What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches (Luke 13:18-19).
The Kingdom of God is a big topic, almost incomprehensible. Mustard seeds are tiny things, almost invisible. And Jesus speaks of one with the other, a seed to illustrate a kingdom.
This little mustard seed grows into an interesting plant. In fact, a mustard plant has, as one scholar described it, “remarkable takeover qualities.” So Jesus knows that no one would intentionally throw a mustard seed into a garden. The garden would be ruined for all future seasons. Mustard plants infiltrate everything, takeover the soil, grow like crazy. Terrible for a garden. But Jesus compares this to the kingdom of God.
And, he says that the seed “grew and became a tree.”
But mustard plants are not trees. Birds might rest on their branches, but only as the branches are close to the ground. Mustard plants are bushes – bright colored, festive, ubiquitous – and low to the earth. What’s going on here?
Jesus wasn’t wrong. He knew his botany and worked in plenty of gardens. As with most of his parables, his illustration is not meant to be literal, only picturesque and creative, infused with imagination. This is how the tiny seed illustrates the Kingdom – the power of the gospel.
Martin was from Ghana. He was in a class with me in seminary. In a group discussion one day, he told us why he decided to become a Christian and then to be a pastor.
“A man came to my village from England. He was a missionary. For a long time, this man worked with our people, especially the younger people, teaching us to read and write. But the people in our village were so poor, we had no pencils or paper. So everyday as the missionary man would gather with the young people of the village, he would kneel on the ground, and trace letters in the dirt with his finger. Over and over, he repeated the name of the letter, the sound the letter made and how these letters fit together in words and sentences.”
“And he told us about Jesus.”
“In the dirt,” Martin emphasized, “right down in the dirt with us, this man would patiently teach us. That’s how I learned to read. That’s how I learned about Jesus. That’s why I became a Christian. And that’s why I decided to be a minister. I thought to myself: if this man had something in him that so motivated him to sit with this group of poor children far from his home and trace letters in the dirt with us, then what he had in his life must be something very special. I wanted that in my life, too. I learned that it was called the Gospel.”
Jesus says this is what the kingdom is like – a message so simple and earthy that a little boy can understand it; and so compelling that an older man from far away will risk so much for it; and so inspiring, that you and I today can continue to be changed by it.
Today, may the power of the Gospel so transform your spirit that you will be more courageous, kind, steadfast, hopeful, humble and overflowing with God’s love. And that little seed will become a lively, living tree; and the birds of the air will joyfully sing in it’s branches.
I will be interested to hear of the Gospel’s takeover qualities in your life, and how God just might be inspiring you to be used this week! Love, David
