Don't Underestimate the Power of the Seed

Title: Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Seed By Pastor Lohn Johnson
Text:  Mark 4:30-32  30 And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?  31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,  32 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 the air can make nests in its shade." INTRODUCTION:  My dear friends in Christ, In 1992, Disney came out with the movie Aladdin. In it, Robin Williams, brought great humor to his part, as the genie. The genie in Aladdin had great power. As shown in the movie, he could break the laws of nature, change his shape into virtually anything, and lift the palace of Agrabah with no problems. He could do anything except kill anyone, make people fall in love, or revive the dead. And yet, with all these powers, he had the most humble living quarters. He was confined to a bottle. [Video: To emphasize this contrast, at one point in the movie the genie came out of the bottle, grew to immense size, and with a booming voice yelled that he possessed "phenomenal cosmic powers," then he said immediately with a small, squeaky, mousy voice in an "itty -bitty living space." referring to his bottle. You would never think that something of great power could come out of a little bottle. And yet Jesus talks about something very similar when He talks of a mustard seed. He said,  (strong voice): "THE KINGDOM OF GOD (small voice) is like a mustard seed" (v 31). An insignificant, unimpressive seed, quite obviously looks incapable of doing anything great. It seems difficult to reconcile the words of our Savior with a tiny seed.  But that's what Jesus teaches in our text today.
I. THE KINGDOM OF GOD, LIKE A MUSTARD SEED, IT MERELY APPEARS INSIGNIFICANT, UNIMPRESSIVE,  INCAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING GREAT.
	A. It's important to understand that the kingdom of God here is a reference to Jesus and his saving work. Scripture tells us that Jesus sat with people, taught or healed them, and then proclaimed, "the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" (Lk 17:21).
				1. But just as the puny mustard seed can't be seen from more than five feet away, Jesus often appeared insignificant, unimpressive, incapable of doing anything great.
								a. At first glance, this "Kingdom" didn't seem like much of a kingdom at all. Christ had no armies. Instead, he had twelve ordinary looking fellows following him around, smelling like fish. b. Apparently, this Kingdom didn't even include Nazareth, as Jesus was thrown out of his hometown. c. This Kingdom included the least desirable people around: sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors. He invited just about anybody into it. Some Kingdom this was. Insignificant, unimpressive, and by all appearances, it seemed incapable of doing anything great.
				2. Especially it seemed unimpressive when its King was hauled off, hung up.
								a. Jesus, it appeared, was no match for a few lightly armed temple guards, to say nothing of the mighty Romans. b. He seemed to have no answer to his accusers. c. Hanging on the cross, he looked helpless. And then He was dead, well, nothing was going to come from that.
				3. Of course, Jesus knew all this. That was exactly his point when he spoke of the mustard seed. Though that seed was tiny, from it would grow the largest plant in the garden. From something so insignificant, unimpressive, seemingly incapable of doing anything great would come a plant so wonderful that living creatures can find shelter and refuge in it.
	B. And when it comes to the kingdom of God, Christians would do very well to remember and believe this lesson, because not much has changed to this very day.
				1. For the kingdom of God is among us. The kingdom of God is here. Jesus is as active today among us as he was when he healed the paralytic man and forgave his sin (Mk 2). He is as active today among us as the day He fed the five thousand (Mk 6).  For Jesus comes to us via the Means of Grace, his Word and Sacraments, to forgive, renew, and give life.
								a. We are called to faith by his Gospel. He washes our sin in Baptism. b. He feeds us his Supper for our salvation. The kingdom of God is here, reigning through the ministry of his Church.
				2. And yet, to the naked eye, this kingdom of God, doesn't look like much. Bread is just bread. Water is water. Wine is wine. Spoken absolution is just a bunch of words. And the only thing that sermons heal is bad cases of insomnia. You can go through the entire Sunday paper and find nothing that happens here has been deemed worthy to print—not even in the "Life" section.
									a. But perhaps what's even worse is that the kingdom of God, when viewed by Christians, still seems insignificant, unimpressive, and incapable of doing anything great. I'm sure you've heard the list of concerns: the people just aren't coming in; the offerings are going down; our witness seems to fail; and, more than that, my child's behavior doesn't seem to be improving, even though I bring him to church! b. It's at these times that Christians may lose faith and be tempted to dress up the Good News to make it more appealing or water down the Word to make it more palatable or even censor the cross to make it less offensive. This is what happens when Christians lose heart, believing the Kingdom presented here is just an insignificant mustard seed. When that is all we can see, we're in trouble.
II. So we need to be reminded that The Kingdom merely appears insignificant, unimpressive, and incapable of doing anything great. Jesus meant that while He described the mustard seed as the smallest of the seeds, when it's planted it grows and becomes the largest plant in the garden, perhaps as high as ten feet, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade. Though human wisdom and logic can never believe it, the eyes of faith see it clearly.
		A. In faith, we see things as they are. Even though Jesus looked insignificant on that cross, He was doing something monumental.  He defeated the devil.  He took the punishment for our sin.  He earned forgiveness for all of us.
			1. And now every Sunday morning, the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sown. People hear. Some, in faith, repent. And in that very moment, the host of heavenly angels is rejoicing. Here the almighty and merciful Creator speaks to us by his Word.
					a. And we speak to him in our prayers—and in the name of his Son, He listens. b. We praise the strong name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in song. Together, we stand as one Body baptized in Christ and boldly confess our one faith in one voice. Here we state who God is and the deeds he's done in the words of our historic creeds. c. And, oh, yes, sins are forgiven. My sins, your sins, are paid for in the death of our Savior, Jesus. Pronounced to us in absolution, received by us in the Supper of Christ's body and blood. Guilt is replaced by peace. Death is replaced by life. And through all these gifts, the Holy Spirit is at work strengthening faith and love toward our God, and he moves us to love our neighbor. That's the mustard seed growing, and that, by the power of the Spirit, is what happens here.
			2. To miss this kingdom of God through the ministry of the Church would be like looking into the manger and seeing only an unfortunate baby. To dismiss the Word and Sacraments as only superstition would be like someone looking to the cross and seeing only the execution of a religious idiot. In this life, in this world, the kingdom of God will appear to be just a mustard seed: insignificant, irrelevant, and incapable of great things.
						a. But as we know, that wasn't just another baby in a manger, and that wasn't a religious sap on the cross. So also we know that the power of God is hidden in common earthly means. Power that has forgiven our sins, called us to faith, and given eternal life is here. b. This ministry started on the other side of the world now provides us a refuge of grace and peace here today.
		B. And like those birds that Jesus talked about, seeking shelter in the shade of a mustard plant, when our Lord returns, we and all the world, will see just how great the kingdom of the mustard seed is.
			1. But until that day, we who live in and with knowledge of the mystery of the mustard seed have lives of extraordinary hidden significance.
							a. No one may take notice of a parent who teaches his child the Bible or how to pray.  But remember the mustard seed and rejoice in what you do in Jesus' name. b. Likewise, a simple invitation extended to someone to come to church, where the gifts of Jesus are given. It won't make the nightly news, but it could cause rejoicing in heaven. c. Recently an author asked a pastor in a large and influential congregation what had inspired him. "Oh, it was a Sunday school teacher!" he replied. "I don’t remember a thing he taught us. But he is the reason I am in the ministry. Five other students from that class are also ministers." “That Sunday school teacher died a long time ago. I buried him.” He said.  “There were only about fifty people present at the funeral; most of his friends preceded him in death, but he was a very special person to many people.”  That man was No "great shakes" by the world’s standards, but he was like a little mustard seed planted in an obscure place in the world, but spreading his branches in all directions.
			2. Rarely, if ever, will someone esteem us or praise us for living by faith in Christ. Your Sunday paper or evening news won't report on this. And it's not their job. But for you and me, who own this glorious mystery, it's a great significant thing and angels rejoice as we live out our faith.
CONCLUSION:   CONCLUSION: The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It looks small and insignificant but it’s effects are huge.  And don't forget it. Behold it in faith, and then live in its grace. Invite people to come to this place, where the precious seed is sown, that they will see the significance of that small seed. And let us pray that God will make it grow among us all. Amen.