teach something, typically something moral or religious. Fine, that’s all well and good. But I would like for you to think of it as a tool being handed down from a master craftsman to an apprentice. The master having spent years working, understands what the apprentice will face. So, he selects a tool for the apprentice to learn that will help him grow in skill and knowledge.

My wife laughs at me sometimes when I’m looking to buy a new saw for my garage.  “Don’t you have enough saws?” she asks with a laugh.  “Well, no, because this saw can make a special cut” is my standard answer.  It is true that they are all saws, but they are all only refinements to the handsaw I used as a child.  I think the parable of the Sower is like that in many ways.  It is a big story teaching many how God’s kingdom works by way of our common earthly experience.

Consider a farm.  There is land, at least one road, a house for the farmer, and a barn for the animals.  In the parable, Jesus explains that there are four places that the seed falls.  But often people conclude that because there are four places for the seed to fall, only 25% of the seed will fall on good ground.  I think this is a mistake.  On most farms, the vast majority of the land is good soil.  That fact that seed falls in undesirable places should not mean that this is our most likely future.  When God sows His word in your heart, you should understand that He expects you to be part of His kingdom.

Application

If you take from this devotional that it’s OK to buy another saw for your garage, we will have to call it the Parable of the Sawer, and I will have to answer for it.  But if you have learned that spending quality time with the parable, with the hopes of getting better insight into the other parables, then I think I will have accomplished something here.

Prayer

May the Lord bless you and keep you in soundness of mind and heart.  May He lead you to the foundations of His truth that you may know right standing and true purpose in your soul.  And may He fill you belly with the longing for the truth of the gospel always.  In Jesus name. Amen.