Rooted for Good

The Gospel of Mark re-introduces Jesus’ ministry with quick shots of early disciples. From the quirky John the Baptist with his locusts and honey and call to repentance to disciples dropping their life’s work on a dime to follow Jesus toward the Kingdom of Heaven. The initial tone keeps right on with the ending of Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus commanded us to make disciples.

The problem with making disciples is we must learn how to walk the walk when times are tough. Mark shows us the faith of the disciples to jump right in and the foresight of Jesus to warn them of the wiles of Satan to tempt us in our trials.

In explaining the parables, Jesus elaborates on the way our hearts are like varying kinds of soil. Who can understand the bedrock of our emotions but the one who made us and yet lives? (cf Jer. 17:5-10)

Jesus warns of the heart that at first finds joy in God and his word, his deeds, what have you, but when “tribulation comes,” everything falls apart.

This morning, I’m encouraged by this word for its foresight, its present helpfulness and its accurate diagnosis to keep me fruitful in this fleeting life.

For context, here’s a helpful chunk to nibble on:

Mark 4:15-17

[15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. [16] And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. [17] And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

Growing up in a Christian home, I don’t recall a ton of “immediate joy” related to church or Bible time. When I got saved it felt more immediate. Like a live wire connection to unforeseen and incredible power. I had great relief in my sins being forgiven. I believed as surely as if Jesus had risen that moment that He knew me, had accomplished the work to save me—just as His word said—and would one day great me face to face to show me more of the same in wonder and glory.

I got saved at a Christian Music festival called Ichthus down in Kentucky when I was twelve. On our way back to Ohio, the caravan broke down and we had to stay with a family down the street.

Following my modern-day John the Baptist that was my long-haired church “elders” rocking the busted VW’s, I learned how quickly trials could surface. Thankfully, I also had the care of God and people who also understood His ways to encourage me to trust in God, to make my root in Him and not my circumstances. That wasn’t the group I would have drafted for my Fantasy Life team, but God’s power made it work in the moment and the need.

Revisiting verse 17: “And they have no root in themselves but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”

I’m struck by the reliance system at work in our hearts, as well as God’s ability and direction to rework and manage it successfully. If we neglect God’s root, we embrace failure and ought to expect chaos and every evil thing to come (cf James 4).

The Gospel of John, chapter 15 best illustrates how to obtain and maintain fullness of joy by feeding upon the Lord for strength in everything, including obedience and endurance in trials.

The other day God provided a close parking spot on a cold day, and I thanked Him for that. Not Joel Osteen, but God. Forgive my tangent on that, but his book Your Best Life Now exemplifies a you deserve good things theme that fails to prepare infant Christians from grasping that our good Father knows the author of our salvation and found it fitting to allow progress through not only His suffering but ours, for ours is the “same source” (cf Heb 2:10-11).

Circling back to v17, the prosperity gospel, which does not include the gospel of repentance and its access through Jesus to saving grace and is therefore a works-based heresy, establishes a mindset lacking dependence on God. If you don’t worship God, then you worship money. This truth is plainly seen in Matthew 6:24. This religious exchange with God goes something like, I admit you are totally awesome and ask that you bless me with your best gifts—meanwhile since I never repented and received forgiveness by Jesus’ works, I’m gonna keep living my life for me. If you throw crud in my way, I reserve the right to nullify our agreement and take my talents elsewhere.

I’ve experienced this sin in my heart as I have been bitter with God for blessing me with my internal thorns. By saturation in His word and Spirit, He has shown me how to endure with joy.

Earlier in that sit down with Jesus, he warned them of the teachings and way of these outsiders: 

Mark 4:11-12

[11] And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, [12] so that 

   “‘they may indeed see but not perceive,

       and may indeed hear but not understand,

   lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

All of us understand what it’s like to resist repentance. In my bitterness I repented only to walk away from the mirror and forget His greater worth and truth. Hopefully you’ve come to understand this is the only way to God. By this same attachment to the live wire that is His grace and life, we must root ourselves for strength to endure. Despite our fleshly failures to lean toward what we can see and feel, we must stick with believing what is true. If we don’t, we fall away. Why wouldn’t we? Our strength was in ourselves and our judgment of good.

Satan was also deceived by his own glory and separated himself from God in this choice. His earthly mission prowls for opportunity to prevent God’s word from taking root in our hearts (cf Mk 4:14). He does so through an appeal to our desires. Our deceptive hearts tell us that the fulfillment of our desires is the best and easiest way to satisfaction and rest.

In Mark 4, Jesus says to beware of being: “those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (v18-19)

Understanding discipleship requires an understanding of true riches in Christ. The life He has given us by seeds of faith in His word and gospel is sufficient to endure through any trial. Our persistence in His roots not only testifies to this world of the validity of His claims and power, but also to our heart that we’re on the right path when depending on Him. For us to remain true, we must grow through Him who always is, was and will be.