Back to the Basics: (Lack of) Understanding the growth of God's Kingdom God Part 2

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:31-35

Passage: Mark 4:30-34

Intro: Have you ever told what you thought was an insignificant lie, that turned into something that you could not believe that a little lie could get you into this much trouble?

When I was younger I remember watching the movie “the Titanic” with my parents. Maybe I was 7 or 8 years old, and my dad, says “Daniel your great grandma came over on the Titanic. She was one of the little kids that survived. Now my Dad was joking. He knew I was gullible, and he enjoyed telling this little lie. Well I grew up thinking my great grandmother came over on the Titanic. I would tell teachers and friends. I thought it was cool. Until one day when I was in college I got curious, I knew my great grandmothers name, so I looked at the survivors manifests online, and I could not find her name. So i called my Dad and I asked him, hey, your grandmothers name was __________ right? He said yes. I then said, well I couldn’t find her name on the Titanic survivor lists. Well he then told me that my grandmother did not come over on the Titanic.

So my dad told what he believed to be an insignificant lie. But it turned out that lie turned into something bigger. Because I remember doing family history papers growing up and putting that my Great grandmother was a survivor of the Titanic.

But it is funny how something seemingly insignificant can turn into something great.

In today’s passage we will see Jesus use a parable to show how God’s kingdom may seem insignificant, but that is the furthest from the truth.

Passage Context: As we continue going through the book of Mark, we find ourselves looking at the teachings and parables that Jesus taught. Remember that up to this point, Mark has already established that Jesus is God, and the Son of God. We have seen Jesus perform miracles, and cast out demons, and we have seen in Mark chapter 4 that Jesus has already taught three parables, and today we are looking at the fourth parable that Jesus taught.

READ PASSAGE HERE

Passage explanation: As we look this passage remember the parable that we looked at last week, the parable that Jesus taught right before passage. We see that Jesus compared the kingdom of God, not to an earthly kingdom or to a king, but instead Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a lowly farmer. And now we see that Jesus is comparing the kingdom of God to a mustard seed.

Main Point: The main point of this passage is to show how the kingdom of God might not seem like much to crowd that Jesus is speaking to, but one day that kingdom will be fulfilled and greater than anything man can perceive.

Call to Action: the passage states three truth’s about the kingdom of Christ.

Part 1: Jesus asks. Mark 4:30

Point 1: Christ’s kingdom is a mystery to the unbelieving heart.

Explanation:Look at how Jesus starts this parable, by asking a question. Look at what Jesus asks in verse 30, “The He (Jesus) said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God?’” Now realize that the question we see in this passage is similar to the way that Jesus started previous parable. He started the parable of the growing seed with a simile (A comparison using like or as) to compare the kingdom of God to a humble farmer. But now to start this parable Jesus asks a rhetorical question. “To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God?” In the third parable in chapter four Jesus started the parable with a simile. But in his fourth parable he starts with a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question, is a question that is not meant to be answered or is meant to be answered mentally, and is not meant to be answered out loud.

Jesus starts this parable with asking a rhetorical question, but then we see that Jesus rephrases the rhetorical question. Look at the next line, “Or with what parable shall we picture it?” So now he clarifies his question and asks with what story or parable or illustration shall we picture it? So Jesus

Illustration: Today I go walk into a meeting with my brother’s work. And I wouldn’t know a thing that they were talking about, because I am not apart of that company. But if I joined that company, it would be their job to train and make me familiar. And they would recruit me to. So church it should not surprise us if we find someone who knows nothing abotu Scripture. I remember one of the first times I went door to door. I was at SWBTS and we shared the gospel with a woman who you could see her apartment from SWBTS property. And she had never heard the gospel before. Her idea of God was an angel on this shoulder and a demon on the other telling her what to do.

Application: Church I want you realize something, to the unbeliever they will not understand God’s kingdom. They will not understand why you go to church. And that is ok. (Go to illustration and come back)

Look to a certain extent the kingdom of God is a mystery to the believer, now imagine being an unbeliever. And the mystery of God’s kingdom. Church it is our duty to go and share the gospel.

Transition:Well if you had just heard the parable that he gave last week, you would say, well a farmer who plants a seed. But that is not the answer that Jesus gives. Look at how he answers his rhetorical question:

Part 2: Jesus Answers. Mark 4:31-32

Point 2: Christ’s kingdom requires the believing heart to trust in God for fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom.

Explanation: Look at how Jesus answers his question in verse 31, “It is like.” Now let us pause here, we see the pronoun it, so we need to ask ourselves, who or what does “It” represent? It represents the Kingdom of God. So we can rephrase this question to read, “The Kingdom of God is like “A mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth.” So I want you to realize what Jesus just compared the kingdom of God to. He says that it is like a mustard seed (Go to illustration and come back). And now look at what he says about the mustard seed, he says that when it is sown, it is the smaller than all the seeds on earth. So this small seed, gets planted. But now look at verse 32, “But when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches,” So now Jesus states that the kingdom of God is like this mustard seed. At first it is small, and not much to think about, but then when it is planted and watered, this seed will produce a tree, and look at what this small seed that turns into a seed is able to do, “and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Realize something, that this tree could grow up to 12 feet. So that is is basically as tall as someone 6’2 standing on my shoulders. This seed turns into that. So now Jesus says that this seed turns into a tree that its branches is able to provide shelter for the birds. This small tiny insignificant seed is able to turn into a plant that provides shelter to animals.

Illustration: Now I just happen to have a mustard seed seasoning that you get at the grocery store. I want you to look at how small this seed is.

Application: Now what does Jesus mean when he compares the kingdom of God to this mustard seed? See the point that Jesus is making is that the kingdom that he came to fulfill started out humbling, gaining very little support during his life, remember the religious elite rejected the kingdom of God. The very kingdom of God that John the Baptist announced was at hand, and that the people should repent and turn from their sins. Yet Jesus is saying that this small seed of the kingdom of God will find complete fulfillment when Christ returns.

See Church I want you to realize that you might feel like you are apart of a kingdom that is constantly losing, I mean we live in a society that is rapidly becoming more hostile to the gospel, and to our beliefs. One day, you might find yourself even questioning, is it worth it? Is the hostility even worth it. Well here is Jesus saying that this small kingdom will grow even greater. Even greater than what it is now. The kingdom of God is not insignifficant, it is greater than all.

And we must push for it to grow, not grow our own kingdoms and agendas. For our kingdom will one day crumble, But God’s kingdom will remain forever.

Illustration 2: Remember something church, last week saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth, and she was one of the wealthiest people in the world. Yet when she died, her money remained. Her homes remained. And one day the products of her wealth will rust and decay.

So do not invest in an earthly kingdom, but invest in God’s kingdom.

Transition: After Jesus states that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, Mark tells the reader why Jesus taught in parables.

Part 3: Jesus taught in parables. Mark 4:33-34

Point 3: Christ’s kingdom requires the Holy Spirit’s revealing to the (un)believer.

Explanation:Now before we look at verses 33 and 34, go look at Mark 4:10-12 “And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” In Mark 4:10-12 Jesus explained to his disciples why he spoke in parables. SO that prophecy in Isiah 6:9-10 would have a new meaning. And a new fulfillment. Just as the people rejected the prophecy of Isiah, Jesus is saying that he people would also reject his prophecies.

But now in verses 33- 34 Jesus again explains why he spoke in parables. Look at verse 33, “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.” So now we see that Mark states that as the people would listen, and as they would hear Jesus speak, Jesus spoke and taught in parables.

But not look at verse 34, “But without a parable He did not speak to them.” So now Mark states that when the crowd was with them and when the crowd would allow him to preach and teach in Capernaum, that Jesus spoke in parables. And Jesus only taught in parables. And this would leave the crowd questioning and wondering what Jesus meant. So this left the people questioning what Jesus truly meant. And Jesus did so, on purpose. He knew that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes, ears, and hearts of those that God was calling to be apart of God’s kingdom, and also so there would be people to question Jesus, and that would ultimately lead Jesus to die on the cross.

But then we see that Jesus did explain the meaning of the parables and explained his teachings to the disciples. Look at that next phrase, “And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” So now we see that Jesus did explain the parables, and what he taught the people to the disciples. Remember the disciples were the chosen few who had spent significant one on one time with Jesus, and Jesus would explain his teaching to them. Yet we also know that does not mean that the disciples knew and understood everything that Jesus taught. In fact Scripture tells us that many of the things that Jesus taught, the Holy Spirit withheld understanding to them, until the time Jesus was resurrected.

Illustration: the same is true today. I might preach, but unless the Holy Spirit illuminates, and reveals to the hearer the truth, than there is nothing that I can do. I can’t tell you how many times I have had someone come up to me and say “Great message pastor that really spoke to me, I am going through_________, and that message helped.” And I go back to look at my notes, and I think, I didn’t mention anything to do with that topic. Yet the Holy Spirit took the Scripture that was read, and expounded upon. The Holy Spirit moved, and revealed something that my words could not.

Application: While Jesus taught, and explained the Word of God, it was the Holy Spirit who illuminated to the hearer the word of God. (Go to Illustration and come back)

So I want you to realize something church, when you are building God’s kingdom, and you are sharing the gospel, it is not about the words that you say, it is allowing your self to be obedient to Christ’s calling and allowing yourself to be used by the Holy Spirit. So when you share the gospel, do not worry about what you will say, just allow the Holy Spirit to move in your life.

Conclusion:

Church I want you to realize, that you are apart of the greatest kingdom this world has ever known. No it is not the United States of America, it is the Kingdom of God. Who is greater than all. WHose kingdom is greater than all. We must remember this, and not build our own kingdoms, but instead strive to build the kingdom of God.