On Line Bible Study - For the week March 2 - 8, 2009

Lesson 377

Mark 4: ²⁶He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

Donahue and Harrington point out a simple grammatical point that can change how we might read this text. He also said ... is translated in their commentary like this: And he would say ...

A small thing, but such a different twist! It is much more conversational to read it that way, and this alternate translation is the more literal one than what is above in the NIV translation.

The T-Shirts and Bumper Stickers that were so popular several years - WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? Donahue and Harrington open up another approach for us - in any given circumstance what might Jesus say? And he would say ... Now, to the parable...

How random is the scattering in this "kingdom of God" story. In the parable of the Sower (Mark 4:3-8) we are told of four very specific locations where the seed was scattered - 1. Along the path. 2. On rocky places. 3. Among thorns. 4. On good soil. Then, Jesus presents two patterns, more apparent in the Greek text of Mark 4:27, where the word "and" occurs five times. There is the pattern of "night and day" (notice the Hebrew way of marking time here - the day begins with the evening before). Part of that pattern is the sleeping and rising that we humans do. The second pattern is that of "sprouting" and "growing". "Growing" is, in the Greek, literally lengthening. The seed bursts forth from the ground, and then slowly, over time, grows longer. All this is happening as the man watches and goes about his daily routines. This unhurried, natural progression is again underscored with the "stalk, then the head, then the full kernel ..." This happens "all by itself" Finally, the harvest is gathered. There is great similarity between this verse and Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.

God's power is behind all of this. It may be happening gradually such that we hardly can see any difference. But in our lives the kingdom of God is being played out - in every one of life's routine circumstances. Indeed, isn't it in the "routines" of our lives that we experience both the most satisfaction and the greatest challenges? We use the season of Lent to introduce something a bit out of the ordinary into our daily patterns - but the truth of it is that our lives are built on the routines we have adopted and adapted to day after day. In those routines, do we hear Jesus speaking? And he would say ... What would he say?

Mark 4: ³⁰Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. ³²Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Pliny (AD 23 - August 29, 79 - he died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius) described the Mustard Plant as one that germinates rapidly and takes over a garden. The point of the parable seems to be simply this - that the kingdom of God is both "hardy and intrusive" - it cannot be stopped, and it's strength must not be underestimated. Ultimately it will win the day. There is an eschatological dimension to these parables - an ominous ring to them that balances the "nearness" proclaimed by Jesus in Mark 1:15 The kingdom of God has come near. It is "near" in that it is being worked into our lives every day; but the day of harvest will come.

Next time, the STORM. Look at Mark 4:35-41 if you get the chance.