Title: TAKE-AWAYS FROM MUSTARD SEED AND YEAST

Focus: Take heart! God’s unstoppable rule of grace sustains and energizes the church in missions and ministries.

Function: To encourage the people with take-aways from Jesus’ story about the power of the mustard seed and yeast.

Text: Matthew 13:31-35

America stands for freedom. As a nation, we celebrate that freedom today—the Fourth of July. One of the freedoms we cherish is the freedom of religion and worship. But I think it’s fair to say that there is a strong perception today that freedom of religion—especially the Christian religion or faith is in jeopardy. In the last 25 years or so, many court cases have led to the curtailment of Christian practices and to the marginalization of the Christian faith.

It seems that more and more Americans—like their counterpart in Europe—prefer to do without God. Thus secularism—which involves a self-centered life lived apart from the Triune God—continues to march on, so it seems. Hostility toward the Christian faith also continues to rise. In Italy, for example, Italian schools were told this past week that displaying crucifixes in every class breaches religious rights.

The European Court of Human Rights also told the Italian government to pay a fine of 5,000 Euros to a woman who had complained that showing the cross violated her children’s freedom of religion. “That’s Italy,” you say. Well, it’s not very difficult to produce many examples of hostility toward the Christian faith here in America.

But today, we need to take heart. For the Lord Jesus teaches us by way of two stories that the power of God’s heavenly reign cannot be snuffed out here on earth. In fact, God’s unstoppable rule of grace sustains and energizes the church in missions and ministries. Take heart, therefore, and cherish Jesus’ take-aways from mustard seed and yeast.

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As we begin today a series of reflections on Jesus’ parables, we do well to note the special place or effects of Jesus’ stories. In the text, for example, we learn that Jesus’ use of stories is in harmony with the O.T. Scriptures. Jesus’ parables underscore the truthfulness of the Scriptures.

In Psalm 78:2, for example, we hear the personified voice of God spoken through the Psalmist saying, “O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old….” In his gospel, Matthew explains Jesus’ use of parables by pointing to Psalm 78:2. Thus Matthew links Jesus’ person and ministry with God himself. In fact, by speaking in parables the Lord Jesus suggests that it is his voice that we hear in Psalm 78. So Jesus underscores his claim that he indeed is the Son of God—truly divine as well as truly human.

Another reason why Jesus speaks in a story-telling manner is because stories invite people to explore obvious—and not so obvious—dynamics. When you crawl into stories you are likely to bump into surprises or observations that you have not seen or thought about before.

Take, for example, the two stories in Matthew 13. The one is about mustard seed; the other about yeast mixed into a large amount of flour. Both stories begin with the introductory phrase: “The kingdom of heaven is like….” This kind of introduction to the stories is a figure of speech, trying to clarify a thought or concept or teaching, in this case the teaching of God’s heavenly kingdom.

When Jesus began his earthly ministry, he began to preach the coming of God’s reign. John the Baptizer prepared the way for Jesus’ teaching saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” And Jesus ushered in that heavenly rule by demonstrating in his teachings and miracles that God’s rule of grace has come in our midst.

Jesus’ teachings and his miracles, however, led to much opposition. Lots of people did not see the hand of God at work in and through Jesus. They did not recognize God’s Savior and God’s move to reconcile the world to himself. Thus Jesus began to speak in parables, so that people may further explore God’s sovereign rule of grace in their lives.

In light of Scriptures, let it be clear that the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” stands for the gracious rule of God being established here on earth through Jesus, the Son of God. That kingdom is like a mustard seed or like yeast mixed in a large amount of flour.

Now the stories about the mustard seed and yeast appear together. They are told in one sitting, so it seems. And we do well to see them as a unit. That is, each story teaches us something about God’s gracious rule. And that “something” forms a thread that holds the two stories together.

For example, the mustard seed is very small—no more than 3 millimeters in diameter. The surprising thing about the tiny mustard seed is that it can produce a large tree or shrub growing ten feet in height. Its branches are strong enough to function as perches for birds.

As Jesus draws us into that story of the mustard seed, he confronts us with the mustard seed’s power to expand and grow into a dominant tree or shrub. Jesus leads us from a seed of 3 mm in diameters to a tree of 10 feet high. God’s heavenly rule of grace is like that. Jesus’ followers may seem small in numbers, but don’t underestimate the power of God in them and through them. Jesus’ mission on earth may seem like a feeble attempt to draw attention to himself, but don’t be fooled. The influence of Jesus is expansive—like the concentric circles of a rock plunging into a lake, causing ever-widening circles of small waves and ripples. You can’t stop God’s reign in Christ from ever-widening and expanding its sphere of influence here on earth.

This thread of God’s expansive power appears in Jesus’ story about yeast as well. But in this story, the focus is not on expansion but on the inner, transformative power of God’s rule in our lives. Through biological and chemical actions (called fermentation) taking place as yeast is mixed with a batch of flour, the yeast works an inner transformation in the flour.

By itself flour may taste like sawdust but mixed with yeast that flour turns into dough that leads to delicious tasting bread. The yeast at work inside the flour or dough expands and flavors all kinds of breads. Thank God for yeast and its fermenting, inner power to transform flour into delicious bread.

The kingdom of heaven, says Jesus, is like yeast. God’s gracious rule on earth has an inner, transformative power that “sweetens” life, that brings the music of heaven—God’s love, God’s justice, God’s forgiveness and life—here on earth. Already today, we may taste the sweetness of God’s rule as we submit ourselves to God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

Thus we see the unifying factor in these two stories: there is God’s expansive, growing, unstoppable power or rule of grace; and that rule of grace has an inner, transformative power. That’s why I say: take heart! God’s unstoppable rule of grace sustains and energizes the church today in her missions and ministries.

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Jesus told us these stories more than 2000 years ago. Is there any truth and power to Jesus’ teaching? What are the take-aways for us today? Two things:

1. The expansion of the rule of God on earth is clearly visible in the spread of God’s Word and in the formation of the Christian church—the body of Christ. Just before Jesus assumed his throne in heaven and was crowned “Lord of lords and King of kings,” Jesus told his disciples, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

2000 years of history shows us where God’s rule has come, has been, or has taken hold. Yes, that same history also shows the opposition to God’s reign. That opposition shows its ugly heads in many forms and in many places. But 2000 years of opposition to the rule of God’s Word and Spirit has not stopped God’s rule from touching human lives and from transforming societies, cities and nations.

God’s unstoppable rule of grace in Christ Jesus sustains and energizes us in our missions and ministries—even, yes, especially in these challenging days.

2. Consider the inner power of God’s rule in the lives of individuals, and homes and even large segments of groups or countries.

a. Individuals: For example, think about the time before you were converted by God’s Spirit. What was life like then? What is it today? Spiritual death and sinful darkness and ignorance describe the unconverted life. But once our lives become infused or mixed with the gospel of Jesus Christ, new life appears.

Rebirth or regeneration leads to hope and spiritual energy. It leads to new perspectives, a new mind-set, a new creation. When the saving power of Jesus and God’s Word permeates our hearts and minds, we are never the same anymore.

That born-again, saving, sanctifying, life-giving power comes to all whom God has appointed and is calling today. Today, as you listen to Jesus’ stories about mustard seed and yeast, God quickens your soul and invites you to submit to his gracious influence or inner, transformative rule all throughout your life.

b. Units/groups: The inner power of God’s influence or rule in our lives also expresses itself in such places or units or groups such as in our homes: God’s rule of grace seeks to transform our relationships in marriage and in our families. When a husband and wife center their relationship on God’s Word and Spirit, God’s renewing power of love and wholeness will become evident. When children embrace the Lord Jesus by faith and parents form and shape their children with the rhythms and routines of Christian teachings, prayers and worship, God’s light and love will shine and come through in their lives.

And when Christian fellowships and small groups band together, encouraging each other to be shaped and held accountable by God’s Word, God’s transformative power will be experienced by them and others around them. Take heart! God’s unstoppable rule of grace will sustain and energize us in all our relationships.

c. Societies/Nations: God’s heavenly rule also shows itself in large societies and segments of nations. Take for example the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, established after Apartheid was abolished in the late 80s and early 90’s. Instead of practicing “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” approach, the new South African government under the leadership of President Mandella and arch bishop Tutu sought to deal with the injustices and evil practices related to Apartheid policies with principles of justice shaped by God’s Word.

They wanted to expose the truth; they sought confessions; they pleaded for contrite hearts and expressions of sorrow. And in that context, the new South African government averted tremendous bloodshed. They practiced forgiveness; they punished unrepentant evildoers, yes, but they also showed grace to those who expressed remorse.

Again, when Christian individuals, political leaders and civil servants such as judges and lawmakers make use of biblical principles and model godly conduct, our nation and society as a whole will experience a measure of shalom. The opposite also will happen. A nation without God and a life in opposition to God and his kingdom are sure recipes for moral decay and idolatry in numerous forms.

As citizens of heaven, however, let’s take heart of God’s unstoppable rule of grace. It will sustain and energize us in

our mission and ministries.

Yes, Lord! May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Now and always! Amen.