WEBVTT 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:06.719 Well, for the last several weeks, we've worked our way through this chapter, which is Mark's 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.480 record of Jesus's parabolic teaching. 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:15.780 And today we finally come to the conclusion of what Mark is really trying to get across 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:16.920 in this particular chapter. 00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:23.080 If you'll remember, it all began with a lakeside gathering, thousands of people perhaps gathered 00:00:23.080 --> 00:00:25.820 on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 00:00:25.820 --> 00:00:31.079 Finally, Jesus pushed out into the lake in a small fishing vessel probably, and he begins 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:32.480 to teach the people from there. 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:37.000 But he did something different this time around, something different than he had been doing 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.100 before, at least according to the question that his disciples later asked. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.659 He started to teach in stories. 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:49.960 And he told this story, according to Mark, about four types of soil in which a farmer sows 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:54.519 his seed, and each type of soil has a different reaction to that seed. 00:00:54.519 --> 00:00:55.679 And he really just leaves it at that. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:56.600 He doesn't explain it. 00:00:56.759 --> 00:00:59.259 He just tells the story, and he moves on. 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:05.260 And then as we get later on into the chapter, verse 10 or so, we find out that the disciples, 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:13.200 in a private setting, asked Jesus not only about that particular story and what he meant 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.260 by it, but they were asking really, in essence, why are you starting to teach this way? 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:20.719 Why are you starting to teach in these parables? 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:26.719 And Jesus gives that explanation, and he explains the purpose of the parables, and we've covered 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:28.340 that in great detail. 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:35.299 These stories brought gospel clarity to some people, but to others, they actually hardened 00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:37.120 their hearts further. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:42.460 So the parables were sort of a testing of the soils, so to speak. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:45.000 It was a testing of man's heart. 00:01:45.580 --> 00:01:52.600 Only those who were believing Jesus, believing the gospel, following Christ, were able to 00:01:52.600 --> 00:01:54.980 receive this gospel clarity. 00:01:54.980 --> 00:02:00.079 But those who were not willing to follow Christ, those who were not believing him, actually, 00:02:00.240 --> 00:02:05.600 their hearts through these stories were hardened further against him and against his purpose 00:02:05.600 --> 00:02:09.120 and, of course, the ministry of the word in their lives. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:15.199 So this time of private explanation of this really goes from verses 10 all the way to verse 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:16.580 25. 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:22.240 In fact, verses 21 to 25, as we mentioned last week, is really not possible to really understand 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:25.500 those without verses 10 through 20. 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:29.400 That's where it's all one conversation Jesus is having. 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:36.340 Now, beginning in verse 26, Mark transitions again away from Jesus's private teaching. 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:40.580 This is no longer the private setting of just him and a few of his followers. 00:02:40.580 --> 00:02:49.160 This is now the recounting of Jesus's parables as taught to the crowds as he would go from 00:02:49.160 --> 00:02:51.000 place to place. 00:02:51.260 --> 00:02:57.060 Now, remember, Mark isn't covering Jesus's life in a strictly chronological way. 00:02:57.460 --> 00:03:03.280 He's painting this mosaic, so to speak, and he's capturing these different facets of Jesus's 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.120 ministry and Jesus's purpose and his identity. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:14.080 And in this particular chapter, he's dealing specifically with the facet of Jesus's teaching 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.480 ministry that involved parables. 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:24.460 And as he's going through it here, he's not just providing a random sampling of stories, 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:33.620 but he has specifically chosen these parables of Jesus to gather in his gospel in order that 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:37.400 we might understand the ministry of Jesus in a particular way. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:39.900 So it may seem that they're somewhat random. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:45.420 It may seem that Mark has just kind of grabbed here and there to give us a sampling of Jesus's 00:03:45.420 --> 00:03:47.539 teaching, but that's not really what he's doing. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.539 All of these are here for a purpose. 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:51.219 All of them are there. 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:52.300 They're linked together. 00:03:52.540 --> 00:03:56.259 And we understand that as we go through it. 00:03:56.259 --> 00:04:03.639 So though these final two stories that we just read were not likely taught on the same day, 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:09.599 they do work together thematically with the earlier parable of the soils. 00:04:10.079 --> 00:04:17.019 Every parable in every public parable, at least in this passage is agricultural in nature. 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:22.240 And they illustrate the nature of the kingdom of God. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:27.860 And because they were taught to mixed crowds in a public setting, there's no explanation given. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.860 Remember the explanation for the parable of the soils was not given to the crowds. 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:34.699 It was given to the followers of Christ. 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:39.600 And so it goes, as we get through some of these parables, very seldom do we actually see an 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:45.120 explanation of the stories unless Jesus is giving it in a private setting. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:48.759 So before we go any further and really jump in, these are simple stories. 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:50.040 It won't take us long to get through them. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:55.220 But before we jump into those, let's talk about what this kingdom of God thing is. 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:59.360 Because that's essentially the topic of Jesus is preaching, right? 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:00.939 We just read that in chapter one. 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:06.600 Jesus is going throughout Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of the kingdom of God. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:13.660 And now we get here and every one of these parables, he is comparing now to the kingdom. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:15.520 Well, what's that all about? 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:23.659 Well, broadly speaking, the kingdom of God refers to God's sovereign rule over all of creation. 00:05:23.659 --> 00:05:32.899 So in the broadest possible sense, what we mean by this is that God is sovereign and that he rules all that he has created, which is everything. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:44.500 But when we get to the new Testament and we see this discussion of the kingdom of God, there is a much more narrow emphasis throughout the scriptures that we read. 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:59.060 And so the kingdom of God in the kingdom of God in the kingdom of God in the new Testament largely refers to God's spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who are willing to believe and follow Christ as Lord. 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:02.839 So it's in essence, the sphere of salvation. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:08.300 So those who are unwilling to believe and follow Christ are not a part of the kingdom. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:16.759 Those who do follow Christ, who submit to his Lordship, who believe him in faith are a part of the kingdom. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:18.800 And so this is the theme. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:22.040 This is the overarching theme of what Jesus is preaching. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:28.240 When he's talking about the kingdom of God, he is speaking of this sphere of salvation. 00:06:29.260 --> 00:06:33.000 And so this kingdom language is used all throughout the Bible. 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:43.460 And we would even be right to say that the overarching theme of all of the scriptures is the gospel of the kingdom, especially as we view it through Christ. 00:06:43.460 --> 00:06:46.500 Now, think about the crowds that we're hearing Jesus teach. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:57.839 A thoughtful Jew in first century Israel would have understood the prophecies of the kingdom from the Old Testament. 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:08.180 But because of that, they would have had some difficulty grasping exactly who Jesus was and exactly what he was doing. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:14.160 Because they expected that the Messiah would establish a physical kingdom. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.920 And that this kingdom would come suddenly and that it would come all at once. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:26.600 In fact, if you read through some of the Old Testament prophecies, especially the ones that kind of focus in on what John the Baptist ended up being, 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:31.600 which was the voice in the wilderness, you'll see some of that language about the kingdom coming suddenly, 00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:33.720 that it's coming in great power. 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.939 And so a thoughtful Jew would have processed it that way. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:40.079 They would have thought this kingdom really is a kingdom of deliverance. 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:41.160 It's a physical kingdom. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:50.579 And the Messiah is going to come as a triumphant warrior, as a political leader that will once and suddenly finally deliver us from this Roman control. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:53.019 And he will establish this physical kingdom. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:55.819 And so this is what they expected the Messiah to be. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:08:00.620 So they were likely confused when they came across Jesus. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.699 Because on one hand, here is a man that was clearly sent from God. 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:11.879 I mean, he's going from town to town and he's performing miracles that the likes of which have never been heard. 00:08:12.659 --> 00:08:19.319 Nowhere in the Old Testament do we see miracles to the scale and to the extent as the miracles of Jesus. 00:08:19.659 --> 00:08:25.579 There is clearly something fascinatingly unique about Jesus of Nazareth. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:27.279 And they know that. 00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:36.319 There's no way, even though the Pharisees and the scribes tried to paint a picture as if he was actually sent from Satan and that he had the power of Satan to do these things. 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.659 The people knew better than that. 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:40.860 There's why crowds were following him. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.139 People are being healed all over the place. 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:45.879 These amazing miracles are taking place. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:53.100 And then when they would stop long enough to actually listen to him teach, their response to his teaching was, nobody teaches like this. 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:56.259 He teaches us different than the scribes teach us. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:00.299 He teaches with authority, the people said. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:03.299 And we understand the source of that authority. 00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:05.120 He's the son of God. 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:06.600 Well, they didn't grasp that. 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:11.559 And so on one hand, they're thinking, this man is clearly sent from God. 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:14.359 There is clearly something unique about him. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.099 And he has a unique purpose here. 00:09:16.739 --> 00:09:20.459 But the kingdom is supposed to come suddenly. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:23.699 It's supposed to come all at once. 00:09:24.059 --> 00:09:25.759 It's going to be physical. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:27.739 It's going to be triumphant. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:29.199 It's going to be victorious. 00:09:29.719 --> 00:09:31.239 So they didn't know what to do with Jesus. 00:09:31.839 --> 00:09:32.619 They didn't know what to do with him. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:36.779 Even his closest followers didn't get it. 00:09:37.439 --> 00:09:38.139 They didn't get it. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:42.500 Even leading up all the way to the cross. 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:45.179 What was it that the disciples have it in their mind? 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:46.360 The 12 especially. 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:48.419 That Jesus, it was time. 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:49.360 We're going to Jerusalem. 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:52.139 Jesus is about to get this thing going here. 00:09:53.199 --> 00:09:55.860 He even told them plainly over and over. 00:09:56.199 --> 00:09:57.240 I'm going to go to Jerusalem. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.240 I'm going to suffer there. 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:01.100 I'm going to die there. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.779 And three days later, I'm going to raise up from the dead. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.600 He plainly told his disciples that. 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:06.340 They didn't get it. 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.179 They didn't get it. 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:10.199 Because that's not what they expected the Messiah to do. 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.399 They didn't expect him to suffer. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.879 They didn't expect a spiritual kingdom. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:18.179 They expected a very physical kingdom. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:22.579 And so when Jesus gives these two parables here in Mark chapter 4, 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:25.979 he's addressing these misunderstandings. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:29.139 He's trying to set right. 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:30.899 At least for those with believing hearts. 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:31.920 With ears to hear. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:37.180 He's trying to set right the misunderstandings that they had about the nature of the kingdom. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:40.159 And what his purpose was in it. 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:44.460 And so those who were believing Christ like the 12. 00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:46.680 Gained a gospel clarity. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:48.800 And that progressively grew through time. 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:51.340 It especially became clear after the resurrection. 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:56.019 But those with unbelieving hearts likely walked away disappointed. 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.060 Now imagine again. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:10:59.879 You're in this crowd. 00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:02.000 You're a first century Jew. 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:06.920 That is excited that there is someone with signs that they could be the Messiah. 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:09.899 And you go to listen to him teach. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:15.840 And as he teaches, he tells this story about the kingdom that insinuates that it's not going to come suddenly. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.240 That it's not going to come all at once. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:18.419 And that it's not going to be physical. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:20.779 And that it's not going to be this triumphant victory over Rome. 00:11:22.459 --> 00:11:25.959 And if you are unbelieving, what are you going to do? 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.480 You're going to walk away. 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:28.639 Why am I going to? 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.799 Yeah, surely there's something significant about this guy. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.079 But I'm not going to waste my time. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.340 I'm looking for Messiah. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:35.500 I'm looking for the one. 00:11:36.319 --> 00:11:38.519 Because I'm ready to be delivered from all of this. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:43.720 And so those who had ears to hear began to follow Christ. 00:11:43.819 --> 00:11:45.279 They gained clarity through these stories. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:48.679 But those who didn't have ears to hear, they weren't fruitful hearers. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.059 They walked away. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:52.419 And they walked away in disappointment. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:56.220 And so this passage really covers two simple stories. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:01.620 And then it provides kind of a final summary of the parabolic teaching of Jesus. 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:05.019 Both stories are about how the kingdom grows. 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:07.279 But they do each have a unique emphasis. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:12.039 The first focuses primarily on growth itself. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.240 The second one, though, contrast for us. 00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:19.399 Small beginnings with really incredible results. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.939 And so let's just look at the two stories. 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:22.559 We're going to focus a lot of time on the first one. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:24.240 And just a little bit of time on the second one. 00:12:24.439 --> 00:12:25.740 And then we're going to bring it to a close. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:29.419 As we gear up for our Easter service next week. 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:29.639 Okay. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.580 Number one. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.700 Let's look at the first parable. 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:33.060 Which is the growing seed. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.680 The growing seed. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:37.399 And we find this in verses 26 to 29. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:40.659 In fact, look with me first at verse 26. 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.399 And he said, 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:47.899 The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:55.399 Now, if you were wondering why I could be so certain that this parable and the next one is about the kingdom of God. 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:57.699 It's because the text plainly says it. 00:12:57.959 --> 00:12:58.819 It just tells us. 00:12:59.199 --> 00:13:00.500 Jesus says right from the beginning. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:04.720 The kingdom of God is as if a man's scattered seed on the ground. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:11.060 Now, I think a few weeks ago when we first started this chapter, we talked about what a parable actually is. 00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:15.139 And if you're like me and you grew up in Sunday school, then you would answer that how? 00:13:15.540 --> 00:13:19.480 A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.660 And that's true. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:27.600 But the word parable we discussed comes from two Greek words that really come together to form this one. 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:29.080 One means beside. 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:30.240 It's a preposition. 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:32.300 And the other one means to lay. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.060 To lay down. 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:37.979 And so when we're talking about parables, it really literally means to lay something down. 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:40.899 And so Jesus with these parables is making comparisons. 00:13:41.339 --> 00:13:43.479 He's laying down an earthly story. 00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:48.799 Something that even the children in the crowd would have been able to understand. 00:13:48.979 --> 00:13:52.399 It's a clearly simple, understandable story. 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:58.059 And what he means to do is take the kingdom, lay it beside of it, and draw some parallels between the two. 00:13:58.199 --> 00:13:59.500 They're illustrations, right? 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:07.500 So Jesus tells us right off, he says, the kingdom of God should be compared to a man who casts seed in the field. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:13.820 And so he returns to this agricultural theme, which might have surprised a few folks in the audience. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:17.899 Their ears might have perked up at first because he says kingdom of God. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:21.899 Now that excited them because in the kingdom of God, they're thinking deliverance. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.559 They're thinking revolution. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.899 And they think this story is going to be something big. 00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:29.600 It's going to have a triumphant hero. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.939 And there's going to be just, and this is going to get us pumped up. 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:35.899 And we're all going to go by the thousands to Jerusalem and take control. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.699 When they hear the kingdom of God, they're thinking something big. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:44.280 But it's interesting, Jesus doesn't use stories like that when he's talking about the kingdom. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:55.759 He just gives this very common, simple, really ordinary story about a farmer throwing some seed out in the field. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:01.400 The seed here represents the gospel at work in growing the kingdom. 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:07.220 And of course, the farmer then would represent anyone who is sharing that gospel. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:14.120 This particular parable is exclusive to Mark's gospel, which is why we're going to spend a little bit more time here. 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:17.639 Let me just give you three notes that I think help me understand what's happening here. 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:19.059 Maybe it'll help you as well. 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.240 The first thing is this. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:22.620 This is an invisible work. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:26.639 The growth of the kingdom is an invisible work. 00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.620 So look with me at verse 27. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:31.860 The farmer has gone and he's cast his seed in the field. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.820 And then here's what he does. 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:38.340 He sleeps and rises night and day and the seed sprouts and grows. 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:40.320 He knows not how. 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.039 So he goes to bed. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.200 He gets up. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.720 He goes about his life. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:51.159 And then at some point in the midst of all of that, something happens with the seed that he threw on the ground. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:56.019 Now remember, these people expected that the kingdom would come suddenly and visibly. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:16:02.240 But Jesus said that the work of the gospel is at first imperceptible. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.139 What is it that the farmer thought? 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.699 He has no idea how this is going to work. 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:11.500 He has no idea how this is actually going to grow. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.620 Consider the story. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:15.139 He goes about his life as usual. 00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:18.059 Eventually, he sees some growth. 00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:22.779 But he's unaware of how that seed works, at least in the beginning. 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.959 He has no idea what kind of work is being done under the surface. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.819 He can't see it. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:34.159 Even if he knows what happens in a general sense, he really can't understand exactly why it happens the way that it does. 00:16:34.339 --> 00:16:35.319 He doesn't know. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:36.599 He just casts the seed. 00:16:37.239 --> 00:16:39.039 Something happens that he can't see. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.859 It's an imperceptible work. 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:44.120 And then suddenly, there is growth. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:52.899 The farmer understands that there is a more significant, invisible power at work in the ground 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:56.740 by which that seed that he cast dies. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:02.200 And then somehow in that death produces life. 00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.839 We know that's how it works. 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:08.000 I don't know that we understand why it works that way. 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:12.919 But you can't have any kind of produce without first the death of the seed. 00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:15.000 The farmer knows that's what happens. 00:17:15.199 --> 00:17:16.119 He doesn't know how. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.099 He doesn't know when. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:20.199 He just casts the seed and he goes on. 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:30.859 In the same way, there is a greater, invisible work of God being accomplished in the hearts of people that hear the gospel preached. 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:37.439 God is building his kingdom in ways that are often imperceptible to us. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:39.559 And that's the point he's getting across to the people. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:47.039 Yeah, I know that you're expecting this visible, extravagant thing, but you need to know that the kingdom grows in ways that you're not going to understand. 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:51.299 In fact, it's going to be growing and you're not even going to know that it's growing. 00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:56.079 God's going to be working and you won't be able to perceive it all the time. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:59.039 But we can't always see or understand it. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:08.579 We can be assured that it is working, that he is working, that the kingdom is growing, that the fruit is ripening. 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:12.019 Sinclair Ferguson wrote this. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.720 I think it's helpful. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:24.200 He said, what Jesus is saying is that from the outside, his preaching and teaching may seem as fruitless, an occupation as that of a man throwing seeds about in a field. 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:28.819 But it is that activity that eventually produces the crop. 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:37.319 It may appear to our eyes that nothing is happening, but all the time the seed is at work to produce the harvest. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.420 And Jesus says, this is how the kingdom works. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.980 This is what we can compare it to. 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.580 It's not what you expect. 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.580 In fact, you may not even know that it's happening, but it is. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:48.639 It is. 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.980 And it's an invisible work of God. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:56.139 Now, it's really great to have Amy's parents with us. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:19:00.519 They have this awesome shop in Wilkesboro with this greenhouse. 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:03.919 I don't know why they trust Andy to run that, but he does. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:09.439 And every now and then, I will get into a conversation with Andy about how I need to grow stuff at my house. 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:13.439 Because I have this unique ability to kill things without growing anything in return. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:18.000 So, I can throw out seed in my yard, and it will die, but nothing will produce from it. 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:21.039 So, I'm not sure exactly how that works, but that's how it works for me. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.500 But every year about this time, in fact, I'm going to do it in a couple weeks. 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.320 We've already talked about it. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.860 I'm going to go out in my yard. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:30.080 I'm going to buy some grass seed from Lowe's, and I'm going to do the thing. 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:33.200 I'm going to go out, and I'm going to put it in the spreader, and it's going to spread, and it's going to cast it out. 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.860 I'm going to do the thing that you're supposed to do, right? 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:37.740 And then as I do the thing, maybe I'll put some fertilizer or whatever. 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.779 And here's what I'm going to do, because I'm impatient. 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.440 I'm an impatient person. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:47.220 Every day, I'm going to walk outside, and I'm going to look at these massive bear spots in my yard, 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.680 and I'm going to see if anything's happening with it. 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:52.400 And then I'm going to plague Julie with questions for days. 00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:54.299 Why isn't this working? 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:58.140 I put the seed in the ground, and nothing is happening. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:03.200 But then eventually, it will probably be scorched in the sun, 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:07.820 but eventually, there's going to be some things begin to shoot out of the ground. 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.200 It may take a couple weeks, but it starts to do it. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:15.759 In fact, there's a word that Jesus uses in this verse for sprout, is the English word here. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:21.740 The Greek word is blasto, which means to blast, to blast up. 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:24.580 And that's what's happening with the farmer. 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:26.380 He's going out, and he's casting his seed. 00:20:26.580 --> 00:20:28.559 It's doing this work that he can't see. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.180 He can't perceive it. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:34.660 But all of a sudden, blast, blasting out of the ground are these blades. 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:41.000 And then as he tends to it, and as it continues to grow, it turns into other things, and it eventually produces fruit. 00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:42.740 And Jesus said, this is how the kingdom works. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.640 This is how the kingdom works. 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:45.880 We cast the seed of the gospel. 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.880 And we don't know what God's doing with it. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.120 He's doing something with it. 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.200 We don't know exactly what. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:54.779 But every now and then, we're going to see blasting out of the surface these little tiny blades. 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.019 These little tiny blades. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:21:01.819 And if they're fruitful hearers of the word, and they're not just the soil that is rocky, and they're not just the soil that is shallow. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:07.460 It's going to grow, and it's going to produce fruit, and ultimately, it will reap the harvest. 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:09.180 So it's an invisible work. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:12.059 Secondly, it's an automatic work. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.799 It's an automatic work. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.240 Look with me at verse 28. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:19.460 The earth produces by itself, Jesus says. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:23.259 First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:31.579 Now, what's rendered here as by itself is the same word from which we get automatic or autonomous. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:41.200 And the emphasis here is on the seed's power to germinate and produce apart from human interference. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:46.860 Now, if you're like me, I ask Mr. Quo all the time about his garden and how things are coming. 00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:48.720 He's much better at gardening than me. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.620 But he's going to till his ground. 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:51.779 He's going to put his seed out. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.740 There's nothing he can do to make that grow. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.980 He just does what he's supposed to do. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.480 He casts the seed. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:00.100 It does its thing. 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:03.819 The power is in the seed itself to germinate and to produce. 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.440 And that's what Jesus is saying. 00:22:05.620 --> 00:22:07.440 This is an automatic work. 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.340 It's apart from any human interference. 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:12.240 Now, think about this in terms of the kingdom. 00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:14.740 Because we get confused with this sometimes. 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:18.240 Sometimes out of zeal for the gospel, but we still get confused. 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:24.639 We think, if I can just construct through human ingenuity just a better way to do church. 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:30.339 Or a better way to frame the gospel in conversation. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:34.759 Or if I can just find more creative ways to do this, 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:39.059 then I'll be able to produce what God seems to be having a hard time producing. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:43.579 But no, this is, the power's not in me. 00:22:44.459 --> 00:22:45.899 The power's not in you. 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:49.419 The power's not in our best apologetic argument. 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:54.919 The power is not in how creative we can be in our approach to ministry. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:56.759 No, the power is in the seed. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.019 It's in the word. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:04.619 And as the word is sown, it does the work that God intends for it to do. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:07.720 Our job is to be faithful. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.339 Faithful to spread the seed. 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:14.859 And then in turn, we trust God to produce the fruit. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:17.019 Paul wrote to the Corinthians, 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:22.759 I planted, Apollos watered, God gave the growth. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.139 And then he goes on to say, 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:30.879 So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:33.740 but only God who gives the growth. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:35.220 Look, there's no power in us. 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:37.099 We can't produce salvation in people. 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:39.240 We can't make the kingdom grow. 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:41.740 We can just be faithful to what God told us to do 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:44.500 and trust him to do with his kingdom what he intends to do. 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:47.299 And we should trust that he will do that. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:51.140 Because it's the word that has the power to bring life. 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.359 Isaiah said this. 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.660 Isaiah 55. 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:59.140 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:01.960 and do not return there but water the earth, 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.620 making it bring forth and sprout, 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:07.839 giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:11.599 so shall my word be that goes out of my mouth, 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.299 God says. 00:24:12.959 --> 00:24:15.179 It shall not return to me empty, 00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:18.719 but it shall accomplish that which I purpose 00:24:18.719 --> 00:24:22.019 and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:25.779 Listen, our job, church, is to cast the seed, 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.379 share the word. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.519 It is the word that gives life. 00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:31.259 And as we are casting the seed, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.639 trust God to do his work. 00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:35.279 Trust him to do his work. 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:37.179 Terry and I were talking about this yesterday 00:24:37.179 --> 00:24:38.599 as we're walking through the neighborhood here, 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.759 putting out Bibles, 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:42.559 and we were kind of having this prayerful conversation 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:45.779 of how we hope that God will use this, 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:49.599 that God will use this in our church, 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:51.319 that he will use this in our community, 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:53.660 that somebody will open up one of those Bibles 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:55.960 and be impacted by the message of the gospel, 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.960 and that the word will do its work. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.019 And we talked about, 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.500 we don't know how God is, 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.900 God may be using this already. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:03.640 I have no idea. 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:05.740 I can't see it. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:08.080 I can't understand it even. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:11.320 But I trust, because God said it, 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:13.660 that it's not me that has the power 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.640 to give life to someone. 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.420 It's his word. 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:17.019 And as we give out the word, 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:19.500 we're gonna trust that God's gonna do with that word 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.220 what he intended to be done with it. 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:23.019 As he sends out his word, 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.680 it will not return to him empty. 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:26.280 It will accomplish his purpose. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.980 So let's trust the Lord, church. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.200 Let's be faithful. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:31.100 Faithful to share the gospel. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.319 Faithful to preach the word. 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.620 So it's an automatic work. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.559 It's an invisible work. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:37.819 Thirdly, it's a guaranteed work. 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.360 It's a guaranteed work. 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.200 Verse 29. 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.600 But when the grain is ripe, 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:44.700 at once he puts in the sickle, 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:47.880 because the harvest has come. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.380 Now, I think it's significant 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:54.140 that a parable focused on the growth of the kingdom 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.799 would involve a detailed statement 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.920 of the process of harvesting. 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:03.240 He doesn't just say that a harvest will come. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.660 That's a part of the guarantee here. 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:07.460 But that's not all that Jesus is saying. 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.799 He gives just a quick statement 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:13.080 that details the process of harvesting. 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:15.440 I think that's important for us to understand here. 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.019 Why would he add this to the end of the story? 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:21.220 The harvest here that Jesus refers to, 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.319 I believe, is the second coming of Christ, 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:26.500 which initiates the arrival of the kingdom 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.420 in physical form. 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:33.080 This will be a time for those of us who know Christ 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.880 of long-awaited blessing 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:38.460 as we join with those 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:41.279 who were reading Peter's letter 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.120 in first century Israel 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:45.180 and beyond, 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:49.019 how they would have great comfort 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.740 in knowing that one day 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:53.080 the trial of this life will be over, 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:55.079 the suffering will be done, 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.139 the sin will be finished, 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:59.319 and we will ever be with the Lord. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.559 Those of us who know Christ long for that harvest. 00:27:03.199 --> 00:27:04.079 We long for that. 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.740 I hope you long for that. 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:11.120 The Bible often uses this illusion of the harvest 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:14.339 to illustrate a coming judgment. 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:17.220 In this parable, 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:21.059 Jesus not only guarantees that his kingdom will come, 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.500 but he actually guarantees that with the kingdom 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:27.679 will come a time of judgment. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:31.620 Now, Jesus told another story about this 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.980 in Matthew chapter 13. 00:27:33.080 --> 00:27:33.340 In fact, 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.980 why don't you just turn there with me real quick? 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.560 Matthew chapter 13. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.900 In Mark 4, 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.640 Jesus is saying, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.799 not only will a harvest come, 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:48.060 but the harvester is going to take out his sickle 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.679 and he's going to harvest it. 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.440 There's a process. 00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:52.019 There is a judgment that will come 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.039 as a result of the kingdom. 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.759 Now, look at Matthew chapter 13. 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.579 Look with me at verse 24. 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:02.500 And another parable he put forth unto them saying, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.839 the kingdom of heaven, 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:05.460 that's the same thing as the kingdom of God, 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:05.940 same thing. 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:08.059 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man 00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:09.819 which sowed good seed in his field. 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.859 But while men slept, 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:14.579 his enemy came and sowed tares or weeds 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:16.839 among the wheat and went his way. 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:19.220 But when the blade was sprung up 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.199 and brought forth fruit, 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.159 then appeared also the weeds. 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:25.399 So the servants of the household came to 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.579 and said unto him, 00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:29.699 sir, did not thou sow good seed in the field? 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:32.000 From whence then has it weeds? 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.740 And he said unto them, 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.000 an enemy hath done this. 00:28:35.459 --> 00:28:36.919 The servants said unto him, 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.959 wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:40.240 But he said, no, 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.740 lest while you gather up the weeds, 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.559 you root up also the wheat with them. 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.539 Let both grow together. 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:48.179 Until the harvest. 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:50.220 And in the time of harvest, 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.819 I will say to the reapers, 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.959 gather ye together first the weeds, 00:28:55.199 --> 00:28:58.059 bind them in bundles to burn them, 00:28:58.399 --> 00:29:00.519 but gather the wheat into my barn. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.639 Now Jesus explains this parable. 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:04.699 Look down at verse 37. 00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:08.299 Again, this is a private time of explanation. 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.159 And he answered and said unto them, 00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:12.439 he that soweth the good seed is the son of man. 00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:13.720 Jesus is the son of man. 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.720 It's a reference to himself, 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.240 the gospel. 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:17.259 The field is the world. 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:20.039 The good seed are the children of the kingdom. 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.579 Those who believe the gospel, 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:24.420 but the weeds are the children of the wicked one. 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.880 Those who reject the gospel. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.460 The enemy that sowed them is the devil. 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:31.740 The harvest is the end of the world. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:33.839 And the reapers are the angels. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:36.519 So again, he's looking ahead to the second coming. 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.740 He's looking ahead to this final judgment. 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.559 And then he says in verse 40, 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:45.099 as therefore the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:48.079 so shall it be in the end of this world. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:51.139 The son of man shall send forth his angels. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.859 They shall gather out of his kingdom, 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:56.440 all things that offend and them which do iniquity 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.379 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:03.200 There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:06.139 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.559 in the kingdom of their father. 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:09.460 And then he has this statement again. 00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:13.639 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.460 What's happening in this story? 00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:18.299 Jesus said at the same time 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.919 that the fruitful grain is growing, 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:21.539 there's also some weeds that are growing. 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.899 They're gonna grow together until the time of harvest. 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.319 They're gonna grow together. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.879 And then the time of harvest is gonna come. 00:30:28.139 --> 00:30:30.500 And then the seed sower in the beginning, 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.819 Jesus now becomes the harvester 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:34.940 and he gets out the sickle and he sends his angels 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:36.200 and they cut down the harvest. 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:39.539 And all of those fruitful wheat grains 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:41.380 are gonna be gathered into heaven, 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.680 gathered into the barn. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.680 But all of the weeds are gonna be gathered, 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.620 they're gonna be bundled 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:47.140 and they're gonna be burned. 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:50.319 When Jesus is talking about this harvest, 00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:53.039 he's not only referencing the blessing of the kingdom, 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:55.640 he's referencing the reality of the judgment. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:59.059 That at the same time that the kingdom 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:01.059 is initiated and established, 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:03.860 so will a judgment be. 00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:05.859 And the question that we must ask 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:08.579 is with what group will we be bundled? 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:13.539 Will we be bundled with the fruitful hearers 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:16.159 and gain entrance into the kingdom of God 00:31:16.159 --> 00:31:17.819 to be with him for all of eternity? 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:20.359 Or will we be bundled with the weeds? 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.039 Will we be bundled with the weeds 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:25.339 and therefore burned? 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:28.579 The church is always warned 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.659 about this coming judgment. 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.659 Many have rejected this warning 00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:34.240 and perhaps you've talked about this 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.259 in your witness to people. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:37.259 You've talked about Jesus is coming back. 00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:39.519 There is a warning in this. 00:31:39.959 --> 00:31:41.139 A harvest is coming. 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.519 And they say, 00:31:43.679 --> 00:31:45.159 you know, I understand what you mean, 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:47.459 but it's been 2,000 years since Jesus said that 00:31:47.459 --> 00:31:48.179 and he hadn't come back, 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.419 so I'm not sure that I buy it. 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:52.740 Peter addresses this in his second letter. 00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:54.340 I'm just going to read it to you. 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.960 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 4. 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.400 They will say, 00:31:57.880 --> 00:31:59.279 where is the promise of his coming? 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.900 For ever since the fathers fell asleep, 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.019 all things are continuing 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.480 as they were from the beginning. 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.860 And then he says in verse 8, 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.060 Peter writes, 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:10.960 but do not overlook this one fact, beloved, 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.720 that with the Lord, 00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:15.160 one day is as a thousand years 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:17.460 and a thousand years as one day. 00:32:18.560 --> 00:32:19.120 And he said, 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:21.220 the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:23.140 as some men count slowness, 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.560 but is patient towards you, 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:28.040 not willing that any should perish, 00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:30.300 that all should come to repentance. 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.980 But he says, 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:35.060 the day of the Lord will come. 00:32:35.800 --> 00:32:37.320 It will come like a thief. 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:39.340 That is, we won't know it. 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:42.960 And then the heavens will pass away with a roar 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:46.059 and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:48.720 and the earth and the works that are done on it 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.980 will be exposed. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.519 Listen, this judgment is indeed coming. 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.880 The harvest is growing. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:58.640 Jesus hasn't awaited or tarried his coming 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:01.000 because he's lazy or he was deceitful. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:04.559 It's just that the harvest is still ripening. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.240 And if there's one thing that I've learned 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:09.140 is that God doesn't get in a hurry. 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.340 He has his timetable. 00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:13.199 That may be today. 00:33:13.419 --> 00:33:14.839 It may be another thousand years. 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.539 I don't know. 00:33:15.679 --> 00:33:16.559 But he said he's coming 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.859 and the harvest will come 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:19.740 and you need to be ready for that harvest. 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:23.279 Let's look at the second parable quickly. 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:25.220 The first one is the growing seed. 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:27.259 The second one is the mustard seed. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:29.980 Look with me again at verse 30. 00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.819 And he said, 00:33:33.639 --> 00:33:35.819 with what can we compare the kingdom of God? 00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:38.500 Or what parable shall we use for it? 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:41.000 It's like a grain of mustard seed, 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.480 which when sown on the ground 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:44.980 is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:46.440 Yet when it is sown, 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:48.039 it grows up and becomes larger 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.400 than all the garden plants 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:51.279 and puts out large branches 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.960 so that the birds of the air 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:55.420 can make nest in its shade. 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.640 And we're going to spend a lot of time on this one 00:33:57.640 --> 00:34:00.019 because it's very similar to the first. 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:02.839 They're both about how God grows his kingdom. 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:05.839 But this one does have a unique emphasis. 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:07.539 It's a little bit different than the first. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:11.219 The first story is addressing the mistaken notion 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.799 that the kingdom will come suddenly 00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:13.840 and all at once. 00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:16.739 This parable addresses those 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:19.119 who dismiss Jesus's ministry 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:22.719 because it seems to them to be insignificant 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:25.380 compared to what they thought 00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:27.380 the Messiah was going to do. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.980 And so while still technically about growth, 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:33.519 this story is more of a contrast. 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:35.980 It's a contrast of what seems like 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.219 insignificant beginnings 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:42.519 to what will become of it in greater results. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.280 It's really the difference between micro to mega. 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.780 In fact, those are the exact words 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.860 that Jesus uses here. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:52.039 When he uses this word small in verse 31, 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:55.780 it's literally the word that we get microcosm 00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.900 or microscope. 00:34:57.820 --> 00:35:00.759 When he uses the word large and large branches, 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.639 it's the word mega. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.379 That's what it is. 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.619 And so Jesus here, 00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:07.079 he's not insinuating that the mustard seed 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.839 is actually the smallest seed on earth. 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.839 We know that's not true. 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.920 That's not what he's saying. 00:35:11.259 --> 00:35:12.779 He's using a proverbial statement. 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:15.779 He's making a point of contrast, of growth. 00:35:16.299 --> 00:35:17.019 And he's saying, 00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:18.099 if you look at the mustard seed, 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.179 how tiny it is. 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:20.039 Maybe in their day, 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:22.159 it was the tiniest that they would have worked with. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:24.379 And you say how tiny it is 00:35:24.379 --> 00:35:25.339 and it seems insignificant 00:35:25.339 --> 00:35:26.619 and it seems like nothing. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.239 And you throw it in the ground, 00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:30.480 but look at what ultimately it produces. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:32.199 Sometimes in this setting, 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:34.340 trees up to 15 feet tall, 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:37.340 so big that Jesus says birds of the air 00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:39.139 nest in its branches 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:42.780 or they find a rest in its shade. 00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:47.579 He was highlighting the dramatic growth of the seed. 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:48.980 And he says, 00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:50.420 this is what the kingdom is like. 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.659 He says, 00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:53.240 it may seem insignificant to you. 00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:55.380 It may not seem like much. 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.420 In fact, 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.360 in Jesus's day, 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:59.640 it seemed like about 13 people. 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:04.300 But now think about 2,000 years later, 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:06.460 two millennia later, 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:11.099 millions and millions and millions of people 00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.559 that have come to know Christ. 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:15.599 The millions of people that will worship with us 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.300 in heaven for all of eternity. 00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:17.960 Why? 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:20.960 Because the kingdom produces significant results. 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:23.140 It may seem insignificant 00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:24.920 as you're reading through the gospels. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.960 It may not seem like much. 00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.319 In fact, 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:28.099 by the time Jesus goes to the cross, 00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:29.199 everyone abandons him. 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:29.980 He's by himself. 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:32.379 It may not seem like much, 00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:35.440 but it produces significant results. 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:37.639 But there's a second contrast here. 00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:39.619 Look again at verse 32. 00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:42.819 But when it is sown, 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.440 it groweth up 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.199 and becometh greater 00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:45.739 than all the garden plants, 00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:48.759 so that the birds of the air 00:36:48.759 --> 00:36:51.599 make nest in its shade. 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:54.460 So there's a second contrast in this story. 00:36:54.799 --> 00:36:55.199 On one end, 00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:57.239 Jesus is contrasting the growth of the kingdom 00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.400 from the seed to the tree. 00:36:58.619 --> 00:37:01.039 And now he's giving a contrast between the birds. 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.199 Now think about this for a second. 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:05.699 He's talked about birds already in this chapter 00:37:05.699 --> 00:37:07.420 in the course of these parables. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:10.299 And often the Bible will talk about 00:37:10.299 --> 00:37:11.139 the birds of the air 00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:12.819 and the nesting in the branches of Israel. 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:15.400 It's a way that the scripture talks about 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.819 people of all nations 00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:18.360 being a part of the kingdom of God. 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.920 That's important here too. 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:21.539 But there's a more narrow focus, 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:23.400 I think, that Jesus has in this contrast. 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:25.639 Remember in the parable of the soils, 00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:29.380 it was the soil that's on the path, right? 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:31.320 The seed is cast on the path 00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:32.360 and the birds are there. 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.280 And what do the birds do? 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.200 Devour. 00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.280 They devour the seed. 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:39.639 It doesn't even have an opportunity to do anything. 00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:40.539 It takes no root. 00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:41.440 The birds come by 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:43.420 and it takes away the seed and they devour it. 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:45.300 But now we get to the birds here in this parable 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:46.599 and the birds are doing something different. 00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:49.000 They're not devouring anymore. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.699 What are they doing? 00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:55.039 They're taking rest in the shade of the tree. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:38:00.480 The contrast here is not only with the size of the kingdom, 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.719 but it tells us the way that God grows his kingdom. 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:08.579 He does it by converting those 00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:11.760 who were at one time enemies of the gospel, 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:14.119 which is every one of us. 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:17.239 Sinclair Ferguson says this, 00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:20.399 Saul of Tarsus and many others since 00:38:20.399 --> 00:38:22.399 were once birds of the air. 00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:24.659 They tried to swallow it 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:26.879 and destroy its influence in the world. 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:30.719 But one day they too came to find shelter in its branches. 00:38:31.859 --> 00:38:33.399 Think what hope that must have given 00:38:33.399 --> 00:38:34.619 to the Christians in Rome 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:36.639 who first read Mark's gospel 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:38.459 in the face of suffering and persecution. 00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:41.819 The kingdom would not be destroyed. 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.239 Can't be. 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:44.359 Can't be destroyed. 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:46.579 Jesus said as much. 00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:49.019 When Peter makes his great confession, 00:38:50.140 --> 00:38:51.000 Jesus says, 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:52.079 on this rock, 00:38:52.140 --> 00:38:54.480 that is the confession that Peter had made. 00:38:54.740 --> 00:38:55.280 On this rock, 00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.140 I will build my church 00:38:56.140 --> 00:38:58.579 and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:38:58.700 --> 00:39:00.019 The kingdom can't be destroyed. 00:39:00.200 --> 00:39:00.700 In fact, 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:02.200 instead of being destroyed, 00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:04.599 what happens is the birds that destroy it 00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.680 in seed form, 00:39:05.740 --> 00:39:06.720 or at least attempt to, 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:09.599 end up finding rest in its shade. 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:12.920 Isn't that amazing to think about the apostle Paul? 00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:16.019 Early on in the book of Acts, 00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:17.579 he's a persecutor. 00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:19.219 He's a murderer. 00:39:19.739 --> 00:39:21.980 He's trying to stamp out Christianity 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:23.759 and everything that has to do with Christ. 00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.739 And yet ultimately, 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.400 he becomes a bird that finds nest 00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:29.799 in the branches of the kingdom. 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.839 What a work of God that is. 00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:34.380 Can't be destroyed. 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:38.240 And the only way that it grows 00:39:38.240 --> 00:39:40.480 is when God turns enemies 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:43.260 and makes them a part of his family. 00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:46.860 Paul, writing to another church, 00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:47.860 said, 00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:49.420 such were some of you. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:51.079 You say, 00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:52.740 I never murdered anybody 00:39:52.740 --> 00:39:54.500 or persecuted people that were Christians. 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.099 Maybe not, 00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:56.340 but you were just as much an enemy 00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.340 until you came to Christ. 00:39:59.280 --> 00:40:00.280 You were a bird 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:01.760 that would have been willing to devour, 00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:04.400 and yet now you find rest. 00:40:05.220 --> 00:40:05.760 And Jesus said, 00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.840 that's what the kingdom is like. 00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:08.060 That's what the kingdom is like. 00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:10.000 Well, let's conclude it here 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:11.260 in verses 33 and 34. 00:40:12.860 --> 00:40:14.520 Mark gives us a narrative note. 00:40:15.540 --> 00:40:16.580 With many such parables, 00:40:16.680 --> 00:40:17.820 he spoke the word to them 00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:19.540 as they were able to hear it. 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:22.120 He did not speak to them without a parable, 00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:24.360 but privately to his own disciples, 00:40:24.360 --> 00:40:26.140 he explained everything. 00:40:27.240 --> 00:40:28.860 And so Mark concludes where we will. 00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:32.380 These parables were an essential part 00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:34.120 of Jesus's teaching ministry. 00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:36.140 And as we've seen, 00:40:36.220 --> 00:40:37.640 they had a very clear purpose. 00:40:38.740 --> 00:40:39.140 In fact, 00:40:39.740 --> 00:40:40.539 Mark tells us that 00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:42.780 Jesus didn't teach in public any longer 00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:45.320 without utilizing parables in some way. 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:46.840 I don't think that he means 00:40:46.840 --> 00:40:48.820 that Jesus only taught in parables now. 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.460 It's just that 00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:50.599 he never taught in public 00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:52.579 without using parables in some way. 00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:54.780 I think it's really the sense 00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:55.539 of what Mark is saying. 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:57.280 But there is an encouraging note 00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:58.220 here in verse 33 00:40:58.220 --> 00:40:59.820 that I think is good for us to end on. 00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:04.580 Mark said that Jesus taught the word 00:41:04.580 --> 00:41:06.980 as they were able to hear it. 00:41:07.880 --> 00:41:08.320 And again, 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:10.040 the emphasis here is put on 00:41:10.040 --> 00:41:11.600 how we receive the word, 00:41:11.700 --> 00:41:13.019 being fruitful hearers. 00:41:14.560 --> 00:41:16.880 But Mark didn't mean 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:19.700 that Jesus only used parables 00:41:19.700 --> 00:41:21.380 when people were willing to hear. 00:41:21.540 --> 00:41:22.620 That's not what he means here. 00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:24.759 The sense here is not 00:41:24.759 --> 00:41:27.799 just as they were able to hear, 00:41:27.859 --> 00:41:28.940 as they were willing to hear. 00:41:29.079 --> 00:41:30.099 It is even as. 00:41:30.139 --> 00:41:30.579 In other words, 00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:32.079 I think what Jesus 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.659 or what Mark is saying about Jesus 00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:35.920 is that he continued to teach in these parables 00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:37.159 because he knew 00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:38.980 that there would be people in the crowds 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:41.000 that did indeed have ears to hear. 00:41:42.359 --> 00:41:44.880 And so long as these people had ears to hear, 00:41:44.960 --> 00:41:46.380 he would continue to use the parables 00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:47.359 because what happened? 00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:49.639 They gained this gospel clarity. 00:41:49.639 --> 00:41:51.980 It was the parables that brought them to faith. 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.199 It's like two people 00:41:53.199 --> 00:41:54.539 can sit in the same church service 00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:56.000 and hear the same message 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:57.159 from the same passage 00:41:57.159 --> 00:41:58.539 and one person can just be 00:41:58.539 --> 00:42:00.960 absolutely crushed by the spirit of God 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:03.159 and they think this is my God. 00:42:03.319 --> 00:42:05.239 This is who I want to serve. 00:42:05.379 --> 00:42:06.519 This is who I want to follow. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.859 And the person sitting next to them 00:42:07.859 --> 00:42:09.000 can hear the same thing 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:12.980 and think what a bunch of baloney is that? 00:42:13.359 --> 00:42:14.379 I don't get it. 00:42:16.019 --> 00:42:16.500 Why? 00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:16.559 Why? 00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:19.219 Jesus knew there would be people in the crowds 00:42:19.219 --> 00:42:19.820 with ears to hear 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:20.780 and he wasn't going to leave them out. 00:42:20.900 --> 00:42:22.199 So he went from crowd to crowd 00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:23.260 and he taught in the parables. 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.739 He had the hardening effect 00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:26.019 on those in whom he was judging 00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:27.159 but then he also knew 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:28.860 that there would be some people along the path 00:42:28.860 --> 00:42:30.280 that had ears to hear. 00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:33.599 And it's an encouragement to us 00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:37.199 that the Lord knew if you know Christ 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:39.239 that you'd be in a service one day 00:42:39.239 --> 00:42:41.079 or you'd be in a conversation one day. 00:42:41.579 --> 00:42:42.460 The Lord knew 00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:44.320 that you would have ears to hear. 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:46.780 And so he sent his word 00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:48.640 and it produced his fruit. 00:42:51.900 --> 00:42:53.640 Maybe that's exactly what these parables 00:42:53.640 --> 00:42:54.280 will do for you. 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:58.100 The crowds that day, 00:42:58.780 --> 00:42:59.980 surely some people believed. 00:43:00.680 --> 00:43:01.480 We know some did. 00:43:04.640 --> 00:43:05.840 Maybe that's what the parables 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:06.920 are meant to do for you today. 00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:12.559 Maybe they'll harden you a little further. 00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:14.900 But I'll conclude in the way 00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:15.639 that we've concluded 00:43:15.639 --> 00:43:17.279 every one of these parable messages. 00:43:18.340 --> 00:43:19.380 Hebrews 4, 7. 00:43:20.299 --> 00:43:21.380 Here's what we do know. 00:43:22.159 --> 00:43:23.119 That today, 00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:25.119 if you hear his voice, 00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:27.279 don't harden your heart. 00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:27.980 Well, 00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:28.760 that's what we do know. 00:43:28.760 --> 00:43:29.280 Well, 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:30.519 that's what we do know. 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:30.960 Well, 00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:31.880 that's what we do know. 00:43:31.880 --> 00:43:32.580 Well, 00:43:32.580 --> 00:43:32.580 00:43:32.580 --> 00:43:33.100 Well, 00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:33.600 that's what we do know. 00:43:33.600 --> 00:43:33.600 00:43:33.600 --> 00:43:33.800 that's what we do know. 00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:33.600 Well, 00:43:33.600 --> 00:43:33.800 that's what we do know. 00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:33.800 00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:34.460 that's what we do know. 00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.780 Well, 00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:35.960 that's what we do know. 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:35.960 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:35.960 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:35.960 00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:37.220 that's what we do know. 00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:37.220 00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:38.800 that's what we do know. 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:38.800 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:38.800 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:38.800 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:38.800 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:38.800 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:40.800 that's what we do know. 00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:40.800 00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:41.600 that's what we do know. 00:43:41.600 --> 00:43:42.280 Well, 00:43:42.280 --> 00:43:43.260 that's what we do know.