Neville Turley

“The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants. It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches.”  Matthew 13:31-32 (GNT)

In this parable Jesus assures the disciples that the Kingdom of heaven will grow.  It was the encouragement and motivation that the twelve needed to hear.  Their master was experiencing increasing hostility and criticism from the Jewish authorities.  His life was under threat and the crowds were abandoning him.

Our Lord was a master at using God’s creation to illustrate great Biblical truths. This time he draws the disciple’s attention to the mustard plant. The black seeds are minute. Some 720-750 seeds weigh just one gram! Despite being the smallest of seeds the plant grows rapidly.  Fully grown it is the largest plant among the herb family, growing to some 2,7 m. Birds, mostly finches, flock to eat the seeds from its pods.

Comparing the Kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed is most apt. From its small beginnings, the number of believers in our Lord Jesus has grown rapidly.  It began with the twelve. In a meeting that Peter called to find a replacement for Judas, the number of believers totalled 120. (Acts 1:15)

The number of Christians in the world today is estimated at 2.3 billion. (Christianity 2015:Religious Diversity and Personal Contact in: International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 2015.)  Rapid growth indeed when one considers that less than a million days have passed since the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christianity is indeed on the march and every believer has a role to fulfil.  Let us not be found wanting.

Prayer: Almighty God, undeserving as we are, you called us to serve you. Empower us through the Holy Spirit to share the good news of your kingdom. Through Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord now and forever.  Amen