I have been writing small group material on the parables and I was surprised to see how many of Jesus parables are about seeds. You have the parable of the sower, the mustard seed, the growing seed, the wheat and the weeds and so on.
In these parables, the seed usually represents God’s Word. When it gets in the soil produces something because that is its kingdom DNA. Like DNA It is designed to produce life, to grow and to reproduce itself…that is what DNA does. God’s plan for humanity is carefully written on every strand…every seed that hits the ground. It is a powerful, graceful and beautiful thing. It is God’s vision for where he is taking this world and the redemption we find in Christ Jesus.
If you ever get a good close look at a seed, they often resemble the plant they will become. I can’t help but think about how that parallels how we become confirmed into the image of Christ as we seek him in faith.
John 12 and 1 Corinthians 15 give us one last insight on this. Seeds must die before they can bring life. So it was with Christ and so it is with us. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Paul tells us in Romans 6 that our baptism is death to self and resurrection with Christ. Once the seed penetrates your heart, this all becomes part of your spiritual DNA.
