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When Jesus tells the parables of the Kingdom of God in Mark 4, He is foretelling the future. He is making a prophecy. The best indication of whether someone is truly a prophet is whether their prophecies come true.
Let’s look at Mark 4:30-32:
Again, Jesus said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” —Mark 4:30-32
Jesus is saying that His Kingdom will start small but grow to be the biggest movement in human history. It will grow so large that people will take shelter in this Kingdom. They will be nourished and protected. They will find rest and peace. Jesus is telling the disciples—prophesying—what to expect in the future.
Scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was written between 55 and 65 AD. That is more than 1,950 years ago.
If we were to count all the people who call Jesus Christ their Savior today—and all the churches they belong to—Christianity forms the single largest movement the world has ever seen. Of course, the visible Church does not perfectly correspond to the Kingdom. Yet it is evidence of the inevitable, irresistible, and unstoppable growth and flourishing of God’s Kingdom.
One Savior plus 12 disciples plus 2,000 years equals 2.4 billion Christians in the world today—the number of Muslims and Hindus combined. To put that in perspective, a recent National Geographic cover story described the typical human being alive today as 28 years old, male, Chinese, and Christian.
Jesus’ prediction recorded in Mark 4 is not a lucky guess. It is a godly prophecy. It confirms for us that Jesus Christ is who He says He is.
It’s been 2,000 years since Jesus lived, died, and was raised from the dead. The growth of the Body of Christ confirms His testimony and should serve as a great comfort to us when times seem unpredictable. We can trust Jesus! He knows the beginning and the end. If we belong to Him, we will dwell safely in His everlasting arms.