Parable of the mustard seed Mark 4:26-34

Mark 4:26-34 Gospel reading for Sunday June 17th

See separate post for reflections on part one of the reading The parable of the growing seed.

As it happens, this week's reading is the subject of one of the reflections that I have included in 'Seeking authenticity'. (a small book written to encourage leaders in our Lutheran Schools as we strive to build and maintain a vibrant and dynamic Christian cmmunity that is authentically informed by the Gospel. A complimentary copy will be made available to all schools in the LSA, July 2012)

Here is an extract from the book ...

A simple little story but loaded with surprises, twists and messages for us today ... no more so than for us as leaders in Lutheran schools.

So as we take a closer look at this story, can we have in the back of our minds the question: How does The parable of the mustard seed inform activities of a Lutheran school ... and in particular what is its contribution to the key proposition that a Lutheran school is a place that knows why it exists?

Just for the record
The parable is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. (John of course does not record any parables as such.) When undertaking reflection on this parable it may be helpful to take a look at the three parallel accounts (reproduced below for convenience):

Matthew 13: 31-32
 31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Mark 4: 30-32
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

Luke 13: 18-19
18 Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
 
At face-value responses to the parable go something like this ... big things grow out of the smallest beginnings; never under estimate how a tiny spec of faith can grow into something unbelievable; with God, amazing, surprising and unexpected things are possible.

Digging a bit deeper

Firstly, what do we know about the mustard plant? Here lies twist number one. The mustard plant certainly does not grow into a tree. There were two types of mustard plant in the Middle-East, but neither are more than a pathetic little bush. At extreme best, not even a shrub but definitely not with woody BRANCHES. In fact it was regarded as a weed. The best way to understand the mustard plant is to compare it to modern day canola, which is a close relative (same family). Birds building their nests in the branches? Now come on Jesus, that's stretching it surely!

If Jesus wanted to illustrate big things growing from small beginnings why did He choose the mustard seed then? Surely the cedars of Lebanon would have been a better choice. These magnificent trees were used regularly throughout the Old Testament as imagery for splendour, magnificence and greatness. (See Psalm 92 verse 12 for example.) Or is this part of the deliberate ploy of exaggeration that Jesus uses to illustrate the unbelievable nature of what can happen from a small faith beginning?

The Luke account specifically mentions that the man planted the mustard seed IN HIS GARDEN. This is the second major surprise. At the time of Jesus, the mustard plant was regarded as a renegade and invasive WEED to the point that it was actually illegal to cultivate mustard plants in your garden. We see the rampant nature of the related canola plant in our farming areas here in South Australia. After a paddock has been cropped with canola, the plant grows wild in the surrounding countryside for years to come. Such was the fear with mustard. In order to restrict its invasive and rampant nature, it was not to be cultivated.
 
What about the birds?
Well here is the final surprise, through which is uncovered one of the key reasons for Jesus telling this story. We need to know the background to the symbolism here. The birds in Old Testament writing would have been widely understood to represent people from all nations ... or to use the lingo ... the gentiles!

These little piece of cultural and contextual information brings a whole new perspective to the story especially in the way that it informs the activities of a Lutheran school.

Some powerful imagery emerges here. The task of building the kingdom through our Lutheran schools happens most unexpectedly and surprisingly in the backyards of people like you and I, daring to plant the seed in risky places. That's the world in which we operate, where many of our clientele are reluctant hearers of the word. The parable of the mustard seed is a big tick for lay-people. God's work and certainly His presence is not confined to magnificent churches and cathedrals ... it all happens even in the most unlikely of places.

Back to the birds ... the extrapolation of that little piece of information reminds us of our calling to open our doors to all. Contrary to our beginnings in Australia, where Lutheran schools were set up just for the exclusive benefit of Lutheran children from Lutheran families belonging to Lutheran congregations, we are challenged to open our doors to all, with no pecking order or priority entrance other than common-sense provisions (e.g. siblings of current or previous students.)

The parable of the mustard seed reminds us of our obligation in Lutheran schools to dare to plant the seed!

A Lutheran school is a place that knows why it exists!

Nev