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.”
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.
Jesus continues on with the farming analogies in this scripture passage. For the first time, the Kingdom of God that has been mentioned twice before is being described. In chapter 1, Mark tells us that the people are to repent for the Kingdom of God is near. When Jesus explains the parable of the soils, he says the secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to them. But this is the firs time that phrase is in anyway defined. The word for kingdom means more properly rule or reign, so Jesus is telling his disciples what the world ought to be and will be like when God is at the center of people's hearts.
The rule of God is like a man scattering seed. The soil when seeded does its work without the continuing effort of the farmer, whether the planter sleeps or wakes, the seed will sprout and grow on its own. Once planted, the mystery begins that culminates in the harvest. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that they are responsible for the planting and reaping but the mystery that happens in people's hearts between is God at work.
The next image is of the mustard seed. It is best if we keep our traditional understanding of this parable (and for that matter Matthew and Luke's telling of it) at arm's length. We usually see this as a triumphalist parable. From small beginnings comes great results is what we have always been taught about this story. Of course what we have seen in Mark so far has been anything but triumphant. While Jesus has been popularly acclaimed, the story has focused on the opposition to him and the failure of the disciples to understand. In the story so far, full of failures and failings, triumph seems like a note out of time.
But what was a mustard plant? That is what Mark calls it--a plant--it is only later tellers of the story who will declare it a tree. Mustard was a weed, not a condiment, to Jesus hearers. It had a bitter odor when it was broken. In fact, it might make a clearer picture if we refer to it with a modern analogue--stink weed.
Now he would have their attention. The Kingdom Of God is like stink weed. It is a scrubby tenacious plant that most people who like order want to eradicate. But even though the winds whip through it and it provides little shelter, it is enough for the birds to seek cover in it on the ground and on the lowermost branches. It is not much, but it is something.
This is no grand vision of marching to Zion, but the slight hope that God will provide us not with everything we might want, but with what we need. Jesus, we are told, continued to tell them a variety of parables. And if we remember back, Jesus has told them that those who are good soil will understand them. It is like a punch in the gut when Mark says, "he explained everything." The disciples still can't see the truth right in front of their eyes.
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