The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (Mark 4:26-29).
The kingdom of God is that realm in which God is reigning in the hearts of people who have trusted in the atonement of Jesus and surrendered to His gracious Lordship. The kingdom advances as people proclaim the gospel, as we cast kingdom seed into the soil of human hearts. We know from other parables that the seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). The sower is a disciple. Really, it is Jesus sowing through a disciple, the Master sowing through a servant.
This is how we all were born again. Someone shared the Good News with us — Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). In our natural state of separation from God because of sin, we were dead to God, spiritually blind and unable to understand spiritual truth. But the word of God pierced our heart and awakened us to the truth of our sin and separation from God; awakened us to the truth of Christ’s sufficient sacrifice in which He carried our sins and our judgment; awakened us to the truth of God’s forgiving grace through faith in Christ.
It is all the working of grace from beginning to end. But there is a mysterious, supernatural aspect to grace — we sow the word of God — God produces growth. But how? How does God awaken a dead sinner? How does God remove the veil of blindness? How does God enable us to understand the truth of our lostness and the truth of His saving grace in Christ?
1. There is a mystery in saving grace which reveals the sovereignty of God.
Notice this phrase — The soil produces crops by itself (Mark 4:28). The words by itself translate one Greek word automote — meaning automatically or spontaneously. It is the same word used when the prison gate opened before Peter by itself or of its own accord — automatically, spontaneously in Acts 12:10.
The point is that the seed sprouts and grows because God has sovereignly designed natural seed and kingdom seed to produce life and to grow. The church sows the seed of God's word, but the entrance of the kingdom into a human heart, the establishing of God’s rule of grace in a human soul, is God’s sovereign work. The seed sprouts and grows because that is how God designed it.
In Acts 16:14 we read, A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. She was a worshipper of God but had not heard the Gospel. When Paul preached, the Lord opened her heart to respond.
Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel and, When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). God sovereignly appointed people to eternal life.
Jesus said, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44). The Father sovereignly draws souls to Jesus.
There is a mystery in saving grace which reveals the sovereignty of God. Once the seed of Gospel truth is sown and it has taken root in a human soul, grace will produce saving faith. The power released in the sowing of the Gospel cannot be overcome by the powers of darkness nor by the power of fallen humanity. The violence of the persecutor cannot prevent the growth of true saving faith. The lies of the false prophet, false priest and false teacher cannot prevent God’s sovereign work of grace.
We preach God’s word but we cannot cause it to grow into saving faith any more than a farmer can cause wheat seed to grow into mature wheat. We labor in kingdom work as kingdom partners with God, but entrance into the kingdom is always God's grace gift. The church does not give the gift of the kingdom. Our gift is to sow God’s word and God sovereignly causes the growth.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again (or born from abvove), he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). We enter the kingdom as we are spiritually regenerated, born again but only God can give spiritual birth to spiritually dead people. We are born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).
James reminds us, In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth (James 1:18). The word of truth is sown into a human heart and God, by the gracious exercise of His will, causes it to grow into saving faith.
2. The mystery of grace is revealed in unexplainable growth and harvest:
The farmer casts seed upon the soil ... and the seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know” (Mark 4:26,27).
Not only does the farmer not cause the growth, he does not even understand how it grows. How does that little seed crack open and sprout? How does it push up through soil and rock? How does it contain in itself the potential for an entire stalk of wheat?
There is a mystery in the way people surrender to the Gospel. How does the seed of the Gospel penetrate a hard heart and sprout into saving faith? What causes one person to repent and believe while another walks away, rejecting the Lordship of Christ? I do not know. It is a mystery.
Many years ago I shared the gospel with a tough old guy who had spent his adult life driving taxis in a large, crowded city. After over five decades of life, he had very little experience with churches and no understanding of salvation truth. I shared with him about the cross of Jesus and the empty tomb, our need for a Savior and God’s gift of grace.
As I spoke with him, I began to doubt the effectiveness of my witness. He had a rough, crusty exterior and gave little indication that the truth was connecting with his soul. I thought to myself, “He probably can’t wait for you to shut up and leave his house.”
After we had talked for more than an hour, I asked, “Have you ever considered asking God to forgive your sins, placing your faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross and surrendering to the Lord Jesus as your Savior?” His response was simple and to the point, “I would be a fool not to; I just didn’t know how.”
Totally astounded, I replied, “Oh. Well then let’s pray.” I was amazed at Jesus’ ability to penetrate a man’s heart with the seed of grace, truth and light. The Holy Spirit’s ability to convict and convince was a mystery to me then and it still is today.
The farmer cannot explain the way a seed opens and grows into a mature plant. He just knows that when he plants the seed, if conditions are right, it will grow. That’s the way God set up the universe. The farmer can plant and rest with complete confidence in the operation of God’s immutable laws. So may we as we share the seed of the kingdom.
3. The mystery of grace is revealed in the inevitability of growth:
The seed sprouts and grows ... first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head (Mark 4:27,28). The farmer does not make the seed grow, does not even understand how it grows but if conditions are right, nothing can prevent its growth into maturity once it takes root in the soil.
The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it (Isa. 55:10,11).
The word of God never returns empty. It always accomplishes the purpose for which God spoke that word. God spoke into nothingness and darkness, Let there be light, and a universe of light and life burst into being. He is the God who give life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist (Romans 4:17).
The sowing of God’s word into hearts and into history releases powerful forces that result in the salvation of souls and the progressive expansion of the kingdom of God. The sovereign, saving purpose of God is released when we sow kingdom seed. His word is, living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow (Hebrews 4:12). Just as a blade of grass can eventually split a rock, in like manner the word of the kingdom forces its way, pierces its way into hearts and history.
When the angel informed Mary that she would conceive the Son of the Most High in her womb, she asked, How can this be? (Luke 1:34). The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you ... For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
Nothing will be impossible with God can be translated, No word of God is without power. Contained in God’s word is the power necessary to accomplish whatever God’s word proclaims. Just as an acorn contains the DNA of an oak tree, so God’s word contains the DNA of God’s purpose. The word of the kingdom contains in it the life of the kingdom poised to explode into hearts and history.
Through the gospel of the kingdom, God releases redeeming, life-giving power. The Apostle Paul said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (I Cor. 1:16).
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (I Cor. 1:18).
Peter said, For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God (I Peter 1:23).
As the farmer sows seed into the soil, so the church sows the gospel of the kingdom, the word of the cross, into the hearts of those who have ears to hear. The Holy Spirit takes that word and applies it with convicting, convincing grace, producing repentance and saving faith, leading to spiritual regeneration. People are born again, awakened from spiritual death into eternal life.
Just as the farmer had nothing to do with the growth of the seed — he only sowed it into the soil — in the same way, the follower of Christ has nothing to do with the miracle of spiritual regeneration. We proclaim the word of the kingdom but the release of life-giving power through that seed is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit.
The multitude of gimmicks used in evangelism today — the emotional manipulation, the secular business world strategies, the mass marketing of cool Jesus — are entirely useless in leading people to a true experience of salvation. In fact, these may hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the responsibility of believers to be living witnesses of Christ to our generation. We are called to be faithful in planting seed. But the power to produce eternal life is entirely the power of God.
4. The mystery of grace is revealed in the relentless heart of God.
A woman caught in an immoral act was thrown down at the feet of Jesus (John 8:1-11). The mob wanted to stone her. Jesus knelt to the woman in the dust, confronted the mob and refused to abandon her. He challenged those in the mob who were sinless to throw the first stone and I dont see any indication that Jesus was prepared to move, to get out of the way — I think He intended to take the first stone.
In the same way, He came to us, knelt with us in the dust of death, took our humanity upon Himself, took our sin and death upon Himself. Such is the relentless grace of God, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4).
5. The mystery of grace is revealed in the eternal passion of our Lord:
Paul reminds us that God chose us in Him (in Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4,5)
Paul reminded Timothy that the Lord has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Tim. 1:9)
This eternal passion has been expressed in time — But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law (Gal. 4:4)
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time (I Timothy 2:5,6).
The Lord is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Ptr. 3:9). His passion to redeem lost souls existed in His heart from eternity and is being expressed now in time.
There is a mystery in saving grace which reveals the sovereignty of God. The mystery of grace is unexplainable but revealed in growth and harvest. The mystery of grace is revealed in the relentless heart of God and in His eternal passion for lost souls.
Well then, if God is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance, why does the powerful, life-giving word of the kingdom not produce repentance and faith in everyone? Because a human response is required. The seed will grow if the soil is right.
After Peter preached the gospel on Pentecost, the people were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ (Acts 2:37). Peter commanded them to repent and be baptized and 3,000 souls were added to the church that day. The soil of their souls was good, the word of the kingdom penetrated into their souls and produced life.
Yet only a few weeks later the apostles were arrested and brought before the Jewish council. There they testified of Jesus — the same messengers preaching the same Gospel. What was the result? The Jewish leaders were cut to the quick and intended to kill them (Acts 5:33). The word of the kingdom pierced their hearts but they did not receive the word. The seed of the kingdom fell on rocky soil and produced no life (see the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). There is a human response required.
In Matthew 12:24. Jesus cast a demon out of a man, But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons. Jesus questioned their logic, for why would Satan oppose himself? But these men were in far greater danger than simply not thinking logically. They were in danger of committing unforgivable sin.
They had seen countless miracles through the ministry of Jesus. They had heard His wisdom. They had seen and heard enough evidence to know that Jesus was the true Messiah. Against all evidence to he contrary, they were willfully rejecting Christ. But there sin was far more serious than mere rejection of Christ.
All that Jesus did was the result of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The incarnation of Christ in the womb of Mary was the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:35). Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry (Luke 3:22). His atoning sacrifice was in cooperation with the Holy Spirit (Hebr. 9:32). The Father raised Jesus from the dead through the agency of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11).
These men were well aware of the presence of the Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus. They were not speaking from ignorance, rather, they were intentionally, willfully rejecting Christ. But in attributing His ministry to the power of Satan, these men were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This is potentially fatal because no one can be saved from sin except through repentance of sin and faith in Christ. However, in our natural state, we are blind to our sin (2 Cor. 4:4) and spiritually dead in our sin (Eph. 2:1). We cannot receive the capacity to repent nor can we receive the gift of faith except through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit who comes to us, awakens us to our sin, enables us to understand the truth that our sin has separated us from God and brought us under His judgment. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to turn from our sin — this is repentance. The Spirit gifts us with faith, enables us to place our faith in the Savior who died for our sins and rose from the dead. He penetrates our hearts with the seed of God’s word and brings us to salvation. But if we reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit, in fact, if we attribute His ministry to Satan, how can we be saved?
Further, the longer we resist and reject the Spirit, the more calloused we become to His presence. People can become so hardened in sin that they cannot respond to the ministry of the Spirit. At this point, all sin is unpardonable because the Holy Spirit cannot bring them to a place where they will seek forgiveness.
True salvation is the sovereign, mysterious work of grace. God awakens us to receive the word of the kingdom with repentance and faith but not everyone wills to be awakened. Not everyone who is awakened is willing to repent and believe. However, when the seed of the kingdom penetrates a heart and a person receives God’s gift, the growth of that seed into salvation is inevitable.
One final note about patience and faithfulness.
Notice in the parable of the Mysterious Harvest the seasons of growth: first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain (Mark 4:28,29). There is a process in nature and in the kingdom of God. We cannot hurry the process nor delay it. It proceeds according to its God-ordained rhythm. We do well to let patience have its perfect work.
The gospel of the kingdom is sown into a human heart and it matures into saving faith through the unseen work of the Holy Spirit. Some people come to saving faith early and quickly. Others through a long, arduous journey. We pray for them, love them and invite them into the fellowship of the church but we cannot cause, force or manipulate anyone into saving faith. There is a season of growth that requires patience.
There is also a historical and end time aspect to the seasons of growth. The seed of the kingdom is sown into the soil of this age. Now there is this long period of germination, centuries long, while we wait for the mature grain and the return of the Lord of the harvest.
The Apostle James counsels patience: Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains (James 5:7).
Peter reminds us that the delay is not because God is indifferent but because of the outworking of His patient mercy, Not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Through storms of trial and tribulation the church cries out to God with the martyrs at the altar of heaven, How long O Lord? (Rev. 6:10). But there will come a day when the last seed has ripened and the harvest is complete. Then will come that day seen by John:
And I looked and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ And He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth and the earth was reaped (Revelation 14:14-16).
Notice the faithfulness of the servant. He sows the good seed and then sleeps (Mark 4:27). This is not the sleep of unfaithfulness, complacency or indifference. It is the normal sleep of a servant who has labored in the heat of the day and now needs rest. The farmer rests in the confidence that the seed will sprout, growth is inevitable and the harvest will come. The universe is designed that way.
So with the follower of Christ. We labor and we rest, confident that the gospel seed will prosper in hearts that are dark and dead and in a world which is violent and blasphemous in its rejection of its Creator and Savior. The gospel seed will prosper.
There is a sense of quiet trust in the heart of the sower. He does not stay awake agonizing over the seed. Yes, there is a time and place for prayer, for travailing intercession. Yes, we do pray over the seed sown into the lives of the lost. But there is also a time for quiet, faithful rest.
The servant rests because he is weary from labor. He also rests because he cannot cause the seed to grow; growth is based on laws which he cannot control. He rests because he does not understand how the seed grows. It is a mystery to him. So he rests, trusting in the process of growth hidden in the mystery of the kingdom of God.
The farmer not only sleeps. He also gets up by day and continues to labor (Mark 4:27). He knows that the seed will not sprout instantly nor will it mature in a day. So he patiently rests and faithfully rises, in rhythm with the seasons. As in the field of a farmer, so in the kingdom of God. We live in rhythm with the seasons of grace, patiently resting, faithfully rising and sowing.
The word of the kingdom does surely prosper, it sprouts and grows though we do not know how. There is a work which the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the heart of people and in the heart of the age which the human eye cannot see and the human mind cannot fathom. There is an inevitability to the seasons of harvest; God’s word does not return to Him empty but always accomplishes His purpose.
Faith is manifest as we obey God in proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and believe for harvest without understanding or seeing how it will work out. This is walking by faith and not by sight. How many missionaries and church planters have plowed and planted in hard, barren soil with little visible fruit but continued to believe God for harvest?
In some cases, the harvest ripened many years later. There have even been times when witnesses laid down and slept with the saints in glory and the harvest came generations after them. But they sowed and rested in faith.
We look around us at the multiplying darkness, violence and chaos, the almost unfathomable depths of human suffering and grief, the de-evolution of human society. Yet we sow, we sleep and we rise in quiet confidence that the kingdom of God is breaking into hearts and history by God’s power and for His glory. Grace is the most wonderful of all mysteries and we are blessed to not only have experienced this miracle. We are blessed to share in the unfolding mystery of grace outpoured across the earth.
Study Questions
1. When the word of God is sown into a human heart, if that person is receptive, what will the word of God produce in their heart?
2. Why does the powerful, life-giving word of the kingdom not produce repentance and faith in everyone?