‘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. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come’ (Mark 4.26–29).

by The Rev. Trevor Kirkland, Member of the TBS General Committee

It is common to hear it said that we are God’s hands and feet, as if God actually needs us. But He doesn’t need our help because He is infinitely and eternally self-sufficient in Himself, not standing in need of any creature. The theological term for that is ‘aseity’, which means ‘from Himself’. The Westminster Confession of Faith (2.2) says,

God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them.

God has chosen to use human instruments for one specific reason: that the glory goes to Him alone. This is evident in relation to the Kingdom of God as mentioned in Mark 4.11. The theme of the Kingdom continues through the chapter with striking implications for Christian confidence.

Firstly, the Servant of the Kingdom: ‘So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground’ (Mark 4.26). The Lord Jesus Christ refers to ‘a man’. The anonymity is striking. In light of the context, it is a disciple who is like the sower of the seed. The seed is the Word of God. Why is the man unnamed when the disciples are named? The twelve had a unique function and very few thereafter are known other than as disciples or followers.

The same is true throughout church history. There are individuals who are well known such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, and Cranmer, but others are unknown or forgotten. The significant thing is that the man does his duty. The key factor is that this individual serves the Kingdom in sowing the seed. It is essential to grasp that this seed of the Word is not the natural product of the heart but is to be sown. So grace isn’t natural, it is a new principle from without.

Secondly, the Mystery of the Kingdom, ‘And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how’ (Mark 4.27). The farmer sows, then the most startling thing happens. He sleeps and rises night and day, and while he is doing that the seed springs and grows, he knows not how! Four things are immediately apparent:

1. The seed grows night and day, meaning continually and without interruption.
2. The seed grows whether the man sleeps or gets up, meaning independently of the farmer’s own actions. 
3. The seed grows though the man doesn’t know how, meaning that its generation is not in his hands nor due to his labour.
4. The seed grows and brings forth of itself, meaning supernaturally. The Greek word Mark uses gives us the English term automatic, i.e. of itself, without any visible cause.

Sadly the church is so man-centred that these things are often forgotten. Worse, we rob God of His glory. 

We must also notice the order of growth, first the blade and then the full corn. The seed acts of itself without human contribution, yet it grows. So is the work of grace in the heart, it is mysterious. We cannot explain it, but we can see its impact, especially if we ‘grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (2 Peter 3.18).

To put it another way, the Word is the Word of Life, the Bible. It is the instrument used by God in regeneration (1 Peter 1.23,25). How is that possible? The answer is given in John 3.7–8, where the Saviour lays out three crucial details. 

1. The sovereignty of the Holy Spirit’s work: ‘The wind blows where it listeth’. That is to say, where it pleases, unrestrained by natural, physical, geographic, economic, or cultural obstacles. The Holy Spirit cannot be foiled, frustrated, or fettered in His work.
2. The mystery of the Holy Spirit’s work: ‘canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth’. You may be conscious of conversion, but not of regeneration. You can’t date regeneration. Can you recall the moment of your physical birth? A certificate gives you the date, time, and place, yet you have no memory of it.
3. The consistency of the Holy Spirit’s work: ‘so is every one that is born of the Spirit’. Various strands of Christianity require different methods for different people, different places, and different ages. A different method for the city, a different method for the countryside. A different method for Africa and another for Scotland. Yet the Lord has only one method.

Thirdly, the harvest of the Kingdom, ‘But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come’ (Mark 4.29). There is a certainty to this harvest. But it is not what you think. The language is taken from Joel 3.13. The harvest is the end of the world, the day of judgment! Two things will happen on that day as set out by the Saviour in Matthew 13.30: at the harvest the tares will be taken first, bound, and burnt, then the wheat will be put into His barn. By way of application the following are to be noted from this parable.

Never lose confidence

The reason why so many congregations have gimmicks is because they have lost confidence in the means that God has ordained. But God does not need help. We should never lose confidence in the Bible. Never lose confidence in preaching the Word. Never lose confidence in the spread of the Word.

No grounds for apathy

The seed must be sown. That is what Christians are called to do. It is what ministers are commanded to do. The result is determined by God, but there is no reason for doing nothing. Rather we must be up and doing. Remember what Paul wrote: ‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase’ (1 Corinthians 3.6).

Reaching maturity

Why is it that so many Christians are grossly ignorant of even the most basic truths and Christian ethics? I suggest it is because the Word isn’t central, and their hearing and meditation are superficial.

A great privilege

TBS exists to translate and publish accurate copies of the Word of God to all nations. Here is an extraordinary work that every Christian regardless of age, education, or resources can pray for, support, and encourage in order that this treasure we have had for so long can be enjoyed by others. The ‘seed’ is the Word of God: let us delight in the sowing.

First published in Quarterly Record 653. Published online 21 October 2025.