September 29, 2013
Scripture:
Let’s look at Luke 24:50 - 52. His arrival was announced with angels crying, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill to men.” When He arrived, He was heralded by a heavenly host. His departure was accompanied by a different host—a host of disciples and worshippers. It tells us He led them and blessed them and then they worshipped Him. It’s not a heavenly host now: it’s those who have been joined unto Him as worshippers. That was a long time ago, but we are still here. “Now on high, we bow before Thee; - Streams of praises ceaseless flow!” We are still a little band; may it be that way until we are called above!
Hymn 350 - I will make you fishers of men
Prayer
We have been reading parables in the book of Mathew. Today we will look at a parable in Mark 4.
Mark 4: 26 - 29
This might be the shortest parable that Jesus ever told. A sower sowed his seed and then left it to grow. The seed sprouted, grew, and bore fruit. Like any good story, this parable has a beginning (sowing), middle (growing), and an end (harvesting).
When I worked on a farm, we planted two different crops in one of the fields. We could not take a tractor through that field because the first crop had begun to grow, so we had to walk through the field and cast the seeds on to the ground. I think this is how the farmer in the parable would have planted his seed. I think it is amazing how a little dry seed can produce a big plant. In this parable, the seed is a picture of the Bible. There is no other book like the Bible; it’s the only book that gives life.
There was once a gospel preacher that would go street preaching. He would place his Bible on the street and cover it with his hat, then he would call out, “It’s alive, it’s alive!!!” This would draw a crowd and then he would lift the hat and the Bible would be there. Then, with a crowd in front of him, he would share the gospel. This book is one that stands out among all. Atheists say the Bible is a myth written by man. The Bible is the word of God; and not only do we get life by it, we also can live by it.
The sower in our parable is a picture of a Christian. As Christians we should share the gospel (the seed) with the world. The sower did nothing; he left the seed and let it grow. A person gets a seed (the gospel) and it starts to grow and they get saved. There is life in the Word.
Psalm 126:5 & 6
In John 4 : 35 - 38, we see the Lord looking for labourers for the harvest. I believe there is also a harvest for the Lord’s people. That is fruit that we get from spreading the word of God.
Acts 2:22 - 36
Jesus had been condemned by some of the people who gathered to listen to Peter at Pentecost, and Peter boldly told them, “Jesus was approved by God, but not by you. You should have recognized Him; God worked signs and miracles through Him, in your midst.” These people had evidence, but they refused to believe. Cruel hands had killed the Lord, but God reversed what they had done, raised Him from the dead, took Him back to glory, and honoured and glorified Him.
The Jewish people had killed Jesus, but it had all been planned by God in a past eternity. It was all designed. It doesn’t let them off, but they were actually accomplishing God’s purpose. If He had been killed by the Jewish method of stoning, He wouldn’t have fulfilled prophecy. It had to be by the Gentile, Roman way of crucifixion.
Jesus gave His life; they didn’t take it. He laid it down, and God raised Him from the tomb. Death couldn’t possibly hold Him, for He was the Lord of Life. We need Christ to be alive. He died for us, but now He lives and intercedes for us in glory.
In his talk, Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11, and gives us God’s commentary on the sixteenth Psalm. He was already interpreting Old Testament scriptures for his present day. That was part of the filling of the Holy Spirt.
Jesus wasn’t left in Hell. In fact, He never went. He told the thief, “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” ‘Hades’ is actually the proper word for ‘Hell’ here. It’s a holding place for the unsaved that die.
David did not write Psalm 16 about himself; when Peter was speaking, he was dead, and his grave was still around. His point was that God would reverse the death of Jesus. The disciples were witnesses of the resurrection, and their fulness of the Holy Ghost was a result of Christ’s ascension, and His sending the Spirit of God. Peter also quoted Psalm 110:1; the other side—the heavenly side—of Christ’s ascension. The Lord arrived victoriously in heaven; it was somewhat like the prodigal son, except that here was a Son that was obedient, that had glorified God, and done what was given Him to do. God had reversed Jesus’ death; and, by His death, Jesus had reversed what had happened at the Garden of Eden.
Peter was talking to people of the Jewish religion all this time, so He could use the Jewish scriptures. He finished by telling them, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” We’ll find out next week what effect these things had on the people.
Hymn 186 – One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
Prayer