“His Word never returns empty”

The Parables of Jesus

“His Word never returns empty.”

March 11, 2022

Mark 4:26-29; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

As today’s Parable once again talks about a man scattering seeds, I thought I’d lead off with the verse.

“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

What’s Jesus saying in this Parable? When we spread God’s Word, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, it will produce results. Does everyone we share the Gospel with come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, no.

But like the man who scatters the seed, it grows. The same goes for the Gospel. Our job is to spread the Good News. That’s it. We don’t bring people to Christ. That’s the Holy Spirits’ job after we’ve planted the seed of the Gospel.

I love the following verses from Isaiah because they reinforce Jesus’s words in the above Parable. So once again, it’s a case of scripture explaining scripture.

“As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

Isaiah is saying the same thing. The word comes from his mouth, and it won’t return empty. It accomplishes what God wants it to.

Here’s another bible verse from 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 that reinforces how God’s word grows and spreads.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” I Corinthians 3:6-7

In this passage, the Apostle Paul says he has planted the seeds of the Gospel. His own follower Apollos followed up and watered the seeds, but only God can make things grow.

In a nutshell, “We preach and teach the Word; God’s Word does the rest.” (Peoples Bible Commentary, Mark, 1992. Pp.66.)

Dear Lord. We are Your hands and feet in this world. Give us the encouragement to spread Your Word throughout the land. We know we are your tools to preach and teach Your Word. You will make the seeds of the Gospel grow. Amen.