“And He began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto Him a great multitude…And He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in His doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow…” (Mk. 4:1-3).
What a beautiful illustration of the Word of God was given to us by the Lord Jesus as He sat in the boat and began to teach the multitudes. No wonder the people flocked to hear Him as He spoke with simplicity and power. He later explained this first parable of Mark 4 to His disciples for their benefit when they were alone. It is interesting that He chose to privately give them a clearer understanding of the truths He taught publicly when they had retired into His presence. And it is still so important today to enter the quiet place with Him that He might instruct us more fully in His ways. Let’s take a look at what He revealed to them.
“Behold a Sower Went Forth to Sow”
There are two wonderful pictures of evangelism given to us in the NT. One is that of a fisherman going out to catch fish; the other is that of a farmer scattering seed. Fishing was a group exercise as the fishermen worked together in fellowship with each other. However for the farmer it was an individual and isolated work. In this picture the seed is the Word of God (v. 14). Four things are worthy of note regarding the farmer and his work of sowing the seed. And these four things speak to us of our work in spreading the Word of God.
1. There is preparation for the task at hand. The farmer had to select good seed, buy it, and get it ready for the work that lay ahead. When planning to reach out to the lost it is important to be prepared—to have a solid grasp of God’s Word. This will involve time! We must read, study, and meditate on the Scriptures so that we will be rooted, grounded, and established in the faith. Furthermore, before going out, the right kinds of materials for distribution have to carefully chosen. We must be prepared!
2. There must be an exercise to go, resulting in the farmer’s leaving his comfortable surroundings and entering into a path of isolation, toil, and hardship. He would endure the various elements of nature as well as the dangers that lurked along the way. For us also it will be toil and possibly resentment. Without a genuine burden from the Lord, we will lose heart in the face of such trials. Let us take care we do not become so comfortable in our assembly fellowship that we lose sight of the great need of the perishing around us. Oh for exercised hearts to reach out and touch lives that are broken by sin!
3. It meant a time of great activity! There was constant action as the farmer scattered the seed wherever he went. “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6, nkjv). Faithfully spreading the Word isn’t an occasional, half-hearted undertaking. It requires hard work and long hours.
4. After the farmer had sown the seed, there was need of patience to wait for the fruit to appear. The outcome of the work was not in his control. Paul planted and Apollos watered but it was God who gave the increase (1 Cor. 3:6). So many today feel that sowing the Word of God is not worth the time because they do not see any immediate results. What surprises will be revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ! The writer knows of many who were saved because someone placed the gospel into their hands and hearts, and passed on completely unaware of the result. The seed may lie hidden for a long time before taking root and then bursting through the soil in new life. But faithful sowers will one day see the true fruit of their labor and will be rewarded accordingly.
“And it Came to Pass as He Sowed”
We now consider what took place in the fulfillment of the farmer’s mission. It is here we have a fourfold account as to where the seed fell. Our Lord Jesus tells us of four things that could become of the seed after it reached the ground. And these same results are evident when the seed is sown today.
Some seed fell by the wayside and was snatched away by Satan as soon as it was sown. The enemy of our souls is always seeking to keep the Word out of the hearts of men.
Some landed on stony ground and there was immediate growth. But the growth was temporary because the seed had not taken root. This is like those who initially seem to receive the Word gladly, but stumble and fall at the first sign of opposition because their acceptance of the Word was shallow and superficial.
Other seed fell among the thorns but the thorns choked it so that it could not grow. And so it is in the hearts of many who hear the Word—there is initial curiosity, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches rise up and smother that interest.
However what a joy to read that some seed fell on good ground, took root, and bore fruit! This speaks to us of those who genuinely receive the Word of God and let it take root in their hearts. In such lives fruit is the inevitable result, demonstrating the reality of the living Word of God in the lives of men, women, and children.
The Sower Sows the Word
The Lord makes it quite clear in His teaching that the only seed worth sowing is the Word of God! This is the only seed that can impart eternal, incorruptible life. Peter writes that we “have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God…And this is the Word which was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1:23, 25, nkjv).
The blessings that came to the Colossians (1:5) were in the word of the truth of the gospel. To the Corinthians (2 Cor. 5:19) it was the word of reconciliation. To the Romans (10:8) it was the word of faith. To the Philippians (2:16) it was the word of life. To the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:13) it was the word of God. And the list goes on. What wonderful components and characteristics make up this incomparable good seed!
How Can We Sow?
What are some practical ways we can sow the good seed into the hearts of the people? There is the verbal presenting of the Word in public preaching and in personal witness. Or have you thought about good gospel literature which can be left in all public places? How about leaving a gospel tract in restaurants, washrooms, waiting rooms, buses, trains, planes, laundromats, etc.? What about correspondence, paying bills, or sending directly to various people who hit the news headlines? Or what about reaching people through the mail—regular mail or e-mail?
A dear brother in Scotland never left his home town until he went to be with the Lord, and yet he communicated with people all over the world by sending gospel literature. He received some excellent feedback and what a reward will be his for his faithfulness!
Some may find it hard or may have little opportunity to be in the frontlines of the work of sowing. They may wish to give thought to the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:10 (Moffat): “He who gives seed to the sower and turns that seed into bread to eat will give you the seed of generosity to sow and, for the harvest, the satisfying bread of good deeds done.” You can be a vital part of gospel work by giving practical and prayerful help to those who go forth to sow!
Maybe someone today will be challenged to make a start in sowing the seed. Young men and women, get involved early in life and you will be truly blessed. To those who faithfully sow, keep on and don’t give up! It is a work with fruit for eternity.
“Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters” (Isa. 32:20).