![]() In this parable, Jesus (again) likens the kingdom of God to the planting of a seed. The results will be disproportionately astounding!Īs we study this last parable in chapter four, we will do so under four major headings. May we be encouraged to prayerfully seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This parable offers great encouragement concerning promised progress. Jesus desired to encourage his disciples to persevere in the face of seeming ineffectiveness. What had begun with the Lord Jesus Christ would continue to grow and to expand to such a degree that all the nations would eventually find shelter in it. In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus assured those with ears to hear of the progress of the kingdom of God. It was just what the disciples needed to hear-and what we need to hear as well. It is in this context of doubt, uncertainty and opposition in which Jesus tells these parables. Not only the religious establishment, but even his own family were at this point outsiders when it came to understanding and submitting to Jesus’ announcement of the good news of the kingdom. Though crowds were interested in Jesus, nevertheless, as Mark has made clear, not all were in favour of Jesus. In this sense, church planting is easy (as one church planter recently said at a conference I attended). ![]() When it comes to the kingdom of God, we are to sow the seed and leave the results with God. He expects us to please him by having faith in him. It is, precisely because it is God’s work that it will come to pass. God’s work usually progresses inauspiciously, invisibly, imperceptibly and yet inevitably. Why? Because the kingdom of God is a plant in the soil of the promise of progress. They were to plant, be patient, and, one day, they will marvel at the progress. ![]() That is what Jesus told his disciples in this final parable-the parable of the mustard tree. God has designed nature in such a way that little seeds can become great trees. That little tree is now fifteen-plus metres tall and it regularly clogs my pool with leaves! I thought about the history of the tree the other day when I read the saying, “Great oaks from little acorns grow.” From a fallen acorn, germination took place under the ground, an a little upstart of a tree was formed. This church member had found it growing in his yard, dug it up, put it in a pot, and brought it to me. One of those was a small oak tree, less than a meter tall. To be honest, they looked more like bare sticks, but he assured me they would grow! Some twenty years ago, a church member showed up at my house with some trees.
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