MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St.Mark

St. Mark 4:26-29

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WE have in these few verses the first of what are known as the parables of the Kingdom. They get this name from the fact that they always commence with the words "the kingdom of God is like...". By this we understand that Jesus is giving us some characteristic of his kingdom on earth. It is important to realise that the details of the parable are not the important thing, but what is important is the story and the one, usually only one, lesson that Jesus is teaching. If we do not understand this, and start attaching meaning to each element in the parable, we shall find ourselves in contradictions and often in error.

The theme of this short story is the growth of the kingdom and that it is outside the hands of human kind. Paul expressed this in 1 Corinthians when he said, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase". There are some preachers and evangelists who have said that they know exactly what we have to do to make the kingdom of God to grow, and they claim if you follow the rules or principles they lay down, then you can't fail to get results. The Bible, however, does not say this. The Bible says as Jesus does here, that we see the kingdom grow, but we can't see how it is growing. We can learn some lessons from this parable, so let us see what they are.

We learn first of all that the kingdom of God will grow and nothing can hinder that growth. The preaching of the Gospel, in its overall aspect in history, will be effective in the purpose of God. People will be converted and become believers in Christ and his disciples. This is so very consoling when we see in our own particular time and patch that the kingdom does not seem to grow at all. The parable brings this out so clearly with its emphasis on the on-going growth of the seed planted, until its is ready to be harvested.

Next we must learn that the growth is not achieved by us human beings. The whole thrust of the parable is that we just look on in amazement as the seed grows and brings forth fruit. We follow Christ's command to preach, and we must be faithful in this task, but unless God gives the increase and causes the seed of his word to become fruitful, there will be no growth. It is God who causes his kingdom to grow. We have no power to make it grow.

This brings us to the next point, and that is the clear predetermined plan of God in the growth of the kingdom. He has determined that he will gain for himself a people out of this sinful world, which is under the rule and dominion of the evil one. He is the one who has worked out a fail-safe plan that will bring in the total number of his elect subjects. In his Son Jesus Christ, he has worked redemption for those people, so that Satan can have no more claim on them. He is the one who keeps them faithful in his love until the harvest. He is the one who has determined and purposed that none of his elect should be lost.

Then lastly we have the certainty of the harvest. This is not just an indication that the world will come to an end, but the assurance that when it does, all the redeemed of God will be ready for harvest, and will be reaped for glory. The kingdom of God is invincible and will march victoriously onward to glory, though as we look on we cannot see how. It is a glorious comfort for each individual Christian to know that their perseverance is in the hands of God. This takes away all glorying in ourselves, but this gives all the glory to God and makes our coming to glory absolutely certain.

There is no doubt that Jesus meant this parable to be of great comfort to his church struggling in this world, often seeming to be overcome by the forces of unbelief and evil all around. We are in the purpose of God for his kingdom. We have been brought into his kingdom. God's purpose is that his kingdom will grow and others will be brought in, until the consummation of God's plan at the Harvest at the end of the world.