After winter, when the weather breaks, and the ground thaws, and the soil warms up from the spring sun, we till the dirt planting seeds. We busily work the soil, planting the seeds, hoping the seeds will produce. As we plant the seeds, we have no guarantee of growth. Still, we kneel in the soil, covering the seeds with the warm dirt, hoping that growth will occur, yet realizing that we don't know if any of these planted seeds will ever grow or simply die. In essence, this is what the parable of the Mustard Seed, which Jesus spoke 2,000 years ago, is all about.
Jesus had been speaking to His disciples. In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus is busy teaching about the Kingdom of GOD. He compares it to scattering seeds, to sowing seeds, and then to a very specific seed - the mustard seed.
The mustard seed is the smallest seed known in the Middle East. The farmer worked the soil. The ground is carefully prepared and the seeds planted. When the seed grows, Jesus reminds us, that it matures into "the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade" Mark 4:32. Such is the Kingdom of GOD. It grows from something as tiny as the smallest seed in the world, and grows to be the largest tree in the world.
In this parable, the seed is the Word of GOD. And this seed is planted every time we talk to someone about GOD. Everytime we tell someone about what GOD has done for us, a seed is planted. A seed of faith is planted each time we tell someone about GOD's grace and love. It is planted whenever we talk of GOD's loving forgiveness, which is offered through Jesus Christ.
For over 2,000 years, seeds of faith have been planted by people who did not know if their seeds would mature or not. Yet, they continued to plant those seeds of faith. Do you know who planted GOD's seed of grace and love in you? How did you find out about GOD plan and purpose for your life? Do you know the person who first told you about GOD's love for you? Maybe this week you can send them a quick note, or call them on the phone and thank them for planting the Gospel seed within you.
The mustard tree, which provides shelter and protection, can only do so because someone first planted a seed. If no one planted the seed, no growth would have occurred, no tree would have been produced, no shelter given, no protection offered, no hope given. It is the same with us. If we don't plant the gospel seed, the Kingdom of GOD can not grow.
Jesus promised that if we plant the seeds, if we do even just the minimum, something as small as a mustard seed, then the Kingdom of GOD will grow. It will grow and it will surpass in glory the greatest, the mightiest Kingdoms on earth. The Kingdom of GOD will grow and provide protection, security and hope and grace to everyone. But it all begins and depends on us to first plant the seeds of faith.
