Lesson 75 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).

Notes

A Boat as Pulpit

Many people gathered to listen to the words of Jesus. The things He taught were different from anything they had ever heard before; and many curious people came, as well as those who were really hungry for the truth. So many came that sometimes there was not room for them in the house. But Jesus wanted everyone to hear the words He spoke, so He went down to the seashore and sat in a boat a little way from the land in order that all could see Him and hear His words of life.

Jesus often went to the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath to preach to the people, but His sermons did not have to wait for a church setting to be proclaimed. Everywhere Jesus went He taught the people " on the hillsides, in the market place, at the seashore. He preached to large groups, preached to one person, as, for example, when He preached to the woman at the well of Samaria. He never let an opportunity pass to tell someone how to get to Heaven.

Daily Christian Living

Do we wait until we get to church on Sunday morning to practice our religion? Do the children you go to school with know that you arse a Christian by the life you live during the week? We should ever be ready to speak a word for our Saviour, but "better than telling is living a life ever faithful and true." A person who has the love of God shining out of his life will not be among strangers long until someone will ask him about his religion. The world quickly recognises the true child of God. If no one notices your religion there must be something wrong with the way you live it.

The Reason for Parables

When the people had settled down to listen to Jesus He spoke to them in a parable.-A parable has been defined s an earthly saying with a heavenly meaning. Jesus wanted everyone to understand the message He had to bring, but He knew some of them would not open their hearts to His truths; so He explained to His disciples, by the means of a parable, why everyone would not be saved.

Jesus spoke to the people about things in their everyday life, things they could understand. You remember the time He drew their attention to the wild lily. Their interest grew in the lily as they wondered at its perfect colouring, its beauty of design, its fine texture which Jesus told them was even greater than all the glory of King Solomon's rich robes. Jesus pointed out that the lily did not work for a living, neither did it worry about what it would eat or what it would wear, and yet how beautifully God had clothed it! "If God so clothe the grass of the field . . . shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" was the lesson the Saviour taught through the lily.

Planting Seeds

At this time Jesus spoke the parable of the Sower and the Seed. No doubt many who heard Him had gone out with a bag of grain under one arm and had tossed the seed with a wide swing of the other as they planted their crops. If they were near the edge of the field undoubtedly some would be scattered on the road or among the thorns, and they had all seen the birds come to pick up what grain they could get. Jesus had a spiritual lesson to teach through this parable to all who would understand, but to many of the people it was only a story of a man planting his crop.

The Closed Heart

Later, when Jesus and His disciples were alone, they asked why He spoke in such a manner that some people would not realise the spiritual truth in the story. Jesus answered that they all could understand if they would, but some people closed their hearts to the message of salvation; and for that reason their ears were dull of understanding and their eyes were closed.

The Lord has made His plan of salvation so plain that Isaiah said of it: "The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein" (Isaiah 35:8). God wants all men to come to Him in repentance, and has sent that true Light, "which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). But Jesus will not save anyone against his will. If a man hardens his heart against God the message of salvation is foolishness to him.

Revealed to Us

What a wonderful opportunity we have since Jesus came, to understand the way of salvation if we will but turn to Him. Jesus told His disciples, "It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." We can all be His disciples and know those mysteries if we want to be saved.

Do we realise and appreciate how much that means? Peter tells us that the prophets have inquired and searched diligently into it, and prophesied of the grace that should come when Jesus came; and even the angels desired to look into it ([1PE:1:10-12]). From them it was withheld, but the mystery of godliness has been revealed in the dispensation of grace " unto us who will listen attentively to the Word of God.

The Seed from Heaven

Jesus then explained the parable of the Sower and the Seed. He Himself or His Spirit-filled ministers are scattering the heavenly seeds of the Gospel. The seed was all the same " all came from Heaven. Why did some of it bear much fruit while some of it did not bear any? It was because of the soil. Jesus explained that the soil represented the different hearers, the people who listened to the message of salvation.

Some of the seed fell by the wayside and was eaten by the birds: It never had a chance to grow. He compared that to people who consider the message of salvation as foolishness, and who never let the Word get into their heart. The enemy of their soul causes them to forget it at once.

Some of the seed had fallen on stony ground. You know that the tender roots of tiny plants cannot penetrate rocks. This seed started to grow in the little topsoil there was, but when the roots struck the rock they could get no moisture or food, and the plants dried up. Jesus compared this planting with the people who listen to the Gospel message and think it wonderful. They see the happy faces of true Christians, and the harmony among the congregation of Christ, and they think they want that happiness, too. But they have not considered what it means to live for Christ. There will be times when they will have to suffer persecution for the Gospel's sake; there will be times when they will have to lean hard by faith on the promises of God. When such times come, those who think the Christian life will be easy, give up and go back into the world.

There was some seed, which fell among the thorns. The seed grew, but when the plants were grown they were crowded out because of the weeds. Jesus said those plants were like the people who are saved and serve God faithfully for a while, but later they become interested in other things and let the Spirit of God slip from their lives. They really planned to serve God, but through carelessness and neglect, and being too busy with the cares of their homes or their business, they did not have time to serve Jesus; so He had to go away.

Fruit

But there was also good ground. There was soil that wanted the seed, and had all the elements the seed needed to grow.-Such are the hearts that are hungry for the Words of life, and who are willing to take the sunshine and the rain, the storms and the calm " everything that will make them good Christians. Such people bear fruit in the Gospel, some more and some less, according to their abilities " but all spiritual fruit. Jesus will not be disappointed when He comes to that kind of people looking for fruit, because it will be there " golden sheaves, not faded leaves.

Questions

1. What is a parable?

2. Why did Jesus speak to the people in parables?

3. Why did not all people understand the parables He spoke?

4. What did the seed represent?-Was all the seed good seed?

5. Why didn't all the seed grow and bear fruit?

6. Which seed did bear fruit?-What kind of people was that likened to?