Ps Craig Mobey
Scripture: Mark 4:30-32 (NIV)
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use
to describe it?
31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth.
32 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.
Introduction
Did you know that a mustard seed is not the smallest seed? That honour belongs to an orchid
seed; it is said that half a million orchid seeds weigh the same as an aspirin.
The genre of Mark 4:30-32 is a parable about the Kingdom of God, using the smallest useful
seed that would have been known to Palestinian farmers because they would not have planted
(or known) anything smaller at that time.
On the one hand, growing an orchid from seed is difficult because the seed does not have
nutritional storage tissue. Orchids from seed are best grown in a controlled sterile laboratory
environment. Even then, the seed needs a fungus to penetrate it to get going. So, the orchid
seed is dependent on something external happening to it, in the best of conditions so that it can
grow.
On the other hand, a mustard seed does not need something external like a fungus. It is filled
with all it needs and just gets on with achieving its purpose of growing, a place of nesting and
a source of flavour – often in very harsh conditions.
It causes me to wonder about us and our spiritual growth.
I think that in a sense, the orchid seed relies a lot on what I call, “if … then” – and even then,
so much of the “if” is external.
A mustard seed – because of what is within it – simply gets on with the job of flourishing where
it is planted and needed.
Beginnings
Mark 4:31, “Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable
shall we use to describe it?”
A tourist once asked the guide, “Were there any famous men born in this city?” The guide said,
“No. Only babies.” We are not born as “men” (adults). Everyone has a beginning point. Two
examples:
1. There was once a Baby, born in a manger in Bethlehem. This Baby, being a Nazarene,
grew up in a despised province, started ministering when he was about 30 and
ministered for about 3 years. He was followed by the poor and unschooled and died a
shameful death on a cross and, as prophesied, He rose again on the third day. After a
while, He was taken up into heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the
Father, from where He rules over everything. Over the last 2000 years, millions have
followed Him and someday, He will return.
2. A while ago on a snowy evening in England, a young teenager was trying to find his
church. Blinded by the snow, he turned into a little Methodist Chapel, whose minister
did not make it that night due to the weather. There were only a handful of people there.
One of the men stood up and shared from Isaiah 45:22, “Turn to me and be saved, all
the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” At that moment a mustard
seed of faith was planted in the heart of that teenager. His name was Charles Haddon
Spurgeon, who would later go on and preach the Gospel to thousands and build a 5 000-
seat auditorium in London that was not big enough to accommodate the masses.
Reflection:
• Do you remember the spark of your love for the Lord when you came to salvation?
• Do you celebrate your salvation? Why … why not?
Growth
In verse 32, Jesus says that this small mustard seed grows and becomes the largest of all garden
plants, in other words, about 4.5 meters tall.
The same is true about a Baby in a manger in Bethlehem which is now a global family that has
survived time, cultures, language, persecution, and peace.
11 disciples were joined by 109 others in the upper room. The 120 prayed, the Holy Spirit came
and Peter preached. Because of the Holy Spirit, 3 000 converted and their number continued
to grow. There were about 600 million Christians in 1910. Today, there are about 2.2 billion
of us. In 1949, there were 400 000 Christians in China, today we have about 163 million
brothers and sisters in China.
Not only is there numerical growth in the Kingdom of God, but you too are growing in spiritual
maturity because of a seed that took root in your life.
Reflection:
• Look back over the years and joyfully appreciate your growth; the journey that God has
brought you.
• Was there ever a moment that God was not with you?
• Why do you think God is causing you to mature into His likeness?
• Where are you heading?
Maturity
The mustard plant, “… grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big
branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Just as birds find shelter and protection in the
mustard plant, we find protection and shelter in Christ.
Have you wondered why and from what we need shelter and protection in Christ?
100% of us need shelter and protection from the consequences of our sins. Compare for a
moment the following Old Testament Scripture from Zephaniah 2:3 with your present reality
in Christ; I will make this comparison easy and ask you to identify a keyword that makes our
position different to Zephaniah’s audience, “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you
who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered
on the day of the LORD’s anger.” Did you spot the keyword? It’s “perhaps.” The “perhaps”
falls away when we are in Christ. There is, in Jesus, also shelter from the consequences of sin.
Jesus took our punishment on the cross.
The point is: since we all have a measure of maturity and full security of salvation, what are
we doing with it?
Another area where we need shelter and protection in Christ is when we are weary.
Let me ask you, are you weary or tired and is there a difference? In a sense, being tired speaks
of the amount and quality of sleep you have been getting. But weary speaks to exhaustion and
involves all of you. It is that point where your relational and spiritual “reserves” have dropped
to zero. Quite simply, you are giving out more than you are getting in. I am not going to go
into the causes of weariness, this can stand over for a while.
The point is, when you are tired, you sleep. An easy fix then. But when you are weary, you
need replenishment. I love Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.” The immature grow tired and after a good rest, they are good to go
again. But the mature become tired and weary. I would argue that weariness is fuelled – in part
– by bearing a mature person’s responsibilities. The mature seek rest and replenishment –
hopefully before the needle is on empty.
Another area where we need shelter and protection is for today and tomorrow, as life happens
and unfolds. An astonishing number of believers are suffering from anxiety, depression,
physical ailments, and other challenges. It is easy to over-spiritualize solutions, but the fact
remains that while God can – and does – instantly heal and bring relief, most of us will have to
face and overcome many obstacles in His power and to His glory.
The trouble of life is not going to go away, and neither will the peace of Christ, which is an
ever-present reality during these hard times. Scripture has the expectation that you and I will
mature and face these troubles as a “Christ-likeness-moulded” adult. This does not mean, on
your own.
Read with me 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard
to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” Be adults. The big difference is that an infant
or a child will tend to run away whereas an adult runs toward it. We face up to our
responsibilities, we confront sin, we evangelize and so forth. In other words, because of Christ,
we can think; we can reason and face today and tomorrow in His power and to the glory of
God, knowing that in Him, we have shelter and protection.
Reflection:
• Do you experience the peace of Christ when you think about life, particularly what
happens after your physical death?
• Are you weary or tired?
• Are you running away or facing life and its challenges? Or facing them?
Conclusion
Late one night a thief confronted John Wesley. A “your money or your life” situation. After
being robbed, Wesley stopped the thief who was about to run away, “Stop! I have something
more to give you!” The thief returned and Wesley bent near his ear and said, “You may someday
live to regret this life. And if you do, remember these few words: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ,
God’s Son, cleanses us from all our sin.’”
Years later, a stranger asked to speak to Wesley after he preached. Wesley recognized him as
the thief, but now he was a well-dressed merchant and a follower of Jesus. The man said to
Wesley, “To you, sir, I owe it all. Your words changed my life.” He gladly returned the money
he had stolen. Wesley said, “No, not to me, my friend, but to the precious blood of Jesus Christ,
which cleanses us from all our sin.”
Wesley showed the thief a mature plant and not a small seed.
Reflection:
• What if your words and actions are like mustard seeds in the lives of others? And
yourself? Some of us may need to take stock of where we are, how we got here and
where we are heading and challenge our “default” way of thinking and then respond in
the maturity, shelter, and protection that we have in Christ.
• What is holding you back or slowing you down from maturing?
• I am tempted to say “thank Him for your maturity” but in a sense, that would imply that
we have arrived, when in reality, all of us are still maturing.
Amen.