The disciples asked Jesus why he addressed the crowd speaking in parables. Matthew 13: 10-17.
The parables spoke of earthly things which have heavenly meanings.
Jesus explained the parables to his disciples at the beginning of his ministry. Here in this reading Jesus pointed out that they had been given the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven, but the others listening didn’t understand as their hearts were dulled by the message coming from their leaders and teachers of the law.
This prophesy from Isaiah was fulfilled. “You shall indeed hear but never understand . . . For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing.”
The parable of ‘The Sower’ illustrated the circumstances of receptivity that the people had to the word of God in Jesus’ day. 2,000 years later and we still respond in the same way.
Below is the explanation that Jesus gave them to the parable of the sower 18-23.
“When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches it away what is sown in the heart; this is what is sown along the path. As for what was sown on the rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away As for what is sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what is sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundred fold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13: 18-23
The Apostles before Pentecost prepared the ground for the seeds of the kingdom to be sown.
“The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1: 15
The gospel message that Jesus proclaimed on the Mount was the perfect law of God, the Beatitudes are a good example of what he taught: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. . . . ” Matthew 5: 1-12
The gospel of preparation: to teach the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:2
The disciples did not proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. Luke 9: 20, 21.
A word I was given on 30th May 1996 was that, “The disciples were setting up the kingdom in at the beginning of Acts.” It was as I understood to be in preparation for Jesus’ return with the angels of God. Mark 8:38. 9: 1
The disciples and followers looked forward to Jesus’ return as he indicated that his coming would be in their life time.
“Truly I say to you, there is some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 9:1
At Pentecost the Apostles began to sow the seeds of the kingdom.
Seeds sown along the path.
At and after Pentecost the Apostles proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. The Jews heard from Peter and John about Jesus fulfilling the prophesies that proved to them that he was the Christ. Particularly the words of Peter speaking to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico, “I know that they acted in ignorance as did their rulers." But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.” Acts 3: 17, 18.
The people did not understand that the Christ or Messiah had to suffer and die like a criminal on a cross. They did not understand because the people had been taught from the law that the Messiah when he came would live for ever. John 12: 34.
Isaiah prophesied the suffering and death of the Messiah Chapter 53: 10, 11.
10. “Yet it pleased him to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
Fulfilled. It was in the plan of God that Jesus would suffer and be killed and that on the third day God would raise him from the dead.
“Jesus said, “For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Luke 22: 37.
11. He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Fulfilled. ”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.
Seeds sown on rocky ground
Peter loved his Saviour and knew that Jesus had forgiven him, he sowed the seeds of repentance and forgiveness, also of Jesus' return.
Peter continued appealing to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of the Holy prophets from of old.” Acts 3: 19-21
It was a national call of repentance to the nation of Israel in order to establish through the promised descendant of King David the eternal throne and kingdom of God.
Seeds sown among thorns
Whilst Peter and John were speaking the priests and the Sadducees came with the captain of the temple guards and arrested them and put them in prison. They were accused of teaching the people and proclaiming that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.
The good news fell upon these hearts hardened by man’s religious zeal who perhaps also feared the Jewish council. Also the priests were deaf to the prophesies concerning the death of the Messiah and seeing Jesus die on a cross which was a Roman punishment, in their eyes he had been defiled by lawless Roman men. The news of his resurrection had blinded the eyes of the Sadducees because they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Acts 4: 1, 2.
Seeds sown on good soil
Peter and John spoke out boldly at their trial, the man who had been healed at Gate Beautiful appeared in their defence. They were asked by what power and name did you do this? Empowered by the Holy Spirit Peter said, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what name this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man was standing before them well. The stone that they the builders had rejected has become the head of the corner. And there was salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 8-12.
The seeds that had been sown in Solomon's Portico had produced fruit, 5,000 men believed.
As the numbers grew the believers formed a community in Jerusalem.
The parable of the sower gives an exact picture of the times we are living in today
The Christian sows the seeds of the good news of the kingdom of heaven in the paths of the world; the Devil prevents people with hardened hearts from understanding and keeping what they have heard. Also the gospel message falls on rocky ground were Christians are unsure of what they believe and as a result when their faith is tested they compromise their faith. The word sown among thorns is where the word choked by people’s preoccupation with the materialistic world and seeing only its technological discoveries as the future. However those who come to faith having received the good news with understanding, commitment and courage, as a result their contribution to the growing of the church is evident and look forward to Jesus' coming for his church.
“Christ in you”
Written below is a modern day parable
Our two Shetland ponies Puzzle and Shamrock
Every day the first job is to go and feed the pony in the stable and the Shetlands. When they hear the door of our house open straight away they neigh and it’s a lovely greeting, if you like horses and ponies.
The explanation at the end of the blog
Jesus explained the parables to his disciples at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus pointed out that they had been given the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven.
One of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven is Jesus’ coming for his body of believers the church.
The Lord gave me a word: Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
This hope of Jesus’ coming is born in us through Jesus’ own desire to come from heaven and call out his church.
A parable that shines out like a beacon today.
Watch out for Jesus’ return
“But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed watch, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the door-keeper to be on watch. Watch therefore-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning – lest he comes suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to all: Watch.”
Mark 13: 32-37.
The man going on a journey – Jesus ascended into heaven
The servants – the disciples
The work - sowing the seeds of the good news of the kingdom.
The Apostles put in place the structures of the church: Bishops, Deacons, Elders, Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kind of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12: 28. Ephesians 4: 11. 1 Timothy 3: 1,8. 5: 17.
These gifts are given to edify the whole church, to minister in the love of Christ and work with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In our second reading Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church that messages were given in tongues at a meeting, but there was no interpretation of what was being said. Paul emphasised the need of interpretation of the tongues.
This gift of speaking in tongues is a language that is not the person’s own native language but a language from some where in the world, given as a gift by the Holy Spirit to that person.
At Pentecost when the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit left the upper room they went out onto the streets of Jerusalem and spoke to many people from other countries about Jesus. These people as they heard them speak to them in their own language, they were amazed. Acts 2:8
Paul preferred people to speak out prophesies so that people in the meeting could understand what was being said. 1 Corinthians 14: 12-20
The early Churches expectation of Jesus' return.
I can just imagine John the disciple having a great anticipation of Jesus’ return. Especially when Peter’s conversation with Jesus was recorded by John, “Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who lay close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” (Peter repeated the words that John had said at the Passover Meal.)
When Peter saw John, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remains until I come what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” John 21: 20-23
John witnessed in his gospel of the longing that Jesus bore in his heart of his return soon after Pentecost.
John hoped that Jesus would return this is so evident in Revelation Chapter 1: 1-8
John was quite old when he received the vision and wrote it down. At the very beginning of the first Chapter he records Jesus’ words: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what, must soon take place.” “For the time is near.” “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John did not see Jesus return before he died. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This applies to all Christians to watch for Jesus’ return.
Our daughter works abroad and she regularly comes home to spend a few days. By faith we look forward to seeing her. This expectant hope is in our hearts as we hear that she is on her way. We meet her at the airport and bring her home.
This last year 2011 she said that she was coming home in October. However, two weeks before she was due to arrive home, she emailed us to say that she would delay her visit till Christmas. Sure enough she came home at Christmas.
This state of watchfulness is the hope we have that is born in us, “Christ in you,” the hope of glory. We are watching for his coming in the clouds, for our meeting with Jesus in the air. Christians name this event as the ‘Rapture.’
“For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until his coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord he will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18
The precise date of his coming is not known as Jesus states this in the parable, “Jesus said “Watch therefore as you do not know when the master of the house will come.”
Faith and Hope working together
Through Christ in us, we can identify with the Apostles their faith and this amazing hope of Jesus’ coming for his body of believers.
Below, Paul writing to the church at Rome, Thessalonica and Titus, Peter his letter to the Jews of the dispersion.
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8: 23-25.
“Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12: 12
“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?” 1Thessalonians 2: 19.
“Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 13.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1: 3, 4.
“Our Lord, Come” Greek word Maranatha Revelation 21: 20
Why has Jesus not yet called out his church?
This parable can not be taken in isolation from the rest of what Jesus taught us about his coming. We are called to watch out also for the signs of his coming.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson; as soon as the branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things, you know that he is near at the very gates.” Matthew 24: 32-35.
Chronology of events
First and second world wars. Matthew 24: 6,7.
Establishment of State of Israel in 1948. Ezekiel 20: 33-38
Six day war bringing Jerusalem under Jewish control. Luke 21: 34.
One world government. Daniel 7: 23
Ten Kingdom world rule. Daniel 7: 24
The Third temple. Daniel 9: 24-27. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 4.
The first three of the six have been fulfilled. The one world government followed by the ten rulers of the world I would associate with the “distress of nations in perplexity” Luke 21: 25
We are witnessing some degree of "the distress of nations in perplexity" with the situation Europe is facing with the debt crisis.
Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
This hope of Jesus’ coming is born in us through Jesus’ own desire to come from heaven and call out his church.
Our two Shetland ponies Puzzle and Shamrock (modern parable)
Every day the first job is to go and feed the pony in the stable and the Shetlands. When they hear the door of our house open straight away they neigh and it’s a lovely greeting.
Explanation
I’m sure all of creation will hear and be glad to witness the call of the archangel as Jesus call’s out his body of believers. Romans 8; 20, 21
