“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 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” (Mark 4:30-32).
When I was in Israel, our guide showed us a mustard plant, a weed. The center of the flower was powdery. She said, “Mustard seed,” and she picked a flower and the wind blew the seed everywhere. It reminded me of when I wore powder foundation. No matter how I covered my clothes, the powder got on everything–not just on my clothes but on the counter and the floor. I saw fields of mustard in Israel and I understood how the seed scattered and how quickly a field could grow from one plant.
Think what this means if a mustard seed is like the kingdom of God. Jews and Christians are scattered all over the world. The disciples scattered after Jesus’ crucifixion. It seemed at the time as though they abandoned Jesus in His darkest hour. But when the disciples finally understood, they were eyewitnesses to what they had seen and heard when they were with Jesus.
THINK ABOUT IT
At Pentecost Jesus’ followers were in Jerusalem, all together in one place. Three thousand were saved when the power of the Holy Spirit filled the temple; well that is the only place I can think of where more than three thousand would be in one place. The disciples were empowered to speak in other languages so people of other nations would hear the good news of Jesus’ salvation. What had been scattered and separated by language reunited multitudes so people might be scattered again to tell the good news, and the kingdom of God would grow and keep growing.
PRAY ABOUT IT
Thank you, Lord, for Jesus and His work of forgiveness and salvation. Empower each of us to be scattered to speak the good news to those who need to hear it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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