Parables: Lesson Four
Parables in the Gospel of Mark:
An Internet Bible Study Courtesy of PGUMC
Lesson Four: Mark 4:30-32 The Mustard Seed
Review
Lesson Three seemed to introduce yet another subtle element to our discussion on parables. We do not necessarily have to understand how a certain parable works to experience a change in our thought processes in response to it. Sometimes things happen independent of our awareness or comprehension. Emersion in to “Mark’s” world is sometimes sufficient to shift our thought patterns and perspectives.
Responses to Lesson Three
1. How is dumping seeds on the ground different from sowing and planting? What is the parable trying to stress in using such a haphazard approach to agriculture?
A: Dumping seeds on the ground is easy. Just take a bunch of seeds, let them go and BAM! you’re through! If you sow, you must first prepare the soil, then make your row, then carefully place each seed in its designated spot, cover it with soil, water it, fertilized it, take care of it, keep the weeds away, and so on and so forth. (Get it? Sow and so on) It’s a lot more work and your results are much more productive. The gospel is saying that the man who just dumps his seed on the ground doesn’t really care how productive he is. The gospel is emphasizing the fact that in not caring how you take care of your seed, you are also not caring about your crop. In other words, if you are just going around in general keeping your spirituality to yourself or dumping it around haphazardly, you can’t expect to reap great bounties in spreading the Good News to others. On the other hand, if you take the time to “prepare the soil” by first befriending people, then when you “plant the message”, it is much more like to take.
John: There seems to be three different approaches to seed distribution. Planting would include preparing the soil and purposefully placing the seeds into the ground. Sowing is more random and is really just throwing seeds in a field. And then there is dumping the seeds on the ground. In this parable “Mark” seems to be taking out the variables of skill and preparation on the part of the individual who is not even called a farmer, but rather a person. The move here is to place the focus on the seed itself. Despite the effort or lack of effort of the person working the seed seems to have a life and ability to grow and mature independent of the person working the land.
2. Does the identity of the “person” in the parable change the meaning? What happens if you understand the “person” as being: a. God b. Jesus c. disciples d. us.
3. Do you think any one of the possibilities listed above is better than the rest or do they all allow for a meaningful and deeper understanding of the parable? explain.
A: Of course the identity of the person changes the meaning. Different people have different personalities and different motivation so their actions take on completely different meanings.
If the “person” is God, I really don’t understand the idea of “dumping” seeds. God always has a plan. The same for Jesus.
If the “person” is one or all of the disciples, then Jesus is saying the disciples are just walking along with their heads in the clouds – which, I think, they did sometimes – just like us!
I really believe the person is me (or you). I think Jesus (through Mark) is saying: “Listen, you guys, you can just dump the Good News and then wake up and say: ‘Hey, some people actually listened to that!’ Or, you can befriend people, care about them, show them the love of God through acts of kindness (that is preparing the soil) and then, when they are ready, share the Gospel and your results will be much more productive. None of this would be possible if God didn’t have a plan for you to share the gospel. (“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21)
John: Is there really a criticism implied in the parable? Or is it making the case that we do not have to be able to understand in order to appreciate? Could it be that we are not completely to blame or be praised for the final harvest. Remember Paul’s words from1 Corinthians 3.6:
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” I think there is a reminder of the reverence and awe of ministry that is to often lacking in what passes for evangelism.
4. How do you understand the apparent passive nature of the “person” in v. 27?
A: Rather than being “passive,” I see the person in verse 27 as being “young” in his/her belief. I see this person as someone who thinks that just by proclaiming himself as a Christian, he is spreading the Good News. This person has not matured enough in his faith to realize that dumping Christianity on unprepared soil often produces little or no crop, or worse, something you never intended. In 1732, Thomas Fuller said: “Many things grow in a garden that were never sown there.” That is why cultivating the soil or friendship or relationship is the important first step.
John: I’ll go with you half way on this one, but there is a vitality and power in the gospel that is beyond our control and circumstance.
5. Is v. 28 an example of divine grace? How does this meet with modern ideas on evangelism?
A: Well, divine grace means the gifts that God gives to us (life, salvation, creation, etc.) Certainly the life cycle of humanity and the life cycle of a plant, as described in verse 28 is an excellent example of divine grace.
As to the question of evangelism, I am no expert on modern ideas of evangelism. As a very young Christian (in the Baptist Church), I believed it was my obligation (certainly NOT my job) to go out and witness to people. If one person went to Hell because I didn’t witness to that person, I would have to answer for that soul. I went to the Atlanta airport like a Hari Krishna (or however you spell it) and tried to give tracts to people. Surprisingly,(sarcasm) I never found a single person who wanted my tract. In college, I went to Ft. Lauderdale during spring break with the Baptist Student Union to run a coffee house where students could come at night and talk to us Jesus freaks. I don’t remember that being particularly successful either.
As I said in answer number two, I believe now that the most productive and successful evangelism is by befriending people and showing them the love of God through my actions.
John: What about the times when we work diligently and responsibly to share the gospel with others over a course of months and years and decades and nothing seems to happen? Other times we are just minding our own business and out of nowhere the church starts to grow rapidly and uncontrollably. I don’t think that Mark is saying that we do not have a responsibility, rather we cannot always understand the process. We have to be ready however to harvest when the time comes.
6. Is the “person” really inactive in verse 27 or patiently waiting in the face of the divine mystery of faith?
A: I think there is a vast difference in waiting in the face of the divine mystery of faith and being inactive. Sometimes you have to pray about something, then let it go and let God handle that situation. However, there are very many other times when you have to pray about a situation AND you have to be actively working toward a solution. For example, I am currently unemployed. I am praying that God will lead me to the job he wants me to have. I am not, however, sitting around waiting for a job to drop in my lap. I am on the Internet, networking with friends, etc. AND praying that God will lead me to THE job I should have.
John: It has been my experience that to complain is to volunteer.
7. It has been said that this parable can be understood as a guide for rearing children (and new Christians) in the faith. This claim calls notice to times of action such as dumping seeds (baptism and early instruction) and harvest (confirmation and full membership) and seasons of maturation i.e. shoot, stalk, head, and fully ripe grain (ongoing instruction, life in the community, questioning and searching, and finally a profession of faith). What do you think about this possible application for this parable?
A: I think this application for this parable makes sense. People do grow in different stages of their lives just as seeds sprout and grow. This applies to both life in general and life in Christ.
8. Does this parable show a connection or cooperation between human action and divine grace? Is Jesus saying that we are to just sit back and wait or Is Jesus offering words of encouragement for times when our faith, witness, and efforts seem insignificant or fruitless?
A: Well, when you understand that in this parable, Jesus is talking about someone (the sower) who just dumps his seeds on the ground and then goes to bed…you HAVE to believe it shows a connection or cooperation between human action and divine grace. The sower didn’t do a whole lot except dump the seed. He is going to NEED the divine grace of Jesus to make sure that the seed is fertilized and eventually sprouts. In the same way, God expects us to sow seed (spread the gospel) everywhere – not just where it is fertile. Then, through divine grace, that seed will fall into the crevices where it needs to be.
Yesterday, before leaving Galveston, I was feeling especially down and not full of joy. My family decided to take one last swim before checking out but I was essentially alone in the “grown up” pool. A woman I had noticed over the weekend was also swimming alone. We struck up an hour-long conversation that left me smiling the entire day. I later wondered if she were “real” or an angel God had sent to encourage me. There was no preparation for that seed of encouragement. God used his divine grace (through my new friend) to sow that seed of hope for me.
I believe in this parable, Jesus is offering words of encouragement so when our faith seems fruitless, we will not give up hope.
John: Never give up! Never quit trying! Never quit reaching!
Setting the Stage
Once more our parable has to do with an agricultural theme. Once again the movement of the parable is from the imperceptible and seemingly insignificant to the undeniable and obvious. The major difference in the parable this time is the subject of the growth is an invasive and undesirable plant that was neither planted nor welcome in the first century garden. If mustard were to be planted it would be in a very controlled and confined context in a large field to limit the possibility of contamination with different plants.
While reading Mark 4:30-32 please keep the following in mind;
1. Quality vs. Quantity
2. Form vs. Function
3. Potential vs. Experienced
Encountering the Text
Please take the time to read carefully. Read and reread the passage slowly. Make note of any important or unusual words or situations you encounter. After you have finished spend some time in reflection and prayer and consider the questions that follow.
30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?
31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;
32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ Mark 4:30-32 (NRSV)
Encountering the Text through a modern dramatic translation
How shall we compare the dominion of God,
or in what parable shall we put it?
It is as a seed of mustard, which.
whenever it is sown upon the soil,
is smaller than all the seeds sown on the earth,
and whenever it is sown,
it goes up and becomes bigger than all shrubs,
and makes great branches,
so that under its shade
the birds of heaven can make nests.
–Richard W. Swanson, Provoking the Gospel of Mark p. 271
Encountering Comparative Text
23On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. 6All the birds of the air made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth to their young; and in its shade all great nations lived. – Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6 (NRSV)
12Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living beings were fed. 20The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests— 22it is you, O king! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth. -Daniel 4:12, 20-22 (NRSV)
Discussion Questions
1. Try reading Mark 4:30-32 again but this time substitute “kudzu” for the mustard seeds and plant and “rats” or vermin” for the birds. How does this new reading change you understanding of the shocking nature of this parable?
2. This parable lacks the ideas of harvest and the associated themes of judgment and focuses instead on the function of the mature mustard plant as providing shade and nesting places for the birds. How does this illumine your understanding of the function of faith in the life of the believer in the here and now?
3. If small beginnings can have colossal results… How is your faith benefiting those around you? Can a small church be as important and vital to the community as a larger church?
4. Where do you find a word of promise or encouragement in this parable?
5. Is this parable an adequate response to the conflict in the earlier portions of Mark’s Gospel? How does this answer the questions, “Is that all?” or “Is that it?” asked in response to Jesus’ ministry and teachings?
6. Having read this and the other parables in Mark 4: What can be said about our faith? Can we control where faith will sprout? Can we manipulate the germination and growing season of faith? Can a little faith make a difference? Can our little faith have a tremendous and long-term affect on our community and world? Is faith a gift only intended to benefit an individual or a gift given in trust to benefit the whole community?
7. Where have you seen a holy infestation and contamination of the ordinary everyday world in your own experiences?
Please respond and share any questions or suggestions that you might have at this point. I will begin Lesson Five in August after returning from Pastor’s School.
In Christ,
John
