“Small Beginnings”
Mark 4:26-34
I read this week about a man who likes to read fairy tales to his two young
sons at night. The man has quite the sense of humor and often times ad-libs parts
of the stories just for fun. One day his youngest son was sitting in his first-grade
class as the teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to gather building materials for his home.
She said, “And so the pig went up to the man with a wheelbarrow full of
straw and said, ‘Pardon me sir, but might I have some of that straw to build my
house with?’”
Then the teacher asked the class, “And what do you think the man said?”
This guy’s little boy raised his hand and said, “I know! I know! He said, ‘Holy
smokes! A talking pig!” The teacher was unable to teach for the next ten minutes.
I think we can all agree that children can say the most unexpected things.
Last Sunday we talked about how Jesus wasn’t what the people of His day
expected at all and some of the things that came from Jesus’s mouth were
unexpected as well.
In my first appointment we designed some church tee-shirts as a little
money-making project. On the back of the shirt was a Jesus Fish and these words:“Jesus told fish stories.”
Jesus adopted His teaching methods to His audience’s ability and desire to
understand. He didn’t speak in parables to confuse people but to challenge sincere seekers to discover the true meaning of His words. Much of His teaching was against hypocrisy and impure motives, characteristics of the religious leaders who wanted Him dead. Had Jesus consistently spoken against the leaders directly, His public ministry would have ended way too early. Those who listened carefully and with an open mind, however, knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. In John’s Gospel Jesus is quoted as saying, “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching” (John 14:24).
In our Gospel Reading this morning Jesus is pointing out how vegetables
grow. The farmer does his thing, but the growth happens when he’s asleep. In fact, the farmer can neglect things, and growth still happens. There is some generative power in the seed, some impulse of life, that you can’t see when you look at a seed, and it’s sprouting you certainly can’t see as it’s underground, hidden, or it doesn’t sprout at all. God gives the growth. The kingdom involves some effort, some labor, some attentiveness. But the growth is from God, while the farmer takes a nap or does his other chores.
This is how God’s present creation works: night and day—seedtime and
harvest—the cycle of the day and the year mirroring one another with God’s
promised stable order.
A third grader taught the teacher an important truth: The teacher asked,
“How many great people were born in our city?” “None,” replied the pupil. “There
were no great people born. They were born babies who became great people.”
Such as the babies that we have already recognized here this morning.
Greatness may not be within the reach of every one of us, but growth is. We
are each capable of being a more mature person today than we were yesterday,
and tomorrow can find us further along than we are today. And when we forget
this vital truth, we lose sight of the essential meaning of life and the sources of its
deepest fulfillment.
If a seed in its dark, restless journey underground is not content until it
breaks trough the mountain of soil and strains ever higher toward the sunlight, will
we human beings be content to have our faith remain simply a seed full of
potential.
The emphasis of this parable—which is found only here in Mark’s Gospel—is
on “the need of patience on the part of the Christian worker.” We must give time
for the seed that is sown to issue in conversion and Christian living in the case of
the hearer.
I’ve had the great fortune to be able to return to my early appointments and
see the produce from seeds that I planted. I’ve had folks come up to me to say that they were attending church every Sunday because of me. I try to deter them in their thinking because God should be the reason that they attend church. I’ve also seen and celebrated some building projects or improvements that I worked hard to get started when I was there.
President Ronald Reagan used to tell a story about a very timid little man
who ventured into a biker bar. The little man cleared his throat nervously and asked, “Which of you gentlemen owns a black Pit Bull which is chained outside to a parking meter?”
A giant of a man, wearing biker gear, turned slowly on his stool, looked down
on the quivering little man and snarled, “It’s my dog. Why?”
“Well sir,” squeaked the little man, obviously very nervous, “I believe my dog
just killed your Pit Bull.” “What?” roared the big man in disbelief. “What kind of
dog do you have?”
The little man answered nervously, “It’s a small Pekinese.” “that’s
ridiculous!” roared the biker, “How could your Pekinese kill my Pit Bull?”
The little man, swallowing hard, said, “It appears it got caught in his throat.”
Our theme for today is the power of little things.
The story of the mustard seed is a warning against looking down on the small
beginnings—especially of Jesus’ Galilean ministry which started with just
twelve—but which God used for great things. It can function as a warning too,
against looking down on small beginnings—two or three people meeting to plan
and pray that others today might herald the start of some great new initiative that
God has in mind.
The mustard seed is the smallest at the start—but in the end grows into a
large shrub. That’s Jesus’ picture of what God’s way of working—God’s way of
growing the kingdom looks like.
A Texan was visiting a friend who was a small Iowa farmer. “Is this all the
land you have?” he asked. “Where I come from, I can get in my car at 6:00 am and drive all day and never see the end of my land.” “Is that right?” said the Iowa
farmer. “I used to have a car like that too.”
Big is not necessarily beautiful. Small can be beautiful. Cooperation with God
is the key, whether we are in small towns or big cities; working smaller jobs or
larger ones; using fewer gifts or having a large arsenal from which to draw.
Cooperation with God in Christ is the key.
Deo Volente – Latin for “If the Lord wills” (Some use this to end their letters)
It was generally expected that the messianic kingdom would be inaugurated
in a display of glory and power that would shake the world. This parable means
that it would—instead—be unspectacular: a very small beginning, and slow, long
growth, moving quietly on to the day of harvest. It also signifies that the Gospel
has a power of its own.
Jesus used this parable to explain that although Christianity had very small
beginnings, it would grow into a worldwide community of believers. When you
feel alone in your stand for Christ, realize that God has faithful followers in every
part of the world. Your faith, no matter how small, can join with that of others to
accomplish great things.
Kevin and Gayla Shaw were members of my last church. I had the great
fortune to lead all four of their children to Jesus and their public profession of
faith. Kevin is a farmer and together they formed a company called “Gayla’s Grits.”
They produce 100% natural grits that are gluten free. The corn they use is grown
on their farm with heirloom seeds. The first time I was at the farm I was amazed at
the stand of corn they were growing. The thing that stood out to me was the
uniformity of the crops. Every stalk of corn was the same size or height. Kevin said this was important, especially at harvest time.
My friends, I believe that’s important for us as Christians as well, the
uniformity of the crop. When we stand together, it’s easier for Jesus at harvest
time.
An old story tells of two men climbing a mountain. The one promises the
other, who is feeling down and depressed, that it will be worth the effort. Looking
forward to the amazing destination, the latter climbs with his friend as they talk
and spend time together. When they reach the top, the second man looks around
wondering what all the fuss was about. The view is great, but nothing spectacular
is waiting at the pinnacle. His friend then explains to him that the journey was not
about the destination, but about the climb, their time together, their bonding,
their talking, and his healing.
Our job is not to reach a destination in which we have reached our
independent goals, no longer need God, or no longer have a sacred purpose to
pursue. Our job as God’s people is to be in a perpetual and life-long process of
nurturing, keeping, seeding, and sowing the covenant of God, even as God continues to nurture and grow us as people. The purpose is in the process, not the destination.
Even in our faith, we too often set our sights upon heaven and what will
happen after death. But in so doing, we can forget that the most important job we
have is what we do on the way, in our lives, in our ministry and mission, in our
relationship with God, in our proclamation of the gospel to others, to whom we
can give the gift of life, nourishment, salvation, and hope.
Folks, we cannot feed the world if WE do not plant any fields!
Even what we believe to be the smallest of efforts, or the smallest acts of
faith and evangelism, may be planting unknown roots into new places, new hearts
and minds. It is not for us to measure by our measuring sticks of success. It is not
for us to strategize and make into goals for getting people into our buildings and pews. It is not for us to meter out or to make our own as though a deed or accomplishment will make us better or “achieve” a desired result. Our discipleship is not about results. Of that Jesus is clear.
Our discipleship is about planting the seeds and giving the growth to God!
The joy is not the destination. The joy comes through the walk.
Deo Volente!
Thanks be to God!
Eastman First Methodist Church 