Metamorphosis of the heart
Series: Metamorphosis | Bible text: Matthew 13:3–9; 18–23
In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes a metamorphosis of the heart. The Word of God wants to change our hearts so that we grow and bear much fruit. God wants to send us out into this world as his ambassadors, so that everyone can already experience the Good News today.
Metamorphosis is the theme of the year for seetal chile and is also in the title of today’s sermon.
Metamorphosis, the Greek word for transformation. Nature shows this transformation process in the impressive example of the inconspicuous caterpillar. Born as a crawling creature, it transforms into a beautiful butterfly that flies gracefully from flower to flower. It no longer has to laboriously chew its food, but simply sips sweet flower nectar. What a wonderful transformation!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we as humans could also experience such a wonderful transformation? This is exactly what the following story is about.
Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. When he saw the large crowd, he sat down in a boat from where it was possible for him to speak to the many people. Jesus said: Once upon a time a farmer went out into the field to sow. Some of the seed fell on the path and the birds picked it up. Another part fell on rocky ground. This seed sprouted quickly, but when the midday sun burned, the plants withered. Another part fell into thorny bushes and the seed suffocated. Some seeds, however, fell on good soil and produced up to 100 times more fruit.
When Jesus had finished teaching, the disciples asked themselves, what does this story mean? We know what a sower does, but why is He telling us this? They asked Jesus and he answered:
«I will now explain to you the parable of the farmer who sows the seed». (Matthew 13:18 NGÜ).
Parables are pictorial stories that Jesus used to give people a new perspective on everyday life and to explain his message.
«When someone hears the message of the Kingdom of Heaven and does not understand, it is like the seed that falls on the path. The evil one comes and robs what has been sown in that person’s heart»(Matthew 13:19 NGÜ).
Jesus tried to explain this divine wisdom in a simple way. We humans, with our limited thinking, tend not to understand the essence. It is a message that describes another world, a message of the Kingdom of God. For us it seems to be an upside down world where many things are valued differently than we are used to. A small example: After his twelve disciples had argued about who was the greatest among them, Jesus said: «The greatest among you shall be the servant of you all». (Matthew 23:11 NGÜ). In the new kingdom, the greatest is not the one who has the highest title and commands all, but the one who helps his fellow human beings.
I know no one who can explain the Kingdom of Heaven better than Jesus, the King of this new Kingdom. Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. The feast commemorating Jesus» triumphal entry into Jerusalem. His followers celebrated him as the King of the new kingdom. The promised saviour who would free the Jewish state from Roman oppression. But they did not understand what Jesus had taught them. At his hearing, Pilate could not understand this either and asked him if he was the new king. Jesus answered: « «If I were a secular ruler, my people would have fought for me so that I would not fall into the hands of the Jews. But my kingdom is of a very different kind.» Pilate asked him: «So you are a king after all?nig?» Jesus answered: «Yes, you are right. I am a king. And for this purpose I became man and came into this world to bear witness to the truth. Whoever lets himself be determined by the truth listens to me».» (John 18:36–37 HfA). Jesus declared that he was not a worldly ruler and that his kingdom would not come through war. God chose a different way to bring his kingdom. I will go into more detail about which way later.
«Another part of the seed falls on rocky ground. This means: Someone hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, but he is a fickle person, a plant without roots. As soon as he is distressed or even persecuted because of the Word, he turns away from it again» (Matthew 13:20–21 NGÜ).
The message of new life with Jesus can sound very inviting. But change and growth is often difficult for people and it is very easy to fall back into the old life.
«Yet another part of the seed falls into the thorny bushes. This means: Someone hears the word, but the cares of this world and the lure of wealth choke it, and it remains without fruit.» (Matthew 13:22 NGÜ).
I can identify very well with this ground, or rather with this heart, and I think I’m not the only one. Everyday life can catch up with us very quickly, there are so many ways to distract ourselves. It’s very easy to worry about everything possible and impossible and overlook what’s most important.
«Some of the seed, however, falls on good soil. This means: Someone hears the word and understands it and then also bears fruit – one a hundredfold, another sixtyfold and yet another thirtyfold»(Matthew 13:23 NGÜ).
Jesus declares that his message of the Kingdom of Heaven should take root in our hearts and grow until it bears abundant fruit. Christians do not have to frantically try to bear fruit. The fruit grows by itself when the seed forms strong roots. Roots are a symbol of our connection with Jesus Christ. He said: «I am the vine and you are the branches. If anyone abides in me and I abide in him, he bears abundant fruit; without me you can do nothing»(John 15:5 NGÜ).
It is God’s plan that we carry His Kingdom into this world through a transformed heart. God has a plan for our lives. Before I came to know Jesus, I felt in my heart that there must be more to life than working – eating – sleeping and having a good time and then dying at eighty. And it’s like this: God gives us a reason to live. He has included us in his plan. God in his greatness has chosen us imperfect people to change this world for the better. Jesus came to bring this new kingdom to this earth. He did not enter Jerusalem with weapons to impose this new rule by force. No, he came with the wonderful news of transformed hearts. These can bring a better way of life to this world. When Jesus works in our hearts, the new kingdom is in our midst.
In a sermon earlier this year, Pastor Matthias said: «If it is right with the human being, it is right with the world.«I would like to add my voice to these words. If the hearts are right, the world is right. And God wants to bring this new world to earth here and now.
The story of the sower is a special parable. Jesus tells us not only one truth of the new kingdom, but several aspects of it. More precisely, he describes a process of transformation. We could also say that he describes the process of a metamorphosis of the heart.
It is the new heart we long for. Not a selfish, self-aggrandising heart that walks over corpses, brings destruction and death. No, a loving heart that gives, forgives and brings new life. Jesus makes a promise of the Old Testament a reality. «I will give you a new heart and a new spirit. Yes, I will take the petrified heart out of your chest and give you a living heart.» (Ezekiel 36:26 HfA).
How do we put into practice what we have learned from Jesus today? The parable of the sower is about an open heart to receive the word of the kingdom of heaven. The word must be sown in our hearts before it can grow. I believe that it takes several seeds in our heart for it to come to 100-fold fruit. It is also a recurring process, a lifelong growing. That is why we need to scatter this seed throughout our lives. Jesus said: «Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth». (Matthew 4:4 NGÜ).
In our lives it is important that we hold the divine message (God’s thoughts) in our hearts. I recently learned that we humans have between 50–80,000 thoughts every day. Unfortunately, we have nine times more negative thoughts than positive ones. It is the voice in our head, the permanent self-talk that sounds like a radio in our ears all day long. We have to choose the right station, the right music to the dance of life, because that is the only way we really live.
Possible questions for the small groups
Read Bible text: Matthew 13:3–9; 18–23
- How many soils/hearts are there in the parable of the sower?
- Which soil/heart can you identify with?
- What kind of fruit is expected from a Christian?
- Is my fruit authentic?
- Is being a Christian a stress or a liberation for you?
- How can I hear the «message of the kingdom of heaven»? Name at least three ways.
- Do I need to change anything so that I have regular opportunities to hear from God?
