A Micro Start with a Mega Finish

Small Things with Big Impact

It’s so easy to dismiss anything teeny weeny. There’s no way anything minuscule can make more than a ripple in history.

But the truth is sometimes the smallest things have the biggest impact. Don’t believe me? Take the Big Bang. No, I’m NOT talking about the TV sitcom nerd fest.

The Big Bang

Disclaimer: I’m not a scientist and have never played on TV. I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. And I’m neither endorsing nor dismissing the idea of the Big Bang as a part of God’s Creation. Just using it as an example. Are we good?

Many scientists believe the entire universe started from what they call a “singularity.” That’s their name for the jam-packed collection of all the star stuff squeezed into a microscopic, itty bitty ball.

Suddenly something (or shall we say, SOMEONE) pulled the trigger. BANG!! The next you know, we have the universe. It’s a micro start with a mega finish.

A Tiny Start with a Tremendous Ending

While Jesus isn’t teaching a lesson in astrophysics back in first century Galilee, He does use that same idea to describe what His Father is up to (Mk 4:30-34). Christ wants His listeners to understand God’s Kingdom may start tiny but it will certainly end tremendously.

In doing so, our Savior uses a word picture and compares God’s Kingdom to a eensy-weensy seed. It doesn’t look like much in the beginning. Just a speck. Easy to dismiss. Easy to ignore. But when it’s all said and done, you’re gonna need to step back.

This deal is blowing up! God’s Kingdom is the Biggest Bang. It may have a micro start but it’s guaranteed to have a mega finish.

Zooming Out

Before we pull out the microscope for a look at something minuscule, we need to zoom out to get a little context to what’s about to go down. First of all, we’re reading from one of the four bios of Jesus we call the Gospels.

A dude named John Mark wrote this particular one. While Mark gets the credit, early disciples of the Lord were totally convinced the author’s actually passing along Peter’s eyewitness account of the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. Don’t know if you’ve heard, but this guy Pete had a front row seat to see the Savior.

Buckle Your Seatbelt!

Mark’s Gospel is a non-stop, rapid fire, buckle-your-seatbelt, action story. He wastes no time and cuts to the chase. The best example? He uses some form of the Greek word (Gr. ευθυς/euthos)  we translate “immediately,” “suddenly,” or “right away” more than 40 times. (Sadly, the NLT drops the ball quite a bit on this.)

A Quick Recap

Here’s a quick recap of Mark’s story of Jesus to this point. Christ shows up to be baptized and both the Father and Spirit are there to celebrate (Mk 1:9-11). He immediately heads out into the desert on an empty stomach where He stares down the devil (Mk 1:12-13).

Jesus then starts building the team He’ll use to change the world (Mk 1:16-20; 2:13-14). His choices seem rather…um…questionable. The Lord blows the minds of church goers by teaching like they’ve never heard before. And that’s not all. He also miraculously heals diseases and regularly punches demons in the throat (Mk 1:21-2:12; 3:5-6).

Because He’s working outside the religious establishment, the boys at the Hebrew home office get their undies in a bundle. As a result, they look for all sorts of ways to shut Jesus down (Mk 2:5-6, 15-18, 24; 3:1-6, 22). And if that’s not bad enough, His own family thinks He’s off His rabbinical rocker (Mk 3:21, 31).

Everyday Items and Eternal Truth

We pick up the scene with Jesus teaching a massive audience alongside a big lake known as the Sea of Galilee. Attendance is so large, He actually speaks from a boat to make sure the crowd doesn’t crush Him (Mk 4:1-2).

Christ reaches into His toolbox and pulls out His favorite teaching tool. The parable. It’s a simple word story to help people understand complicated ideas. He does so by using everyday items to unpack eternal truth (Mk 4:1-29). Lamps. Baskets. Beds. Soil. Seeds. Yeah, lots and lots of seeds.

A Couple of Questions

Jesus wraps up His sermon by actually asking the crowd a couple of questions. “How would I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?” (v30). He’s looking for a way to describe God’s rule and reign in the universe. Hmm. Let’s see. How can we do this?

Why in the world would the Christ ask His listeners a question? I mean, He IS God in the flesh after all. Of all people, He certainly knows how to explain the Kingdom of God it would be the Son of God, right? You betcha.

Stirring the Pot

My guess is that Jesus is looking for a way to connect with His audience. Think of it as a shrewd example of audience participation. He’s stirring the mental pot and wants them fully involved in the discussion. His questions get the listeners thinking.

What a great lesson for anyone and everyone who speaks or teaches. Sure, you could yammer on constantly. But if you’re not careful, eyes glaze over and minds wander. Why not borrow a page from the Lord’s playbook? Ask a question. Make folks think. Keep them involved. Are you tracking with me?

Revolt in the Heavenly Kingdom

In this particular case, Jesus gets them thinking about the idea of God’s Kingdom. It’s one of the big ideas of Mark’s Gospel with a grand total of 14 mentions (Mk 1:15; 4:11, 26, 30; 9:1, 47; 10:14, 15, 23, 24, 25; 14:25; 15:43).

We can understand the Kingdom of God from two perspectives. One is His divine authority over the universe. Our first parents jacked the whole thing up by turning their backs on God’s goodness in the garden (Gen 3:1-7). He’s still in charge but now He has a revolt on His hands.

The First Shots of the Revolution

The other point of view of His Kingdom is in our hearts. Each of us carries that very same rebellion we see in Adam and Eve. How bad is it? God tells Jeremiah that there’s nothing more deceitful and wicked than the human heart (Jer 17:9).

Like Fort Sumter in the Civil War, Eden is the scene of the first shots of the revolution. God let us have our way. But don’t get the idea that He simply rolled over like some sort of divine doormat. Let’s just say, God is playing the long game.

Search-and-Rescue

He had a plan to not just win the war but win us back. He would send His very own Son on the ultimate search-and-rescue mission. The universe has never seen anything like it before or since.

The Son of God would take on human form (Jn 1:14). He would live the life of obedience we’ll failed to live. He would die the death for our rebellion we should have died. He would rise to new life that we don’t deserve.

A Ridiculous Act of Grace

In this ridiculous act of grace, Jesus transforms us from God’s enemies into family members (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21-22). He trades us His sinless obedience for our rebellion (2Cor 5:21). A man named Martin Luther labels this the Great Exchange. That seems to be the understatement of eternity.

Through Christ, God is bringing back the glory of His Kingdom, both in the universe and in our hearts. Jesus began the process with His first appearance a couple of thousand years ago. He’ll drop the mic on the whole deal when He returns for encore we call the Second Coming.

Thy Kingdom Come

It’s like those words Christ taught His disciples about prayer that we have mindlessly mumbled countless times. It’s one of those verses burned into our brains in the King Jimmy version of the Bible. “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10 KJV).

God’s eventually will answer that prayer. He will bring back His Kingdom from heaven. To the earth. To the entire universe. And into our sinful, rebel hearts.

The Humble Mustard Seed

You would think cataclysmic change like that would begin with a breathtaking beginning. Nope. Not even close. Jesus says it’s just the opposite. “It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds” (v31).

Ah, the humble mustard seed. It’s one of our Savior’s go-to illustrations. He uses it at least different two other times. He says even the dinkiest faith in God’s power can replant trees (Lk 17:6) and move mountains (Mt 17:20).

A Common Example

Before any horticulturist blows a gardening gasket, I know the mustard seed is NOT the actually the smallest. So just step off. First century teachers loved using the mustard seed as common example of anything teeny tiny.

We do the same today. Phrases like “take it with a grain of salt” or “as small as a mouse.” The seed of the black mustard plant is minuscule in comparison to that of any other Palestinian plant.

A Microscopic Start

How infinitesimal is this seed? The word we translate “smallest” is Greek term μικρος/mikros. It’s where we get “mirco.” So it comes as no surprise that it means little, tiny, insignificant, and even lowly or unimportant.

God’s first move for His Kingdom is microscopic. It’s small. Unnoticed. Inconspicuous. Look closely and check out a few examples just how small throughout Scripture.

Unexpected Choices

First of all, Yahweh picks the Hebrews as His own people. But it wasn’t because they had any great resume or stood out from the crowd. He tells them, “You were the smallest of nations” (Dt 7:7).

When selecting a human king to rule His people, God doesn’t draft the biggest and baddest dude around. Just the opposite. He has His eyes on the kid brother shepherd boy (1Sam 16:1-13).

Under the Shadow of Rome

Flip over to the New Testament and He follows the same M.O. God sends His Son as a baby to an unwed teenager and her blue collar boyfriend (Lk 1:26-32; 2:1-14). A lot of babies have become kings. This is the only time a King became a Baby!

The Messiah begins His career in the boondocks of Galilee under the massive shadow of the Roman Empire. If that’s not inconspicuous enough for you, He does so as a homeless, itinerant, peasant preacher (Lk 9:58).

An Insult to the Mustard Seed?

As we mentioned before, Jesus doesn’t assemble a team of the best and brightest. He handpicks a dozen illiterate knuckleheads as His closest followers. When it comes to networking, Christ doesn’t connect with Palestinian power brokers. Instead He consistently hangs out with the dregs of society.

Even after our Savior miraculously strolls out of the cemetery, He has a grand total of about 120 frightened followers (Acts 1:15). So comparing the Kingdom of God to be as tiny as mustard seed may actually be an insult to the mustard seed!

Something Big Is Coming

But don’t be fooled by the pint-sized. Jesus reminds the lakeside crowd how radically things can and will change. “But it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade” (v32).

It’s almost impossible to see it now, but something big is coming. Something HUGE! Here’s where the mustard seed/mustard plant comparison really kicks into gear.

It Goes to 11

This particular plant towers over everything else. How big? “Largest” is actually the Greek word μεγας/megas. You see what I see? That’s right. Mega.

It describes something great, massive, important, extraordinary, mighty, outstanding or extensive. We’re talking the upper range of the scale. Or as the boys in Spinal Tap like to say, “It goes to 11.”

Growing up and Blowing up

Allow me to drop a little more garden knowledge at this point. The mustard plant may start small but has been known to grow as tall as 15 feet. While it’s not technically a tree, it’s branches are certainly is big enough for a bird’s nest.

But remember, Jesus isn’t really talking about fast growing flora. He’s painting a picture of the Kingdom of God. Rome may be running roughshod on the known world as Christ speaks. But just you wait. That all changes when God’s benevolent government grows up and blows up!

Connecting the Dots

Our Savior hints at the incredible benefits and blessings of this heavenly kingdom when it eventually “grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade” (v32). Just to make sure you’re picking up what He’s putting down, Jesus is NOT lecturing on the nesting habits of the local avian population.

Chances are, the Messiah’s audience understands something we don’t. He’s connecting the dots with ancient Jewish prophecies that picture God’s blessings to His people as providing homes for our feathered friends (Ezek 17:23; 31:6; Dan 4:21).

Bigger than Judaism

What the big crowd probably can’t wrap their head around is what that’s going to look like. Most Bible brainiacs believe Jesus is alluding to God’s inclusion of non-Jews into His Kingdom. The result is something WAY bigger than anything Judaism could hope to contain.

As in His earlier parables, Jesus isn’t just talking about the massive expansion of God’s Kingdom in the universe. He’s also painting a picture of how big His rule and reign will extend in the hearts of His followers.

Bummed in the Beginning

I don’t about your story but my life is incredibly different now from when God first got His hands on me. While there were a some significant changes early on, I really didn’t notice much difference. Honestly, I was more than a little bummed. I thought there would be BIG changes from the get-go.

It took a while to notice anything substantial. But it began to happen when I finally trusted in the Lord as the leader of my life. I began to willingly obey His commands and do what He says. Those changes I expected from the start began to develop and flourish.

Supernatural Miracle-Gro

You could almost say it started like a tiny seed before growing bigger than I could ever imagine. Let me be clear. I’m NOT the one doing the heavy lifting! You could say Jesus is the supernatural Miracle-Gro that’s causing my spiritual growth!! And best of all, the Lord is nowhere near finished!!!

Cookies on the Bottom Shelf

Mark wraps up the Savior’s series of seaside stories like this. “Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand” (v33). That’s his way of saying Christ puts the cookies on the bottom shelf about God’s Kingdom.

I love how the Message paraphrase puts it. “With many stories like these, He presented His message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity” (v33 The Message). As a great teacher, Jesus knows His audience and meets them where they are.

A Deeper Dive

Mark wants us to know Jesus uses these spiritual metaphors as a means of teaching God’s truth wherever He goes. “In fact, in His public ministry He never taught without using parables; but afterward, when He was alone with His disciples, He explained everything to them” (v34).

Don’t miss how Christ also does a deeper dive with the Dirty Dozen. Like a good leader, He builds up those closest to Him. He unpacks. He clarifies. He explains.

Untying the Knots

A big part of what happens is that He explains everything. This is the Greek verb επιλθω/epiluo, which literally means to unloosen. His amazing message of grace is like nothing these guys have ever heard before. It’s tying their thoughts into knots.

Back in a previous millennium when I was kid, we didn’t have velcro shoes. Man, those would have been nice. I had a nasty habit of getting my shoelaces so tangled that I needed help. Fortunately, my mom was the bomb when it came to unsnarling the mess when I couldn’t.

In a similar way, Jesus unties the tangles that result from His teaching when the boys can’t do it for themselves. It’s an important way that our Savior pours into the crew who will spread the Good News once He heads back home to heaven.

It’s a Team Sport

Who are you pouring into? Who’s pouring into you? Just so you know, following Jesus is WAY more than show up at church a couple of Sundays a month. It’s being part of a smaller group of fellow believers doing life together. Trusting in Christ is a team sport.

When we connect and serve other Christ followers, it puts us into a position where God can grow us. What He’s doing in the beginning will probably seem insignificant. It will start small. Very small. Teeny weeny. Itty bitty.

Giving Grace Room to Grow

But you might want to move back. Give the grace of God plenty of room to grow…because it WILL grow! Whatever we see now is nothing compared to what His Kingdom will be.

This deal is blowing up! God’s Kingdom is the Biggest Bang. It may have a micro start but it’s guaranteed to have a mega finish.

©2017

Jay Jennings