The Pilgrim Path---Mark's Gospel 4: 30-34 (5--18--20)

And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 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." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

THE MUSTARD SEED

This amazing parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13: 31-32; Luke 13: 18-19), is quite revealing. The essence of the parable being: the Kingdom of God starts out small and insignificant. Yet, because it is of God---it does not remain this way.

The Lord Jesus does not say virtually anything about the mustard plant. It has multiple uses. I've read that in Palestine it may reach a height of between 10' and 15' in some areas. That is really large. What is startling is that the mustard seed is only about 0.039 to 0.079 inches in diameter. Whoa...yet, the seed grows and becomes the biggest of the garden plants! Who knew?

Think of the Messianic implications of this passage in Ezekiel 17: 23, 24, "On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it."

Rejoice followers of Jesus! You are part of the Universal Kingdom! It has well over 2 billion followers world-wide. It continues to grow! Give, pray, labor, speak, and go---if you must---to aid in its advance. What a privilege to be a part of this Savior-energized endeavor!

"Jesus' followers consisted of a few uneducated fishermen who were told to make disciples of all the nations. These followers set the world on fire with the message of salvation, which today is proclaimed in nearly all the known languages of the world. The tiny seed sown in Galilee at the dawn of the new age of Christianity has become a tree which today provides shelter and rest to people everywhere. And the day is not spent. The tree has not yet reached maturity; it is still growing. We look at the phenomenon of the growing tree and know that God is at work developing his kingdom. We know that countless people on this globe have not heard the good news of God's forgiving love. Entire nations are virtually devoid of the shade and shelter extended by God's kingdom. The tree's branches must continue to grow and extend to those regions which still need the gospel so that multitudes may find refuge and rest." Simon Kistemaker

Let it be a principle in our religion, to never "despise the day of small things" (Zech. 4: 10). One child may be the beginning of a flourishing school---one conversion the beginning of a mighty church---one word the beginning of some blessed Christian enterprise---one seed the beginning of a rich harvest of saved souls. J. C. Ryle

All these powerful lessons by parables. As the followers of Jesus---not perfect, but forgiven; "broken," as Hans Bayer says---but redeemed!

Unto God Almighty joyful Zion sings;

He alone is glorious, doing wondrous things,

Evermore, ye people, bless his glorious name,

His eternal glory through the earth proclaim.

Christ shall have dominion over land and sea,

Earth's remotest region's shall his empire be.

The Psalter (1912)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Christ Our LORD, Pastor Jason