It started in a very small village to people who were poor and unknown except to those who lived in the neighborhood…the dad was a common, skilled laborer and the mother was just another young girl in the town...you are right…that is where Jesus was born. A very humble and small beginning…but within 33 years Jesus‟ life was shaking the minds and beliefs of the religious and political authorities in occupied Israel and in a few short decades after Jesus was crucified and risen, the Christ Followers had transformed the Roman Empire through the faithfulness of martyrs!
Jesus understands the small beginning…His was and his disciples were getting to participate in the beginning of something great! He was telling the people all around him that they could be a part of something powerful and bigger than they could understand if they would only trust and believe in Him. Here, Jesus used a mustard seed as part of the parable. He was using something that some of the gardeners and farmers were familiar with. He was referring to the smallest seed that they would be acquainted with…the black mustard seed in Israel that will typically grow to heights of 3.7 meters, or 12 (twelve) feet—plenty large enough to hold a bird nest. The Lord shows us the truth about how effective our “little” can be, as recorded in Luke 17:6: And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you.” Are you looking at yourself and thinking that you could be of no use to God’s Kingdom? Maybe your past has limited you because of sin or failure or just the fact you struggle with self-worth or confidence? I want you to be encouraged as you read this. Jesus knows our weaknesses and the Bible says that his strength is made known in our weaknesses…when you invite this Jesus of small beginnings into your heart and life, He can make it beautiful, strong and more than you can ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20) Nothing is impossible with God…you are being invited to participate in a small beginning Kingdom that has only expanded since Jesus spoke to the crowd on this day…a Kingdom without end!! Matthew 13:31-43New Living Translation (NLT) Parable of the Mustard Seed 31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Parable of the Yeast 33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” 34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained 36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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