Salvation Is Like Vegetation
Posted by preachgospelblog.com | Filed under New Testament Sermon
In the Parable of the Growing Seed (found only in Mark 4:26-29), Jesus Compared Salvation to Vegetation
A. Just as God created the world without man’s assistance, He also established the kingdom of God in the hearts of His people (Luke 17:20,21) through the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ (Matt 3:2).
B. God has chosen, however, to appoint men as His coworkers in both the physical and spiritual realms. In agriculture the farmer sows the seed and then waits for growth to occur.
C. Likewise, in the spiritual sphere, we are to speak and demonstrate the Word of God (Luke 8:11) to those around us. Then we must wait for God to work in their lives (1 Cor 3:6,7).
D. Just as the power of life and growth is in the seed, so also is it in the Word of God. Man only assists in the process by disseminating God’s truth abroad, just as a farmer casts the seed.
After Sowing the Seed, the Man in the Parable Left the Matter in God’s Hands
A. Instead of staying up all night worrying about it, he went about his business as usual (v. 27). In spiritual matters we should not fret either but allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.
B. During this time “the seed springs up and grows up and he does not know how it takes place.” The man could observe but not explain what God accomplished in the growth of the seed.
1. The Greek verb translated “spring” is blastán¢, germinate, from the noun blastós, which means “germ.” A man-made seed will never germinate. However, “The Word of God is quick [zôn, 'living'], and powerful [energês, 'energizing'] . . .” (Heb 4:12) as opposed to man’s wisdom, which never will give rise to spiritual life.
2. “Grow up” in Greek is m¢kúnetai, which means “lengthen.” Again, this action is of God, not man. The farmer is careful not to disturb the growth of a tender young shoot. Likewise, we should not try to hasten maturity in a young believer. He is equally fragile.
C. The stages in the growth of the plant have been determined by God and occur automatically: “First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28). Spiritual growth also follows a preordained pattern which we cannot change.
Finally, the Farmer Harvested the Fruit
A. After planting the seed and waiting patiently for God to make it mature into fruit, the farmer then harvested it at the opportune moment (v. 29).
B. Again, God calls us into action at the proper time. The faith which He has produced in a believer needs to be channeled in appropriate ways to benefit the body of Christ and contribute to its growth. Edifying each other in this manner (Eph 4:16), we may be likened to the farmer who reaps the harvest and then makes it into nourishment for himself and others.
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