Four Soils

Introduction

What little I know about farming would take about 2-3 minutes for me to explain. I admire farmers and those who work the ground even in supplying some of their own food to preserve or share. Some of you know far more than I about what it takes to prepare the ground, plant seed, work the ground as the plant grows and then you know the satisfaction of enjoying the harvest. Most of us take cans off the shelves and clothes off the rack and spend little time thinking about what it took to make the shelves and racks full.

My paternal grandparents had a large garden much of their married lives. Lots of corn, beans, and other vegetables were grown to feed a family and to share with others. I do know this: not everything that was planted grew as it intended. Sometimes the ground wasn’t ready. Sometimes the seed wasn’t planted deeply enough. Sometimes the elements like lack of rain or too much heat or a cold snap at the wrong time kept the seed from growing. But when the harvest came and things had gone well—there was abundance. I remember watching my grandparents spend hours during the harvest time shelling peas or cutting corn off the cob or snapping beans until all the food was put away in an extremely large freezer to be used during the winter and shared with others.

Jesus knew something about farming and from his knowledge he shares a story today. To those who are listening the story reveals truth; to those who do not want to hear it is meaningless. Jesus knew this was the case with any of his stories. The message was there for those who wanted to live in God’s kingdom and for those who were disinterested in God’s kingdom, the message was unimportant. As kingdom people we gather today to hear Christ’s message once again. We are here because we love the kingdom and the God who rules. Let us open our hearts again to God’s message and love.

The Text

Mark’s text is straightforward. Jesus is teaching. He is teaching about the kingdom. For those who have eyes and ears, the kingdom has been revealed. Already in Mark’s account we have seen evidence of this: lepers have been cleansed (1:40-45), a paralyzed man has been healed (2:12), a withered hand has been restored (3:1-6), the demon possessed have been set free (1:32-34), Satan has met his match (3:22-27), fasting has given way to feasting (2:18-22), sinners and tax collectors are receiving forgiveness (2:13-17), and the Son of God lives among the people (1:1).

Already in Mark’s account we have seen that not everyone agrees that the kingdom is present. There are those who see Jesus as a troublemaker and one who is not God’s representative in this world. Opposition is building and has strong representation. The scribes disagreed with the healing of the paralyzed man (2:6-8). Religious leaders opposed his eating with sinners (2:16) and questioned the lack of conviction by not fasting (2:18). Jesus was questioned because of the actions of his disciples to satisfy hunger especially on the Sabbath (2:23-24). He was criticized for healing on the Sabbath (3:2), accused of being a servant of Satan (3:22), and his own family thinks he may have lost it (3:21). Religious and political leaders conspire to kill him (3:6).

With chapter 4, Mark introduces some of the stories which Jesus uses to call people to be kingdom people. Jesus’ description of a farmer who sows seed would have been a common sight for his hearers. The fact that not all the seed germinated and grew as intended would not have been surprising. What Jesus does with a common fact of life is give it new meaning. In his explanation about the story in verses 13-20, Jesus says that there are four distinctive ways that people receive the word of God which leads to the kingdom.

There are those whose hearts are not prepared to receive the kingdom word. Satan quickly takes the word away. There is no penetration of the heart.

There are those whose hearts quickly welcome the kingdom word. But then troubles come. Mark specifically mentions persecution which reflects his own Rome experience. The trouble steals their joy. The person with trouble turns away from the kingdom.

There are those whose hearts receive the kingdom word. The word even begins to take root in their hearts but the desires for other things choke out the plant. Their heart is divided and the space needed for the kingdom word to grow is choked out by other things.

Then there are those people who receive the kingdom word and the word becomes very important. They, too, have troubles and desires but their own real desire is to have God’s kingdom grow in their hearts and lives and there is a harvest. An abundant harvest which blesses the person and the kingdom.

Application

I do not remember every person I have baptized. Many were individuals that were temporarily in my life and others were those who weren’t part of this fellowship but wanted to be baptized and then moved on. I remember the first person—Nancy Clark. I had done nothing to help her know the kingdom. She was a teenager growing up in a wonderful home and she was ready to make her faith real. I am not sure where she is but I understand she married, had children, and continues her kingdom walk.

I remember Chase who was a teenager many years ago. He was so excited to become a Christian and then after he broke up with one of our teen girls, he lost his excitement. Trouble came and the word was not deeply rooted. There are others like him and there are those like Nancy who have remained producing a wonderful harvest for the kingdom. One of my students baptized Dwight a long time ago. He has been challenged in his life, but his kingdom walk is intact and he has produced a harvest for the kingdom.

Not everyone who heard the words of the kingdom accepted them. Satan has control of their hearts and the word cannot penetrate. I understand the quick burst of excitement which leads one to respond to the kingdom word, but it is sad when trouble comes and the excitement wanes and the kingdom quickly is dismissed. But the person that I want to speak to is the person who is allowing the desires of the heart to choke out the kingdom. You have heard the kingdom word. You have received it. There was a time that you wanted your life to be about the kingdom. I have heard your story.

The battle is in the heart. We hear the word; we accept the word, but then a desire comes that challenges the kingdom word and we begin to explore how we can have both. How can I get what I want and still hold on to God? I have English Ivy that grows next to my house. It is pretty. It is also destructive. It climbs my brick wall and sinks its tendrils into my mortar. Put the ivy next to a tree and it will kill the tree. Leave it on the ground and it will destroy an entire forest. The point—the desire is attractive and initially one never sees the damage that is being done but in time, the attractive begins to suffocate life. Do not be fooled. The kingdom and the desire cannot coexist. Only one can be nourished in your heart. Both will produce a harvest. The kingdom produces a harvest which blesses and is a blessing. The desire produces a harvest which leads to death. Which one will you nourish?

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