Small beginnings, great endings!

Matthew 13:31-35

Here is another of the illustrations of Jesus: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds but becomes the largest of plants, and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter." He also used this example: "The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a woman making bread. She takes a measure of flour and mixes in the yeast until it permeates every part of the dough." Jesus constantly used these illustrations when speaking to the crowds. In fact, because the prophets said that he would use so many, he never spoke to them without at least one illustration. For it had been prophesied, "I will talk in parables; I will explain mysteries hidden since the beginning of time."

Food for thought!

Jesus wants his listeners to understand the kingdom of God. For him, the kingdom of God is like, that is, is similar to the mustard seed. The kingdom of God is not the mustard seed, and the mustard seed is not the kingdom of God. But the dynamics of the kingdom of God are like those of a mustard seed; although the two realities are different, they are similar. When Jesus began to speak, He didn't compare the Kingdom of God to a high mountain, a mighty river or even a majestic oak. Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed! Jesus uses the image of something small to teach us about something larger than we can comprehend.
The grain of mustard seed, which is very small, grows up and becomes formidable tree, putting forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. Though very small, when the mustard seed is sown into the ground, grows into something very big indeed, which welcomes and accommodates other creatures. Jesus is saying that from its small beginnings comes great endings. Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to that little seed. Jesus is talking of himself. In truth, most people believed that nothing would come of the Lord Jesus and His ministry.

• Jesus was born in the tiny town of Bethlehem in abject poverty.
• He was reared in Galilee, and no one believed that a man of God could come from there, John 7:52.
• He was raised in a Nazareth. The inhabitants of that city were considered to be wicked and worldly by the Jews.
• He had no family connections. He had no money. He had no support from the religious leaders of the day.
• His parentage was questioned, John 8:41 by His enemies
• His own people rejected Him.
• He was despised and rejected by men.
• The Romans eventually nailed Him to a cross and buried Him in a tomb.

As Obama reminded all Kenyan youths this week, there is no limit to what we can achieve. From small and humble beginning, Obama grew up to become President of the greatest country on earth. By creating us in his image and likeness, each one of us is a small mustard seed. We can all grow into greatness. God can take someone who seems insignificant and make something great out of them! He can take a little red-headed boy nobody wanted on their team and make him a great leader of men. He did that with Winston Churchill. He can take a backward, stuttering man and use him to bring the Law of God to humanity, He did that with Moses. He can take a son of a Kenyan and make him into the President of the United States of America. He did that with Obama. What could He do with your life?