The Parable of the Sower or Soils

The bible reading for today includes more in Leviticus. This I have talked about the last two days. But, Today my interest was piqued by the following parable from Mark. The Parable of the Sower 4 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 2 He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. 8 But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!” The Purpose of Parables 10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, 12 so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.” 13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.20 But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.” Reading through this I became curious about why? Why doesn’t everyone receive and act on the message the same way? Why are the soil and climate conditions affecting the result? Do you think the world is getting better? Do you think everything in the United States is like it should be or like you would want it to be? Do you think someone should do something about the problems? Do you think there is someone wise enough and powerful enough to make things right? Verse 12 above implies that I’m part of the problem. Jesus told the disciples “..so they may not repent and be forgiven.” Do you feel like you need to repent and be forgiven? Repent for what and be forgiven for what? If the word of God has come to you or does come to you, how will you receive it? First of all, what is the Word? In John’s gospel the very first chapter and verse says, “In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was with God”. I think all people are seeking the Word. It is not possible for humans to fully know the Word. God is working on all of us. He was working on me a long time before I realized it. I was willing to seek and try to understand more well before I became committed to the endeavor. Some people seem to be more skeptical. Others, more enthusiastic. Seems like Jesus knew this and is explaining it here to His disciples. Some are seemingly more prepared to receive the Word. I wonder, is there anyone who is not being pursued by God? Being pursued by God could be frightening to someone who doesn’t know Him at all. What I see in the world are many angry people. But, we seem to be angry about what is happening around us and blaming others. Verse 12 implies that I might be the problem. When trying to solve problems we have been told not to try and control people and things we have not control over. It is a futile effort. Who do we have control over? Maybe employees, children, slaves…maybe not! There are places in the Bible that tell us to correct or brothers and sisters. It does say to do it kindly and gently. There is more in the Bible about loving others. Could loving include correcting gently? Perhaps! Anyway, these verses somehow seemed important enough to think about and meditate about. Prayerful consideration might be good.