The Blade: then the Ear

blade of grass

Everyone loves a beautiful story, so as Jesus put forth these amazing stories it excited his hearers, and draw forth some very thought provoking questions.

Mark 4:26 "And He said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."

The seed represents life; however this life would be none existent without the influence of the soil. It is God who causeth all things to grow so without an input from the creator God no life would be sustained as He is the sustainer of life. There are certain ingredients that are important in the growth of the seed mainly the rain, to water the parched ground, also the sunshine. The ingredients can only be supplied from above. Hence all life can be attributed to God.

The seed when sowed is buried beneath the ground, and therefore hidden from the eye. No one knows what will happen to that seed, whether it will survive or not. However as that good seed lay buried in the earth it takes root and ultimately spring forth providing food for all.

This seed is indicative of the life of the individual who allows God’s word to be their water and sunshine in directing the course of their lives. Though the result of their future is not clear to them they continue to trust Him. In exercising this faith in God they become vessels of honour as they grow from strength to strength as a result of exercising their faith in God, He rewards them with eternal life upon His appearing.

 We are admonished "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." Eccl. 11:6. God's great covenant declares that "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest . . . shall not cease." Gen. 8:22. It is with this confidence that God continues to work on our hearts and lives. "So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55:11. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. 126:6

This amazing story seeks to remind us and compare us to a seed, we are living organism, and God is interested in everything we do. Just as the germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, So Christ expects us to do great exploits for Him and to make our lives a beautiful thing as he provides all that is necessary to the development of our Christian growth. 

 As our physical life becomes a glory to the honour of God even so will we be in our spiritual experience. Without Christ there can be no life equally without growth no life.  The inability to see growth is not indicative that there is none, hence our  spiritual experience with all its struggles and disappointment should not deter us from pressing towards the prize of the high calling which can only be found in Christ Jesus.  Let us maximise our spiritual experience and watch our knowledge in Christ increase.