His Abundant Harvest

“A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” (Matthew 13:3-8)

“The parable of the sower was Jesus’ figurative way of expressing his confidence in the harvest that would eventually spring from his ministry. Though some of his efforts are apparently wasted, just as some of the sower’s seed is lost, there will be a harvest in messianic abundance. The meaning, then, is confidence in the power of the word, and a reminder that the minister of the good news need not be concerned about immediate, tangible results. God’s word will bear fruit in due time.” (Companion God by George T. Montague)

I have never heard this meaning of the parable of the sower, but I like it! Jesus is confident that his ministry is not in vain. His harvest will be abundant and his disciples will bear much fruit. In order for us to be his disciple and bear fruit, we must surrender our whole being to God. We must take on a posture of obedience and surrender, and perpetually move toward Christ. We need to accept the word and not just understand it on an intellectual level but to embrace it and allow it to consume us. “One does not grasp the Word of God, one is grasped by it” (Companion God).

 Jesus is confident in his ministry and tells his disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."(Matthew 28:19-20) The gospel will be spread to all the end of the earth and one day "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." (Romans 14:11). Of this Jesus is confident.