Parables
“The Growing Seed”
As is often the case with a parable – at first reading it appears quite tame.
In fact – in the case of this parable a non-event.
Boring.
A man sows a seed, it grows, he harvests it.
That’s it.
So is the Kingdom of God like that?
Big deal.
It arrives, it grows, it matures into its fullness.
“I should hope so!”
“But yet – so what?”
This parable confronts every believer in Christ with a shocking question.
Actually – it is cutting. Incisive. Maybe even offensive.
Here it is…
“Are you an atheist?”
I imagine the answer is a chorus of “No!!”
The parable is probably knocked off its feet at the force of the answer.
It picks itself up, dusts itself off and stands before us again.
“Are you an atheist?”
“I told you! No!”
The parable smoothes its hair. The answer was spoken quite forcibly.
And you were standing quite close when you answered the parable.
The parable replies…
“I’m sorry. I can’t hear what you are saying. What you do keeps drowning out your words…are you an atheist?”
Maybe by now – we’re not even talking to this parable.
It’s only a small one anyway.
And hey – in fact – it’s not even that popular.
It only appears in the Gospel of Mark.
It will never make the top ten.
It’s no “Parable of the Prodigal Son” or “Good Samaritan”.
“Why even dignify it with a response?”
Why and how does this challenge to our relationship and service of God emerge from this parable?
Why this talk of atheism? Of not believing in God?
This parable brings into focus the reality of the activity of God.
It puts in plain language.
A farmer plants a seed – and “though he does not know how, all by itself the soil produces…”
There is mystery.
And certainty.
And divine sovereignty.
Human activity is essentially removed from the parable.
Once the seed is planted, the next human activity is enjoying the harvest.
But in between – in order to emphasise the mysterious activity of God – there is no reference to ploughing, cultivating or any attention.
It reduces the science of farming down to this wonderful moment of life.
Whereby with all the forces and things which could go right or wrong – this seed grows “though he knows not how” and “all by itself the soil produces”.
It is a God thing.
So – why all the talk about atheism?
Let’s come at this parable through some other passages of scripture which will help highlight why this parable challenges atheism in our lives.
The parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:13-21) is about a man who has an enormous crop one year.
The parable begins the story with the statement “The ground of a rich man produced a good crop…” (Lk 12:16).
However his response and plans to build bigger barns and to retire early is based on the belief that he somehow brought his good fortune into being.
The rest of the parable is loaded with I/me statements.
No awareness or appreciation of God at all.
The verdict is “But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (Lk 12:20).
The planning, the human activity drowns out, crowds out the activity and sovereignty of God.
The Rich Fool is blind and deaf to the presence and work of God.
Atheism.
The parable in Mark 4 describes things as they truly are – “all by itself the soil produces…” is simply a way of describing God’s activity.
Nothing we can do to stop it or enhance it.
It is God afterall.
In the light of the message of this parable - we can be atheists by the way in which we frantically work for the purposes of God as if “all by itself the soil does not produce…”
Maybe this story helps to see it.
Mary and Martha (Lk 10:38-42).
Jesus is present.
Mary is attentive.
Martha is frantic.
…and worried and upset.
And she accuses of Jesus of not caring.
He rebukes her atheism.
Of the way that she acts as if He is not even there; or if she does acknowledge He is there that she assumes what He expects.
Our atheism can be evident in too much activity!
Martin Luther made this comment on the Lord’s Prayer and the phrase “Your kingdom come”.
“The kingdom of God comes of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us.”
As one commentator responds to Luther’s insight - “There is modesty in that concerning the self, and a boldness concerning God.”
This parable is not a call to a passive life of service.
It is not calling us to a fatalistic approach – “Well – why bother? God’s going to do it anyway!”
It is a message of deep strength and comfort.
It is a call for us to be clear about the order of things.
It is about creating space so that we are clear about the power, purposes and ways of God.
Consider the parable.
The central observation that the farmer “though he does not know how, all by itself the soil produces…” – does not call us to laziness…
…it calls us to revere the ways of God…
…to humility as we realise our reliance on His power and the opportunity to be a part of that…
…to thanksgiving…
…to simply marvel and be in awe…
The parable is only talking about a simple seed.
And yet that contains such profound truth. This majestic work of God evident in the growth of the seed draws our attention to the majestic work of God evident in the growth of the kingdom.
But the question will not go away…
Is your response to this atheistic?
Is your response as if God is not working?
In a sense – are you doing too much? Trying too hard? Trying to make things happen?
Maybe it’s like Abraham…(Gen 15-16)
He receives the promise that he will be blessed with a son.
But he and Sarah decide that they need to somehow make it happen and so Sarah gives Abraham her servant girl Hagar.
Maybe it is like King Saul (1 Sam 13) when Samuel is delayed and the soldiers begin to drift off and so Saul assumes the priestly role and offers the sacrifice to God.
Not good!
Atheistic. Trying to make it happen.
Maybe it is like that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane as recorded by John.
Jesus’ power is evident when the mob says they have come for Jesus of Nazareth. He replies “I am He” and they draw back and fall to the ground.
“Though we know not how…”
Yet Peter draws his sword and tries to make things happen and is rebuked. (John 18:1-11).
Maybe it’s like that moment for Peter in John 21 when after being restored and commissioned – the seed growing, the sovereignty of God at work – he turns and sees John and says “But what about him?”
Not content to simply let it be.
Not content to just let time, space and growth to happen.
This parable is not a call to action as such.
It is an invitation – if not a command – to step back and let the revelation of this parable to sink into our soul.
It has been said – “The task of theology is to hold the world up for oohs and ahhs, not primarily to solve problems”.
This writer talks about sitting down humbly as a child before creation, “to understand and not to "overstand" arrogantly, with the purpose of discovering the way God made things work. It is then not only an acceptable practice, but it can also be an act of worship“
Though we know not how – all by itself the Kingdom is growing…”
Psa 131
"My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." (Psalm 131)
…and another “seed” of the Kingdom to consider…
Rom 8:11
“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, Who lives in you.”
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New