The disciples had been in the crowd, probably looking pleased with themselves to be seen as part of Your inner company of followers. Like the crowds they had heard Your teaching and in particular this parable of the sower. They had probably nodded knowingly as You spoke, but inwardly it was obvious that they hadn't got a clue. Seed, birds, stones, sun, thorns - what was it all about, especially as You had said "He who has ears to hear, let him hear". It probably didn't help that You told them that they ought to be in the ‘know' as opposed to the crowds who would struggle to understand.

Outwardly, the agricultural meaning was obvious for all to see, if you want to get a good crop then you need to make sure that the seed falls into prepared ground. But inwardly, there is a deeper meaning that only those who have spiritual insight can grasp an understanding of. It must have been a bit like those pictures where the subject is so obvious that you don't give it a second glance until you are told that there are two very different subjects. A shift in perspective suddenly makes it obvious.

For Your disciples, it wasn't sufficient to be just hearers of the parable, they needed Your Holy Spirit to give true understanding. But what of the crowds? Elsewhere we are told that You had compassion for the crowds. We know that You spent hours and hours ministering to them. So were You really wrapping Your words in impenetrable packages? Was the object of Your teaching to prevent people from finding You? Or was there something deeper at work. As You sowed the word so Your Holy Spirit caused germination in those You had revealed Yourself to.

The devil - the birds- could never snatch them away. How that process works and how that choice is made is one of the mysteries that You have chosen not to reveal.