LUKE 8:1-18 THE GREATEST EVANGELIST Not just in Capernaum but now to every place where people were found, the Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by His disciples and women who supported Him in His work, goes to bring the Gospel. The ones traveling with Him had been blessed by Him, He had given to them, and they were grateful to Him. Now graciously, He receives from them the blessings they had for Him. It is more blessed to give then receive. It is much harder to receive than to give. It takes grace to humbly accept what cost others time and labor. Our natural pride wants to be independent from others - to be able to stand alone without the support of others. But the Lord Jesus illustrated by His own example the need of fellowship in evangelizing the area of Galilee. His acceptance of the ministry of women is a lesson to us to never think for a moment their role is of little importance in the work of God. We learn from the Greatest Evangelist that there is a need of oneness and support among those who proclaim the message of salvation.
There is a certain impact when a group of people join together to further the work of God. The news of a company of people moving through the area preaching the Good News of salvation from sin creates interest and brings people together to hear what is being said. Presenting the Gospel with stories easily understood was the practice of the Lord and is an appropriate way for us to present the salvation message. Preaching involves getting the attention of people and keeping it long enough to get the point across. Teaching by parables was not to obscure the message but to reveal truth to those who wanted to know the truth being presented. Those who had only curiosity but no real interest in what was being taught, would ignore or resist the obvious meaning. By using the method of teaching with parables, "putting things side by side," spiritual truths were illustrated by everyday things of life.
It would not be hard to understand the fact that seed has life contained in itself, but does not produce life until it has been sowed in the right place. The Word of God sown by the Son of Man had everything in it that was needed to bring life and blessing. There is nothing we can or should change about the Gospel message. The area of concern in this parable is the condition of the soil. The sower has a work to do that calls for effort on his part. Not every place the seed falls will be fruitful. He does not deliberately waste the seed on unprepared ground. But there often are those who hear a bit of the Gospel message and in mockery or indifference, turn away unmoved and totally disinterested in what was preached. The devil has his way of negating what would have been a blessing to them by filling their minds with doubts and opposition to biblical truth by arguments, opposition by atheism, humanism and mockery. They have no intention of paying heed to what they hear.
Others when they first hear the Gospel, like what they hear and seem to respond positively to the Word of God until they realize what the truth of the message really is. They want the results of the Gospel without the God of the Gospel. In their opinion they consider themselves their own master. The existential view of mankind has claimed many souls as they deliberately turn away from the truth of salvation. Then there are those who would like to have the blessings of the Gospel to go along with the pleasures, ambition and lifestyle they already have. They want Christ and the world. They want both the broad and narrow way at the same time. This of course is impossible because when the fallow ground is broken up, rocks, weeds and other obstacles are exposed for what they are. The good ground produces a good harvest because it has been softened and is ready to receive the seed. The thorns and thistles have been killed by exposing their roots to the sun and the rocks have been turned up to be seen for what they really are without the camouflage of a light covering of soil. The light of the sun warming the good ground and the moisture in the ground combine to produce the good fruit hidden in the life source of the seed.
So to those disciples He was instructing in the work of the Gospel, He urges them to proclaim the message of salvation in a public way. Do not hide it but let the light of truth be seen. He was there to make God's word known and they were to make it known as well. He was teaching by illustration how the message of the Gospel would be responded to by a diverse crowd of people. Sometimes our efforts may seem futile but we can be assured that when we speak God's truth in love, in faith and in hope, God can produce for Himself the life that the Word of God can bring.
What is the point in preaching, people say, no one is willing to listen? The seed of the Word of God we share is wasted when the people we look for are missing. Sometimes we need to be reminded again to sow the Gospel seed in faith. When the dews of earth or rain of blessing comes, God again reveals His grace.
To plant the seed means we must sow in hope that God will do what is needed. Our responsibility is the sowing part, we may never know when truth is heeded. The soil needs preparation it's true, so the seed has a place to lie Where the natural course of life begins, the results are seen by and by.
Who are the ones who get credit? The plowman, the waterer or the sower? All are needed in the work; we must wait until the harvest is over. The plowman may have labored hard to get the fallow ground broken up - But he may leave the sowing to another, and the watering to one with a deep cup.
Those faithful women who water with prayer the seed that is in the soil - Are as much a part of the work of God as the laborer's daily toil To get the ground in shape to receive the seed of God's holy Word. When each one has fulfilled the work they are called to, results are up to the Lord
No one can claim the credit for the size of the harvest that comes. The Life-Source is in the seed that springs forth when each one's work is done. So,the light God has given us to share, we must put it out where it is easily seen. Then we can understand better, God uses His Word as seems best to Him.
"I thank Thee, Father, for allowing us to be able to plow some ground so that it is ready to receive the seed. May the Word of God that has already been sown produce some good results in salvation and in the lives of Thy people. When we water the seed, give us wisdom to rightly divide the word of truth to bring lasting fruit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."