There's No Doubt! That's a Weed!

Read; Matthew 13:24-31; Matthew 13:36-43; John 6:70-71; John 13:10-11; Luke 22:22

When winter gave way to spring this year, I noticed that the few rose bushes in the back yard hadn't made it through the winter. Except one that I thought might have a bit of green coming out on it. That was my hope even though the bush itself looked pretty pitiful. Even so, I watered it, and the green little sprouts had begun to grow. Perhaps something was coming up from the bottom as is the habit with some roses. It was hard to tell due to the closeness of the thorny branches. However, to use a football term, after further review, that wasn't the case. What seemed as if it might be new rose growth was merely a leafy weed that had rapped itself unceremoniously around a thorny branch in two different places. Now I was certain that I had been watering a weed; so, I took hold and yanked it out. I'm glad I didn't do it earlier in the season because I probably would have wondered if I were removing a viable part of the plant. Better to have waited and so I could be certain.

This little incident reminded me of Jesus' teaching about weeds of another variety. Weeds that spring up right next to the wheat. They look very much like the good wheat. Jesus went on to tell His listeners that the point of the parable wasn't plants but people.

In Matthew 13, Jesus pointed out a precious truth. The weeds can't always be identified on their appearance alone. The servants could judge wrongly. That is why when the servants wanted to yank out the weeds, Jesus told them to wait until harvest time. Then no wheat would be disturbed in their zealousness to uproot the weeds. I actually remember that years ago, I pulled out a chrysanthemum, thinking it was merely a large weed. Oh my! I was so glad to have pulled it out by the roots until I discovered that I had made an error in judgment.

Our scriptures from Luke 22, John 17, John 13 and John 6 are a good reminder concerning two important truths. Not concerning weeds and wheat but rather something much more important because these verses speak about people and everlasting life.

First, these verses all speak about Judas whose life illustrates the fact that weeds don't always look like weeds. Think of the opportunities this man had to see and experience the love of Jesus up close. He witnessed the raising of Lazarus, participated in the feeding of the five thousand, saw the healing of the man who had been born blind, the cleansing of lepers and the casting out of demons. And so much more. Yet, he sold out the Lord, and what is amazing to me is that none of the other eleven who had lived and walked with Judas had any idea of his duplicity. He evidently acted and appeared to be just like the rest who were around him day by day.

Second, the scriptures are clear that Jesus knew who was a weed among His men. Even though the others didn't have a clue about Judas, Jesus knew that Judas never truly belonged to Him, John 6:70-71. Contrast Peter to Judas. The Savior knew that Simon would deny him three times. He even warned His over confident man, Luke 22:31-32. Even though Peter fell as Jesus predicted, he displayed Godly sorrow by repenting after having denied His Lord, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. On the other hand, Judas displayed his true nature. His sorrow was worldly. The kind that leads to death, rather than the godly sorrow which brings about life. Judas didn't want to serve Jesus on the Savior's terms; instead, his sorrow concerned his disappointment about the way events were unfolding. One thing was certain. Things weren't turning out the way he had hoped they would. Peter's life bore fruit, but Judas' was wasted. What a sorrowful word Jesus spoke when He said that it would have been better if His betrayer had never been born, Luke 22:22. The everlasting difference in Judas' and Peter's lives is pictured in the last verses of the explanation of the parable of the wheat and the wheat.

What a contrast Matthew 13:39-43 presents. The dividing line will be drawn. All those whom God knows are not His will be separated from Him and experience the torments of hell. In sharp contrast to that, those who belong to Jesus, having been born anew, John 3:3 will experience all the joys of the kingdom God has prepared, Revelation 21-22. Not one weed will enter and no wheat will be excluded because God knows who belongs to Him, 2 Timothy 2:19. John lays out that same truth for us again in John 10 27-28.

So, how do these truths make a difference in our every-day lives now? May I suggest only one of the possible ways? Since God knows each of His own, we can relax. We don't have to try to figure out who is part of His family. For one thing, we don't know the wonders He still might do in any life, and we can't look into anyone's heart and know what the Lord alone can know. Yet, knowing God is the seeking Savior, Luke 19:10, we can do the work He gives us to do. What work? We can pray and love. Two precious components that are a part of God's plan to bring in His harvest. Part of expressing that love is the telling of the truth that there is but one way of salvation, John 14:6; Acts 4:12;1 Timothy 2:5.

It is our desire in this church that if anyone reads this who does not yet belong to Jesus that you would talk with someone who loves Him. What a joy it would be to tell you about His love, John 3:16.