Growing alongside the raspberries in my garden are a couple of strawberry plants.
This strawberry plant here is one which hubby and I purchased three years ago from a fancy schmancy garden nursery.
Much to my surprise this strawberry plant didn’t just bloom and produce strawberries in the spring. It continued to bloom and produce berries all summer long! I had no idea there were strawberry plant varieties which bloomed and produced fruit all summer long!
I couldn’t wait for my “miracle strawberry plant” to put out runners so I could have lots more strawberry plants just like it!
Oh boy! I’m going to have lots and lots of strawberries all summer long going forward! This is going to be terrific!
But to my dismay the “miracle strawberry plant” didn’t put out any runners at all. Not a single one.
What?!
How is that possible??
Strawberry plants are notorious for putting out tons of runners.
Deep down I began to wonder if this “miracle strawberry plant” had somehow, in some way been genetically altered. Sure, it might produce strawberries all summer long, all the way up until the frost. But what’s the point if it doesn’t replicate itself and send out runners??
Growing alongside the languishing, stagnant “miracle strawberry plant” is this strawberry plant here.
This strawberry plant came from runners given to my daughter by a coworker at her work. This coworker friend had so many runners that they brought in a box-full to share with my daughter. After my daughter had filled up her planter box on her back patio with all the new little strawberry plants from the runners, she had one leftover runner which she gave to me.
I planted the little leftover runner in my garden, alongside the “miracle strawberry plant.”
It has been a year now and the strawberry plant from the little leftover runner is thriving and growing!
It is sending out runners to the south! It has replicated itself with two brand new little strawberry plants … and the runner is continuing to stretch on further southward.
The strawberry plant is sending out runners to the east! Here you can see two brand new little strawberry plants which have taken root and are growing healthily. And the runner is continuing to stretch on further east.
The strawberry plant is sending out runners to the north! … towards the watering can.
In the background (in the shade), directly behind the thriving, runner-stretching strawberry plant you can see the languishing “miracle strawberry plant” which has never sent out a single runner in the past three years.
Here you can see three new little strawberry plants taking root and growing from the runners which stretched north. And as you can see, the runners are continuing to reach on further northward.
I can’t help but think of Jesus’s final words to his disciples before he left this earth and ascended back into heaven: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” – Matthew 28:19
Basically, what Jesus was saying was: “Be just like this strawberry plant! Send out runners!”
The strawberry plant, by sending out runners, is replicating itself. Meaning – each new little strawberry plant has the same DNA as the original strawberry plant.
But each new little plant (which is taking root from the runners) is its own individual unique plant. As such, it is up to each new plant to send down its own roots into the soil. It is up to each new plant to develop its own root system. It is up to each new plant to draw nutrients and water from the soil. It is up to each new plant to ward off pests and disease. It is up to each new plant to produce fruit!
It is up to each new plant to thrive and produce an abundant harvest.
It is up to each new plant to grow strong and healthy … and send out runners of its own!
Jesus, in his humanity here on this earth did not have the capacity to teach and train all people how to be just like him. He did what he could within the limits of his humanity. He taught extensively! He taught crowds … he taught small groups … he taught individuals. But he could only teach so many people.
Jesus, within the limits of his humanity, could only be in one place at one time. He could only heal so many people. He could only help so many people. Jesus got tired. Jesus got weary and weak. Jesus needed to take time off to rest and recharge.
The ultimate goal of Jesus is that all people would be just like him!
How would Jesus accomplish this??
Jesus spent three years of intensive internship training with a select group of 12 disciples … so that they would learn how to be just like him. Jesus not only taught his disciples extensively (spiritual lessons and how to know God the Father), but he also demonstrated by his example. Jesus had compassion on people. Jesus healed people. Jesus helped the outcasts. Jesus loved … he was tender. But Jesus was also tough … he stood up to bullies.
Jesus’s final words to his disciples when he left were: “Go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Or in other words: Everything I have taught you, go do it. Live it out! Those extensive spiritual lessons I spent three years teaching you … go teach others the same thing! Those lessons about how to know God the Father … teach others how to know God the Father too! Everything I showed you by example … go live it out! Help people. Have compassion. Be tender … love people. But also, be tough … stand up to bullies. Go … replicate yourself. And in so doing … you will be replicating me!
Jesus trained 12 followers to be just like him … so that they in turn would train others to be just like Jesus … so that they in turn would train others to be just like Jesus, etc. …
And here we are today! Jesus is no longer here on this earth in a physical body. Right now, Jesus is in heaven in all power and all glory! And Jesus’s goal has not changed – that all people would be just like him!
Jesus wants his disciples (all who love and follow him) to “send out runners” so that “new little plants” take root. “New little plants” which have the same DNA as the original plant – Jesus Christ. “New little plants” which look just like the original plant – Jesus Christ.
Jesus is telling his followers today: Everything I have taught you, go do it. Live it out! Those spiritual lessons I am teaching you right now (through your Bible reading and through the Holy Spirit’s instruction) … go share that with others! Those lessons you are learning about how to know God the Father … share that with others! Everything I showed you by example … go live it out! Help people. Have compassion. Be tender … love people. But also, be tough … stand up to bullies. Go … replicate yourself. And in so doing … you will be replicating me!
