God’s kingdom grows

Jesus asked, ‘What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in the ground. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches.’ (verses 18,19)

Read Luke 13:18-30

According to the modern ‘chaos theory’ of mathematics, the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in one place in the world can lead to a typhoon in another place. Jesus’ parables about the mustard seed and the yeast in the dough have a similar thought. He suggests that, despite its minimal beginnings, God’s kingdom rule has very impressive consequences.

Well, you might say, for the first 1800 years the Christian church did grow and expand, but it now seems to be struggling and going backwards, especially in developed countries like Australia. Was Jesus mistaken?

I don’t think so. Let’s not confuse outward and institutional Christianity with God’s kingdom. Jesus is not talking primarily about the number of those who call themselves Christian or about what believers do and achieve. He looks past appearances and statistics to see the ongoing course of the good news in the world. He trusts that God’s gracious purposes will be accomplished.

After all, who would have expected Jesus’ brief ministry in a political and economic backwater of his time to accomplish anything much? His untimely death seemed the very antithesis of achievement and growth, and yet . . .

Good God, give us insight, by faith, into your loving purposes in the world. Amen.

by John Vitale, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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