Scripture: And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 ESV
[Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Matthew concludes with a well-known passage called The Great Commission (verses 18-20). First, receiving their worship, Jesus then charges them to carry on his work to the far reaches of civilization. Using the Greek word “all” (πᾶς) in its various forms as the qualifying determinant, he emphasizes the extent and completeness of his Great Commission:
- I possess all authority.
- So make disciples of all nations.
- Teach them all I commanded you.
- I will always be with you to the end.
And with this climactic assurance that Immanuel is with them, Matthew concludes his Gospel.
Today’s reading jumps to chapter 4 of Mark’s Gospel. Why? Because Matthew’s Gospel covers over 90% of Mark’s. Most scholars agree that Mark wrote the first account of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection and that Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark. Theologians further surmise that Peter informed Mark of the details he would not have observed as a member of the larger circle of followers who traveled with Jesus.
Mark’s writing style is a running commentary with many transitions beginning with “And” or “Then.” Focusing on Jesus’ ministry and passion, Mark does not include Jesus’ birth story. And he likely ends his Gospel with the two Marys and Salome fleeing from the empty tomb under orders from the angel to go and tell the disciples to meet their resurrected Lord in the region of Galilee. [The earliest manuscripts do not include the additional narrative (Mark 16:9-20) of Jesus appearing to Mary and the disciples. But why not tell the rest of the story? Perhaps to challenge his readers to continue where the two Marys and Salome left off. (More to be said as we conclude this overview of the distinctive elements of Mark’s Gospel in the coming days.)]
Regarding today’s reading, Mark alone chronicles the above parable that follows The Parable of the Sower and precedes The Parable of the Mustard Seed. Providing continuity to the theme of God’s kingdom’s expansion, our parable follows the agrarian theme of germination and growth found in the other two. But here, the emphasis is on the mystery of Jesus’ kingdom’s expansion. Similar to The Parable of the Sower, an agent broadcasts the seed. In this instance, though, the focus is on how the seed grows independently without the farmer’s attention or comprehension. But when the stalks of grain ripen, he will know what to do: put the sickle to them, for it is harvest time.
Takeaway: “Ripe,” as translated above, is the Greek word paradidomi, which means “to hand itself over.” Thus, Jesus may also intend to convince those with spiritual ears to hear that surrendering oneself is at the heart of his kingdom’s expansion. Still, other details of the parable provide food for thought:
- The farmer is confident of the seed’s growth, which is irresistible and certain.
- The farmer is patient because the harvest is God-given; no human force can determine its timing. James expresses a similar idea of patience in his letter to the church (James 5:7-8).
- Growth comes from God and is unstoppable because the seed has an inherent power that cannot be thwarted or spurred by human intervention or aid.
- The spiritually blind will fail to comprehend the kingdom’s origin and growth until its maturity, which will be too late.
As theologian David Garland contends, contextually paired with The Parable of the Mustard Seed, the above parable emphasizes the “ideas of hiddenness and confidence in the inevitability of the harvest” at the end of the age (NIV Application Commentary: Mark, p.179).
Out takeaway? The Father has prepared good works for us to do in advance in Christ (Ephesians 2:10). And as Christ’s ambassadors, we engage in his glorious ministry of reconciliation in whom God makes his appeal through us to the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Nevertheless, we are only his vessels (2 Timothy 2:21), not the means. So like the farmer, we must exercise patience and confidence in the immutability and unstoppable nature of Christ’s kingdom and its unpredictable timing to fruition. Indeed, just as Christ “handed himself over” to lawbreakers to inaugurate his kingdom, he will undoubtedly return when least expected to consummate his kingdom. And we, too, must “hand ourselves over” to Christ, for he will harvest those who live by grace through faith in him (Ephesians 2:8) to enjoy his fellowship in eternal glory.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who handed himself over to you as a substitutionary sacrifice for us lawbreakers. We know we can do nothing to save ourselves other than hand ourselves over to Christ, who has paid the price in full to ransom us from sin. Still, as vessels of your Son’s ministry of reconciliation, we struggle to resist taking control. So would you please help us to also hand ourselves over to the sanctifying work of your Holy Spirit so that we might do our part in growing your kingdom and glorifying your name? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
Leave a Reply