Psalm 92:1–4, 12–15
Mark 4:26–34
I am sure by now that you may have heard that God lavishly extends God’s grace upon us. The grace of God is showered upon all, the undeserved grace given freely to all. Grace is a word that encompasses so much, yet is so elusive at the same time. It is as much of a mystery to fully comprehend God’s grace, as it is to fully comprehend the infinite God being fully present in the finite human person of Jesus.
Ultimately, what God does, in whatever way God accomplishes and does God’s work, is a mystery. God’s work is a mystery that we can accept, as uncomfortable as it may be, accept blindly while seeking understanding. In the gospel of Mark today, this is what Jesus is telling the crowds by the sea.
Jesus, the infinite in the finite, tells the parables to all that are gathered. Not all will understand. Some understand better than others, some may come to an understanding better than others. Part of the understanding is the willingness to hear the word of God.
Here is a kicker though, the disciples are given additional information, they are given the explanation behind the meaning of each of the parables. Today, you receive explanation behind the parables as well.
The person who scatters the seed on the ground and sleeps while it grows is no different than any farmer or the person who grows a houseplant. The seed is scattered or sown, the seed grows, and how life comes from a seed is really unknown except to God. Oh, sure you might be saying that because of fertile soil, water and sun, the seed sprouts. Then with care after sprouting, it matures and then it can be harvested. We want to take charge, care for and nurture the seed. We assist in the growth to “ensure” that it grows and is plenty. That is our human way, to be busy and be involved.
Remember, this is a parable of the kingdom of God. The seeds are scattered and grow. Who grows them? How does the kingdom of God sprout, mature and become ready to harvest, except from the power of God. Will the kingdom grow without our help? Does the kingdom need our help to grow? A mystery for sure, but then the question might really be, do we trust God to do what God says God will do?
I had to be reminded this week about God’s grace, its mystery, and God’s abundant use of Grace in some very unexpected ways. The grace of God comes in so many different facets that at times what we see as burdens or problems really are presentations of grace being showered upon us.
I have a job at the seminary doing computer work. Right now it is not very busy. That has been a problem for me, I want to make sure I am doing work to get paid. It is not right for me to get paid and not fill my day with work. Why should I get a full day of pay on days when there is only a half of a day worth of work?
IT work can be exceptionally stressful for me. A pastor I work with reminded me, that grace comes in many forms. IT is stressful for me, yet I have an opportunity to lower that stress, with less than full days at times. While writing this, it reminded me of the story from Matthew 20, of the employer who paid the same day wages to the laborers of the vineyard, regardless if they worked only a few hours or an entire day.
God’s grace is abundant, like that of the mustard bush. We do not fully understand how such a small seed can produce an abundant bush, yet God’s grace produces abundantly for all who have faith in God’s Son. Yes, even for those who have faith the size of a mustard seed, grace is given abundantly.
We live in a broken world, full of humans that are broken and sinful. Creation its self is broken and we live and interact in that. This is something that is tangible to us. This life we experience is one that we do things to control it, to nurture it, to help mature our life to be something that we can harvest for ourselves at some point. Think about the control that you may be looking to keep in your life.
Where is God in control? The best we can come up with, if we do not try to fool ourselves, is always seen after the fact. Faith is what allows us to let go and let God be in control. Even when do fail to do that, even when we loose faith, and follow other gods, our own control, to obtain wealth in whatever we do, God is still there in abundance, showering us in the kingdom of God and Grace and power.
Do not give up hope in the promises of God. Jesus explained the parables to the disciples; direct from the mouth of God, they received the word. If you look at your Bible, you will see the next story in Mark, is about Jesus calming the storm. The disciples, the ones who were given the meaning of the parables, directly from the Son, are frightened. They have lost control of their situation. They have lost sight of the kingdom of God and the abundant grace being showered upon them.
Jesus calms the storm and then 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”[1] These disciples, the church is built upon. If Jesus believes in them, then Jesus believes in us too. God’s kingdom is like that of the person who scatters the seed and the seed grows and matures to harvest. God’s kingdom is like that of the mustard seed; it grows from the smallest seed to the largest of bushes, to hold us in comfort and care.
THE LORD’S BASEBALL GAME:
Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.
They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.
The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one.
Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were now loaded.
The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, “He sure doesn’t look like much!” Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!
The Lord’s team won. The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why.
The Lord explained, “If your love, faith, and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but, only My Grace can get you home.
Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 4:40.