Kingdom Growth

Mark 4:26–34 ESV

26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 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.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

All of us have witnessed something planted and growing. Some have watched from a distance. While others of us have been the ones who have done the planting, cultivating, and harvesting. When you grow up with a garden, you see tiny seeds that are large plants. From something so small comes food that is produced, picked, canned, frozen, and eaten. It is impressive to see such a miracle take place. It was something that I did not appreciate as much as a child because working in hot fields was not what I considered the best use of my time in the summer.

‌As we have moved to large corporate farming operations and most of us go to the supermarket to get our produce, we have lost this compelling image of something starting small and producing a great deal. Jesus uses this image many times in his parables. The entire fourth chapter of Mark is nothing but parables about planting and harvesting. We must recognize that the world God created gives us an excellent metaphor for his actions.

‌Jesus uses these images to help us see how the kingdom of God is not always noticeable but always present. Jesus tells a group of Pharisees in Luke 17:20–21, “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

‌As we learn what kingdom living looks like, we need to understand that the growth of God’s kingdom is not always observable and measurable. It can happen in the background of everyday life as we go about our daily tasks. However, there will be a day when the harvest comes to fruition, and we will see the results of what God has been doing the whole time.

1. The kingdom grows by God’s design, not human effort. (vs. 26-29)

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2. God uses us to plant kingdom seeds. (vs. 30-32)

Colossians 1:10 ESV

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Matthew 24:14 ESV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

3. The work of the Holy Spirit gives us an understanding of the kingdom. (vs. 33-34)

John 14:26 ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.