God's Wild Mustard

He also said,

“With what can we compare the kingdom of God

or what parable will we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed, which,

 when sown upon the ground,

 is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;

(from Mark 4:26-34)

Growing up learned two different meanings of the Mustard Seed parable.

In the first meaning the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, is sown yet becomes the greatest shrub, so birds can make nests in its shade.

One meaning had to do with one’s faith.

Like the mustard seed, God will grow your faith if you cultivate it.

Another meaning had to do with encouragement.

Like the small mustard seed, a small beginning in faith may become something very large.

Like the mustard seed, be inspired by using your faith in small ways because God can use it to do great things with it.

These meanings are very helpful because they help with life’s lessons.

It’s a parable though which is meant to overturn, criticize, frustrate, and transform the listeners.

Jesus asks, what parable can we compare the kingdom of God?

So, I searched for more depth by considering the wild mustard plant.

It helps to compare wild mustard to crab grass or dandelions which are incredibly hard to control and once they take root.

Jesus is saying the God’s Kingdom is coming to overturn, to take over, and to transform the world’s kingdoms.

Jesus offers God’s vision of infiltrating the world’s kingdom by transforming hatred into love and encouraging the listeners to move to action by loving your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus suggests God’s kingdom will overturn intolerance through open-mindedness by actions of the disciples.

This is a parable of hope meant to encourage us as we work to build God’s Kingdom looking forward to the day it is complete.

Hope in the coming of God’s kingdom to transform the world.