THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

66What is the kingdom of God like? That is the question Jesus asks of us this morning. It isimportant to Jesus because the kingdom of God is the central message He preaches. But what is akingdom? Simply it is the land and people under the rule of a king or queen. But it is more thansimply about who is in charge, it is about who defines what life is like within the kingdom.In order to help His disciples understand, Jesus shares two brief parables: the parables ofthe Mustard Seed and of the Yeast (Leaven). This is a comparison driving home one or twopoints rather than an allegory in which each element in one scene fits an element in the other.But what are the points of comparison?“Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compareit to?’” (13:18)like?When the Divine Order breaks into the chaos of human existence, what do things lookLIKE A MUSTARD SEED (13:19)What does Jesus say the kingdom of God is like?“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grewand became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches" (13:19).A mustard seed was considered by the Jews to be the smallest of seeds (Mt 13:31-33; Mk4:30-32). You probably remember that Jesus used the mustard seed to describe the tiniest amountof faith (17:6). Mustard is usually identified as black mustard, which grows to a shrub about fourfeet high, but occasionally can grow to fifteen feet high and would qualify as a tree. Threevarieties of mustard were grown in gardens because of their aromatic seeds. Although Jesusmentions the growth, the main emphasis seems to be on the beginning (very small) and the end(very large).Small beginnings, large endings!But there's one more detail to consider:Birds Perching in Its Branches (13:19)"The birds of the air perched in its branches" (13:19).