Spring Planting and Sowing Seeds

Spring Planting and Sowing Seeds

My mother believed in the Farmers Almanac. She checked it for everything. However, she always planted her garden on Good Friday.  I don’t think the almanac said that Good Friday was the day, but for my mother, Good Friday was THE DAY.  I think she really chose Good Friday because we were not in school.  My father would have the garden plowed and ready to plant.  One of us would use the wood handle of the hoe to make holes while another would follow dropping in seed.  We had to be careful to never drop more than two seed in each hole.  If we could sneak four or five without Mama seeing us, we went for it.  There were plenty things we wanted to do rather than seed the garden.   My sisters dumped most of a bag of black eyed peas at the end of a row once.  Like Mama would never know!  About a week after planting, there were all those pea plants coming up in one spot.  Those plants would never produce any peas, and Mama had Brenda and Linda plant more seeds where those should have gone.   After weeks of rain and pulling weeds, my Mama’s garden had enough vegetables for our family and our neighbors. 

In 30 AD, farmers planted fields in a much different manner.  The field would be cleared and prepared to plant seeds.  Then, instead of making a small furrow or poking holes in the ground, the farmer walked over the field throwing seed by the handful.  Carrying a small bag full of seed saved from the previous year’s crop, the farmer walked in strides throwing the seed over the field.  If the wind was blowing, some seed may have blown onto the road by the field or near some rocky ground.  Briskly walking and throwing the seed to land wherever they may fall.  Afterwards, the farmer plowed the field to work the seed into the ground.  Now, he waited for the crop to grow.

In Mark chapter four, there are four parables about seed.   In verse three, Jesus says, “Listen to this!  Behold, the sower went out to sow.”   Jesus is getting their attention and I’m sure there were some farmers in the crowd.  “The sower went out to sow.”   Later, as Jesus explains the parable to his followers, he says, “The sower sows the word.” (vs. 14)  This makes the sower a Christian or teacher and the sower shares the gospel.   Unfortunately, not everyone who hears will follow Jesus.  Some will hear, and “immediately Satan comes and takes the word away.” (15)   Others will “hear the word, immediately receive joy,” (16) but they will never build a firm foundation, so “when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.” (16)  Then, those planted among the thorns will hear the word, but let “the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” (19) with them becoming unfruitful.  Only those who “hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” (20) 

Those who share the gospel know that everyone who hears will not follow Jesus.  In order to bear fruit, one must accept the word.   Look at verse 15, “immediately Satan” takes the word away.  The temptations of the world pulled them “immediately” away from God.  Some will “immediately” receive the word with joy (16), but they don’t accept.  Those planted on rocky ground can’t take hold to grow in the Lord.  When times get tough, “immediately” they give up.  There are those who will hear, but become wrapped into making money, buying cars, lots of shoes (I love shoes.), biggest screen television on the market, large house, cruises, and all they can get which chokes their faith.  They become unfruitful. (19)   In the end there is hope, because some accept.  If only we can lead them all to accept and grow in Christ.

“So that ‘WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT RECEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.’”  Mark 4:12 NASB (Jesus is quoting Isaiah 6:9)

With all the words written above, this is the point.  They see it, but don’t take it.  They hear it, but don’t understand it.  If only, they did take in and understand the Word.  If only there was a way we could pull the weeds and thorns away, so they might accept Christ and not be pulled away by Satan and the things of the world.  If only they will receive and understand, so they just might turn to God, and repent.  God will forgive.  Simply, we have to keep replanting until they accept Christ becoming faithful and bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God.