“Through the Looking Glass” The Kingdom of Heaven as seen through the parables of Jesus
“For now we see through a glass…” – I Cor. 13:12
“Miracle-Gro”
The Growing Seed & The Mustard Seed – Mark 4:26-34
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 GROWTH OF GOD’S KINGDOM SPANS HUMAN HISTORY.
FROM CREATION THROUGH ETERNITY
GENESIS: “YOU WILL STRIKE HIS HEEL AND HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD”
FLOOD & BLOOD…
ABRAHAM COVENANT
SACRIFICES OF JUDAISM
JESUS: SHOOT FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE (stalk, head, kernel)
CROSS’ CROSSBEAMS TO PAST AND INTO FUTURE (harvest)
“Since before creation”
THE GROWTH OF GOD’S KINGDOM SPAWNS HUMAN HEARTS.
REMEMBER… THIS IS “GOOD EARTH” OF LAST WEEK (GOOD SOIL)
NEXT WEEK: MOTHER’S DAY (WEEDS GROW, TOO!)
“…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…”
FLESH GIVES BIRTH TO FLESH… SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT.
WE WHO WATER AND PLANT ARE NOTHING… ONLY GOD WHO CAUSES THINGS TO
GROW.
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.
THE GROWTH OF GOD’S KINGDOM MULTIPLIES EXPONENTIALLY.
“EACH ONE REACH ONE WHO REACHES ONE EACH YEAR”
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – #Jesus@matthew11.15