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Characteristics of the Mustard Seed
Characteristics of
the Mustard Seed
In Jesus’ day, the mustard seed was considered a weak,
unclean thing because it could be combined in a mixture with other plants,
animals, and fibers. Such mixing was considered a violation of the Jewish rules
of order and cleanliness. The beauty of Jesus’ reference to the characteristics
of the mustard seed is that the kingdom comes from God’s rule through faith in
the lives of those once considered unclean and insignificant. Also, the kingdom
comes from a small beginning, one person. Yet, the person was God Himself in
the form of a human. So size did not limit power. We often think only of Jesus’
reference to the mustard seed as a reference to size. Indeed, He did put much
emphasis on the fact that even small faith can move mountains, but there is
even more to His message about the influence of the mustard seed as well as its
faith potential.
From Jesus and His 12 disciples arose the church, which
became a powerful force in the world, similar to the mustard seed’s tree that
could grow as high as 15 feet, large enough for birds to perch on. The mustard
seed has rapid growth. It can bring forth a great harvest. In like manner, if
we exercise faith in God even as small as that of a mustard seed, God can use
us insignificant, unclean people to bring about a great harvest. With Christ,
we are no longer unclean but a temple of the Holy Spirit, God Himself. The
early church did experience and still does phenomenal growth. It might be
important to add that mustard had been used for five centuries before Christ
for its healing properties. Jesus heals.
Jesus did not mean for us to have little faith, but faith
like that of a mustard seed which is unaffected by its surroundings. Jesus did
not champion little faith. It’s faith that is unwavering that moves mountains.
One knows that in gardens many varieties of vegetables will take on the
characteristics of other plants surrounding them. But the mustard seed is not
like that. A person can plant a mustard seed even on top of another seed, and
it will still be the same–mustard. Thus our faith should be like that of a
mustard seed. No matter what the conditions around us, our faith should stay
the same and stay focused on Jesus and His will, trusting that He is in
control.
The fact that the mustard seed’s tree became a reality lets
us know that God’s kingdom has come through Jesus and that His ultimate reign
is assured as well. So Mustard Seed Faith is not a contradiction but an earthly
object that Jesus elevated to the status of a spiritual symbol of a heavenly
reality. Jesus does the same for us. He takes us where we are and makes
something beautiful of our lives. Thank you, Jesus.
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