My Dear Shepherds,
The growth of God’s kingdom is a state secret. We were taught it in a parable code. It’s easy to assume that God’s kingdom, like any other kingdom, could be measured by population or geography, wealth or military might, the way the devil himself reckons his realm. But King Jesus told his disciples this secret:
“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 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.” (Mark 4:30-32)
New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg explains, “In the Bible, God’s kingdom always refers to his dynamic reign or rule, not to a literal realm. It’s his divine power, not a place. … God’s vision of building his church is always but one part of the much larger cosmic task of advancing his kingdom—his righteous reign in the entire universe” (italics mine). So let’s paraphrase Jesus’ question: “What shall we say God’s righteous reign in the entire universe is like? What code shall we use to describe it?” And with everyone listening and almost no one understanding, he tells us, “A mustard seed.”
The almighty God extends his reign into the realm of the prince of darkness the way a tiny, tiny mustard seed grows to dominate a garden. Instead of laboring at the gears of some well-oiled religious machine we were recruited by God to plant the seed of his righteous reign every chance we get. We face diabolical pushback, to be sure, but greater is the one who is in us than the one who is in the world.
Our own maturity in Christ doesn’t depend on “wise sounding rules and self-imposed worship” but on the life of Christ breaking down our sins and vitalizing our loving obedience. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is eager to show us the particular lives and situations in our congregation or community where we are to plant God’s righteous reign. We ask where or how and the Spirit whispers, “Here, plant one of those wee little seeds here.”
The seed of God’s reign always grows. To that end, Jesus challenged us, “Ask anything!” He taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Evidently, our prayers water the mustard seeds.
There’s a warning tucked back in Israel’s history. Zerubbabel had begun the work of rebuilding the Temple which, compared to its former glory, “seemed like nothing” to some (Hag. 2:3). But the Lord warned them, “Who dares despise the day of small things …?” (Zech. 4:10). Jesus told us the mustard seed secret so that we would never underestimate the capacity of God’s rule to grow, not only where you or I serve, but even to the far reaches of earthly and heavenly realms.
Jesus added that phrase, “with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” In Ezekiel 17:23 God uses the same expression in likening Israel’s future to the vast spreading branches of a sprig from a cedar.
Whether pictured as the cedar sapling, the oaks of righteousness, or the full-grown mustard plant, pastors should delight God’s people with stories of their vast family tree, their brothers and sisters “from every tribe and language and people and nation, … a kingdom and priests to serve our God.” All of us resting in the branches. Let them in on the secret.
Be ye glad!
Pastor Lee
