Chapter 11—The Parable of the Growing Seed
The Lord Jesus Christ came to our world as its Saviour. He “was
made flesh, and dwelt among us.” He assumed humanity, that humanity
might touch humanity, while his divinity grasped the throne of God.
In his life was manifested “the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father;” but he veiled his divinity in humanity,—the invisible glory in
the visible human form.
The same principle appeared in his teaching; the unknown was
illustrated by the known. Jesus taught by illustrations and parables
drawn from nature and from the familiar events of every-day life. The
inspired record says, “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude
in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them; that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will
open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept
secret from the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 13:34, 35
. In this
way he associated natural things with spiritual, linking the things of
nature and the life-experience of his hearers with the sublime, spiritual
truths of the written word. And his lessons were repeated whenever
their eyes rested on the objects which had been associated with eternal
truth.
Here is indicated the higher education that is to be given by parents
and teachers. The truth simplified and illustrated is quickly discerned
even by children. The figurative language arrests the attention and
pleases the mind; and the lesson is firmly fixed in the memory.
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One of Christ’s beautiful and impressive parables is that of the
sower and the seed. “And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a
man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night
and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear,
after that the full corn in the ear.”
Mark 4:26-28
.
This parable describes the growth of the plant from the seed. When
the seed falls into the good ground, it soon germinates, and in time
brings forth fruit. But there is a gradual process of development. It is
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