The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34
The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34
by Pastor Lee Hemen
November 22, 2009 AM
In the hymn "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," it tells us that "There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet, Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore, the melodious songs of the blest, and our spirits shall sorrow no more; not a sigh for the blessing of rest." It is a wonderful hymn that tries to describe for us the wonders of heaven. Sadly, there are those who confuse the wonders of heaven with God’s kingdom here and now. We would do well in understanding the differences and why it is important for us to do so.
It is no wonder that we have all wondered what heaven might be like. The Apostle John tried to relate what he saw when he was given a small glimpse of the heavenly realm in the book of Revelation. And, we find that he is trying to describe a perfectly holy and wonderful place with sin-stained eyes. In fact we find that for centuries scholars have been trying to figure out just exactly what the symbolism is behind the words of John. But when Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God in the gospels he often was not referring to heaven itself. Instead, we find that he is relating what God's kingdom was and is like and how it will be established in our world. Let's take a look at the kingdom parables this morning...
READ: Mark 4:26-34
Jesus again goes to what he knows and is familiar with and what his audience would know and be familiar with as well. He pulls from his memory the idea of how to relate the kingdom of God to those who would understand his earthy metaphors that symbolized spiritual concepts. In doing so Jesus answers for us the question we have wondered about concerning what the kingdom of God is like. Let’s take a closer look at the kingdom parables of Jesus. We fist discover that...
I. The kingdom of God is like scattered seed! (Vv. 26-29)
1. From the hands of the sower the seed is strewn! Jesus relates that "This is what the kingdom of God is like." We learned before that "scattered seed" can grow in many different conditions, however, here we find that "night and day, whether" the one scattering it "sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." In fact, that is not the sower’s concern. It is not his concern to make the seed grow nor how it grows. God germinates it. The kingdom of God grows from one small seed, one kernel of gospel truth, planted or "scattered" in the life of a person. It then sprouts and grows in the person’s life it is planted in. It also grows in the community it is scattered around. It is through the power the Holy Spirit that the seed grows and in this it remains a mystery to the one who first planted it. Why? Again, we are not the ones who cause it to grow only God does. In fact, the seed had to become intrinsically part of the person by faith. To literally die and be buried in the life of the person before it could germinate. Interestingly, the individual in whom the gospel seed is planted has to die to self before it can grow! As Paul would declare, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21 NIV) We also discover that just like at the beginning of the spiritual process, at the end, during our final resurrection in Christ, we first have to die and then we are made alive again in him! Paul would say, "When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else… So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable!" (1 Corinthians 15:37 & 42) And, notice here in Mark that "All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." In a community the seed planted soon begins to produce a crop. When the gospel seed is planted in the kingdom of God, it germinates, grows, and produces a crop for the ultimate harvest. In fact, Jesus related that "As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Surely the kingdom of God is like scattered seed!
EXAMPLE: Seeds can be scattered in many ways. Some seeds are scattered by the wind, some are carried away by birds and insects, some float in water, others are forced away from the plant by exploding pods, and still others hitchhike on animals and people. An example of a seed that travels by water would be the coconut seed. A coconut has a thick outer shell and is light-weight inside, which allows it to float for up to several months. When the coconut finally arrives on dry land, it is cracked open by animals or it rots, releasing the seed inside. An example of a hitchhiking seed would be a burdock. A burdock is covered with a spiky shell that sticks to passing animals and people. In this way the seeds are taken to a new location to grow. Maple seeds are carried by the wind. They fall off the tree and can be blown for many miles because they are light-weight. Dandelions are also scattered this way. The last method of scattering seeds is explosion. Some plants have seeds contained in large pods. When the pod burst open the seeds are sent flying through the air. Milkweed scatters its seeds this way. Christians are the way God scatters the gospel seed in the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God grows from one small seed planted in the heart of an individual willing to believe.
Big things often do come in small packages. In this case a very beautiful and wonderful thing begins as something very small but results in something quite large. Jesus says it is the kingdom of God. How is that possible? Well, we just learned that the kingdom of God is like scattered seed, but Jesus continues and teaches his listeners that…
II. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! (Vv. 30-34)
1. From the tiniest of things, great things can come! Again, Jesus asks, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?" Jesus does something quite wonderful when he next uses one of his kingdom parables. He beautifully relates to his listeners in a way they could readily understand what he was talking about by using a common plant of the field. He begins the parable with a clever double-question introduction in order to draw the listener into his thought process concerning God's kingdom. He then relates, in essence, that the appearance of God’s "kingdom" is similar to what happens to "a mustard seed" after it is scattered on "the ground." In Hebrew thought, the tiny mustard seed's size was proverbial since it was "the smallest" of all familiar seeds. It took 725-760 mustard seeds to weigh a single gram! The mustard bush is an annual plant which, growing from seed, "becomes the largest of all garden plants" in Palestine, rapidly reaching a height of 12-15 feet in just a few weeks. Jesus alluded that the "Birds of the air" are not only attracted by its seeds but also by the "shade" of its large "branches". His kingdom parable emphasizes the contrast between the smallest of the seeds growing into "the largest of all garden plants." Therefore the insignificant, even enigmatic beginning of God’s kingdom, embodied in the mere presence of Jesus, will ultimately end with the establishment of the greatest kingdom of all which will surpass all the earthly kingdoms in power and glory. And, when you, one small insignificant human being, gives your life to Jesus by faith and allow the kingdom "mustard seed" to be implanted in your heart, you become part of God's gigantic kingdom! Truly, the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!
EXAMPLE: Mustard was formerly made up into balls with honey or vinegar and a little cinnamon, to keep till needed, then they were mixed with more vinegar. It was sold in balls till Mrs. Clements, of Durham, England on July 10, 1720, invented the method of preparing mustard flour or powder, which long went under the name of 'Durham Mustard'. All parts of the mustard plant are edible, including the leaves, seeds and flowers. Pope John XXII was so fond of mustard that he created a new Vatican position, the 'grand moutardier du pape' (mustard-maker to the pope) and appointed his nephew to the post. Mustard plants produce about 1,000 pounds of seeds per acre. In one year at New York's Yankee Stadium more than 1,600 gallons plus 2,000,000 individual packets of mustard are consumed. Canada produces about 90 percent of the world's supply of mustard seeds. George J. French introduced his French's mustard in 1904, the same year that the hot dog was introduced to America at the St. Louis World's Fair. And the use of mustard is recorded in the earliest of all societies! Hebrew legend relates that Abraham used mustard in the Old Testament while entertaining the visiting angels. The Chinese used mustard for thousands of years. So did the ancient Romans, and it was the Romans who spread the use of mustard to France and England as their empire expanded. Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed worldwide each year and Americans use more mustard than any other country in the world. Ben Franklin first visited England not as a diplomat but as a young man seeking a printing apprenticeship. He didn't find it, but he did apparently discovered mustard, then as now used as a condiment on beef and other typically English fare. Appreciating its spicy tang, he did in fact introduce it to the American colonies on his return. So even though he didn't invent mustard, hot dog lovers across the country can say a hearty "thank you" to old Ben for bringing us mustard. Wow! All of that out of one tiny seed! No wonder Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!
Conclusion:
In his parables of the kingdom of God Jesus said that 1) The kingdom of God is like scattered seed, and 2) The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! From tiny thing like the gospel truth comes the eternal and growing kingdom of God!
---
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission...
by Pastor Lee Hemen
November 22, 2009 AM
In the hymn "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," it tells us that "There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet, Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore, the melodious songs of the blest, and our spirits shall sorrow no more; not a sigh for the blessing of rest." It is a wonderful hymn that tries to describe for us the wonders of heaven. Sadly, there are those who confuse the wonders of heaven with God’s kingdom here and now. We would do well in understanding the differences and why it is important for us to do so.
It is no wonder that we have all wondered what heaven might be like. The Apostle John tried to relate what he saw when he was given a small glimpse of the heavenly realm in the book of Revelation. And, we find that he is trying to describe a perfectly holy and wonderful place with sin-stained eyes. In fact we find that for centuries scholars have been trying to figure out just exactly what the symbolism is behind the words of John. But when Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God in the gospels he often was not referring to heaven itself. Instead, we find that he is relating what God's kingdom was and is like and how it will be established in our world. Let's take a look at the kingdom parables this morning...
READ: Mark 4:26-34
Jesus again goes to what he knows and is familiar with and what his audience would know and be familiar with as well. He pulls from his memory the idea of how to relate the kingdom of God to those who would understand his earthy metaphors that symbolized spiritual concepts. In doing so Jesus answers for us the question we have wondered about concerning what the kingdom of God is like. Let’s take a closer look at the kingdom parables of Jesus. We fist discover that...
I. The kingdom of God is like scattered seed! (Vv. 26-29)
1. From the hands of the sower the seed is strewn! Jesus relates that "This is what the kingdom of God is like." We learned before that "scattered seed" can grow in many different conditions, however, here we find that "night and day, whether" the one scattering it "sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how." In fact, that is not the sower’s concern. It is not his concern to make the seed grow nor how it grows. God germinates it. The kingdom of God grows from one small seed, one kernel of gospel truth, planted or "scattered" in the life of a person. It then sprouts and grows in the person’s life it is planted in. It also grows in the community it is scattered around. It is through the power the Holy Spirit that the seed grows and in this it remains a mystery to the one who first planted it. Why? Again, we are not the ones who cause it to grow only God does. In fact, the seed had to become intrinsically part of the person by faith. To literally die and be buried in the life of the person before it could germinate. Interestingly, the individual in whom the gospel seed is planted has to die to self before it can grow! As Paul would declare, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21 NIV) We also discover that just like at the beginning of the spiritual process, at the end, during our final resurrection in Christ, we first have to die and then we are made alive again in him! Paul would say, "When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else… So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable!" (1 Corinthians 15:37 & 42) And, notice here in Mark that "All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." In a community the seed planted soon begins to produce a crop. When the gospel seed is planted in the kingdom of God, it germinates, grows, and produces a crop for the ultimate harvest. In fact, Jesus related that "As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Surely the kingdom of God is like scattered seed!
EXAMPLE: Seeds can be scattered in many ways. Some seeds are scattered by the wind, some are carried away by birds and insects, some float in water, others are forced away from the plant by exploding pods, and still others hitchhike on animals and people. An example of a seed that travels by water would be the coconut seed. A coconut has a thick outer shell and is light-weight inside, which allows it to float for up to several months. When the coconut finally arrives on dry land, it is cracked open by animals or it rots, releasing the seed inside. An example of a hitchhiking seed would be a burdock. A burdock is covered with a spiky shell that sticks to passing animals and people. In this way the seeds are taken to a new location to grow. Maple seeds are carried by the wind. They fall off the tree and can be blown for many miles because they are light-weight. Dandelions are also scattered this way. The last method of scattering seeds is explosion. Some plants have seeds contained in large pods. When the pod burst open the seeds are sent flying through the air. Milkweed scatters its seeds this way. Christians are the way God scatters the gospel seed in the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God grows from one small seed planted in the heart of an individual willing to believe.
Big things often do come in small packages. In this case a very beautiful and wonderful thing begins as something very small but results in something quite large. Jesus says it is the kingdom of God. How is that possible? Well, we just learned that the kingdom of God is like scattered seed, but Jesus continues and teaches his listeners that…
II. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! (Vv. 30-34)
1. From the tiniest of things, great things can come! Again, Jesus asks, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?" Jesus does something quite wonderful when he next uses one of his kingdom parables. He beautifully relates to his listeners in a way they could readily understand what he was talking about by using a common plant of the field. He begins the parable with a clever double-question introduction in order to draw the listener into his thought process concerning God's kingdom. He then relates, in essence, that the appearance of God’s "kingdom" is similar to what happens to "a mustard seed" after it is scattered on "the ground." In Hebrew thought, the tiny mustard seed's size was proverbial since it was "the smallest" of all familiar seeds. It took 725-760 mustard seeds to weigh a single gram! The mustard bush is an annual plant which, growing from seed, "becomes the largest of all garden plants" in Palestine, rapidly reaching a height of 12-15 feet in just a few weeks. Jesus alluded that the "Birds of the air" are not only attracted by its seeds but also by the "shade" of its large "branches". His kingdom parable emphasizes the contrast between the smallest of the seeds growing into "the largest of all garden plants." Therefore the insignificant, even enigmatic beginning of God’s kingdom, embodied in the mere presence of Jesus, will ultimately end with the establishment of the greatest kingdom of all which will surpass all the earthly kingdoms in power and glory. And, when you, one small insignificant human being, gives your life to Jesus by faith and allow the kingdom "mustard seed" to be implanted in your heart, you become part of God's gigantic kingdom! Truly, the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!
EXAMPLE: Mustard was formerly made up into balls with honey or vinegar and a little cinnamon, to keep till needed, then they were mixed with more vinegar. It was sold in balls till Mrs. Clements, of Durham, England on July 10, 1720, invented the method of preparing mustard flour or powder, which long went under the name of 'Durham Mustard'. All parts of the mustard plant are edible, including the leaves, seeds and flowers. Pope John XXII was so fond of mustard that he created a new Vatican position, the 'grand moutardier du pape' (mustard-maker to the pope) and appointed his nephew to the post. Mustard plants produce about 1,000 pounds of seeds per acre. In one year at New York's Yankee Stadium more than 1,600 gallons plus 2,000,000 individual packets of mustard are consumed. Canada produces about 90 percent of the world's supply of mustard seeds. George J. French introduced his French's mustard in 1904, the same year that the hot dog was introduced to America at the St. Louis World's Fair. And the use of mustard is recorded in the earliest of all societies! Hebrew legend relates that Abraham used mustard in the Old Testament while entertaining the visiting angels. The Chinese used mustard for thousands of years. So did the ancient Romans, and it was the Romans who spread the use of mustard to France and England as their empire expanded. Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed worldwide each year and Americans use more mustard than any other country in the world. Ben Franklin first visited England not as a diplomat but as a young man seeking a printing apprenticeship. He didn't find it, but he did apparently discovered mustard, then as now used as a condiment on beef and other typically English fare. Appreciating its spicy tang, he did in fact introduce it to the American colonies on his return. So even though he didn't invent mustard, hot dog lovers across the country can say a hearty "thank you" to old Ben for bringing us mustard. Wow! All of that out of one tiny seed! No wonder Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed!
Conclusion:
In his parables of the kingdom of God Jesus said that 1) The kingdom of God is like scattered seed, and 2) The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed! From tiny thing like the gospel truth comes the eternal and growing kingdom of God!
---
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission. You now have my permission...
Comments