Why the mustard seed?

“Jesus said: ‘What shall we say the kingdom of God is like? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grow and becomes the largest of all garden plants, which such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.'” (Mark 4:30-32)

Why Jesus did used a mustard seed for his object lesson? Well, even in his culture the mustard seed was from the mustard plant from which the condiment is made from. And how many of us don’t love to put mustard on our hot dogs? Mustard seeds are light or dark yellow, tiny and oval in shape.

The mustard seed in the Gospel accounts are often referred to Christ himself, his holy church, or his healing Gospel message of forgiveness of sins, grace, faith, and hope. Because of the mustard seed’s symbolic meaning, it was used widely in jewelry starting around the Victorian period.

During this period people wore mustard seed jewelry. Women wore mustard seed necklaces, brooches, bracelets, and charms. Men chose to wear a mustard seed amulet on a watch chain, a tie tack, or as cuff links. Today, we wear mustard seed necklace crosses or lapel pins as a witness of our Christian faith.

Why? Well, the divine mystery of the Kingdom of God is revealed in this tiny seed. Jesus’ main point of comparison is the contrast between the size of this seed and the size of the tree that comes from this seed.

This seed is such a tiny thing, almost invisible. Looking at it, you say “What could ever come of it? It’s so small. It’s almost nothing.” But just look at what it becomes. Indeed, God’s divine mysteries of the Kingdom of Christ Jesus are hidden in that tiny seed.

How tiny was that seed which was planted in the womb of the Virgin Mary? What could ever come of it? How small and insignificant. But look at what has come of it. From that holy seed, invisible to the naked eye, comes the Lord and Savior of the whole world.

From that tiny infant born in that small village of Bethlehem comes the Holy One, who bears the sin of the world, your sins and mine, and thus Jesus reconciles sinful humanity to his holy, holy, holy God: Father, Son, and Spirit. From that “tiniest of all seeds” comes the holy Christian apostolic church, called Christendom, numbering over 2.4 billion Christians around the world.

The Mustard Tree continues to grow wherever this Mustard Gospel seed is planted through his word, the Bible and his sacraments of baptism and communion, there God’s spirit is at work, producing members of God’s holy family from all over the world finding life and salvation within the Mustard Seed, Who declares: “You sins are forgiven! Depart in peace”

Thus, we joyfully sing: “Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball, to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him, Lord of all.”

As the mustard seed is planted in our hearts and minds so his gifts of faith, love, joy, and hope continue to grow within us and all the members of Christendom like: “the birds who perch in the mustard seed tree branches.”

Chopp is a clinical chaplain emeritus, MDiv, BCC, from Marshall