Mark 4:30-34 Christ's Church and the Mustard Seed

Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

Pray

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Mark 4:30-34

Mark 4:30-34

Mark 4:30–34 NASB95

And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Introduction and Review:

The beginning of Jesus Ministry

The Gospel message

His healing and teaching ministries

Building the kingdom of God

The parable of the mustard seed

A glimpse of the future of Christ’s church

The last two parables are about how God works in the heart of a Christian

This parable is about how Christ’s church will develop

These parables help us understand God’s plan for His church and His people

It helps us understand where we fit

Universal church, local church, Christians - building blocks

Mark 4:30-31

Mark 4:30–31 NASB95

And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil,

It started small

The Jews thought a grain of mustard was small and insignificant

The Lord also uses the mustard seed as an example of weak faith Matt 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 17:20). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

It is hard to think of something that provides a better example of the history of Christ’s church, than this mustard seed

The church was tiny and appeared weak in the beginning

How did its leader, Christ, come into the world?

Who were the apostles (fishermen, tax collectors, rebels)? Unlearned persons

What was the last thing its leader did? (Crucifixion, between thieves, betrayed by two apostles)

Did it teach a popular doctrine?

stumbling block to Jews, foolishness to gentiles

Head died on a cross to offer life to the world

In the eyes of men, the beginning of the church was humiliating, demonstrating weakness.

Grain of mustard was a good example

Many unbelievers are distracted by this humble beginning

Mark 4:32

Mark 4:32 NASB95

yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

Christ’s Church would grow greatly

The church, once it was planted, would grow greatly in size

“it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants”

It is amazing that the grain of mustard grows into such a large plant.

Tiny as it was, the mustard seed is a striking example of how the church would grow in the world

Started to grow on the day of Pentecost, a few weeks after Christ’s crucifixion

It grew quickly - 3000 on Pentecost, 400,000 a few weeks later, spread to Africa, to Antioch, to Turkey, to Greece and Italy, 300 years later became the official faith of the Roman empire. This weak, shamed humble religion spread to every continent of the world

Christ predicted all this, in the parable we are now studying

The Church is not yet done growing

This parable and prophecy continues - a day shall come when when the Lord Jesus, as head of His church, will take power and rule, and put every enemy under His feet

One day, everyone will know about the Lord God

Satan will be bound and imprisoned

Many unbelievers, all over the world, will come to Jesus - they are his inheritance

Then this parable will be complete - the seed will be a great tree, and fill the world.

This is the glorious future for all of us, who are members of Christ’s church

Bad news for those who do not turn to Christ

Bringing it home

Lets remember this - we should never underestimate the power of Christ, in building His church

Church started small

Baby in a manger in Bethlehem

Name known all over the world now

The little seed that sprouted in Bethlehem is now a great tree, and growing

Remember, never look down on the day of small things. (Zech 4:10)

One child - a school

One saved - a church

One word - a great Christian project (Hudson Taylor)

One seed - a rich harvest of saved souls

Prayer

Discussion