The impression of the seed.
Different people under various circumstances react differently to the word of God. The impression that God’s word is supposed leave in our lives is supposed to be an impressive one. We are to be built up and strengthen to overcome with God’s word, that was David’s prayer in Psalms 119 (v28). It assures us of God’s ever presence and strength that is with us (Ex15:2). It provides assurance and comfort when we are struggling (Is41:10). God’s word fills us with expectation and hope (Is40:31). The word of God is filled with benefits like no other book. In fact, in them we find the issues of life, is what Jesus said (Jh6:63). So, we need to take care how we hear God’s word. We need to make sure that it does not turn back to God in vain, that it goes back to him with the effects that he intended it to have.
Mark 4:3-8
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a Sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark chapter 4, I consider it to be the chapter of the seed, because it contains three parables about it: The Sower, the growing seed and the mustard seed. It talks about how the seed is affected, how it can affect man, and how it can grow. In the parable of the Sower, the seed falls into four different terrains all near each other. It fell by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns and on good ground. The wayside is the closest to the good ground. It touches the edge of the good ground where the seed is guaranteed to grow. Any seed that falls on the good ground it will get proper nutrients, and it will bear good enough fruits to nourish those who feed off it. The wayside metaphorically is known as a course of conduct or a way of thinking, that is not completely there.
The good ground is the solid part of the terrene, the whole of the land or complete. It is what Mary the sister of Martha chose; the good portion, when Jesus came to dine at their house after Lazarus was rising from the dead (Lk10:42). Jesus is also known as the good shepherd in John 14 (10). As soon as the seed is sown because it is near the good ground, and Satan will come and take it away. Those in the wayside, because they believe that they are good and are deceived, miss out from receiving the seed actually being properly sown. Jesus’ disciples were known as the those of the way, because he claimed to be the way, the truth and the life (Jh14:6). The seed that falls on stony ground is next to the wayside. It is a dry ground where the seed does get buried and is received and it bears fruit for a while, but when affliction and persecution come it dries and withers. Finally, there is the thorny ground and in that ground the seed is buried and received, but because of the cares of life and the deceitful of riches choke the word.
Psalms 119:28
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Exodus 15:2
2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Isaiah 41:10
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 40:31
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Luke 10:42
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
John 10:14
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.