The Parable of the Sower

I was reading the parable of the sower today in Mark 4 and particularly Jesus' explanation. We all know the text:

Mark 4:13-20 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

 My study Bible had an interesting comment as to the sower. It said, 

"Those sowing God's Word include Jesus himself, the first disciples, and all subsequent teacher's and preachers of the Gospel. The administration of Baptism and the Lord's Supper are included in this sowing activity." 

I think often that people see this sowing as a one-time conversion event...either you get it or you don't, but I think Jesus' meaning is much better and contains more Gospel. The "seed is sown". Sometimes we are on "the path" mired in despair and unrepentance and we never hear the comfort of the Gospel because Satan has successfully diverted our attention. Sometimes we are on "rocky ground" and this broken creation and sin has disrupted our lives and we turn to our attention and forget the grace of the Gospel. Sometimes we are "among thorns" and our sinful desires and idolatry are more important to us. Then, sometimes, because of the Holy Spirit, we are in "good soil" and "bear fruit".

Here's the thing, I believe He meant that the sower never stops sowing, and conversely, we never stop receiving the seed!

We are told in Romans 10:17 that

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

and in Jesus' High Priestley Prayer in John 17:14-17

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from  the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

By continually hearing the Gospel correctly preached, we are continually sown God's Word. We receive his Word in the Sacraments, once in Baptism that crucifies our flesh and raises us with Christ and continually when we receive His Body and Blood in the Lord's Supper. We receive it wherever we are spiritually and sometimes it takes root and sometimes it doesn't, but Christ never stops sowing.

Paul writes in Romans 7:22-25; 8:1-4

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Because of God's sanctifying work through His Word by the Holy Spirit, we walk in the Spirit...even on those days that I am not in "good soil"...because Christ keeps sowing.

What does Jesus require of us? Not much really...Jesus came into Galilee saying (Mark 1:15)

“The time is fulfilled, and  the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Simply repent and believe. If we are not on good soil, there's a simple prayer from Mark 9:24b:

“I believe; help my unbelief!”

...and he answers in John 10:27-28

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Hear His voice through good Law and Gospel preaching and simply reading His Word...because that's where He continues to sow and sustain us.