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February 9, 2026

Leaving the Results to God: The Parable of the Growing Seed

by Jason Neill

Scripture reading: Mark 4:26-29

“Jesus also said, ‘The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the time of harvest has come’” (Mark 4:26-29, NLT).

The Seed Growing Secretly

This week’s parable falls within a series of teachings Jesus shared with the multitude (see Mark 4:1-2). In Mark 4, he presents the parable of the soils (4:1-9), the lamp (4:21-25), the growing seed (4:26-29), and the mustard seed (4:30-34). Together, they illustrate different facets of what the kingdom of God will look like between his first and second coming.

In the parable of the soils, we saw that there are different responses to the gospel. While the first soil represents a non-believer, the other three represent believers who demonstrate various levels of perseverance and fruitfulness in their spiritual lives. Following that, the parable of the lamp represents the illumination Jesus provided regarding the nature of the kingdom, revelations the twelve disciples were then tasked to share with others.

This week, we turn our attention to the parable of the growing seed. There are at least two primary interpretations for this passage; let’s look at each in turn.

View 1: Jesus as the Farmer The first view identifies the farmer as Jesus during his earthly ministry. The seed he plants is his teaching. You should take note that the seed in the earlier parable is representative of the word (see Mark 4:14). It makes sense to be consistent, to take it as such since Jesus interpreted what the seed meant in the earlier parable (see Mark 4:14). Although its influence may appear small and insignificant at first, it will eventually grow into a great harvest of believers.

View 2: Disciples as the Farmer (My View) The second view sees the disciples as the farmer. This interpretation is meant to encourage the Apostles as the ones who will carry on sharing the teachings of Jesus, represented by the seed. While they may not see immediate growth, the parable promises that they eventually will. Their responsibility is simply to remain faithful to the task of sowing the word. As mentioned in view 1, the message will eventually result in a great harvest of believers.

Faithful Sowing

When Jesus departed, he left his followers with what appeared to be an impossible task: to make disciples of all nations. This serves as a great reminder for us today, as we have also been entrusted with sharing the clear message of the good news of eternal life.

From our perspective, we may share the gospel with others and never see an immediate response. It is important to remember that we cannot cause growth ourselves, and we may not always see the fruit of our labor in this lifetime. However, our task remains the same: to be faithful (see 1 Corinthians 4:1-2). We present the message of eternal life to everyone we encounter and leave the results in God's hands.

A Practical Tip to Get Started

If you are looking for a way to begin, a sure-fire way to start a spiritual conversation is to ask this one question: "What do you think happens when we die?"

Whether you are talking to a stranger or someone you know well, the reality of death is something we all must face. When they answer, genuinely listen to their response. Once they have shared their thoughts, they will likely ask you the same question in return, providing a natural and open door to talk about Christ.

You might respond by sharing your own hope: "I believe that when I die, I will be with Christ in heaven, because I have trusted in Him alone for eternal life." This allows you to share the simple truth that Jesus offers this same gift of eternal life to all who will trust in Him (see John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 11:25-26; Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 1:16).