Lenten Reading Mark 4:1-25

Mark 4: 1- 25

The parable of the sower is a retelling of the story of Israel, specifically about Israel’s exile and return. “Israel’s [God] is acting, sowing his prophetic word with a view to restoring his people, but much of the seed will go to waste, will remain in ‘exillic’ condition, being eaten by birds (satanic forces, or perhaps predatory Gentiles) or lost among the rocks and thorn of the exilic wilderness. The eventual harvest, though, will be great. We are not far from Jesus’ story about the great banquet. The party will go ahead, and the house will be full, but the original guests will not be there. Judgment and mercy are taking place together” (NT Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 234).