The Growth of the Kingdom. Mark 4:26-29.
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. “He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. “The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. “But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Dear Children of God,
The contemporaries of Jesus were expecting the kingdom of God. They expected a Messiah who would come in the clouds and overthrow their enemies (Daniel 7:13-14). What Jesus introduces to them concerning the kingdom is totally unexpected.
Ground (v. 26). Jesus teaches that the kingdom will not start with a bang. It will be invisible in the beginning, because the seed will be sown in the ground. We do not know if Jesus had the thought here, but Paul later says that what is sown must first die, then come to life (1 Corinthians 15:36). It is possible that Jesus is talking about his death, already.
Growth (vv. 27-28). The mystery of seed germination and growth is one of the wonders of nature. The farmer sows a seed, then leaves it alone and goes on with life, sleeping and rising with night and day. In the meantime, the seed germinates and progresses from a single blade to the full plant with an ear, then grain. Jesus is saying that they should not expect a revolution but rather, gradual growth. With time, the kingdom will yield a harvest.
Grain (v. 29). But there will be a “revolution.” When the grain is ripe, the farmer “puts in the sickle” to it. In other words, he harvests it. This is an allusion to the final judgment at the end of time. When everything is ready, the judgment will come quickly. God has his calendar set out. Things will happen just as he has ordained it. We should not expect events to take place outside the plan of God. That is why yielding one’s life and plans to God is the best thing one can do for oneself.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.