Proper 10
Proper 10 Trinity Lutheran Church
13 July 2008 Murdock, NE
Seed Jesus. Buried in the tomb of the earth from His Good Friday death for all. Planted dead in the ground. And then from the furrow of His grave Seed Jesus sprouts and breaks out of the tomb alive! Risen from the dead! The Word made flesh does what He says. He accomplishes what He came to do. He succeeds in His mission. Achieves and wins salvation for the world.
And so the Parable of the Sower. It’s not about principles for farming. Instead, it’s about what every congregation experiences in its life. Jesus suffers Himself to be rejected. Adults and children are baptized, catechized, and confirmed. Jesus is preached and taught as their Savior. One would hope that they’d stick with it. But it doesn’t always happen. Many fall away. We experience this every year. It causes us great pain. Many sleepless nights. Great heartache.
Why does this happen? Jesus tells us in the parable.
Some people don’t get it. They’re the path people. They check out the church. Come to church a few times. Maybe because a friend recommends it. They hear the sermon that proclaims Seed Savior Jesus but they don’t understand. Incomprehensible the message of salvation is. A totally different matrix from the world. And then the evil one comes and snatches away what was preached. And we never see them again.
Others hear the Seed Savior Jesus sermon. Receive the sermon with great joy. You know how it is with new converts. They are excited about coming to church. Have a fervor that kind of makes us envious. They take the instruction class. But what they learn and believe does not take deep root into their lives. So when the scorching heat of trouble comes into their lives they wither away immediately. No deep root of faith. Just shallow infatuation. Maybe all they paid attention to was the pastor’s personality. So when tribulation or persecution happen, (as simple as: “You go to church?” “You became a member of that church?”) they can’t, they won’t, trust Jesus anymore. No more of this Jesus for them. Won’t let this Jesus and His Good Friday death and His Easter morning resurrection interrupt their lives anymore. And so we never see them again. Rocky ground people.
Then there are the thorny people. They hear the sermon of Seed Savior Jesus. Baptized. Confirmed. But the cares of the world choke the word preached. Cares of the world do not allow a Seed Savior Jesus into their lives. Don’t have time. Can’t take the time. Won’t take the time. Just too busy.
And then the cares of the world’s choking twin: “the deceitfulness of riches.” The relentless effort of serving idol Cash never gives you rest. Idol Cash demands 24-7-365 attention. Idol Cash allows no room for any other God, and that includes Seed Savior Jesus. So Seed Savior Jesus and the Word that proclaims Him gets choked out.
Exactly what Isaiah and all the prophets encountered in the Old Testament. Precisely what Jesus Himself had to deal with. And times still haven’t changed. Path people. Rocky ground people. Thorny people. Seeing but not seeing or perceiving. Hearing but not hearing or understanding. Calloused hearts. Deaf ears. Eyes closed. Don’t get it and they don’t want to get it.
But you do. Good soil people. You believe in Seed Savior Jesus. Blessed are your ears because you hear. Blessed are your eyes because you see. You know exactly what God’s up to in His Son Seed Savior Jesus. That He died precisely for you. That all your sin is forgiven. That He reigns for you for your salvation in His Word and sacraments. Behold the kingdom of God is among you in the divine service every Sunday.
And the more you hear Seed Savior Jesus preached, the more you receive His gifts of forgiveness, the more you get it. The more joy. You want Him all the more. More than you ever realized. More than you could ever imagine. All the more trust in Him no matter what happens in your lives. Whether it’s the devil that tries to snatch Seed Savior Jesus away from you — whether it’s tribulation or persecution — whether it’s the cares of the world or the deceitfulness of riches – you will trust only in Jesus and His forgiveness and care.
He’s got you in His grip. And He won’t let you go. That’s His promise.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen
