18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." 20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough."
HAPPY EASTER
We are here because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. We are here to celebrate Jesus' resurrection today.This is a special Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead.
Let's see this story in the context. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. (9:51). His death and suffering was waiting at Jerusalem.
Along the way, Jesus met many people and taught many things but mainly he spoke about the good news of the kingdom of God. (4:43) The phrase, the kingdom of God. is repeated 31 times in Luke (You can see more on this at: http://bible-theophilus.blogspot.com/2009/04/kingdom-of-god.html )
The central teaching of Jesus and Jesus' going to Jerusalem is not that he stops there. His intention was to bring his people to the kingdom of God.
Many are asking, "Where am I going? Am I going to a journey of no end? What shall we do after graduation?" I want to say that we are heading to the kingdom of God, made only possible by Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.
What is the kingdom of God? Can you explain this to your friends?
Jesus wanted to make sure that we understand the good news of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. It is so different from what we know. So Jesus gave us two examples. The kingdom of God is like:
1. A growing mustard seed.
2. the yeast in the dough that transforms the bread.
May God open our eyes to see and accept the good news of the kingdom of God.
1. The kingdom of God is like a growing mustard seed.
Look at verses 18-19 18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
Here Jesus is challenging us to see if we know the kingdom of God and can explain the kingdom of God to others. Jesus is the only person who can do so because he came from the kingdom of God.
What do you compare the kingdom of God to? Here Jesus knows our weaknesses. We are so much earth bound and all we can see is the kingdoms of the world. Jesus wants us to have the spiritual eyes to see God's kingdom. What is the kingdom of God like?
Is it like Panama, FL where many U of I students go for Spring break? No. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches. The mustard tree attains in Palestine a height of ten feet and is a favorite resort of linnets and finches.(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07176a.htm)
From this verses we can learn several attributes of the kingdom of God.
- It is small like a mustard seed.
- It has life.
- It grows to a tree
- Many birds come and eat and enjoy the tree
Let's look these attributes one by one.
First, it is small. The mustard seed is tiny. The kingdom of God looks very insignificant. For example, when Jesus was born, he was born as a baby in a manger. His birth is so insignificant. No one recognized his birth. On this earth, he lived in a poor country. He died the most shameful death hung between two known criminals. When he died all of his disciples ran away. When we look at the life of Jesus we do not see anything significant. Instead we want something else. The life of Jesus is small and insignificant like a mustard seed.
Second, even though it is small, the seed has life. But Jesus' life did not end in his death. He rose from the dead. When Jesus did not save himself and died for us, God raised him from the dead. We are so familiar with the present life that we do not know that our God is not the God of the dead but of the living. God raised Jesus from the grave.
When Jesus laid down his life for us, God accepted Jesus' life as a mustard seed falling to the ground. The life of Jesus has power. The kingdom of God is more than our present life. The kingdom of God triumphs over the power of death.
Third, Jesus grew and became a fruitful tree. Jesus did not become a savior over night. He came as a baby. He became a teenager like Andrew. Then he became a man. He started his ministry when he was 30. He died when he was 33. In his life, he chose twelve disciples and taught them. In one sense, the disciples really enjoyed Jesus' fruitful life. Jesus taught them them the word of God. Jesus quenched their thirst. Jesus helped them to see the good news of the kingdom of God.
Jesus' life did not stop at his death.. After his resurrection, he appeared to his disciples and taught the Bible more until their eyes were open to see who Jesus is. Indeed Jesus' life is compared to a small mustard seed that grew to be a big fruit tree.
We are in the world where we value the big things. The big shark eats the small fish. We want to be strong and well fed. But Jesus showed us that in the kigndom of God it is not like that. When I moved into my house, I noticed that I had so many closets. I wondered how can we fill all these spacious closets. In a matter of time they filled up so quickly. I want more space. I want a better house. I want a bigger car. My jeep is so small.
I am so earth bound that I do not value the good news of the kingdom of God. I sing the Lord's prayer every day. "Your kingdom come." In some way, I want my kingdom to come. I do not value the mustard seed but I value a big pumpkin seed.
But Jesus showed us what it means to have God's perspective. Jesus' life is compared to a mustard seed. He died but God raised him. His death opened the door for us to come to the kingdom of God. Many benefited from Jesus' life.
Jesus came and died so that he can bring us to his kingdom. As we look at the Bible,
- the Bible begins in the kingdom of God. Originally we lived in God's garden which is the kingdom of God. (Gen 2)
- It ends in the kingdom of God (Rev)
- Because of our sins, we cannot live in God's kingdom. We see all the messes created when we live outside of the kingdom of God. we cannot have real and authentic relationship with God and men.
- God is creating a new kingdom purchased by the blood of Jesus. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead so that our sins can be forgiven and we can stand before the holy God.
- After he rose from the dead, Jesus went up to the kingdom of God
- Jesus is coming back to bring his kingdom to us
It is all the believers' aspiration to have God's kingdom come and his will be done.
We must pray that while we read the Bible, we must not miss the main point. Pray that God may open my heart to see the reality of the kingdom of God, made possible by his Son's death on the cross. We are made to live in the kingdom of God. Jesus knows our needs so he came to bring us to his kingdom.
I hear so much about the kingdom of God but do not value its message. This morning, I want everyone to hear the good news of the kingdom of God. As Jesus grew and became a tree, we too have hope to be like Jesus. Even a small thing that we do for Jesus, our God does not reject us.
When we follow Jesus we have hope to be like a tree. As Jesus shared his fruit with us, we, too, can share the fruit with many birds of the air. They can come and taste the sweet fruit that we bear when we follow Jesus.
When we live in the kingdom of God we share the fruit of our labor and others benefit. Our life is not only for us but for others as well.
We bear the fruit and many birds of the air find its shelter and find something to eat. We are the first beneficiary of Jesus' death and resurrection. In Jesus we find our shelter. In Jesus we enjoy something to eat. In Jesus we share with others what we have.
2. The kingdom of God is like the transforming yeast
Look at verse 20. 20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Again Jesus asked us to describe the kingdom of God.
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough. The kingdom of God leads to changed lives through faith in our Lord Jesus.
This verse gives us hope. When we meet Jesus and accept him he can transform us. It is like yeast. it works all through the dough. Please note the phrase all through the dough. All is everything. Every aspect of your life.
The kingdom of God changes everything. The good news of the kingdom of God is meant to give us perspective and transform all things. Who Jesus is (a mustard seed) and what he has done (died for our sins and rose from the dead) provides both the motive and the means to true Christian life.
As Tim Keller said, "The good news of the kingdom of God is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving."
We try to pretend that we are all put together well. We pretend that we have no issues. Because we do not know the good news of the kingdom of God, we work night and day without any rest because we do not know the good news of the kingdom of God.
The good news of the kingdom of God frees us from our fear of not ever being changed. It works slowly and steadily and transforms lives like the yeast working through the dough.
The good news of the kingdom of God bears fruit specifically into the real life of the people. For example, Jerry Park was stressed out due to his demanding research. He had no joy when he came to our re-Life conference. but the words of God came to him and he was changed. The kingdom of God drove out fears and brought much joy.
I know some are struggling with various things such as bitterness and addictions of various kinds but the good news of the kingdom of God which is Jesus going to Jerusalem and dying on the cross and rising from the dead transforms us and is changing us like the yeast working through the whole dough. It simply means admitting what the Bible says about us; we are fallen people who desperately need God in our lives…every day. Christ in us and accepting Christ for our sins is our salvation.
If you do not believe me, please visit Dunkin Donuts and order your favorite donuts. Taste it and ask the owner if they put yeast in it. Of course they did. As we eat the bread, please have hope that your life will be transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We have hope to be like fluffy bread, aromatic and tasty so that many hungry people can come and enjoy the bread. God is making all things new (Rel 21:5). This is our hope. God will not do a patch job but the gospel of Jesus is working in you.
Let's summarize:
God created all things new, and they were good.
All things have fallen so that original goodness is lost and we are broken.
Jesus' death and resurrection makes it possible for all things to be renewed.
Eventually Jesus will return and make things eternally new.
We join in the Holy Spirit's work of growing us like a mustard tree and transforming us like yeast working through the whole dough. God will grow us and transform us in the image of our Lord Jesus.
Let's thank God for his transforming power through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This is our sure hope and solid foundation.
Let's look at our text.
18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." 20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough."
May God grant us faith to put our hope on the solid rock of Jesus and accept the good news of the kingdom of God.
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