Parable of the Mustard Seed
Today’s text is the parable of the Mustard Seed from Mark 4:30-34
Mar 4:30-34 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? (31) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, (32) yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (33) With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. (34) He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
1. The kingdom of God is about the sovereignty of God. (vs. 30-32) Notice the contrast: the smallest of seeds grows into the largest of plants. This highlights the impossibility of it all – by man’s standards, and by man’s estimation. Likewise, as Jesus finished speaking to the rich young man in Mark 10, vs. 10:25-27 say the following:
Mar 10:25-27 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (26) And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” (27) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
This proves the supernatural nature of the life in Christ. We cannot come to God on our own terms – it is God Himself that has wrought true life in the believer’s heart that the believer would even be able to believe. It is amazing….but the small seed that He plants WILL grow. He is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).
2. The spiritual life should be refreshing to those around us. (vs. 32b) We are called to be salt and light, and when we live our “normal Christian life”, others will be refreshed by it. Yesterday (Sunday) morning, I was at church, and the pastor was speaking of the spiritual life of the church in terms of faith. They were having to live by faith in different aspects of church life. They did not want to lower the standard in membership at their church, but practice what is called ‘regenerate church membership’ (only those who have the fruit of regeneration and who desire to serve the church body in some capacity are considered for membership). This is VERY biblical, and is not really practiced by churches by-and-large. It takes faith for a church to practice that. I was drawn to it. Why? In this case, I was a bird seeking shade in the faith of another. The workings of Christ in a believer (or group of believers) are marked with lives of faith. It is living in dependency of Christ Jesus to provide. I, as a bird that was seeking shelter, was drawn to those who live lives of faith, and it DOES refresh me.
3. Truth is meted out as we can take it. (Mark 10:33-34) We are all at different places in our walk. If we’re growing in Christ (a big if), then what we believe about God is different than when we first came into the fold. We *should* now have a bigger view of God, and a smaller view of man. There is a truth at work here: Meat is not given to babes. Why? Because they cannot digest it. This is the essence of what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3:
1 Cor 3:1-3 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (2) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, (3) for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
The truth also cuts both ways: we must be careful to not “throw our pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6); for folks may not understand the deeper doctrines of faith (election, perserverance, the atonement, gifts, eschatology, different aspects of soteriology). We must stick with the Gospel call to all men: “Repent and believe!” (Mark 1:15). Leave the results of growth up to God Himself, for He is faithful to complete it.
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