Day 05 of Journey Through Mark: A HUMBLE, SUPERNATURAL MUSTARD SHRUB

COMMENTARY In today’s reading, we encounter a collection of parables about the kingdom of God. A key to interpreting parables is recognizing their riddle-like nature. Parables aren’t always as simple as they might seem. In fact, Jesus indicates that they are meant to conceal as much as they reveal (Mark 4:11-12, 33-34). We see this in the parable of the mustard seed. On the surface, this parable teaches about the potential growth of Jesus’ kingdom. Just as the “smallest” of seeds can grow into the “largest of all garden plants,” so the kingdom of God has the potential to become great. This is an accurate interpretation, but there is another layer of meaning to this parable. Jesus doesn’t just say that a mustard seed can grow into a large garden plant. He adds that it has “such big branches that the birds can perch [literally: nest] in its shade” (Mark 4:32). This is a curious addition because birds generally don’t make nests in mustard shrubs, as His agrarian listeners would have known. Mustard shrubs are typically too weak and too hollow. This addition to the parable could be a hint about the supernatural character of this particular mustard shrub and therefore of the kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom would grow into something bigger and better than the laws of nature could ever predict. This addition could also provide a clue about the humility of the kingdom. Jesus is clearly playing off themes from Ezekiel 17, a messianic parable in the Old Testament. In that parable, God says He would plant a sprig that would one day grow into a cedar tree, a tree renowned for its stature. Ezekiel 17:23 says that the cedar would become so great that “birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.” The connections between Ezekiel 17 and the parable of the mustard seed are unmistakable. In both parables, seedlings become great plants that provide homes for birds. The main difference is that one is about a stately cedar tree, and the other is about a comparatively less impressive mustard shrub. Jesus therefore seems to be teaching a lesson not only about the growth of the kingdom but also about its character. His parable offers a corrective to those listening, both back then and today, who expect that the kingdom of God should reflect the pomp and pageantry of a cedar tree. The kingdom of God has power beyond what the laws of nature can explain. But unlike the kingdoms of this world, God’s kingdom comes with the humility of a modest mustard shrub. SCRIPTURE MARK 4:1–34 CHAPTER 4 THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER 1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” 9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” A LAMP ON A STAND 21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hid- den is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” THE PARABLE OF THE GROWING SEED 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED 30 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 of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” 33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. REFLECTION 1. Considering the political and religious climate of His time, why do you suppose Jesus taught “many things by parables” (Mark 4:2)? Why would He save His explanations about the parables for those who genuinely sought Him as opposed to those who blindly opposed Him (Mark 4:11-12, 34)? 2. In Mark 4:24, Jesus says, “Consider carefully what you hear.” How carefully do you consider Scripture? Do you just breeze through your reading, or do you reflect on its significance in your life? What would help you consider Jesus’ words more carefully?