Devotions

Parables of the Powerful Word

Mark 4:26-34

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 14, 2015

 

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Our text, our gospel reading concludes (in part): “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.”

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

 

Why does Jesus speak in parables? Often the use of story-telling in sermons is justified by Jesus’ use of parables, as the reasoning goes, “Well, Jesus used stories to help the people understand and, therefore, stories should be used in our sermons as well.”

It’s not wrong to use illustrations in a sermon, but to justify it by Jesus’ use of parables misses the point that Jesus did not use the parables to explain the meaning, but (if you will) to hide the meaning! I don’t mean to suggest that Jesus didn’t want all people to believe, but we must acknowledge that Jesus understood that the plain teaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God would be misheard/abused by the impenitent (peoplewithout faith) and only rightly heard by those whose faith gave them “ears to hear.” As he says elsewhere, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” That expression doesn’t mean that if you’re deaf, you’re out of! Rather, this God-man who said “Ephphatha!” to open the ears of the deaf and even spoke to the dead – “Lazarus, come forth!”, “Little girl, get up!” – this Jesus nevertheless spoke in parables to safeguard the gospel from being misused by those who had no faith in Him as Messiah. In fact, early in the chapter of our text, Jesus explain to his disciples,

“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand.’”

 

Notice, only to the disciples – only to those who already believe on his name – doesJesus explains the parables. In our text, he pulls them aside and in private explains the parables, so that they may benefit, whereas others wouldabuse the clear meaning.

How might the message be abused? Well, consider our first parable today, in which Jesus basically says, “The kingdom of God grows of itself; the Holy Spirit gives life to the Churchof himself, the earth (or, in other parables, the soil – the Christian heart) automaticallyproduces fruit… as John the Baptist calls it, “fruit keeping with repentance.”

Now, you know how that could be misused, because we sinfully misuse such promises all the time. The Old Adam in us says, “Well, if Jesus is going to do this all by himself, then I can be lazy. I need not confess the faith. I need not struggle against sin. I need not beware of the evil one. I will indulge in all things sinful and tempting and need not bother to confess the faith, because Jesus will grow his church without me.” Such is how the Old Adam within responds.

But, by God’s grace, He has given you ears to hear, ears of faith able to hear, and so He explains to you (to the shame and killing of the Old Adam and the raising up and strengthening of the New)… He explains to you the parables. So, let’s consider them, beginning with context; if we do not consider the context we often will lose the meaning of the text. Last week, we began what will be a season-long consideration of the Gospelaccording to Mark by considering Jesus say, “One cannot plunder a strong man’s house unless he first binds the strong man.” In other words, if Jesus is going to plunder and ransom us from bondage to sin, death, and the devil, he must first bind the devil, he must be stronger than the strong man.

That theme – the might and strength of Jesus and His kingdom – somewhat flowsthrough the gospel of Mark. This brief gospel is characterized well by the word “immediately” – used repeatedly (more than 40 times) – “immediately” Jesus did this or that in his urgent mission to rescue his church. Perhaps it’s not coincidental that the name “Mark” means “war-hammer,” “battering ram” or more loosely “warrior”… because this is how Mark paints the mission of the Lamb of God.

And so, as we began our consideration of Jesus’ mission last Sunday, we heard that he would be stronger than the strong man. Between that text and ours this morning, the beginning of a series of parables about the sowing of seed. And, today’s first parable:what happens once that seed is sown? – it grows in ways you and I cannot understand. The kingdom of God – the reign of God among the faithful – happens in this way… beyond our comprehension. Consider what Jesus tells Nicodemus: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sounds, but you do not know whence it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Notice that, friends? Not just “so it is withthe Spirit,” but “so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” You do not know how the seed grows in them… but because Christ is stronger than the strong man and has plundered us poor miserable sinners from the devil’s domain, the seed does grow… even though we do not see how, and we often become forlorn that we just don’t see the growth. Nevertheless,planted in Baptism, watered by Word and Sacrament, it grows and produces fruit “by itself,” (automatically, the Greek says), for a good tree will automatically bear fruit. Now, you can see how the unfaithful will misuse such words and why Christ must speak it in parable… where the faithless hear that good works come automatically, they find excuse to be lazy. They say, “Well, if it will come, then I’ll go on sinning or put blinders on to any sort of Christian love and the Lord will produce fruit anyway.” Where the faithful hear of automatic good fruit, they rejoice that they need not be accused by the law that would condemn their inadequacies, but may pursuebearing such fruit apart from the accusation of the law and in the joy of the Gospel.

So, the faithful rejoice in bearing fruit as long as the Lord allows… and only the Lord knows when it is time for the harvest, and he does not come prematurely so as to preclude the rescue of would-be believers, nor does he wait too long as if to be at fault for those who were once healthy but now have grown wildfrom inattentiveness and neglect. Rather, he harvests the faithful at just the right time.

This is a very comforting and very instructive parable. To be sure, were it heard by those who have no ears of faith, it would be horribly misused. But, what comfort to those who hear it with faith in Christ – that His Word is efficacious to do what He promises in our lives. We need not know how it works, just that it does work. We need not worry that He will cut us off before we reach our ‘full growth’ in this life, for he knows our days better than we. We need not worry that He will neglect us so that – though once being in faith – we will be neglected by him, deserted, left to fend for ourselves and will be utterly devoured by the devil.

Christ’s Word will work for us, grant us faith that is strengthened and sustained, and He will harvest us and gather us in at the proper time.

Now, if this is comforting to us for the care of our own souls, it is also comforting and instructive to us for the care of those around us. To be sure, the man of the parable is Christ, who not only sows the seed, but harvests. However, when you speak the faith to others, is it not the Word of Christ that you speak? Therefore, how instructive and how comforting when we consider what this parable says about our confession of the faith.

We can confess the faith boldly… not knowing how the Word will work, but knowing that – where and when the Holy Spirit pleases – it will work. This helps us see that where we despair because our friends seem deaf to our confession, nevertheless the Holy Spirit will work as He pleases. Where we worry that we have not confessed clearly enough and that, “Had I only said this or that, then they would believe,” the Word will work regardless of our inadequate confession. Where we are impatientwith fellow Christians, wondering why they fall into the same sin, frustrated that they don’t seem to get it, don’t seem to have appreciation for the Word of God, where we start to wonder whether they are truly Christians, remember the promise of God – “the Word will work for the purposes for which I sent it.” Where we worry about ourselves and wonder if God’s Word can actually address my daily needs, can actually deliver on its promises, can actually save me from this wretched man that I am, Paul reminds us of this Word, “I am not ashamed of the gospel (of Jesus Christ) for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.”

Where we have encouragement in this, the Adam within also has instruction: Friends,why would we not confess, be shy of confessing, be reluctant to confess the Word of God? We need not be winsome or convincing with the Word of Truth, because it’s not we who are working in the Word, but the Holy Spirit who works to bring to pass the promise of God: “So shall it be for all that comes from My mouth; My word will not return void, but will accomplish that for which I send it.” We need simply speak/confess the Word, rightly dividing Law and Gospel.

This is the same Word that – against the wishes of the prophet who spoke it – brought an entire wicked Nineveh to repentance… the same Word that on the day of Pentecost converted 3000 hearts that had less than two months earlier wanted their Messiah dead… the same Word that brought faith to the most notorious persecutor of Christians in the early Church, that brought faith to the Roman centurion, the Ethiopian eunuch, Lydia and her entire household… the same Word that gave birth to congregation after congregation throughout the culturally diverse Roman empire.

Be bold in the face of the impenitent, of those who despise the gospel, for it just might convert them. Be steadfast with those who are weak-kneed, for it might strengthen them. Be longsuffering with those who seem to pay lip service to, don’t appreciate the Word of Truth, for God Himself is at work when the Word is spoken.

Now, that brings us to the secondparable…a parable that is very straightforward, but unable to be understood by those who have no ears to hear. Because Jesus elsewhere says, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” many misinterpret this parable to be about a measure of your individual faith; but in fact the parable is a word of comfort that the Word willdo its work. The humble seed that is sown with humble means will bring forth a mighty yield; otherwise said, the kingdom of God – the reign of Christ (the Church!) – will flourish, even though it at first looks insignificant.

How simply this can be understood when we look at the cross of Jesus – which at first even his most ardent faithful assumed was his demise. And yet, from that cross comes everything good… forgiveness, life, and salvation… even as the spear pierced Jesus’ side to show his defeat, it instead poured forth the water-and-blood fruits of his victory. So also, you must never doubt the fruits of His Word or the reign of His kingdom. The Word will accomplish that for which it is sent, and Christ’s kingdom will remain, prevail, and increase as He desires.

As the parable even says, it begins as a seed (the word there in the Greek is the same word that would be used to describe the seed of the woman against the seemingly insurmountable offspring of the devil… or the single seed of Abraham from which would come a lineage as numerous as the stars). It begins as a seed and grows to such a state that the birds of the air find shelter under its branches… in fact, the word describing the birds is that they tabernacle, dwell – same root word as the dwelling of the faithful with their God.

Indeed, this kingdom of God, this reign of God among His Church, began with the most humble of seeds… a child born of a humble mother, who grew up to stretch out his arms upon the cross, that all faithful might find shelter under His blood and merit. And God in the flesh continues to build and preserve andsustain and even grow His Church in ways we do not see and cannot understand, yet every day the one Stronger than the strong man beats him back so that the powers of hell do not prevail against Christ’s Church.

Friends, Jesus has given you ears of faith to listen to, rejoice in, and be comforted by His Word… the Word that promises that He is the Tree that has grown up larger than any other(the sprig of Ezekiel’s prophecy that has been planted in the holy mountain) and has provided shelter, safehaven, salvation – a veritable tree of life for all who call on his name. Therefore, he who has ears to hear, let him hear.

 

In the Name of the Father

And of the Son

And of the Holy Spirit.

+ AMEN +

 

 

Rev. Mark C. Bestul

Calvary Lutheran Church

June 14, 2015

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Prayers for the week of June 14, 2015

 

Lord God, our Heavenly Father, grant growth and life to the Church, and scatter lavishly the seed of Your Gospel, that Your promises bear the fruit of faith in us, and we pray that we walk not in the counsel of the wicked but delight in Your teaching.  Lord, in Your mercy; hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. 

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” 

2 Corinthians 5:9

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A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

 

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

 

In the Name of the Father and of (+) the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

O Lord, “If you would mark iniquities, O Lord, who would stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.” As a Father who deeply loves His children, You promise to freely forgive us as we repent of our sins. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:

* For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, without You, man has no hope for the sick to be healed or the sinner to be forgiven;  yet You have shown Your power and will to do both. Hear my prayer for those who are ill, suffering, or injured, especially Dorothy Otto*, Anna Lindemann, Edna Citizen*, Edith Ross, Jim and Pat Baker, and Susan Ail; comfort them with the certainty that – because their sins have been forgiven on account of Christ Crucified – they may be certain that you will provide for their temporal health and their eternal well-being, in accord with Your will.

* For the anxious, lonely: O God, You promise to answer those who call upon You in their day of trouble. Hear my prayer on behalf of all who are troubled; forgive them where – in trial and tribulation – they grow weary and doubt your Word. Strengthen them through Your Word of Truth and its promises, reminding them that – because they are forgiven in Christ – nothing can separate them from Your love.

* For the mourning: O Lord, You take no delight in the death of even the wicked, but desire all men to be saved, and have given Your only-begotten Son to bear the sins of all the world. Hear my prayer on behalf of any who mourn the death of a loved ones.  Comfort them with the promise that we have been forgiven in Christ, so that all who die in Christ still live with Him in paradise. Comfort them in this time of sorrow, that they would not grieve as those who have no hope, but as those to whom belongs the certain hope of “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

·         For the rejoicing: O Lord, because You have paid the redemption price in Christ, and have forgiven all our trespasses, You also delight in giving us every blessing under heaven. Hear my prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of  all who today rejoice.  Grant thema thankful heart that rejoices in the many blessings that flow to them as those forgiven through the blood of the Lamb.

Please bless our shut-ins including Geraldine Hagemann, Velma Maas, Irma Martin*, Margaret Joseph, Bruce Morecraft and also bless the Widows and Widowers of Calvary.

Please bless Jane Doe that her husband be delivered and restored from sexual addiction and find healing and restoration of relationships through getting help from a Christ-centered recovery center.

 

Please bless Jay Smith- to put an end to the constant spiritual warfare he battles, and for God to give him the ability to rest in His grace.

 

Hear my petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, in Whom we have the forgiveness of sins and, thus, the right to come to you as dear children who have been taught to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”