Faith Small as a Mustard Seed

Mark 4:21-34

When I read this passage I immediately envisioned myself telling a parable story in Godly Play.  I have a passion for the children and the teaching methods of Godly Play at Central.   Pretend you are a youngster sitting on the floor, in a circle, in the Godly Play room.  Here’s how a parable story is introduced:  As I present the parable box, I note that it is the color gold, and gold is valuable.  This must mean it’s a parable, for parables are valuable and precious like gold.  The box also looks like a gift or a present.  Parables are presents that were given to us even before we were born, and they are very old.  The box has a lid which keeps the parable and its meaning inside.  Sometimes we don’t fully understand a parable the first time we open it, but we can go back to the parable time and time again until we do understand it. 

Jesus communicates God’s truth through parables to the people who are following him, but to his chosen disciples, he explains the secrets behind the stories.  He commands his disciples to share the secrets, but to consider carefully what they hear.  These truths are to be pondered, remembered and then acted on.  Jesus gives a promise to those who are faithful in doing this (Mark 4:24), saying, “The amount you act on these truths and share them, that amount I will share with you and even more.”  This is a promise that each of us can take to heart.

The parables of the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed speak to us of the Kingdom of God.  Specifically, the Kingdom of God is compared to something Jesus’ listeners can readily understand…a mustard seed.  In Jesus’ day this tiny seed, about the size of a pinhead, was known to produce a plant 10-12 feet in height.  Jesus uses this analogy to illustrate that God delights in small beginnings.

Written by Ginny Hughes