The Parable of the Sower/ the Seed/ the Soils/New Birth/Serpent.
When Jesus was alone, the Twelve and the others around him, asked him about the parable of the Sower. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables. Then Jesus said to them." "Don't you know this parable? How then will you understand any parable?" (NIV).
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
The familiar definition of a parable as "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Our Lord Jesus did not invent the parable. You will find the Old Testament prophets used parables (II Sam. 12:1-4). By using parables, Jesus was seeking to interest and awaken those who spiritual senses grow dull. By telling stories with hidden meaning, he was arousing their interest and giving them opportunity to be saved.
The same message that awakens one will harden another. These parables both revealed and concealed. The careless and indifferent, those with no Spiritual hunger for truth and Salvation, would not understand His teachings. The same sun that melts the ice also hardens the clay. By using parables, Jesus was revealing His patience and mercy, but at the same time, he revealed their sad spiritual condition. Jesus has hidden the truth in parables, not to conceal it, but to reveal it. The man who has faith will learn the truth and receive more while the man who lacks faith will lose even what he thinks he has. The parable would excite the concerned and stimulate them to learn more. But it would blind the careless because of their condition of heart hasten their judgment.
In His parable, Jesus opened to us the "Mystery of the kingdom" (hidden secrets understood only by divine revelation). Christ's parables brought judgment to some and Salvation to others. This gaining and losing is a law of life. If we use what we have, we receive more; if we
neglected to use it, we lose it.
Why did Jesus compare God's word to seed?
To begin with, the seed has Life in it. God's word is a living word (I Pet. 1:23) Peter wrote: for you being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. If you want to grow a living plant, you must begin with a living seed. Like a seed, God's word may seem small and insignificant, but it is powerful. Have you ever seen a side walk cracked and broken because of a seed? Like a seed God's word produces fruit and in that fruit has in it the seed for more fruit. Tremendous potential lies in a seed.
When God's word gets into a human heart and germinates and grows, spiritual fruit is eventually seen in that life. The word is like seed, must be planted to do any good. It must be cultivated, nurtured, and protected. Jesus explained in this parable that it is not enough for the believers to listen to the word. They must hear it, receive it into his or her heart, and let it take root and grow. Jesus was not talking only about the physical act of listening with the inner ear and receiving God's word deep into the heart. The Sower (Jesus) is the one who shares the word. It takes faith for a person to sow seed. Our Lord called 12 and 70 men together and taught them the truth of the word of God. The future of God's work in the world depended on how their hearts responded to the word. It is important not to try to improve on God's spiritual seed. Do not sow the word of God plus man philosophies, man's theories, man's traditions. Just sow the pure words of God.
The Seed: as the Word of God is the seed, and Christ came as "the Word of God" (John 1:1), He himself is the Seed. The Written Word testifies of Him who came as the Living word (John 5:39). Those who receive the seed of the Word come to "live," not because they believe the Bible truth presented. They have life through His name (John 20: 30,31).
The Soil represents the human heart. Man is made from the earth, so it is no surprise that Christ compared the human heart to soil. To begin with, soil has great potential. A plot of ground can become a jungle or a garden. If you have ever visited Victoria, British Columbia you may have seen the famous Butchard gardens. We walked through these beautiful gardens one June day and were amazed and what we saw and to think that the gardens were once an abandoned gravel pit. God uses human hearts as instruments to get the best out of the soil. Left to itself, a heart will run riot with sin. But if a heart responds to the ministry of the word, there can be fruit and beauty. Since God's word is seed, and our hearts are soil, our hearts can respond to God's word. They are made for each other. When the seed and the soil get together there can be germination, and fruit.
The Parable emphasis is really on the Soils. Jesus explains that there are four kinds of hearts in this world, and he identifies them according to the way they respond to the seed of God's word. Let us call it the Parable of the Soils, and understand that these soils are different states of heart and their reaction to the Gospel. Which one of them represents you and me?
1. The Wayside Soil or hearer with the closed mind and a hard heart.
This type of hearer receives the seed by the ears, but no life follows as a consequence. The seed is on the surface, but not in. Keep in mind that little footpaths run through the fields in Palestine, so it would not be unusual for some of the seed to fall on hard soils. It takes no hold because the heart is like a highway; the surface is hard and nothing can make an impression on it. The seed cannot penetrate and germinate; therefore the "birds" agencies of "the wicked one," snatch it away. Such soil represents the Person who does not understand the word of God. He hears, but does not comprehend. The seed lies on the surface of the soils and never sinks in. Satan sees it and like a bird, swoops down and snatches it away. It is gone!
Understanding must precede spiritual life. In this illustration, the fault did not lie with the seed; the problem was with the soil. It was too hard. When once the Word is understood and received in faith, it is beyond Satan's reach. 2. The Stony ground Soil, or hearer with the emotional mind and shallow heart. The soil in Palestine lies on a thick layer of limestone. Where the soil is thin, the root of a germinating seed cannot go very far. As a result, the shoot springs up quickly, but there is no root system to sustain the plant. No roots means no water. When the sun comes up, the shoot is scorched and dies. The seed is on but not
down.
Here we have the easily excited and enthusiastic listeners, who hold it only superficial, and whose faith is thin-surfaced, such people do not know what it is to be born again of incorruptible seed. When persecutions and temptations arise, they quickly backslide. In the parable, the sun represents persecution. Persecution is good for God's children. It tests a person's faith, proves the reality of his profession, and helps him or her grow. Just as the sun helps the plant to draw up water and nourishment from the soil, so suffering and persecution helps true believers trust the Lord and draw on His great resources, but there must be roots.
The problem with a hard heart was a lack of understanding, and the problem with the shallow heart was a lack of depth. 3. The Thorny ground Soil or hearer with wandering mind and crowded heart. The seed is on, in and down but does not come up. It is choked and typifies the pre-occupied people. It is not enough for a gardener to love the flowers and fruits. He or she must also hate weeds. Weeds grow naturally. No farmers have to plant weeds. They come whether he wants them or not. These weeds represent those influences from the world, choke the seed and keep it from bearing fruit. "The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches" The Bible does not condemn
wealth, but the love for it can be a cause of sin and a hindrance to spiritual growth.
Riches are deceitful because they promise much more than they can produce. Their value is always changing, and they are no guarantees of security. Yet, people in the world devote themselves to pursuit of riches and ignore the true riches and wealth found in Jesus Christ. These people, like Martha, "cumbered with much serving" miss the Joy and privilege of sitting at the Master's feet. The pleasures of this life. Enjoyments, innocent in themselves, in which the worldly prosperity enables one to indulge, smother the seed. So much of time is taken up for pleasure and no time for spiritual things.
The proof of salvation is not listening to the word, or having a quick emotional response to the word, or even cultivating the word so that it grows in a life. The Proof of salvation is fruit, for as Christ said, "Ye, shall know them by their fruits." 4. The Good ground soil or hearer with the steadfast and understanding mind. The seed was on, in, down and up. The seed had taken full hold. It had entered the whole soul, filling the mind, heart, conscience, and will. The word being received, understood, and yielded to, produces faith in binding to Christ and service glorifying God and beneficial to others. This heart is good in contrast to the other three hearts. It receives the word, understands the word, and holdfasts what it receives. The 30 fold is designed to express the lowest degree of fruitfulness; the 60 fold, the intermediate degree of fruitfulness; the 100 fold, the highest
degree.
It is a well-known fact, that three-fifths of the seed sown in every country does not grow into the harvest; and according to this parable, three-fourths of the audience received the seed, but altogether in vain. Those of us who have experienced salvation, needs to learn from this parable the importance of cultivating our own hearts. Unless we spend time planting the word, (understanding it) and cultivating (meditating and praying), we cannot be fruitful Christians. We must be certain that our soil is free from weeds. If a Christian neglects the cultivation of his or her heart, the soil will start to deteriorate. The seeds will sap the strength from the soil, and it will become shallow. Then it will become hard. The secret of a fruitful heart is a hearing ear. In other words, give attention to the word of God. Take advantage of every opportunity to receive the good seed into your heart. Mark the gospel writer cautioned "Take care what you listen to" mind and heart. Whatever you hear enters into your mind and heart. It is the Seed that Planted, and will bear fruit. If you plant weeds, you will reap a sad harvest of sin. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reaped." (Gal. 6:7). This explains why a Christian should be careful in what he reads, the kind of entertainment he watches, and the kind of music he listens to. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17). It is important that we learn how to hear God's word. "Take heed, that you hear, take heed what you hear, and take heed, how you hear! "(John 6:63-64) Jesus said, "It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The Words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (I Cor.1: 18-30) For the message of the Cross-is foolishness to who those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. He was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. We preached Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and Greeks, Christ the power and wisdom of God." It is God's intention that worldly wisdom should not be the means of knowing him. Not that preaching is foolish, but that the message being preached (Christ crucified) is viewed by the world as foolish. To the Jews! They expected a triumph, political Messiah (Acts 1:6), not a crucified one. The Greeks and Romans were sure that no reputable person would be crucified, so it was unthinkable criminal could be the Savior. In commissioning His own, Christ spoke of the hearts of men as the field, and His gospel as the Seed to be cast everywhere. "Go ye, and make disciples from among all nations" (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:20). What He began to teach, His Apostles continued teaching (Acts 1:1). Knowing that they were Christ's representatives as Sowers. From the time of his remarkable conversion, Paul knew he was a chosen vessel for sowing the precious seed of the gospel into human hearts whenever an opening should appear among Jews and Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
It is also the privilege and obligation of who is Christ's (apostles/disciples) to function as Sowers. We were saved to serve and sow. Our heavenly Father, the husbandman, exhorts us to pray that He would send forth more Sowers into His harvest field. (Matt. 9:35-38; Luke 10:1-2).The Parable of the New Birth/Born Again.
(John 3:1-13) The visitor Nicodemus must have witnessed what happened at the Passover when many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which Jesus did (John 2:23). Doubtless Nicodemus was one of these, for when alone with Jesus he said, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2). And because what He knew was in man, he had no need that any should tell him what was in the mind of Nicodemus, the Pharisees who came to Jesus that night for spiritual instruction.
The three figures of speech Jesus used were: Birth! Water! Wind!
1. The Birth: Every man enters the world born of the flesh. Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed, in spite of the fact that he was deeply religious and highly educated, to be born a second time, a simile Nicodemus thought referred to a second physical birth. But Jesus was teaching the teacher in Israel that as there is no entrance into the kingdom of flesh-life save by a natural birth, so there can be NO entrance into the kingdom of the spirit-life, save by a spiritual birth.
As the result of a physical birth we are brought into an earthly family and assume human relationship, so through a spiritual birth we are introduced into a heavenly family, even the kingdom of God with all its holy relationships. Through the First birth we enter the world, a new and distinct personality. Through the Second birth we become a New Creation, the same Personality but transformed by the Spirit. But although our first birth was the gate into life, we were NOT asked to be born, or of whom we would be born. With the second birth it is different, for this new birth cannot take place apart from our own voluntary action, "Ye must be born anew." And when Christ uses the imperative mood, He means it. The sinner must be born from above, if he is to go above at death. This new birth can only take place as the repentant, believing sinners accepting Jesus as their Savior. 2. Water: Coming to the second figure of speech, what exactly did Jesus mean by being born of water? Someone mentioned and connected it with the cradle of water surrounding the unborn babe within the womb, and which assists in its birth.
Some have refer the Water to the baptismal waters, which Nicodemus, as a Jew, would know about in connection with John the Baptist's ministry. The Baptist proclaimed that Jews and Gentiles Must repent and be baptized, if they would become newborn babes in the Kingdom. To such, baptism would become an outward sign of inward grace, a public profession in the presence of witness, and an open loyalty to the new King and His Kingdom. Others have looked upon the simile of Water referring to the Spirit whose varied ministry our Lord likened unto "rivers of living water." Then there are those who take the Water as the emblem of the Word. Jesus said, "Now you are clean through the Word I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). Perhaps, a combination of the two may be nearer the thought Jesus had in mind. It is as the Spirit operates through the Word, that sinners are born anew. "Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17) 3. Coming to the third figure Jesus used, namely Wind, we have a forcible illustration of the mysterious operations of the Spirit in His work of conviction and regeneration. The word Jesus used for Wind was "Pneuma," meaning, "breath" or " "breeze." The wind bloweth where it listeth---not the whistling wind, but the gentle breeze that rises and falls, comes and goes, one knows not how. The wind is uncertain and variable and mysterious in its operation---"it bloweth where it listeth." It moves where it will or pleases, is not subject to our order or command. Thus, it is with the Spirit's work. "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 12:11). The Spirit disperses His gifts and influences where and when, on whom, and in what measure and manner He pleases. He divideth to everyone, severally as He will (I Cor. 12:11). Further, although the Wind is invisible, we can yet trace its course in the changes it produces and often stand in awe at its effects. "Thou canst not tell when it comes"---its origin;" and whither it goes "---its destination. It gathers its strength and then uses and spends its strength.
It is the same with the working of the Spirit, who, as the Quickening One, is eternal in His origin and life giving in His operation. It would seem as if Nicodemus came to fully understand the important of our Lord's parabolic language, and through the water or His Word and by the Wind of the Spirit, became a child of God. He became a friend of Jesus, defending Him when He was falsely accused (John 7:50), and with Joseph of Arimathaea, took Christ's dead body, and buried it with a rich offering of love (John 19:39). Because Christ was born of a woman to give man "second birth," your first birth, whether in affluent or poor circumstances, is of no criterion. "Ye must be born anew." Such a spiritual birth is equivalent to the reception of Christ as Savior. "To as many as received Him, to them He gave the power, or right, or authority, to become the children of God" (John 1:12,13).The Parable of the Serpent on the Pole
(John 3: 14-17) Nicodemus, who asked two questions of Jesus:
"How can a man be born when he is old? " "How can these things be?" The first question was asked in sincerity. Nicodemus, understanding the phraseology of being born anew, mistakenly considered the change of personality from the physical standpoint. But, Jesus answered this question by saying that the laws governing the flesh and governing the spirit are not the same. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," but entrance into the realm of the Spirit is Never after the flesh.
"How can a man be born when he is old?" The second question is related to the basis upon which the Holy Spirit can bring about the new birth. Then Jesus, answering the well-known teacher of Israel, reminds him that as a renowned instructor of the Old Testament Scriptures, he should have known the spiritual truth he was expounding. Jesus recited an historical event Nicodemus knew only too well, and applying it, revealed that Redemption is the basis of Regeneration. "How can these things be?" How can a man be born anew? How can he become a new creation, only through Faith in the Uplifted Savior? Nicodemus asked for heavenly secrets and Jesus, after using the illustrations of Water and the Wind from the realm of natural phenomena, now comes to the realm of historical record, which Nicodemus knew by heart. Why was the serpent lifted up on a Pole?
(Numbers 21:8,9). It was because of the murmurings of the Israelites against God and His ways. Notwithstanding all His goodness toward them, they became stiff-necked people. Because of their wickedness, God sent poisonous serpents to destroy them. God miraculously increased the number of serpents with which the wilderness was infested, and being of a very malignant nature, their bite resulted in a fatal inflammation, from which the bitten people died. But Moses interceded for the afflicted murmur, and God appointed them an easy Remedy, the use of which healed their wounds and removed calamity. God Ordered that a brazen serpent, a replica of the live serpents, but without their deadly venom, be erected on a pole in the midst of the camp, and all the serpent-smitten people had to do to escape death, was to look at the serpent. And All who Looked, Lived!
Jesus told Nicodemus "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever Believed in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Nicodemus was bought face to face with the Cross of Calvary, as the only way by which old things can pass away and a New Life become reality. As the mercy of God provided a way of Healing for the Israelites that their bodies need Not die, so His grace provided the Cross by which All who are Dead in Sin can possess life eternal and experience Healing of the souls. Now, all sinners have to do, in order to become a child of God, is to look by Faith to the Crucified Christ!!! (Isaiah 45: 22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." (Acts 4: 10-12) Be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead...Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is None other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.(Philippians 2: 10-12) That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.