The Parables of Jesus: The kingdom of God is like ...

He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened." - Luke 13:18‭-‬21 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

"The kingdom of God, already present but not fully realized, is the exercise of God's sovereignty in the world toward the eventual redemption of all creation." - The Gospel Coalition

In this passage, Jesus is teaching some specific things about the kingdom. The context of this teaching comes from a previous situation. A woman has a debilitating disease. Jesus lays hands on her and heals her. But the ruler of the synagogue opposes him and rebukes Jesus because it was the Sabbath. Healing was considered work. People had preconceptions of what the kingdom looks like.

From minute and mundane to majestic

The kingdom starts as something small and inconsequential. Christianity was initially seen as a sect of Jews. Jesus picks a very common seed. He doesn't talk about an exotic plant. He speaks of birds nested in a tree. This is a common metaphor used to speak of great kingdoms that would shelter smaller, weaker kingdoms. Jesus could have said the cedars of great strength, but he picks such a mundane and unassuming thing.

So how does God's power work in this world? It is unimpressive. This is not a fireworks display. The change of people happens in community. Common everyday things is what God works through. We should be encouraged and heartened. God often works in us through common mundane things. But we don't see it, we don't have faith that God is here in our mundane moments. He is at work; convicting us of sin, growing our faith, and challenging us to walk closer to God.

Transformation by infiltration

Fermented dough, leaven, about a fistful worth, can affected fifty pounds of dough.  Faith in God is small, but it will change our lives, each and every part. Not only for ourselves, but it will also impact the world. A changed person will change the world.