Jesus asked, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." Mark 4:30-32

Many years ago, a truck driver friend of mine gave me a huge box of seeds that had been discarded at the depot where he worked. Among the contents was a packet of mustard seed. I thought to myself, “Gee, it might be fun to raise some mustard.” So I planted some. What a mistake! I had to deal with mustard for several years until I finally got rid of it all. You see mustard is a weed. It infiltrates the whole garden and chokes out the good vegetables.

When we read this little parable, we tend to think of the mustard plant as something good. After all, Jesus compares it to the Kingdom of God. A number of questions come to mind. Who benefits from it? Who is annoyed by it? What was Jesus trying to say with this metaphor about the Kingdom of God?

If you are planning to make some prepared mustard or possibly can some pickles, you might want to raise mustard for the seeds. If you like greens, you might want to raise mustard. But you certainly don't want to raise it among other vegetables. It is good for the birds. But pity the poor farmer. He doesn't want to deal with those weeds, and he certainly doesn't want to deal with those infernal birds that eat his crops and devour his good seed. So why did Jesus compare the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed?

Much of the land in Jesus time had been taken over by a domination system that made slaves of landowners who could not pay their debts. They had become impoverished by the high taxes imposed by the Romans and their Jewish Client Kings. The poor in Galilee were looking for a messiah king to overthrow the domination system. They were looking for a huge event. What does Jesus do? He compares the kingdom of God to one tiny mustard seed. What a letdown!

But, Wait a minute. That tiny mustard seed becomes a large shrub. It bears many seeds. The birds eat the seeds and spread them throughout the fields, wreaking havoc with the rich landowners. So Jesus brings in his kingdom with a mustard seed. A tiny beginning that is pervasive in its power to turn things upside down. Yes, the poor are to become weeds and almost invisibly subvert the system that makes their life so miserable. Jesus presents an alternative to violent overthrow of the domination system. To become part of the kingdom we must become weeds.

Prayer: Gracious God, we too live in a time when the system is systematically destroying the poor. If we take the words of Jesus seriously, we must cast our lot with the poor. Give us the courage to become weeds so that your Kingdom may flourish. None of us has the power to single-handedly overthrow an oppressive system. But we can begin by becoming a mustard seed. Lord, let me become a mustard seed in your new kingdom. Amen

- Copyright © September 27, 2003 by Jay D Weaver