The Parable of the Mustard Seed - Mark 4:30-34
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” 33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Reflection:
Again today Jesus uses the analogy of a parable to describe how things operate in the kingdom. He is contemplating in his mind a way to say it that would be familiar to them. He is meeting them on their playing field with a hope to move them more deeply into spiritual matters. Though these parables largely remain a mystery, as they grow in faith and receive the Holy Spirit they will get it more later on.
And the seed is the word of the Gospel. The Good News about Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world by God's grace. As the Gospel seed is planted in one's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are born again. They are born anew and become part of the family of God. And we see with the first disciples and the Christian community in the book of Acts, they were very small at first and charged with bringing this Good News to every tribe and nation. Quite a big task for the early church. But we know from yesterday as the seed of the Gospel is sown and takes root it multiplies 30,60 and 100 times. And we see this multiplication process over the last 2,000 years as approximately 2 billion people have heard and accepted the Good News. It has become the largest of all the garden plants , though not without opposition and persecution through the ages. But the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the church, showing that people would not die for a lie. Unless a seed is buried in the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit.
And every day as believers, we die to our agendas and try to become like that good seed that multiplies. And we don't do it just individually, but as part of a local church that is part of the universal "Church" that is made up of all true believers. And even though the branch of the Church has not yet become perfectly realized, one day we are promised that Jesus will return and collect the harvest of believers. And God's kingdom on earth will become the heavenly kingdom that has no end.
So the question for you and me is, how do we continued to remain planted in Christ so we can bear maximum fruit for the kingdom? In John's Gospel, in chapter 15, he says if we remain in Christ we will bear much fruit. But there is also a warning when he says in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing!" So I guess it is simple, yet hard. Why? Because I think we all would rather rely on ourselves rather than simply abiding in Christ and letting him bear fruit through us. I know I start thinking I have to create fruit myself and that never works. I think starting each day in God's Word and reflecting what it means for us, is a good way to remain in Christ. I hope you have a great day today.
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” 33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Reflection:
Again today Jesus uses the analogy of a parable to describe how things operate in the kingdom. He is contemplating in his mind a way to say it that would be familiar to them. He is meeting them on their playing field with a hope to move them more deeply into spiritual matters. Though these parables largely remain a mystery, as they grow in faith and receive the Holy Spirit they will get it more later on.
And the seed is the word of the Gospel. The Good News about Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world by God's grace. As the Gospel seed is planted in one's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are born again. They are born anew and become part of the family of God. And we see with the first disciples and the Christian community in the book of Acts, they were very small at first and charged with bringing this Good News to every tribe and nation. Quite a big task for the early church. But we know from yesterday as the seed of the Gospel is sown and takes root it multiplies 30,60 and 100 times. And we see this multiplication process over the last 2,000 years as approximately 2 billion people have heard and accepted the Good News. It has become the largest of all the garden plants , though not without opposition and persecution through the ages. But the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the church, showing that people would not die for a lie. Unless a seed is buried in the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit.
And every day as believers, we die to our agendas and try to become like that good seed that multiplies. And we don't do it just individually, but as part of a local church that is part of the universal "Church" that is made up of all true believers. And even though the branch of the Church has not yet become perfectly realized, one day we are promised that Jesus will return and collect the harvest of believers. And God's kingdom on earth will become the heavenly kingdom that has no end.
So the question for you and me is, how do we continued to remain planted in Christ so we can bear maximum fruit for the kingdom? In John's Gospel, in chapter 15, he says if we remain in Christ we will bear much fruit. But there is also a warning when he says in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing!" So I guess it is simple, yet hard. Why? Because I think we all would rather rely on ourselves rather than simply abiding in Christ and letting him bear fruit through us. I know I start thinking I have to create fruit myself and that never works. I think starting each day in God's Word and reflecting what it means for us, is a good way to remain in Christ. I hope you have a great day today.
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