What Do We Learn About Jesus and His Kingdom from a Lamp, a Bunch of Seeds, and One Small Seed?

The man is not important; the seed is the focus. The man is passive because the power for the seed to sprout and grow is not in him. The seed has within itself the power of its own generation. James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote in James 1:21, “Humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.” Plant the word in a receptive soul and off it goes!

94The coming of the kingdom of God is not contingent or dependent on human activity. The seed of the gospel prospers and grows of itself. Once it is sown, a process is set in motion that cannot and will not be stopped, even though its growth is a total mystery to us.

The Greek word automatē is fronted here for emphasis. It literally reads, “Automatically the earth bears fruit.” Once the process has begun, it is destined to be completed: blade, ear, grain, harvest. The process that brings about the fullness of the kingdom of God is not spectacular, but it is certain. Even now it is present and growing, whether or not you see it.

God did not design His kingdom to come like a tidal wave or a bolt of lightning, to come quickly and disappear quickly. No, God planted it in the coming of a Galilean peasant, a homeless man from Nazareth, who gathered about Him a bunch of nobodies. The ways of God are mysterious indeed, but He will be successful.

The “sickle” is often a symbol of the arrival of the kingdom of God and the judgment that will accompany it. Revelation 14:15 says, “Another angel came out of the sanctuary, crying out in a loud voice to the One who was seated on the cloud, ‘Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.’”

Who would have imagined that starting with only a group of 12 men, Christianity would grow to where it is today? But it won’t stop there. It will continue to grow until every people group on the planet is found in the kingdom. God will ensure this growth. Are you certain you are part of it?

Mark 4:30-34

The final parable in this chapter is about a single seed, a tiny little mustard seed. The phrase “the kingdom of God” (cf. 4:11, 26) is the unifying theme of the four parables in Mark 4. Jesus begins this parable with two rhetorical questions. He has exactly the right analogy to help us see where the kingdom of God is headed.

The mustard seed was renowned for its size in Palestine because it was the smallest of all the seeds sown. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus uses the mustard-seed image to represent a minimal quantity of faith. Here Jesus wants to draw an95 analogy between the mustard bush’s microscopic beginning and its large mature state. At the beginning a small seed is sown. But soon the small seed explodes in growth. It produces something completely out of proportion to itself.

Likewise, from small and meager beginnings, God’s kingdom will expand and grow for all to see. What began as the smallest becomes the greatest! Unlike His first coming, when Christ returns, all the world will see as He surpasses all the earth’s kingdoms in power, glory, and majesty. What an encouraging word for those who think they labor in vain, who endure rejection and persecution, and who may even experience martyrdom!

Some have suggested that “the birds of the air” represent Satan, connecting these birds back to the ones in 4:4. Others believe this reference indicates shelter for kingdom citizens. Still others suggest the birds represent the nations coming into the kingdom. Finally, some believe the birds are simply part of the story and have no special significance. I like number three: the nations! Passages such as Psalm 104:12; Ezekiel 17:23 and 31:6; and Daniel 4:9-21 would all support this. That the birds “nest in its shade” settles the issue for me. In effect, Jesus is asserting that all the peoples of the world are going to be there.

Yes, there is surprising growth to God’s kingdom, and all the nations will enter and enjoy it! This is a parable of growth and grace, of joy and celebration.

This section of Mark ends with an explanatory word from Mark about the importance of parables in Jesus’ teaching (cf. vv. 10-12). At least 39 parables are found in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He spoke in parables so they would understand the nature of the kingdom and the central role both He and the Word would play in it.

For the tenth time in chapter 4, the importance of hearing is noted. “As they were able to understand” implies that the parables either enlighten or obscure, depending on one’s ability to hear and respond. He purposely chose this teaching method, knowing what would happen.

However, to those who drew close to Jesus as His disciples, He explained everything. Only in close communion and connection to Jesus can one understand “the language about God” (Edwards, Mark, 146). Draw close to Jesus and you get more of Him and His Father; draw back from Jesus and you lose both Him and the Father (2 John 9).

Yes, the kingdom starts small, but it will grow large. And the biggest and best of this growth is yet to come! If you doubt that, listen to Revelation 7:9-10: