Read Mark 4:26-29
Jesus again uses seeds to make his point. Describing the kingdom of God is tricky, and we often have a hard time wrapping our heads around what it truly means. We all have a picture of what a kingdom is–from fairy tales we read as a child or seeing news reports of what’s happening in the royal families of England or other nations with that type of rule.
So, what does this parable teach us about the kingdom of God? For me, I understand it as a beautiful mystery that’s hard to explain. We should be in wonder of it! Just like we marvel at how a seed, when planted, can become something entirely different.
The kingdom of God mysteriously grows independent of human effort. This parable lets us see that it is God who expands the kingdom. It’s good to remember our place. We are workers in the kingdom of God, doing our part to bring people to faith in Jesus. God is the one working in their hearts. God is the one who will have the final say at the time of harvest.
When we come to faith in Jesus, we sprout and become new. Like innocent blades of grass poking through the ground, we can discover what a life with Jesus is all about. We can embrace our new beginning with Jesus. Each day that passes in God’s presence will bring us closer and closer to the person God created us to be. You might say, we prepare ourselves to be harvested.
Jesus speaks of the harvest. By his words, we immediately picture the farmer heading to the fields with his sickle (or driving a big combine down rows of crops.) The prophet Joel speaks of this moment as well. “Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.” (Joel 3:13)
Jesus is pointing to the day of judgment. On that day, we’ll see the abundant results of all the preaching and teaching of God’s word that has taken place. The kingdom of God will be fully revealed to us. Every secret mystery of how it all works will be gone. We will indeed marvel at the majesty of God!
Let’s pray. Lord, I do marvel at how majestically you have designed your creation. You have left many mysteries for us to uncover. Thank you for how the Holy Spirit reveals, bit by bit, more and more of your truth. Jesus taught us so much. Open my eyes to understand even more about your kingdom. I want to be ready for the harvest. In Jesus name. Amen.
