READING: MARK 4:26-41

He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn – first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. As soon as the corn is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’

Again he said, ‘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.’

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’

REFLECTION

Hello. It’s Wednesday. Welcome to today’s Foundations Podcast. Thank you for continuing join us as we dig into Mark’s Gospel this week.

Today’s passage is Mark 4: 26-41. Do find the time to read it through at some point today.

I’d like to concentrate on v 30 – 31. In this passage, Jesus continues to explain truths about the Kingdom of God to those listening around him using parables – stories with an intended message for those who were listening.

Again he said, “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 seed you plant in the ground."

Jesus here is using language that would have been familiar to his original listeners. It mirrors that of Isaiah 40:18 – ‘To whom then shall we compare God? What image will you compare him to?’

In using language of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus gave his listeners a fresh vision of God and what his kingdom would look like, and it certainly wasn’t what they were expecting or imagined. People of the time were expecting a great moment of renewal. They believed that Israel would be rescued and God’s kingdom would explode onto the world stage in a blaze of glory. This parable, and others like it, suggest otherwise.

I want to focus on verse 31. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed – the smallest of all seeds, yet capable of producing a bush that could grow up to 12 feet high. The message for those listening is that from small, seemingly insignificant beginnings, God’s kingdom will grow.

I have the privilege of leading Defined, our youth church here at STC. I was recently tidying up the files in my office and came across a scrappy bit of paper entitled, ‘A potted history of Defined’. According to the table I was presented with, Defined began in October 2007 – there were six teenagers. My colleague Paddy and I recently calculated that we’ve now got over 80 teenagers who are regularly attending Defined. When you factor in those on the edge of the community, it’s closer to 100. From a seemingly humble beginning – six teenagers – something remarkable has grown.

Referring back to the parable, it would seem that God’s infinite power is locked inside the mustard seed, and perhaps what is even more remarkable, he uses us to tend to that seed and see it grow.

When I look at Defined Youth Church now, I think to myself: ‘How faithful were these people who originally started it off?’. These people who saw the need, saw the possibility and said ‘Alright God, let’s do this!’. Defined is about to enter its 10th year. For a decade, incredible people from this church have faithfully served and invested in teenagers in this community so that they too might know Jesus, and the amazing life he came to give them. They’ve seen God work through them so that from six teenagers, countless young peoples’ lives have been touched. Jesus is teaching us again today that from seemingly small beginnings his kingdom WILL come. The key to it all it would seem is faithfulness.

So, the encouragement for us today is to continue to be faithful to the place God has called us to – a school, a university, a friendship group, a job, a person, a church.  To remember that the One who calls us is faithful and he will do it (1 Thess 5:24).

And, for me, the other encouragement is to look for mustard seeds – small signs of where God’s kingdom is breaking through. As you look around you today, where can you see small signs of God’s kingdom breaking out – in a conversation, a friendship, a group.

Alternatively, it might be perhaps, where you see a need or an opportunity for God’s kingdom to grow. In those places, let us ask God to give us faith to be his hands and feet today. To be the ones who pick up the shovel and cultivate the ground. To be the ones who continue offer hope in a conversation, who continue to pray for a friend – and tell them we’re praying for them, to be those who invest time and energy in a particular group of people and those who push open the door looking for an opportunity - all the while remembering who God is and what he’s promised. His kingdom will come, and we’re the ones he uses to bring it in! Exciting!

PRAYER

Lord, we simply pray that this day we would know that the one who calls us is faithful – you will do it. Encourage us to be people who faithfully work to see your kingdom grow. Amen.

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