God's View of New

Happy New Year!!

Once again we’ve mumbled our way through “Auld Lang Syne” (does ANYBODY really know the words much less know what they mean?!?).

As we sweep up the confetti and recover from staying up WAY past our bedtime, it’s a moment when we look forward to a fresh start. You hear a lot of stuff like, "New year, new me!" these days.

Instead of making some ridiculous New Year’s resolution, why don’t we look at what God has to say about the idea of new? I mean, He DID invent the whole idea!

Is there a better expert on the topic? Our universe began when He decided it would. In a few very simple words, He created absolutely everything out of totally nothing.

He’s the Creator, not the repeater. He’s the last one to slapping yesterday’s leftovers in the microwave. He’s all about fresh, crisp, and the cutting edge. Nobody knows new like You-Know-Who.

So ready or not, here we go. A quick review of God’s view of new.

“Sing to Him a new (Heb. chadash) song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts” (Ps 33:3).

As we flip through God’s greatest hits in the Psalms, it should come as no surprise that He has something to say about music. Here in Psalm 33, the songwriter encourages us to crank up the band and sing along.

The lyrics want us to focus belting out a “new song.” The Hebrew word here he uses for “new” is chadash, which means fresh. It comes from a root word describing a newly polished and sharpened sword. Think cutting edge.

Music is one of God’s favorite ways for us to worship Him. Sing it well. Sing it loud. And He’s not sitting around hoping we’ll dust off some of the oldies. Sing Him a new song. Something cutting edge.

“He put a new (Heb. chadash) song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Ps 40:3).

Another tune in God’s boxed set of hit songs tells us that the ability to sing praise to God is actually a gift from God.

It also reminds us that my praise of Him shines the light on Him and draws others to Him. God apparently will use this fresh new melody to get the word out on His goodness and our deep need for Him.

“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new (Heb. chadash) under the sun” (Ecc 1:9).

Many folks believe the document we call Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon near the end of his life. If you don’t know his story, the wisest man who ever lived (other than Jesus, of course) completely went off the rails.

He was stupid rich and that led him to be, well, stupid. He threw cash around chasing every pleasure you could imagine. In the end, he looks back on what a total waste it was.

Solomon’s point seems to be that life is nothing but leftovers without the Lord. Lather, rinse, repeat. No matter how many Benjamins you’ve collected. Without the newness and freshness of God in your life, everything is stale.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new (Heb. chadash) thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Is 43:18-19).

Here we see God telling us to stop being obsessed with the rearview mirror. Maybe Satchel Paige was right when he said, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”

But it’s better than that. This is God’s way of saying that our future in Him is so bright that we gotta wear shades. These words are His way of encouraging His people about the first arrival of His Son.

But God doesn’t stop there. He’s ALWAYS up to something new, something fresh, something cutting edge. And it’s for our good and His glory.

God doesn’t want us to be prisoners of the past but focus on the future. Stand back and just watch what He’s going to do. In the world. In you. He’s about to blow your doors off.

“For behold, I create new (Heb. chadash) heavens and a new (Heb. chadash) earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Is 65:17).

I don’t care whether you believe in climate change but it’s pretty clear our planet is pretty jacked up. I’m not saying God’s glorious fingerprints aren’t all over His creation. But we haven’t exactly been the best gardeners for Eden.

He has some VERY good news for us. God has a plan for not just a fresh new earth but heavens to boot. In the end, He’s not taking us to heaven but bringing heaven to us.

When He does, God will create new heavens and earth so incredible that we’ll forget everything before that!

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new (Heb. chadash) covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts…for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer 31:31, 33, 34).

“And I will give you a new (Heb. chadash) heart, and a new (Heb. chadash) spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules” (Ezek 36:26-27).

FDR is famous for the New Deal. But that’s peanuts compared to God's New Covenant for us in Christ. Oh, He had made promises through dudes like Abraham, Moses, and David. But the Lord had something unprecedented up His almighty sleeve.

Through His Son, He’s bringing a covenant so crazy that He’s taking personal responsibility for making it happen. He’s putting His law IN us. He’s writing it on our very soul/spirits.

He’ll make us fresh and new. He’ll cut out my stale and stony heart of disobedience. He’ll insert a new, soft and tender heart of willing obedience. God promises to never bring up my sin ever again. Yours either!

Bottom line, God promises to do for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves.

“Neither is new (Gr. νεος/neos) wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and skins destroyed. New (Gr. νεος/neos) wine is put into fresh (Gr. καινος/kainos) wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Mt 9:17).

When we come to the New Testament, we see God really upping His “new” game. No better example than God in the flesh in the form of Jesus has come in the flesh to our rescue.

Our Savior drops a metaphor about wine and wine storage to describe just how new and different things will now be. The Good News is a fresh vintage. “New” is a Greek word (Gr. νεος/neos) which paints of picture of something fresh, recent, pristine, crisp, clean as well as younger and youthful.

This new divine merlot needs a breakthrough new storage method that’s “fresh.” The word here is καινος/kainos, which means something unprecedented, never before, novel, or unheard of, or new in quality.

What Jesus brought is so new, so fresh, so different that the old system couldn’t hope to contain it. The Gospel isn’t the Law 2.0. It isn’t an upgrade. Grace needs something limber and flexible!

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new (Gr. καινος/kainos) teaching with authority…’” (Mk 1:27).

Jesus teaches like no one before or since. His method and message is unprecedented. The world has never heard anyone like Him. Often imitated. Never duplicated.

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new (Gr. καινος/kainos) covenant in My blood” (Lk 22:20).

It’s the night before Jesus’ betrayal and murder. His closest crew has no clue what’s about to happen. At dinner, our Savior connects an ancient promise with what will happen on a very bloody Friday.

In the ancient world, you would seal a covenant promise in blood. Jesus tells His closest followers that He’s sacrificing Himself in order to finalize God’s promise of the radical and revolutionary covenant which He made 600 years before through Jeremiah (Jer 31:31, 33, 34) and Ezekiel (Ezek 36:26-27).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new (Gr. καινος/kainos) creation. The old has passed away; behold the new (Gr. καινος/kainos) has come” (2Cor 5:17)

Forget Chip and Joanna and “Fixer Upper.” The Lord doesn’t fix up anything. This isn’t some sort of holy reno and remodel. This is WAY better.

Once Jesus gets His holy hands on you, everything changes. I mean EVERYTHING! Forget who you used to be. That person is dead and gone. Our Savior has personally handcrafted a new you!!

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and having put on the new (Gr. νεος/neos) self, which is being renewed after the image of its Creator” (Col 3:10).

I must constantly make a point of taking off the crusting and stiff old self putting on the young and limber new self. It’s an intentional decision I must make daily.

Stop putting on the old ratty and worn-out me. Grab the bright and crisp new me my Creator is constantly renewing in the image of His own Son.

So as we roll into the new year, feel free to make a resolution or two. But don’t forget God’s view of the new He’s doing in me and you.

This Little Light of Mine

Hoarding the Internet

Imagine Thomas Edison keeping the lightbulb just to himself. What if Jonas Salk decided to bogart the cure for polio and not share it with the public? I don’t even want to consider the idea of Al Gore personally hoarding the internet.

Seems pretty silly, doesn’t it? You’ve got something that could change lives of people everywhere but decide to save it all for yourself. That’s exactly the kind of selfishness and absurdity Jesus says we practice whenever His followers get greedy with the grace of God.

A Light in the Darkness

In his biography of Jesus, John Mark writes the time the Lord uses the image of light shining in the darkness to illustrate the idea to His closest followers (Mk 4:21-23). The best way to understand His point is to have our Savior sing us the lyrics of that old Sunday school ditty. It goes a little something like this…

This little light of Mine, you’ve gotta let it shine!

When and Where

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In order to understand what the Lord is about to say, we need context. That’s a fancy way of saying we need to know what’s going on.

The time is around AD 30. The place is northern Israel. More specifically near the big lake known as the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has just wrapped up speaking to a crowd so big that He had to use a boat to keep from getting crushed (Mk 4:1).

Parables 101

In order to get His point across to the audience, the radical Rabbi/Carpenter uses a teaching tool called a parable (Mk 4:2). When He’s finished talking to the big crowd, Jesus’ personal posse pulls Him aside and asks to explain His word picture of seeds and soils (Mk 4:3-10).

Christ not only connects the dots on the original illustration but gives them a quick lesson in unlocking these metaphors (Mk 4:11-20). Call it Parables 101. They will become the favorite tool in His teaching toolbox in order to shed light on the Kingdom of God.

Expecting a “No”

After illuminating His first parable, Christ goes on to tell them a second story about a lamp. He begins by asking them a question. “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not!” (v21).

Before we get to the parable itself, there’s something we need to see. Mark’s construction of the original Greek here actually expects you to answer “no.” He uses the little word μητι/meti, which automatically assumes an obviously negative answer.

That’s Crazy Talk!

We see it each time someone presents a premise is so ridiculous and over the top that you could never dream of it actually happening. Like if someone pitches a movie idea where a defective hot tub at a ski resort accidentally sends people back in time. Oh wait. They actually made that one. Never mind.

But when the Son of God describes scene in His story, there’s nobody listening who thinks this can ever happen. Put a lamp under basket or bed? You can just hear people respond, “That’s crazy talk! Are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind?!?”

Everyday Stuff for an Eternal Point

Once again, Jesus uses everyday stuff in order to make an eternal point. He takes household items. A lamp. A basket. A bed. A stand. These are things you’d find in the average Galilean home. He goes on to describe something you would do every evening when the sun went down.

Since we’re talking about life in the First Century, let’s make sure we know what our Savior is talking about. A “lamp” (Gr. luchnos/λυχνοσ) is a portable light source made of a burning wick soaked in oil held by a small clay pot. It’s actually something other than a candle.

No Flip of the Switch

Remember, these people are living a few thousand years before electricity. Light isn’t just one little flip of the switch away. If the sun’s not up, it’s dark. You desperately need a light source. Think back to the last time your power went out and you scrambled for candles and a flashlight.

That’s everyday life during the life of Jesus. Back in the day, your day was completely oriented around…well…the day! Before sunrise and after sunset, you would light your lamp in order to see what you’re doing or where you’re going.

How Many Pecks in a Bushel?

The next ordinary variety item is the “basket” (Gr. μοδιος/modios). The word here describes a Roman measurement of grain that equals about two gallons or eight quarts (one peck…as if anybody really knows what that is!).

This is a woven bin, bucket, or box used for carrying dry goods like grain or flour. The only time this word is used in this same illustration in other Gospels (Mt 5:15; Lk 11:33). Bible expert Alexander MacLaren believes the basket symbolizes our work life, the desire for money, power, and status. I think he’s all over it.

A First Century Recliner

Jesus also mentions a “bed” (Gr. κλινη/kline). This is any piece of furniture that allows you to recline or lie down. It literally means a recliner. But don’t make the mistake that this is your dad’s favorite La-Z-Boy for watching SportsCenter.

It could be a mattress for sleeping, a couch for relaxing, or even the piece of furniture that folks would use to lean back and eat a meal. That same Bible ninja thinks the bed symbolizes our home and where we kick back and get comfortable. Once again, I’m pretty sure he nailed it.

Well, Duh

We find the fourth household item in the answer to Jesus’ original rhetorical question. “A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine” (v21). The Greek word λυχνια/luchnia is any sort of device for holding one or more oil lamps up high. It could be anything from a fancy schmancy candelabra or simply a shelf on the wall.

Remember how Christ assumes a “no” to His original question? Well the grammar of this next sentence implies an obvious “yes” response. The idea is goes a little something like this. “You would put a lamp on stand, right? Right?!?” Well, duh. Where else would you put one?!?!

Get It High and Let It Shine

Once you ignite the light, you get up high. The higher the lamp, the brighter the room. A tall stand or well-placed ledge allows one little light to have the greatest impact in driving back the darkness. Get it high. Let it shine.

Jesus’ parable about lamps, baskets, beds, and stands has a couple of meanings. And whattaya know, they’re both related to His seed scattering story. First and foremost, it’s about letting this little light of the Lord shine brightly in our lives.

How do we know? Because our Savior says something very similar in the Sermon on the Mount. By the way, some folks wonder why Jesus seems to repeat Himself so much.

Jesus’ Most Famous Sermon

Well, there’s a pretty good chance that Christ used the same illustration at several different times and places. Most great teachers and speakers don’t just say something once and look for new material.

So back in His most famous sermon, Jesus tells His hillside audience, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:15-16).

Did you catch that? He doesn’t command His followers shine but states it as a fact. You ARE the light of the world. If we’ve placed your trust in Christ, we shine His light. We crank up the beacon of God’s goodness in our lives whenever we do good things for others.

How Bright Is My Light?

The bigger question is how well are we radiating His love, His truth, and His grace to those around us? What’s the quality of our illumination? How bright is our light? How high have we lifted His lamp?

The more I share and sacrifice, the higher I lift the light of Jesus. The more I put others’ needs ahead of my own, the brighter His light shines. And remember, the One who gets the credit isn’t us but our heavenly Dad.

Cracked Pots

That’s because it’s NOT my light but His! The only reason we are the light of the world (Mt 5:16) is because He is the Light of the World (Jn 8:12)! And Jesus absolutely LOVES shining His light through broken vessels and cracked pots like you and me.

The Apostle Paul puts it like this. “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2Cor 4:7).

A Dimmer Switch on the Divine

But too many times my life is more like a dimmer switch on the divine light of Jesus. Remember what that Bible guru said about putting the lamp in the wrong places like the basket and bed?

We shove God’s light under a basket whenever we allow our work to consume us and take priority over our relationship with the Lord. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about working on Sunday. What I am talking about is giving your profession the poll position in your life.

Work Takes No Prisoners

I know, I know. You would NEVER make that mistake. Take it from somebody has. You tell yourself it won’t happen to you. Working late shouldn’t be a problem. Picking up a shift over the weekend isn’t a big deal. Hey, who couldn’t use the overtime?

If I’m not paying attention, work has a nasty habit of weaseling everything else out of the way. It takes no prisoners. That includes my faith. Especially my faith.

Instead, I need to pull His light out from under the basket and give Jesus the top priority that only He deserves. Let His lamp shine brightly for everyone to see puts my career back in then proper order.

What’s Your Sleep Number?

On the other end of the spectrum, our Savior also mentions a bed. He’s not talking about a Serta Perfect Sleeper or giving His divine endorsement to the Sleep Number Bed.

The bed symbolizes our desire for comfort and rest. Don’t get me wrong. God wants us to get our rest. Remember, He actually commanded His people get a weekly day off after 400-plus years without one (Ex 20:8).

Me, Myself, and I

The problem comes when we only focus on our R&R at the expense of everything and everybody else. Here’s the deal. Letting the Lord’s light shine is all about sacrifice. We have to get off our Blessed Assurance to make that happen.

What do the work “basket” and comfort “bed” have in common? Three things: me, myself, and I. That’s to say they’re both the result of selfishness. Some of us are prone to worship at the altar of the workplace. Some of us kick back on a comfy couch. Too many of us can pull off this selfish double without any problem at all!

Stimulating Our Curiosity

But, remember we said Jesus’ parable has second meaning as well. The other meaning has to do with how and why He loves using these simple stories. His purpose of speaking in parables isn’t to keep God’s truth hidden. It was to sharpen our attention and stimulate our curiosity.

Christ makes that glaringly apparent when He tells them, “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light” (v22). It may be out of sight now, but just you wait. What you’ll soon see will be outta sight!

Don’t Be Greedy with the Gospel

That’s because Jesus certainly isn’t being greedy with the Gospel. It’s the whole reason He’s come. Christ came from heaven in order to give. To give us overflowing life (Jn 10:10). To give His very own life.

Then just like He did we wrapping up story about seeds and soils (Mk 4:9), Jesus says once again, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (v23). It’s a mic drop moment. Hello, McFly!?!

Are You Tracking?

The Lord wants to make sure His closest followers are paying close attention. Eugene Peterson and the folks at The Message paraphrase it this way. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” (v23 The Message). Are you tracking? Do you follow?

With that, Jesus gives us the very important reason we need to have our ears open and brains engaged. “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be give.” (v24-25).

A Spiritual Windfall

Christ tells us we get an amazing return on our investment. Whenever we apply what He tells us, we will experience a spiritual windfall! If I am truly paying attention and then applying His wisdom and guidance in my life, there’s a whole lot more where that comes from.

That happens by giving ourselves away. The Son of God doesn’t give His grace to us with the idea that it stops with us. We give and keep on giving. He calls us to be rivers of His goodness, not reservoirs of greed.

Selfish or Selfless?

On the other hand, the Lord warns us against selfishness. “But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them” (v25).

If I wrap my arms around what my Savior tells me, then there’s more of His goodness to come! But if I put a death grip on His gifts, I’ll lose what I already have. Think of it this way. Share what He gives! Otherwise you’re wasting your time. God will give it to somebody who will pass it along.

Generous Giver or Greedy Getter?

Jesus’ big idea from this little lesson about lamps, baskets and beds is all about generosity. Shine His light. Get it high. Make it bright. Pass it along.

Follow the Lord’s example. Be a generous giver, not a greedy getter. Be selfless, not selfish. Whatever He lavishes on you and me is NOT meant to be hoarded.

How dark would our lives be if Edison kept the light bulb to himself? How much suffering would there be if Salk didn’t share his discovery? What if Al Gore…well, get where I’m going. Let’s get out there and lift the lamp of God high.

This little light of Mine, you’ve got to let it shine!

©2017

Jay Jennings

Our Savior's Seed Scattering Secret

A Horticultural Hot Mess

My relationship with my lawn is…well…complicated. On one hand, I dream of having a perfect emerald carpet that’s a cross between the golf course like Augusta and the infield at Busch Stadium. Lush. Thick. Green.

But the reality is quite the opposite. My yard is the poster child of what you DON’T want. It’s a crazy combo of crabgrass, clover, and bare spots of clay. You might find a teeny bit of grass fighting for its life in a few spots. Talk about a horticultural hot mess.

Not Bullets and Bombs

That being said, I’m NOT the one who needs to be giving advice about winning the neighborhood yard of the month. But I know just the Guy who is. Jesus of Nazareth. In His biographies, He gives us a detailed description of just what to do when it comes to agriculture and crop production.

But here’s the deal. His tips for getting a massive harvest aren’t really about lawn care or farming at all. They’re actually a picture of how His Dad’s kingdom will come about. Some countries conquer using bullets and bombs. Jesus tells us how God uses seeds and soils to win His victory (Mk 4:1-20).

Going Viral

Let’s set the scene. It’s around 30 AD in the boondocks of northern Israel. Jesus is teaching next to a big lake we call the Sea of Galilee. Crowds are building rapidly to check out the new radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. He’s all the rage. He’s gone viral.

And why wouldn’t He be? He actually has the guts to claim that He’s the Christ. That’s New Testament language for Messiah, the long awaited Hero God has promised to send to His people for thousands of years.

But that’s not all. Nobody has EVER heard teaching like this before (Mk 1:22, 27). He also performs jaw-dropping miracles like healing people from sickness, disabilities, and disease (Mk 1:30-31, 34, 40-42; 2:8-12). Jesus even exorcises evil spirits who’ve tortured their victims (Mk 1:23-25, 34).

Rocking Their Boat

In Mark’s bio of Christ, the writer tells us the crowds get so big one day near the lake that the Lord actually preaches from a boat (v1)! The Rock in the boat is about to rock their boat with a message from God.

Jesus’ Favorite Teaching Tool

For the first time in Mark’s story of Jesus, our Savior uses a brand new tool from His teaching tool box. “He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables” (v2). Before the Son of God is done, it will become His favorite way of teaching God’s truth.

So what exactly is a parable anywhoo? The Greek word (Gr. παραβολη/parabole) literally means “to place (Gr. -βολη/-bole) alongside (Gr. παρα-/para-).” Think of it as a figure of speech where you put two ideas next to each another in comparison.

Painting Word Pictures

A parable is a metaphor, an illustration, an analogy, or an allegory. It’s a relatively short story with symbolic meaning to something deeper. In other words, Jesus uses something everybody can understand to help folks figure out something they couldn’t otherwise.

The Lord draws on all sorts of stuff from First Century pop culture to make His points. He uses stories about servants, Samaritans, coins, oil lamps, and agriculture. Lots of agricultural analogies. We’re talking goats, sheep, barns, mustard plants, and vineyards.

Connecting with Pop Culture

If Christ shows up to tomorrow, I’m guessing He’ll use a completely different set of parables. Wouldn’t you love to hear Him comparing the kingdom to stuff like the internet, video games, and smart phones?

It’s a great reminder for teachers to utilize things people know to help them understand the truth of God’s Word. Don’t be afraid to use illustrations, analogies, and metaphors from pop culture…Jesus sure did!

The Real Dirt on the Soils

This time, Christ teaches the crowd what happens when the farmer starts throwing seeds around willy nilly. Birds eat some that land on the path (v4). Some sprout and wither without roots (v5-6). Weeds choke out some (v7). But what does grow delivers a ridiculous harvest (v8).

So this particular story is all about seeds and soils. But here’s the real dirt. The original text never actually uses the word “seeds,” and drops a term describing dirt a single time. Yet we call it the Parable of the Seeds. You can’t make this stuff up.

Spreading It around

A literal translation of the Greek goes a little something like this. “A sower went out to sow” (v3). And here’s the crazy thing. Both “sower” and “sow” are just slightly different forms of the very same word (Gr. σπειρω/speiro).

The word means to scatter (usually speaking of seeds), spread around, throw around, disperse, disseminate, or broadcast. In other words, the spreader went out spread. The thrower went out to throw. The broadcaster went out to broadcast.

Remember, in ancient times they didn’t have high tech tractors and farm implements. They simply plow behind an ox or mule and throw the seed around by hand. It’s certainly not an exact science. More on that in a moment.

Jesus Drops the Mic

At this point, Christ ends His seed spreading story by saying, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (v9). Huh? This is Jesus’ way of saying there’s more than meets the eye to this story. There’s a lot more here than seeds and soil. A whole lot more.

The Lord tells His listeners that only those God wants to understand will understand. Only true followers get the privilege of knowing what Jesus means. The Message puts it this way. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” (v9 The Message).

It’s almost like Jesus drops the mic and walks away. You can almost picture the people scratching their heads and wondering what He’s talking about.

What Is He Talking about?

Feeling the same way yourself? You’re not the only one. As a matter of fact, His closest follower really didn’t have a clue what He was talking about. “Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant” (v10).

Can’t you just see it? When everybody leaves this lakeside lesson, Jesus’ own posse starts asking each other what He means. I can’t figure it out. What do you think He’s talking about? Why don’t you ask Him? No, why don’t YOU ask Him?!? Nobody wants to admit to Him they don’t understand.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

We don’t know who finally gets up the guts to ask. Maybe it’s Peter since he’s the so-called leader of the Dirty Dozen. Maybe John steps up because he’s alleged to be Jesus’ best friend. Or maybe it’s not one of the Twelve but somebody else.

Don’t miss the mini-lesson within the bigger story. Don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation when you don’t understand. Too many times I don’t want to look like a knucklehead. Too many times my pride gets in the way. Humility is a big part of being teachable and coachable. That means asking questions.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Which brings us to the turning point of the entire passage. Jesus begins His explanation of metaphor. “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders” (v11).

The Lord basically says that He’s hiding the truth of God’s kingdom in plain sight. There’s something about one of His parables that allows some people to see it while others can’t.

Cracking the Code

Sounds kinda like one of those freaky Magic Eye pictures. Remember them? At first glance, they seemed to be images of random blobs and goofy patterns. But some people were able to stare at it long enough and suddenly see a 3D image of a unicorn or a great white shark.

For big chunk of the big crowd, the secret is encrypted despite being right in front of their eyes. What’s the key to cracking Christ’s code? What do His followers have that give them the ability to see the deeper truth of His illustration that the larger audience didn’t?

Trust Unlocks the Truth

Faith. More specifically, faith in Jesus. They may not have Him all figured out (then again, who REALLY does?), but at the deepest level they trusted in Him as their Lord and Savior. They took Him at His word and believe what He says. Trust unlocks the truth.

The rest of the crowd couldn’t understand because they refused to trust Him. They don’t get it because they don’t want to get it. Those who don’t think they have a problem and don’t think they need a Savior can’t wrap their heads around what He’s talking about.

Heart Condition

At this point, Jesus dusts off a piece of prophecy from the OT book of Isaiah to explain why He does this. “When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to Me and be forgiven” (v12).

This is His way of saying He’s using the story of the seeds and soils as a way to test the spiritual responsiveness of the individual hearers. In other words, what’s the condition of their hearts when it comes to God? What sort of soil are they?

The other interesting thing here is that Jesus clearly sees Himself as fulfilling a 700-year-old prophecy which God spoke directly to Isaiah. So much for those who believe He was just an itinerant Jewish teacher who never saw Himself as Messiah.

Parables 101

So Jesus teaches a quick lesson. Call it Parables 101. “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables” (v13). Decoding this illustration will go along way in helping His followers figure out the rest.

He backs up, slows down, and explains each section of the seed story. What a great lesson in learning from the greatest Teacher who’s ever walked the planet. If you have the privilege of teaching, make sure you go back over something when it’s clear the folks you’re serving don’t get it.

You may have a killer lesson plan and use all the techie toys at your fingertips, but if the students don’t understand, you’re wasting everybody’s time. You accomplish the mission when the message is heard, understood, and acknowledged. Otherwise, you’re just wasting everybody’s time.

The Satanic Seed Stealer

Jesus starts His review at the very beginning, explaining exactly what sort of seed we’re talking about back in verse 3. “The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others” (v14). Specifically, this is spreading the Good News of grace by faith in His Son Jesus anywhere and everywhere.

Christ then unpacks verse 4. “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away” (v15). In other words, some people’s hearts are as hard as a cement sidewalk. That’s when the devil dive bombs and snacks on the unused seeds.

Spoiler Alert!

Jesus wants us to know we have a real enemy who’s out to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). Some people see a demon under rock. Others make just as big a mistake in thinking Satan is some goofy cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork.

He’s very real and very dangerous. John the Apostle says our world is currently “under the control of the evil one” (1Jn 5:19). SPOILER ALERT! I’ve read the end of the book. When it’s all said and done, Jesus and His team crushes the devil and his toadies in the most lopsided victory in history.

Getting off to a Good Start

Jesus moves from the sidewalk to a thin layer of dirt hiding rocks that He first mentioned back in verse 6. Seeds landing in this area get off to a good start and show early signs of life.

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word” (v16-17).

Rainbows, Unicorns, and Skittles

He’s talking about folks who are initially stoked to hear the Gospel. They experience an emotional response and things look promising. But the problem is below the surface. Inches below the surface, there’s nothing but rocks. These seeds never stood a chance.

Our Savior says the rocks are a picture of troubles and trials. There’s no long-lasting growth because of it. Too many people try to tell you the Christian life it’s nothing but rainbows, unicorns, and a lifetime supply of Skittles.

Here’s the deal. Following Jesus is hard. When the going gets tough, these folks get going alright…in the opposite direction!

Getting Choked out

The Lord goes from problems underground to those above. “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced” (v18-19).

A closer look at the original language tells us that “crowded out” is actually the Greek verb συμπνιγω/sumpnigo. It means to suffocate, overwhelm and cause to die. Think of MMA fighters like Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar who take out their opponents by choking them out.

The Problem of Prosperity

The thorns are heartier and healthier than the tender seedlings. Despite some early growth, this one was over before it started. These stickers dominate and destroy the delicate new sprouts. Good night. Game over. Drive home safely.

Instead of persecution, Jesus says the problem here is actually prosperity. You can easily translate the phrase “worries of life” as “distractions of this age.” Earthly wealth and success take precedence over eternal riches. The now steals our focus from the forever.

Three bleak scenes. Absolutely zero crop production. The farmer has spread a truckload of seed on people’s hearts and has been shut out to this point. 

Three-on-Three

Before you think there’s no hope, Jesus tells us that some of the seed of the Good News finds thick, rich dirt. “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (v20).

Here’s something I had never noticed before. It’s pretty obvious that there are three kinds of soils WITHOUT a harvest. What I hadn’t seen was that there are THREE soils WITH A HARVEST! If this is a game of three-on-three, it’s not even close.

Outrageous Output

One area produces a return of 30:1. Another tract doubles that at 60:1. Then there’s one final field that blows them both away with an outrageous output of 100:1!

If you’re like me, you probably have no idea how good these harvests are. According to John MacArthur, the average harvest in First Century Galilee was 8:1. In a great year, it was 10:1. So the kind of production Jesus is talking here is mind boggling!

God’s Fruity Goodness

What sort of harvest is the Lord talking about? I think we can look at it a couple of ways. First of all, Paul writes to Galatian believers about the kind of fruit the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

The more we allow God’s Spirit to change us from the inside-out, the more He produces God’s fruity goodness in our lives. Who couldn’t use a lot more of these?!? For some of us, it’s a massive harvest!

Disciple-Making Disciples

The other way of looking at it is from the perspective of Jesus’ famous last words to His followers. He tells them to make disciples (NOT just converts!) of folks from every demographic group on the planet (Mt 28:19-20).

In other words, He calls each one of us to be a disciple-making disciple. If His process stops with us, then there’s no harvest. We’re to keep passing on God’s grace with the idea that it keeps on going. The Gospel is certainly the gift that keeps on giving!

Another Perspective

The usual way of looking at this particular parable is that Jesus is talking about the receptivity of four different kinds of people. Nothing wrong with that. But maybe, just maybe, there’s another way to understand these seeds and soils.

Is it possible that Christ could also be talking about four different times in one person’s life? Or could it be that we have different kinds of soil conditions in different parts of our lives?

For instance, do I have fertile dirt when it comes to serving but lots of rocks when it comes to generosity? Maybe I’m crazy about my small group but never tell anybody about Jesus. Let’s do what we can to have rich soil in every part of our lives.

Start Spreading the News

So what do we do with this parable? How do we apply it to our lives a couple of thousand years later?

Well just like the farmer, the followers of Jesus have the responsibility to spread the Word. Anyone. Everywhere. Don’t worry your pretty little head about where it lands. We just need to understand and explain the message as creatively and effectively as possible. In the words of ‘Ol Blue Eyes, “Start spreading the news.”

It Doesn’t Happen Overnight

We need to remember that our job isn’t to produce the crop. Just to spread the seed. Leave the production to God. We’ll recognize the folks who receive the seed and grow a harvest. It will be obvious. VERY obvious.

Don’t be discouraged when we don’t see immediate results. Just like in agriculture, the process of planting, growing, and harvesting spiritual produce takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Seed that’s been planted in soil may look unproductive now. That can change quickly when God is involved. Be patient. Expect a harvest. A very BIG harvest!

I’m still not sure there’s much hope for my lawn. In the meantime, why don’t we all start spreading some seeds?