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BURIED TREASURE: Exploring The Parables Of Jesus

by J. W. Jepson, D.Min.

Copyright © 1997 by J. W. Jepson

All rights reserved, including the right to grant the following permission and to prohibit the misuse thereof:

The Author hereby grants permission to reproduce the text of this article, without changes or alterations*, as a ministry, but not for commercial or non-ministry purposes.

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6.

GOD STARTS SMALL

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

--Matthew 13:31,32

GOD STARTS SMALL

According to an old tradition, when Darius, the Persian monarch, wanted to impress Alexander the Great with the size of his army, he sent the Greek general a barrel of sesame seeds. Alexander replied by sending the king a bag of mustard seeds. This was his way of saying to his foe, "Your soldiers are many, but mine are aggressive and fearless. They have what it takes."

Jesus had just given two parables containing features that were not encouraging. In the parable of the sower many seeds were lost, plants withered and some were choked out.

Only a part bore fruit to maturity. In the parable of the wheat and tares, the evil were present among the good.

Besides, the opposition of the authorities was increasing. Jesus had not liberated Israel from the Romans and was showing no intention of doing so. He was teaching and demonstrating the qualities of the meek and lowly, not the high and mighty.

What was happening? Perhaps the disciples were puzzled and apprehensive. Would this enterprise ever succeed? What would be the outcome?

So Jesus spoke a parable of victory and triumph, of the success of the tiny but vital. In fact, Jesus spoke two such parables, the twin parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. The former portrayed the external and visible growth of God's kingdom; the latter emphasized the internal and invisible moral power of the kingdom.

Jesus repeated these two parables later in Judea just after He had healed the woman with the spirit of infirmity and silenced the ruler of the synagogue. What an appropriate occasion that was for Jesus to repeat these parables. The miracle-working power of God is in this gospel, brushing aside dead traditions, setting people free and bringing them life and joy. It must grow. It will grow. It will prevail.

The parables of the kingdom focus upon the gracious activity of God in the earth, the growth and influence of His truth, and the expansion of His moral authority during this present age. They look beyond the present age, but this age is their primary focus. The present phase of the kingdom is gradual, progressive. The future phase is sudden, coming directly from heaven.

In this present age the Church is the domain where the King now rules, where His principles are in effect, where His truth, authority and power now reside on earth. Because the kingdom is now operating in and through the Church, as the Church advances, so does the kingdom in this world. The King ought to rule the whole earth, and some day He will. Now His rule is in effect where He is obeyed, that is, in the hearts of believers. As more submit to Him and receive His grace, His Church grows and therefore His kingdom prospers.

We now return to Galilee and give our attention to the parable of the mustard seed as Jesus first spoke it to the multitude standing on the seashore.

In this parable the Lord tells us that He put the germinating elements of His kingdom in the tiny seed of His Church and planted the tiny seed in this great, big world. It went practically unnoticed at the time, but not for long.

The symbolism of the mustard seed was not new to the people of that day, for even then it was common for them to speak proverbially of the mustard seed as the smallest of all and the symbol of things tiny but powerful. This reminds us of our Lord's words recorded in Matthew 17:20, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed...."

Also, the fact that God's sovereign purposes in human affairs progress from little to big was a truth established in the Jewish mind from such passages as Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Daniel 2:34-45.

God's ways are very often the opposite of man's. We want to start big. God starts small, with things that seem insignificant but that contain dynamic life and earth-conquering power. This is the testimony of 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.

God became man through the miracle of the incarnation. Where did He enter the world? In a manger in Bethlehem.

"Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth," Nathanael sneered. "Come and see" was Philip's quiet reply (John 1:46).

A quiet, lifeless figure on a cross. A cold, sealed tomb. Frightened, hiding disciples. Can the kingdom of God come out of this? By the power of God, yes!

Jesus said it: "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:24). It is one of the principles of the kingdom.

Jesus referred to His disciples as a little flock. A hundred and twenty in an upper room with no social status, no political influence, no military might, no wealth, no high educational attainments, nothing by the world's standards. Is this the seed from which the mighty kingdom of God would grow in the world? It seemed ridiculous from a human standpoint. God's answer was the day of Pentecost. A Spirit-filled fisherman preached and three thousand received eternal life and were added to the Church. The seed literally sprang out of the ground and it has been growing ever since!

It is the Lord's planting. It is pungent, potent, alive. The word of God is growing mightily and prevailing. The Holy Spirit is at work, convicting and saving. The love of God is filling hearts. Miracles are happening. The kingdom is thriving and people are coming alive!

Jesus spoke the truth. It is happening just as He predicted. The gospel has not failed. The kingdom is growing. The Church will triumph in her Lord!

Although the mustard plant is properly an herb, it grows to the size and appearance of a tree, attaining a height of twelve feet, with leaves that spread out like branches.

All the true branches spring out of Christ and are firmly joined into Him. Not all of the branches are alike in form or appearance. Some are larger than others. They grow out in different directions. Some birds nest in one, some in another. The real test is whether or not the branches are truly fastened to Christ.

Jesus taught that the Church is universal, but He did not teach universalism, the false teaching that all will be saved. The Church reaches out to "whosoever will." All may come, hear, believe, and be saved. But many lodge in its branches who never truly know the saving grace of its Redeemer.

Yes, here come the birds! The branches of the mustard plant bear tasty black seeds that the birds love. Some come to eat, others to exploit. Bigness has its problems, even in the kingdom. When the Church tied-in with the structures of society, particularly the State, its branches became weighted with all kinds of things that are foreign to its true nature. Christianity became that loaded-down, top-heavy plant called Christendom. Kings and prelates misused it. Even today there are those who value it only for their own ends.

Away with such encumbering birds! Let the tree be what God planted! Let its dynamic life energize freely in the earth. Let the truly hungry come and feast.

Yes, God starts small, but ends big. The mighty symphony comes from the individual note. The most eloquent prose and expressive poetry flows from a mere alphabet. Mighty industries rise from the basic principles embodied in simple inventions.

It is that way in the kingdom of God. Who could predict that the great Sunday School movement would spring from the efforts of one man, Robert Raikes, to gather some children from the streets to teach them the word of God? A mighty missionary enterprise began in a prayer meeting in a haystack. Some great churches trace their beginnings to a humble storefront mission or a little tent on a vacant lot. "For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:l0)

Christian, "be not weary in well doing'' (2 Thessaloniains 3:13). Pastor, do not be discouraged. "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). The power of the Holy Spirit is in that little congregation. The principles of the kingdom are at work there. It is going to grow. Jesus said so. Do not forget Psalm 126:5 and 6. There is rejoicing ahead!

So keep on sowing, watering and reaping. The kingdom is at work among us. That Sunday School class will produce saints and stalwarts in the faith. Your friends and loved ones will be touched. People will be saved as you faithfully labor, pray and believe. 1 Corinthians 3:7 says that God will give the increase. It is His sure promise.

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7. The Quiet Revolution

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