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Understanding the kingdom of God

Scripture reading for February 13: Mark 4

“And He said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of that air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables He spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to His own disciples He explained everything.” Mark 4:30-34

Jesus used parables, stories or illustrations from everyday life, to help His disciples and seekers to understand the kingdom of heaven and God’s rule. The parables spoke of ordinary things like sowing seed, types of soil, weeds, hard soil, birds and growth. To His own disciples, He explained the deeper meaning of these ordinary things. As they opened their hearts, they began to understand unseen spiritual realities and grow in their world view from Jesus’ perspective. Those with hard hearts heard the stories but did not find truth or understanding.

The mustard seed in this parable represented the small and seemingly insignificant beginning of the understanding of God’s kingdom rule in Jesus. Jesus was the ‘Sower’ of Good News and a call to repent and believe. This seemed very insignificant to the world. Jesus explained that although small, the ‘seed’ would grow into a large and substantial tree with many branches. On the branches, the birds of the air would roost and make nests. Earlier, the birds of the air stole the seed that was sown. (Mark 4:4) They represented false teachers and Satan’s emissaries coming to oppose God’s kingdom and His people. Jesus explained the parable and its parts to help His disciples stand firm against spiritual conflict coming to the kingdom.

Have you studies Jesus’ parables and His explanation to better understand the kingdom of God? How does this parable of the mustard seed growing into a large tree with birds roosting help you navigate the church world today?

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the parables of Jesus and how You always help Your people to grow in seeing the kingdom of God manifest in our world. Help me to discern the ‘birds of the air’ seeking to distort the simple truth of the Gospel. Deliver us from evil! Yours is the kingdom forever and ever! Amen.