Mark 4:26-34    

 “What is the Kingdom of God?” to give us an idea of how this kingdom looks like, Jesus taught many parables about different things to compare it with. The Kingdom is like a pearl, a net, a seed, a treasure hidden in a field. It is like yeast hidden in three measures of flour, and in today’s Gospel the Kingdom is like when a man scatters seed on the ground.

According to Jesus, and because the examples he uses to describe the Kingdom, we can say that the Kingdom is here, and we can see it or find it in the simple things. In order to see it or to find it, we have to learn to look under our noses and off heavens. We have to learn to see it in the ordinary and not only the spectacular. We have to learn to experience it in the everyday life, like when we bake bread, or sow the land, or fish with a net. When we go to the garden and see a mustard plant.  

The kingdom is central in the whole New Testament. The first sermon we find in the New Testament was preached by John the Baptist and it is about the Kingdom, He said: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2).

The beginning of Jesus’ ministry was characterized by preaching the same message. (Matt. 4:17). “From then on, Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!’” And not only that, but Jesus also ended his ministry on earth the same way. “After He had suffered, says Acts 1:3, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them for 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” For the risen Christ, the Kingdom was central also.

Paul continued with this message, Acts 19:8 says, “Then he entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, engaging in discussion and trying to persuade them about the things related to the kingdom of God”.

James also spoke about the Kingdom, “Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5).

The kingdom of God for John, Jesus, Paul, and James was important, and does not mean that we will find it at the end-times or in the afterlife as many Christians believe, although it includes those places. For them, the Kingdom means any place or situation, any moment where the power of God is evident. Whenever His qualities are sown or displayed, God’s kingdom is present.

Why is the Kingdom of God so Important? Ken Hemphill, a Southern Baptist pastor and writer says, “In the kingdom of God, I have found something far superior to personal fulfillment. I have found the heart of God. I have found my reason for being here.”

This is what Jesus says this morning that the kingdom of God is like, – it is like a man scatters seed on the ground. Because of the culture where the Bible was written, we all know it uses an exclusive language. In today’s time we would say: The Kingdom of God is like when a man or a woman scatters seed on the ground. Luke in chapter 8, narrates the parable of the Farmer, and in verse 11, Jesus explained that the seed scattered in the field, or the ground is the Word of God; the Gospel of Jesus; the Word became flesh. Therefore, we can say that the Kingdom of God is like when a man, or a woman scatters the Gospel of Jesus. This takes us to another questions, what is the Gospel? What does it mean to scatter the Gospel? The Gospel for us Christians means, “the teaching or revelation of Christ.” To scatter the Gospel then, means, to share the teachings of Jesus and to reveal his presence.    

In the Book of Acts, we see how the Early Church; the first Christians, shared the Gospel to reveal Jesus to others and by doing it, they were being Kingdom, they brought the Kingdom nearby. First, they revealed Jesus by preaching with power. Chapter 2 describes Peter preaching the first and most effective sermon about Jesus after God poured out the Holy Spirit over them. Phillip in chapter 8 shared the Good News of Jesus with the eunuch, and in both cases the Kingdom came to those who listened. 

Second, they revealed Jesus by healing. In chapter 3, Peter and John healed the lame beggar, this was the first of many healings.

Third, they revealed Jesus with their teaching. Chapter 10 is about Peter sharing the message of Jesus with Cornelius, a Roman centurion; and it is also about the healing of relationship, because here we find for the first time a Jew entering the house of a Gentile.

Fourth, they revealed Jesus by doing social justice. Acts 6:1 says, “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” Here we see that they took care of those in need, and they did it with equality.

The result of these men and women scattering the Gospel is also narrated in Acts chapter 2: 42-47, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

This is what the kingdom of God is like, men and women scattering the Gospel with words and deeds and God doing great miracles among them.

Brothers and sisters what a great privilege we have, we can be kingdom, we can bring the Kingdom when we scatter healing among our fellow men and women.

We are Kingdom when we share hope with those who had lost it; when we ask and bring justice for the marginalized in our society, when we scatter the seed of peace. Because when we do that, we are revealing Jesus to others and God adds those who will be saved.     

  “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” What Jesus is telling us is: do your job, scatter the seed of the Gospel, and let me do my part, live as I did; do as I did and I will work in the hearts of those who see you, I will produce fruits, I will pick the harvest.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “When we see social relationships controlled everywhere by the principles which Jesus illustrated in life — trust, love, mercy, and altruism — then we shall know that the kingdom of God is here.”

Sisters and brothers what a great privilege! We can be Kingdom; we can bring the Kingdom nearby! We can make God’s Kingdom visible.

I will close with one more quote, John Wesley said, “Give me one hundred men who love only God with all their heart and hate only sin with all their heart and we will shake the gates of hell and bring in the kingdom of God in one generation.”

Let us be God’s Kingdom.