“To What is the Kingdom of
God Like?
“It is like
a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it
grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches
of it.” (v.19)
This simile,"As small as a grain of
mustard seed" was well known in the Jewish world and a proverb among the people in those days. It was a
common sight to see a mustard plant (raised from one of these minute grains)
grow to the height of a fruit tree, putting forth branches on which birds build
their nests.
It
was with sorrowful irony that Jesus compared the kingdom of God in those days
to this small grain. But, at that time, it was
composed of Jesus and his few wavering followers. It seemed impossible that
this little movement could ever stir the world, or could ever become a society
of mighty dimensions.
However, it grew outwardly into a great tree in which we now
see; the spread of the Gospel world wide and the growth of grace in the hearts of millions of believers everywhere. Yet the fulness of the gentiles has yet to come to harvest. Therefore, the tree continues to grow.
Jesus and His twelve disciples, over two thousand years ago, planted the seed of the kingdom of God and despite great opposition to its truth down throughout the ages, the seed continues to grow today.
The Truth
“Now
after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of
the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark
1:14-15)
