Lenten Reader | Day 8

February 26th, 2026

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Mark 4:1-20

Good Soil

Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ use of parables as a tool for teaching God’s promises. These may be portions of God’s word that come most readily to mind and have shaped our faith and understanding. The Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Good Soil parable from Mark 4:1-20, provide a story in which we can more clearly see how God’s truth applies to our lives.

Jesus offers definitions of falling short in creating good soil comparing our own behavior to the less effective approaches: planting on the surface – the word is quickly taken away as soon as it is heard; planting on rocky soil – the word develops no roots and does not last through trouble or persecution; planting in thorny, or weedy soil – the word is choked and lost to worldly concerns and focus.

Jesus also defines the result of seeds sown on good soil, stating it occurs when the word is heard, accepted, and produces a crop. He even quantifies a measure of a crop as producing thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times what was sown.

With any lesson, an assessment is required to note if an objective is met. How can we use the objectives of this parable and measure if we are preparing good soil for God’s word to grow? As in the field of education we must ensure our source is accurate and reliable. This suggests our primary criteria is in our relationship with Jesus. Colossians 1:10 says He wants me to be “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” We must turn to Him and be ready to receive His guidance by being quiet and listening. He will let us know if our soil needs tending, or even if we need to expand our garden to increase the yield.

Two additional criteria I have identified are checking that I am embracing an open-handed faith and fostering invitation instead of condemnation. I visualize open-handed faith as having my hands raised, palms up indicating I am truly surrendering to His plan for me. At times, I have easily turned to condemnation whenever my Savior has brought an area needing weeding or tending to my attention. Rather than berating myself, I am focusing on the invitation for what He may be noting as an area of growth. My prayer is for a yield a hundred times what is planted.

Debbie Zurmehly