Sometimes Little Things Create Big Results! - Luke 13

During this corona virus pandemic when most of us are stuck in our homes for most of our day, we might wonder what good can we do.  It is easy to get "cabin fever" and the "indoor blues".  Today Jesus tells us a story about the nature of the kingdom of God.  Importantly he gives us insight into how it grows.  He uses the metaphors of a mustard seed and yeast to illustrate what the kingdom of God is like.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Like every parable, Jesus used practical illustrations to give insight into spiritual realities.  Both of these parables are similar in a few ways. 

1. In both parables Jesus uses everyday items like a mustard seed and yeast to illustrate something extraordinary happening.  Jesus' parables were always down to earth.  He avoided the sophistication of the Pharisees' teaching to make points that even a child could understand.  This point teaches us that Jesus uses ordinary people like you and me to grow his kingdom.  This was supremely illustrated when God brought a tiny little baby named Jesus to the world in a manger to save the whole world. 

2. The seeds and flour aren't productive unless they are put to use.  In themselves they can't do anything, but when a seed is planted and the yeast is worked into the dough, they can do much more than they can ever do on their own.  In the same parable in Matthew, Jesus says our faith is like a mustard seed.  When we put our faith in action God can use our mustard seed of faith to grow His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  During this crisis there are plenty of ways to put your faith into action. 

Encourage others around you and pray for them.  Be an example for your kids, other family members, and friends of what it means to have simple, yet strong faith when trials like this come.  Look for ways to meet the tangible needs of those around you, especially those who are isolated, older and lonely.  Make phones, send texts, meet with your small group on a zoom call, and pray with those who need it.

3. Finally, the growth is exponential.  The small mustard becomes a large tree, so big that many birds can perch and be protected by its branches.  A little bit of yeast is worked through sixty pounds of flour.  I am sure that is a lot of bread.  In fact, my wife went through 10 pounds of flour last week baking all kinds of delicious bagels, hamburger buns and cookies for us. 10 pounds of flour went a long way.

Bottom line is that you don't have to be a bible expert or a super spiritual hero to do God's work.  This is a great time in our lives and in the history of the world to show what God's kingdom is like and what Jesus looks like in one of his followers.  This kingdom was fulfilled in Jesus' coming to earth and lives on through you and me. Ordinary people with an extraordinary ability to spread the Good News of the Gospel.