By Mike Chaffin
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? Mark 4:30
One of the most profound teaching moments in my childhood was when I watched Bambi for the first time. I was around the age of seven or eight. Bambi, a 1942 Disney classic, was in the theaters for its twenty-fifth anniversary, and I got to see it. Thumper, with his mother and siblings, came to see the newly born Bambi. When Bambi had trouble standing and walking, Thumper said, “He doesn’t walk very good does he?” Thumper’s mom reminded him what his father had taught him about potentially insulting someone. Thumper remembered and said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” That stuck with me to this day.
While not a parable it was an incredibly good lesson both morally and mannerly. Jesus used parables because the story was fairly simple to follow but has a deeper spiritual meaning. Mark, in chapter 4, lists many of the parables Jesus taught throughout His ministry. He uses a parable to answer our question.
31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Mark 4:31-33
The mustard tree is an incredibly fast-growing tree in the Middle East. It spreads it branches out and has many uses. Protection, medicinal, and flavoring are just a few of its attributes. It is extremely hardy, able to live without much water and can even manage saltwater. (It is not the mustard plant which is also extremely fast growing. It gets ten feet tall and from it we get mustard.)
The spiritual application of comparing the Kingdom of God to this tree makes it easy for us to understand. Just as the tree grows fast and provides many benefits, so does the Kingdom of God. From the twelve disciples, centralized in Jerusalem, the early church grew exponentially. Today there are billions of Christians around the world. If you are a Christian, you are living in the Kingdom and have access to the benefits.
However, many do not understand the spiritual meaning of this parable. Even the disciples needed most of them explained. Jesus spoke in parables so that a person will need to study the scriptures to understand. They must put out an effort to be a disciple.
10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that
‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ” Mark 4:10-12
Jesus came to be a sacrifice for our sins. He came so that all who believe and receive Him into their hearts will be saved. With that gift comes our part, where we make Him Lord of our life and learn to be a Christian, a disciple, one growing in Christ.
Contemplation: Do I understand the teaching of Jesus? Am I one who hears or cannot hear?
