Jesus’ Stories

There are SO MANY stories that Jesus shares with the people as He teaches them. One of the most famous of Jesus’ stories is the sower and the seed.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all share this parable and the story of Jesus telling it. We don’t know for certain how many parables Jesus told on this day. I’m assuming that it was several, so I will include all the ones around each account.

Something else I noticed while reading the accounts is that the telling of the sower and the seed was NOT a one time telling. Jesus shared this parable many times in many different towns. I’m going to stick with the ‘first telling’ for today. We will assume that it is the one where Jesus got into a boat and taught a little way from shore. Let’s rejoin the story on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Holy Spirit, please guide this journey. Take me where You will. Show me where to look and what to take from this story for my own life. Let it become real to me.

♥ ♦ ♥

Jesus and His disciples are traveling the region, teaching and ministering to the people. Jesus is doing the ‘teaching and ministering’ and the disciples are learning and keeping the crowd from trampling Jesus.

Each encounter seems to grow larger than the one before it. People are flocking to Jesus from all walks of life and every city He passes through. Some even come great distances to hear Him or for His touch on their lives.

Morning breaks and Jesus is in a solitary spot down by the sea. He came down here to meet with His Abba.

“Last night was a long night, Abba. I know My disciples were exhausted by the time the crowds went home.”

“As were You, My Son.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to stand, were it not for Your Sprit holding Me up.”

“I trust You are refreshed this morning, because it’s going to be another long day.”

“I am. Thank You for the rest last night. My body really needed it.”

“Don’t forget to care for Your body. You are flesh and blood as well. But I am always ready to help sustain You when Your strength is failing.”

“Thank You, Abba. I’m ready to meet the day.”

Jesus looks up and sees His disciples making their way toward Him. He smiles. And following in their footsteps is the beginnings of a crowd.

As the people begin to gather, Jesus meets them one on one. He hears their needs and ministers to them. It is still early, so the number of people is manageable.

While Jesus is meeting with the people, the fishermen are bringing in their catch of the night. They are offloading their boats, washing their nets, and preparing to go to the market. They don’t have time to stop and listen, or approach Jesus, but they keep one eye on the proceedings as they work.

On another portion of the shore, the merchants begin setting up their stands for the day. They too, have tasks that have to be completed right away. Some wish they could go and join the crowd around Jesus while others wonder if this crowd will bring them customers, or draw them away.

The people keep coming. A few that arrive on the shore are shoppers. They have no interest in what is going on. They simply are caught up in the crowd as they push through to reach the market.

There are people from all around, pressing in; trying to reach Jesus. By midmorning, this crowd is probably around a thousand people. Jesus has long abandoned the idea of ministering to them one on one. “It’s time to get down to business” He tells Himself. He looks over at Zebedee, who has his boat tied nearby.

Zebedee gave his catch to one of his fellow fishermen. He wants to hear Jesus. Fish and commerce can wait for another day. It isn’t often that Jesus comes right down to the place he works.

“Zebedee, bring your boat over here please” Jesus calls out.

Zebedee immediately rushes to his boat. He unties it and drags the bowline with him down the shoreline. He is in the water up to his chest to make certain that the boat doesn’t flounder in shallow water. When he reaches the place where Jesus is standing, he pulls it a little closer to shore. He is still standing in the water, but only up to his knees. The bow and front of the keel of Zebedee’s boat rest on the sandy bottom.

Jesus turns to His disciples. “I’m going to teach from the boat. Keep the people on shore.”

Jesus steps into the boat and Zebedee pushes it back further into the water. He expertly climbs in and uses his oar to push out far enough for the boat to fully be suspended on the water. He looks at Jesus and asks; “Is this where You want us to be?”

“This is perfect. Drop anchor please.”

Zebedee drops his anchor over the side, holding the boat fast to this spot. Then he sits back down, ready to listen.

Jesus, who is already sitting, motions for the people to settle on the shore. Once everyone has found a spot, He begins teaching.

“Today, I’m going to tell you a story. ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear’ (Matthew 13:3-9).”

Many of the people wondered, “What is He talking about? Why is He telling us this story?”

Jesus knows that, even though this is a fishing town, the people understand the concept of farming. So, He goes on with another story. “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn’” (Matthew 13:24-30).

Jesus looks out at the hungry and glassy eyes of the people. He knows that many of them are not understanding His true meaning. They understand the concept though. He has one more ‘seed’ parable to share before He moves on. Hopefully, this one will penetrate a little deeper.

“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

Jesus smiles. “I know. You are fishermen, not farmers, but surely you understand the cycle of planting and harvest. I will give you a different story. ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

‘“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it’ (Matthew 13:44-46).”

While Jesus is sharing these stories, many of the fishermen from earlier have joined the crowd. Their catch of the night has all been sold. Some of them have returned to their nets, mending them for their next voyage, while listening to Jesus with one ear.

The merchants continue to sell their wares. Some have decided that the crowd presents a good opportunity to sell a little more. They weave their way among the people, offering bread and dates for sale. Some of the people take them up on their offer while others brush them aside to keep their focus on Jesus.

In a section of the beach where driftwood is piled, imas watch over their children as they play, hoping not to distract from Jesus’ time with the people. They try and listen while also keeping watch.

Shoppers continue to come and go in the shoreline marketplace. Some join the crowd while others shake their heads and leave.

And, of course, a group of Pharisees stand off to the side of the crowd, ready to jump on Jesus at the first sign of blaspheme or breaking of the Law. They listen to Jesus’ words with a purpose; to find fault.

Jesus looks out at the crowd. He is gauging the hearts of those listening. He is considering which of them is the fertile ground, where the seed can sink deep, and which is the stony ground, where the birds snatch it before it even takes root. He continues to sow into all their lives, regardless of the ‘crop’ expected. He moves on to another parable.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” Matthew 13: 31-32).

Jesus can hear the groaning from where He is; “Another ‘seed’ story.” He smiles and gives them one very similar, but that they can all relate to.

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 12:33).

He hears their heart again. “That’s a WOMAN’S parable.” Those saying that are the men. For the first time though, Jesus has spoken directly to the woman’s understanding. She is not the farmer or the one who buys the field. Jesus has just said, to her heart, that He understands her life as well.

The Pharisees are getting wrestles. “Surely, He is going to say something worth challenging.”

Jesus knows that His next parable will be relatable to this crowd, as well as to the Pharisees. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-50).

Eyes light up in understanding from the fishermen and the Pharisees. NONE want to be included in the ‘thrown away fish’. The Pharisees thought that they might get Him with this one, but Jesus said that the angels would do the separating, not Him. Another ‘near miss’ on finding fault.

Jesus looks directly at the group of Pharisees.

“Have you understood all these things?” (Matthew 13:51a), He asks them.

“Yes,” (Matthew 13:51b) they reply.

Jesus nods His head. “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matthew 13:52).

Jesus turns His attention back to the whole crowd. He has one last parable for this group today. They all should be able to understand this parable. “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

“Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” (Mark 4:21-25).

By now, the merchants had sold out their wares. Many in the crowd had drifted away because they didn’t see how Jesus’ stories related to them. But those who needed His touch pressed even farther into the crowd.

“Bring me back to shore” Jesus tells Zebedee.

Zebedee pulls up the anchor. He calls to his sons and throws them the line. James and John begin to pull the boat towards the shore. As soon as the bow touches down, Zebedee hops out of the boat and helps draw it further onto the shore. Before the bow begins to plow a furrow in the sand, Jesus jumps out of the boat and makes His way into the crowd of people. Zebedee and James quickly push the boat back out and draw it back to where it was originally docked. Once secure, they rejoin the crowd.

Jesus finishes ministering to the needs of the crowd and sends them away. It has been another long day. They walk back to the home of Simon for a much-needed rest. When they are all settled, Simon is the first to speak the questions they have been gaining all day.

“Teacher, can You please explain the parables to us?”

“Which one, Simon” Jesus asks with a smile.

“First, the one about the sower and the different kinds of soil.”

“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:10-15).

Jesus can see the understanding begin to grow in the disciples’ hearts. He knows that it is not fully grounded yet. They are ‘good soil’, but even good soil needs time for the seeds to spring up. When it does, what a harvest it will bring!

“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field” (Matthew 13:36).

Jesus nods and then begins to explain this parable. “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 13:37-43).

Jesus feels the understanding dawning as He looks around the room. He will keep tending the ‘crops’ until they are mature enough to stand on their own. Then, and only then, will He send His disciples out in the world to minister to the people on their own, with the Spirit of the Lord as their helper, of course.

(to be continued)

I want, with all my heart, to be that good ground. I was saying this to the Lord yesterday as I was going about the demands of the day. There were so many of them, and they taxed my mind and heart, that I didn’t get very far in the story. I had to put it away for today. And, of course, the enemy came at me with guilt. It’s been a hard time here. I have to keep trusting in God to carry me through, even the enemy’s attacks of guilt.

Father God, hold me in Your arms today. Hold my husband even tighter. Let me be good soil for both of us. Forgive me for not ‘feeding’ him Your word as often as I could have. Hold me up when I feel weak. Give me strength to stand against the enemy’s attacks; especially guilt. I am doing all I know how to do, including allowing for time to stop and simply be. Don’t let Your word get choked out by the cares of this world! THANK YOU for all You have planted and invested in me; including ‘tilling my soil’ in the places it was the hardest. I will NEVER give up on our relationship. It is my ONLY source of hope in this world.