Don’t Step on the Flowers” The Parable of the Sower
Mark 4:1-20
Growing up on Long Island for a large part of my life I remember playing with my friends on Berry Ct. We would play street hockey, whiffle ball (with a loaded bat and tennis balls), we also enjoy countless basketball games. There was always one area that was off limits in my household though and that was the back yard. On occasion I would go out and play in the yard but I would always hear my Mom say “Don’t step on the flowers”. As far back as I can remember my mom always had a green thumb, as a child my mother was always making the flower garden look beautiful. She was always planting new plants, pulling weeds and watering the flowers. No matter the home we lived in, eventually a beautiful garden was developed, exhibiting vibrancy and life.
In the parable of the sower we read one of Jesus’ parables as he spoke to a crowd of followers. Throughout the years I have heard so many amazing messages addressing the 4 kinds of soil, and how they applied to the season of life that I was in. Every message that I heard and applied to my life truly brought growth and maturity to me. As I was doing some studying on this passage in this season of life’s journey something stood out to me. Within the parable Jesus was addressing the state of the hearts of the people in the crowd. The Pharisees wanted Jesus killed and accused him of being demon possessed (3:6; 22), the crowds sought him out as a miracle worker for hire (3:7-11), and within the crowd there were those who truly were pursuing truth. Their need was so great and they accepted the message of hope that Jesus taught on.
Imagine looking at a crowd of people and seeing past what they were wearing or how they adorned themselves (tattoos, piercings, and jewelry) and seeing the heart. The crowd and the disciples were stumped by this parable. The disciples asked for clarity and Jesus did explain it for them and us. I believe his plan was to get the crowd to think and reflect upon themselves. To ponder the lives right at that moment, to have them check their hearts and accept the message of hope that Jesus was sharing.
When you hear the Word of God, through television, via the internet, or through family and friends where do you stand? Do you receive the Word for that moment and like it but quickly move on to something else? Do you receive it with a level of skepticism and Sinicism and reject it due to misunderstandings, hurts, and experiences from life, or do you receive the Word and because of the need in your heart receive it and apply it to your life? Jesus looked at the heart of the crowd back then and he does the same today. Wherever you may find yourself today take a moment to ponder these thoughts and may they produce hope, strength, and peace in your life today. Allow God’s word into your heart today, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”
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