30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The final parable Mark mentions is the parable of the mustard seed. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to the small-seeded plant that grows into a large garden plant. Because of all the opposition faced, the kingdom would start out small but would grow large in time as it spreads to a worldwide reach. The birds of the air are likely evil influences that remain ever-present as the kingdom expands. The birds are the ones that eat the seed that doesn’t get to take root (Mark 4:4) and throughout the New Testament, we are warned that false teachers will arise within the church. We must be careful to ensure we are grounded in truth because the church will not be pure until Jesus returns and separates the wheat from the tares (Mat 13:24-30).
When Jesus had finished teaching that day He headed across the sea with the disciples. A windstorm came up and got so large and severe that the boats were filling with water. Meanwhile, Jesus slept on a cushion in the stern of the boat. The disciples were afraid because they thought they were going to die. Jesus was able to sleep because He knew that the Father was in control of when He was going to die. When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and told the sea to be calm—and it was immediately calm. He then asked the disciples why they were afraid and didn’t have faith. They were filled with greater fear because, while they knew that Jesus was the Messiah, they hadn’t yet come to recognise that He was God in the flesh.
Jesus had taught the crowds through parables and the disciples with clear explanations. Now He was teaching them through life experience. We need to apply what we read in God’s word into our everyday life to see that God is real and active in our lives. When we apply God’s truth to how we live our faith will grow. The more you trust God, the more you will see how trustworthy He is. What do you need to take God at his word for today?