If the good news is to be proclaimed to everyone, everywhere, all through time, then why does Jesus speak in parables? Is it his fault people don’t seem to “get it”?
—
(Click here to read the passage: Mark 4:1-41)
(Click here to start with part 1)
Not Getting the Weather
I remember once, when I was in 5th grade, our student teacher decided to teach us about the weather.
He explained high pressure, low pressure, moisture…everything a meteorologist dreams his audience knows.
But the problem was, none of us were getting it. Not even the bright students.
We scratched our heads, looked confused, asked questions, but all to no avail.
The lesson wore on and the student teacher got more and more frustrated. I’m sure he was asking himself, “Why aren’t they getting it?”
Eventually, our regular teacher took over and things became clear.
Mark’s Frustration
This same sort of frustration finally sets in for Mark in chapter 4.
Mark had described Jesus’ baptism and he had done so in a way to demonstrate that this Jesus is the new Messiah, the new King of Israel who would renew all things.
He had described how Jesus acted with authority, healing the sick, driving out demons, and he had shown how Israel’s traditional identity markers now revolved around Jesus.
But it seems some people just don’t get it.
For the disciple following Jesus, it seems there are many Jews and Gentiles who haven’t signed up for the “Jesus train” yet. Why not?
For Mark, there were people all around him, as he wrote his Gospel, who didn’t get it – and this was even after seeing someone rise from the dead!
And, for us today, there are still people who don’t seem to get it. We look around our small and humble parish and wonder: why hasn’t everyone in Dubuque become a Christian? Why haven’t all Christians joined the historic Orthodox Church? Perhaps, it’s our fault?
But if Jesus wanted it all to be so clear, if this is salvation and renewal, why does our Master go around speaking in parables, one’s that need an explanation? Perhaps, it’s his fault!
I think we’ll find that hidden within the mystery of the parable is the answer we seek.
The Sower and the Seeds
The parable starts simply enough.
It’s the story of a sower – a farmer going out to plant seeds.
But this farmer didn’t have John Deere to sell him equipment that would make sure all the seeds got into the good soil.
Jesus tells us that some seed fell on the road, where birds ate it.
Some seeds fell upon rocks, and when they sprung up, they quickly died.
Other seeds fell among thorns and weeds, which quickly overtook the good seeds.
And, lastly, some seeds fell on good soil – just like we have here in Iowa – and the plants grew strong and healthy.
It’s a simple enough parable. It makes sense. If you want a sturdy and vigorous plant, you want to plant seeds in the best soil possible. You also want it to get the right amount of moisture and sunlight.
OK, some will get it and some won’t. But why?
Food for Thought
Well, the idea of seeds and soil is a very common metaphor in the ancient world. Jesus wasn’t the only one to use this example.
The seeds represent the teaching that a teacher implants into the minds of young students. The soil, of course, represents minds in which the seeds can find nourishment.
But there’s a catch.
Just as the seeds have to be planted in good soil, the teaching has to be planted in minds that are prepared to learn!
Of course, in this case, the teaching is the gospel – the Messiah has come to renewal all things. Through our faith in the faithfulness of this Messiah, we will rise from the dead in glorious bodies and live in a transformed world where true peace reigns.
To us, this sounds like wonderful news! No longer will we live in a world with pain, suffering, and heartache.
But, some aren’t ready to hear this good news.
Taking Root
For those who are “seeds eaten by birds,” they are tempted away from the gospel by Satan. There’s real evil in the world and it spreads all sorts of “fake news.” In this way, Satan comes and “snatches” people away from Jesus.
This may be secularism, atheism, a corruption of the gospel preached by a false prophet or, perhaps, even a cult. The point is, Satan is hard at work.
The seeds that fall on rocky ground represent those who initially hear the good news, but soon drift away.
How many times have we seen converts to the Orthodox faith join but then, after a few years, fall away. They become only a name on a mailing list, no longer regularly living an Orthodox Christian lifestyle.
Finally, there are people who are represented by seeds that fall among thorns and weeds. Jesus explains these seeds in this way.
…they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19 RSV)
The world is very enticing. It’s easy to sleep in, stay home to watch the game, recover from that party last night, or take a mini-Sunday vacation.
In short, there’s always something else to do that keeps us away from church – away from salvation!
So, we have Satan working against some people, the loss of joy for others, and the allure of the world for still others.
But, we still haven’t quite answered our question. We’ve answered – to some degree – why everyone hasn’t yet jumped aboard.
But this may also be the result of an unclear proclamation of the gospel. If we haven’t learned how to communicate clearly, then it’s hard to win people over.
And, then, there’s Jesus, going around speaking in parables? Why all this hiddenness?
Hidden Revelation
The answer to this hiddenness comes – perhaps, ironically – in a hidden manner.
Jesus says that no one puts a lamp under a basket. Instead, you put the light on a nightstand so that its light shines throughout the entire room.
OK, that’s true. But aren’t parables a way of “hiding the lamp”?
Well, “No,” says Jesus.
For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. (Mark 4:22 RSV)
In other words, it is hidden in order that it may ultimately be brought to light!
We know we have been given an eternal secret, but knowing that, we should be drawn into the mystery of Christ.
It should force us to sit up and pay attention, and, when we do, we realize we’ve got something precious – so precious that we understand that we shouldn’t become complacent with this good news.
In some way, it serves as a warning, telling us that we’ve been entrusted with such a message and that it must resound all round the world and all through time.
This may all seem overwhelming. On one hand, we have a message that doesn’t resonate with everyone, but on the other hand, this message is somewhat hidden so that we understand how prized this good news is.
This could make anyone crazy. But Mark ends the section with a story: the calming of the storm.
Peace among Chaos
Jesus finds himself on a boat with his disciples and a storm arises. The disciples start to get really worried. Having seen what Jesus could do, they turn to him to help.
But what do they see? Their Master has fallen asleep!
Doesn’t he care what happens to them? Well, yes, he does… he, of course, wakes up and calms the storm.
Mark is making a point.
God’s sovereign power is being unleashed; that is, God’s kingdom is at hand. It isn’t like people thought it would be, but this is the real thing. …the forces of evil are roused, angry and threatening [like the storm], but Jesus is so confident of God’s presence and power that he can fall sleep on the pillow.[1]
We may feel like we’re in a storm.
It seems our message of “Christ is risen” is fallen on deaf ears. It may seem like people are more interested in rock bands and entertainment than the timeless worship of the triune God.
But, we should not despair.
Like Jesus, we should be calm enough to fall asleep in the midst of the storm. We should not get discouraged. Our task is to keep sowing and not calculate success by appearances.
And so, as we start a new chapter in the history of St. Elias, we continue to sow!
P.S. Come, plant your seed in good soil!
I now invite you to enter deeper into the mystery of Christ with the Orthodox Church!
St. Elias the Prophet (419 N. Grandview Ave., Dubuque)
Saturdays: Great Vespers, 4 pm
Sundays: Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Or find your nearest Orthodox Church by clicking here
—
[1] N.T. Wright, Mark for Everyone (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), pg. 52.