The Kingdom of God

Introduction

Last week we looked at the parable of the sower and it was the first full parable that we are given in the book of Mark. We discussed that the purpose of parables is to “harden those who reject Jesus, soften those who are to accept him, and draw closer those who have accepted him.” The parable of the sower resembles some of the parables we are going to look at tonight because it deals with planting.

Tonight we are going to look at a series of three parables about the Kingdom of God. These parables give us insight into the Kingdom and what it is like while also explaining our time now and the time of Jesus. When understood properly, parables can be one of the most amazing things in the life of a follower of Jesus because they reveal to us truths that draw us closer to Jesus. In these parables we are drawn closer by the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Let’s begin tonight by reading all three of the parables through then we will look at each one of them individually.

Mark 4:21–34 ESV

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 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.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

These three short parables each reveal something to us about the kingdom of God. They show us that it is not hidden but rather known and it shows us things about ourselves, it shows is that the kingdom of God is coming and we are to spread the word before it comes because we do not control it’s coming, and it shows us that ever though it seems small now when it comes it will be the greatest and most awesome thing that there is.

There are so many truths within these parables and they show us something that is truly beautiful. Lets pray then we can begin to look at them one at a time.

pray

The Lamp Under a Basket

Mark 4:21–25 ESV

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

This parable involves a lamp, we could think of this as a modern day lantern. We do not turn on a lantern just to toss it into a backpack or to cover it up, we turn it on to give light to the area. The coming kingdom of God is raised up for all to see. We read in the Bible that Jesus will return and bring his judgment and his justice, it is coming and we know it. We see through creation the beauty of a very real God. We know in our minds we all have a similar set of morals as evidence of him. We could go on and on, Jesus is alive and he is known to us. The thing about a lantern also is that it is not just something that is visible to us in the darkness but it illuminates the things around it. Jesus is this lamp and he reveals all things. He reveals our sin and he reveals our hardness of heart. This gives us an image of what the coming of Jesus has done for us. These things are revealed by showing us clearly what right and wrong is, by offering clearly the way to salvation yet how we run from it.

The end holds a confusing statement if not looked at carefully. The one who has, more will be given. This is one who has the light, one who has Jesus. Through putting our faith in Jesus we have a great thing and because of this more will be given, this is the riches of knowing Christ and the fruits we are able to bear. There is much gain in knowing Christ even through trials and persecution. Then the one who has not even more will be taken away. The one who sees this light but still turns away and goes back to the darkness that light will be taken away. The one that is offered salvation through Jesus and does not take it that offer will be taken away.

The kingdom of God and Jesus are like a lamp on a stand. They are visible to all and they reveal much about us. We are to have the response of going to it so that we might find salvation.

The Seed Growing

Mark 4:26–29 ESV

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Here in this parable we see the relation to planting once again. The seed being sown is like the parable of the sower where it is the word of God. We know that God is using faithful servants to sow the seed of the word, I like to think of myself as one of those people. I preach the word and stay faithful to it. The growth comes but it is not something that I have done but rather it is something that God has done. This process is not fast either which is why I just keep on sowing the seeds of the word. I also don’t notice the difference in the day to day growth. Just like in my yard which I have been recently working on a lot, there was a point where it looked just like a patch of dirt but a few weeks later all at once I noticed that there was green all over it. The green did not come all at once, it was just the slow gradual process of getting to that point.

In this though there is also coming the day of harvest. This is the day of judgment. The Kingdom of God is coming and it will receive those who are to enter by faith and will bring Gods justice on the rest. This is the time that is described in the book of revelation. The time when Jesus will return. Just like in the parable of the sower, will you have any real growth worth harvesting. The crop will be harvested but the weeds will be burned. Be a part of the kingdom of God, be a part of the crop for the harvest, accept the salvation that Jesus offers.

The Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30–34 ESV

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 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.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

The Kingdom of God first came in the form of Jesus. A simple man that was nothing spectacular, just like a mustard seed is the smallest of the seeds. Eventually though the mustard seed becomes the biggest shrub, so big that birds can even make their nest in it. The kingdom of God though it came in a small and seemingly insignificant way when it comes back in the second coming of Jesus it will be the largest and greatest thing there is.

In this time the people thought that the coming savior would come as a conquering king who would defeat all of their enemies and start a reign here on earth. They did not fully grasp what he was coming to do. Isaiah clearly depicts what the coming of Jesus would look like in Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 ESV

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

This is how Jesus was predicted to come and this is exactly how he came. Not a mighty warrior, but the Son of God who would be the sacrifice for our sins so that we might be forgiven. Like the mustard seed is the smallest seed, Jesus came in a seemingly insignificant way but we know that his coming holds all of the greatest significance. When he returns though it will be completely different and he will come in all his grandeur and will let justice roll down like an ever flowing stream.

Conclusion

The kingdom of God is coming and the day of judgment with it. Will you be one that left the light? Will you be one that is like a weed when the harvest comes? Will you be one that thought that it is no big deal? let me assure you that it is a big deal, it’s actually the biggest deal. Not only that, you don’t want to be like a weed when it comes and you don’t want to be one that left the light.

To take hold of the biggest deal there is and join the kingdom of God, to be forgiven of your transgression and accept the salvation that Jesus offers all you need to do is put your faith in Jesus an turn away from your sins. That is it. I would love to talk more with you about this if this is you so please catch me if it is.

For those of you that have been saved and are a part of the Kingdom of God realize this, it is his patience that has held back it’s coming and it is coming soon. Go out and sow the seeds of the word in peoples lives, be the light of Jesus in the darkness of the world, be a person that is kingdom minded.

What might Jesus say to you if he came back with his kingdom right now?