Cross Seed | The Kingdom of God is Like a Single Mustard Seed
First published at The Jericho Road, July 24, 2006
What is the cross like, we ask Jesus.
He replies, "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." (Gospel of Mark, 4.31-32)
Planting seed is human work; making it grow is God's.
The cross is planted small, like mustard seed, small self-sacrifice hidden in the soil of human hearts...a word of comfort given when we feel no comfort of our own, a helping hand reaches out when we have no strength in our muscles, water given when we will remain thirsty, truth spoken in belief even in the temptation to doubt. Like a mustard seed, impotent in its smallness, powerful in its mature growth.
The cross of Christ was blood spilt "for us", a small, seemingly empty, helpless act, that was nourished by God into a death that overcomes death, a Life of all life. In his weakness he carried our weakness, giving us strength, freedom from the burden of our guilt. He bore our sin to death, planted, hidden, apprently lost. And three days later...
Sow the cross and let it grow.
