Jesus The Gardener

“God meant man to live in a garden; sin has sent him to the slums.”
– Vishal Mangalwadi

“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”
– Martin Luther

“Mack had expected a perfectly manicured and ordered English garden. This was not that! It was chaos in color. His eyes tried unsuccessfully to find some order in this blatant disregard for certainty. Dazzling sprays of flowers were blasted through patches of randomly planted vegetables and herbs, vegetation the likes of which Mack had never seen. It was confusing, stunning, and incredibly beautiful. It was all wonderfully bewildering and intoxicating.”
– Will P Young – The Shack

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you do not want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you do not have a soul.”
– Thomas Moore

In “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World”, author Peter Wohlleben opens our eyes to the remarkable capabilities of trees. He reveals that trees are not solitary entities but rather part of a complex and interconnected community. Through his engaging narrative, Wohlleben explains how trees communicate with each other, support one another in times of need, and even feel pain. The book delves into the secret life of forests, uncovering the intricacies of how trees form a ‘wood wide web’, which they use to share nutrients and information, much like a family. This underlines the idea that every tree, much like every human, is part of a larger, interdependent community. This concept aligns beautifully with the role of Jesus as the gardener, nurturing and tending to us, encouraging growth and fostering connections between us and Him and amongst ourselves, illustrating the divine craftsmanship in both the natural world and human relationships. [1]

Like trees, we, too, endure parasites, infections, storms, and droughts, drawing strength from the Sun and our connection with our fellow trees. We do not merely survive; we flourish. For in our branches, much like the majestic trees, nestles a world teeming with life—birds, insects, and myriad creatures—finding sanctuary amongst us. This rich tapestry of co-existence and cooperation depends not just on our survival but on our thriving, echoing the divine interplay of life and sustenance in nature’s grand design (Psalm 1:3; Jer. 17:8; Matt. 7:17-20; Isa. 61:3; Ps. 92:12-14; Ezek. 47:12).

Eden, A Sacred Physical & Spiritual Temple

The story between God and man begins and ends in a garden (Gen. 1-3; Rev. 21-22).

The word “Eden” is so rich in meaning that it cannot be translated: It refers to a moment, a spot, a glorious presence, a pleasant moment or atmosphere, and an open door. The Bible begins with humans living in Eden permanently and forever, a perfect place of peace and togetherness. But because we didn’t follow God’s rules, choosing our own way instead, we lost the chance to always be in that beautiful place. The Bible continues to tell of people who got a taste of what Eden was like in all kinds of miraculous, spiritual experiences with God. These experiences change them, and they start working to make the world around them more like Eden again. Finally, Jesus redeemed and reconciled us perfectly with the Father so that Eden, Heaven, now resides within us (Luke 17:21). Our lives bearing fruit in and out of season, like Eden (John 15:16). Even our mere presence a sweet smelling aroma (2 Corinthians 2:15).

Eden: Sanctuary, delight, pleasure, paradise, luxury, abundance.

EDEN: A masculine noun referring to a luxury, a pleasure, a delight. Used in the plural, it means luxury, luxurious things (2 Sam. 1:24); figuratively, of the many splendid things and enjoyments God gives (Ps. 36:8). It depicts the many enjoyments and pleasurable delights Israel had enjoyed previously (Jer. 51:34). A feminine noun indicating sexual delight, ecstasy. It refers to the enjoyment of intimate love with one’s spouse, which in context implies the ability to become pregnant (Gen. 18:12). To create pleasure and beauty, one needs to remix elements and resources, enclose and subdue them. Like baking a cake, planting a field, framing art, composing a song, or writing a book.

Paradoxically, the garden is NOT always only beautiful and esoteric. Jesus prayed in a garden before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:39); and Jesus was crucified near a garden (John 19:41).“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” He was buried in a garden tomb (Matt. 27: 57-60). The garden-Eden-kind-of-life calls us to resist the temptations of the serpent, which threaten to drag us down into anger, resentment, bitterness, malevolence, revenge, and darkness. Instead, it urges us to rise above these challenges and strive toward God, embracing holiness, righteousness, truth, beauty, and goodness.

This is how Eden is recreated through us: in the midst of tragedy and loss, we find hope, faith, and meaning. We write songs, poems, and books. We create sculptures, paintings, and art. Something beautiful arises from the ashes!

Interestingly, this is also why most Cathedrals have a forest theme in their rising columns. The columns are supposed to point people upward but also offer a canopy of protection against the evil outside. Most gothic churches show all kinds of demonic figures on the outside of the building.

Jesus, the Gardener of mankind

Jesus treats every human being like a gardener would a potential plant or tree. “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory…” (Matt. 12:20). Jesus sees each person as an individual plant or tree. He treats each one differently:

He treats the Samaritan woman like a true plant expert and sees that she is hungry for water.
With Nicodemus, the theologian, Jesus sees that he needs to be transplanted into new soil or even grafted onto a new rootstock.
The rich young man must first break free from the branch where he has become entangled, but he sees no chance.
For many, Jesus was the “miracle cure”, which immediately came to heal a nagging pain and ailment. Others were under the power of a “parasite plant and fungus” and had to be freed.
He heals the lepers who were quarantined from the dreaded disease and helps them reunite with their people.

Agricultural Parables

Jesus was familiar with Agriculture and regularly expanded his stories around examples of agriculture. Knowing that His audience would be familiar with His examples, He uses parables of:

The sower (Matt. 13:1–23).
The wheat and the chaff: (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43).
The mustard seed: (Matt. 13:31–32).
The secret treasure in the field: (Matt. 13:44).

Jesus also often reminds us that we must bear fruit like a healthy tree, that no two different types of fruit can grow from one tree, and that we must go and win souls and gather the harvest. He said, “Behold, the harvest is already white” (John 4:35).

Other NT authors also make references to agriculture:

Jordan B. Peterson has expressed significant appreciation for farmers, particularly in the context of recent farmer protests in Europe. He discusses the crucial role of farmers in maintaining food security and the tradition of farming, highlighting the adverse effects of certain governmental policies on agriculture. Peterson stresses that farmers are integral in terms of agricultural productivity, preserving cultural heritage, and ensuring economic stability within societies. Farmers are practical.

He has voiced concerns about green policies that may be impractical and threaten the viability of traditional farming. For a more detailed discussion on this topic, you might explore episodes like “The Revolution of German Farmers” and “Dutch Farmers: Canaries in the Globalist Coal Mine” on the Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, which explores these issues extensively (Podchaser).

We can learn much from farmers about LIFE:

Sow and reap principle (Gal. 6:7–10; Rom. 8:1-5).
God gives seed to the sower (2 Cor. 9:6-10).
Do not cover the mouth of an ox where he works (Deut. 5:24).
How an Olive Tree Grows (Rom. 11:17–24).
He encourages us to look at the farmer and learn from him. Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruits of their labour (2 Tim. 2:6 NIV).
James refers to the farmer who waits patiently and faithfully for the harvest (James 5:7).

God Personifies Himself as a Farmer

The imagery of God as a vinedresser and Jesus as the true vine provides a rich metaphor for understanding the nurturing and sustaining relationship between God, Jesus, and believers. In John 15:1, Jesus states, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” This passage emphasizes the Father’s role in tending and caring for the vineyard, ensuring that every branch that bears fruit is pruned so that it may bear even more fruit (John 15:2). This metaphor can be extended to illustrate how believers, as branches of the vine, are nurtured and cultivated under the watchful eye of God to grow and produce spiritual fruit.

Similarly, Jesus, as the shepherd, relates to His protective and guiding role over His followers. In John 10:11, Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” This portrayal highlights the depth of care and dedication Jesus has towards His followers, akin to a shepherd who not only tends but also sacrifices for the safety and well-being of his sheep.

The daily life of a farmer was intertwined with the temple calendar’s three most important festivals. Thus, sacred temple life was intertwined with daily agricultural cycles.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Passover is at the beginning of the grain harvest
The Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of Pentecost
The Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Gratitude) was held towards the end and completion of the grain harvest – 50 days later when the first fruits of the wheat harvest were gathered.

The Garden Is A Temple

It is interesting that in the statement in Revelation 21:1: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” John sees a new city, nothing of what the new heaven and earth looks like is explained. The reference in Isaiah to a new heaven and earth also focuses on a new city of Jerusalem: “I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered and they will not come to mind. But rejoice and be glad forever in what I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem to rejoice, and her people to rejoice.”

The biblical narrative is built around a garden diagram, a place of safety, splendour, glory, peace, provision, care, forgiveness, and life inside a fenced enclosure. Distance, removal, desert, aridity, hunger and death are seen as there outside. Noah and the ark, the people travelling to the Promised Land, the Tabernacle and the temple have the same implication throughout – when you obey the Lord and do what He says, you are inside. Because of disobedience and rebellion, you remain outside.

It is clear that since the creation and formation of man, God has wanted to exist in harmony and in the same divine oneness with him, which also exists in the Godhead. God does not desire domination or slavish robot obedience. Therefore, He created us in His image, with the ability to decide and create, just like God.

“Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…” (Gen. 3:22). “And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” (Gen. 11:6)

Without Christ, human unity is self-centred. Thus, there can be no unity without Christ being central (Eph. 4:1-5). When Jesus announces that His kingdom has come near, He declares that God’s garden and the habitat for which we were created came near and became accessible again.

The Lord God demonstrates the garden, heaven, kingdom, temple, promised land and the ark by healing the sick, freeing people under the power of Satan, and preaching the message of the good news.

Restoration From Relationship Breach

1st Relationship Break With God: They heard the Lord God walking in the garden by the time the evening wind came, and the man and his wife hid from the Lord God among the garden’s trees. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Spirit of alienation.

2nd relationship breakdown – with ourselves: And the man answered, “I heard You walking in the garden, and I was afraid, for I was naked. Then I hid.” The Lord God then asked, “How did you know that you were naked?” Fear and Shame.

3rd Relationship Breach – with our fellow human beings: The man replied, “The woman whom You gave me to help me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done now?” and she said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Apology, Justification, and Blaming.

4th Relationship breaks between creation and nature: That is why the Lord God sent man away from the Garden of Eden to cultivate the earth from which he was made. Separation, difficulty, slavery, disharmony, exploitation.

Jesus is our EDEN restored

The eight “I am” statements also clearly point to Jesus as the gardener:

1. I am the Door (John 10:7, 9, 11, 14)

Adam and Eve were ejected from the garden, and access was denied (Gen. 3:24). Jesus became the access to God’s garden. So that we can live united with Him again (Heb. 10:19).

2. The Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

Jesus’ life is the garden where we can live in full harmony with God, ourselves, our neighbour and creation. Life in the garden was a way of life, the way. Jesus’ way of life indicates how we live in God’s garden; His intimacy with the Father (John 5:19-20, 30; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10, 24, 31; Matt. 26:39) and His revelation of the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13).

3. I am the Living Water (John 4:14, 26)

Water from Jacob’s well temporarily quenches man’s thirst. However, the living water Jesus gives satisfies forever (Matt. 5:6 – cf. Isa. 49:10; 55:1-3; 58:11; John 6:32; 48). In Rev. 22:1-2 we also read of a river, a metaphor often used in the Bible. The river that flows from the altar, and sanctuary, and trees that grow on its banks (Ezek. 47:12).

4. Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)

Death came as part of man’s punishment and also ejected from the garden from a harmonious union with God (Gen 6:3; Ps. 90:10). Jesus Christ gave His life that we might live forever (John 3:16; Matt. 25:46; John 4:14).

5. I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:14)

In the evening, the sheep are chased into a kraal-fenced area according to custom to protect them from thieves, thunderstorms, and wild animals. These shelters were usually caves or open shelters with walls of stone or branches. The shepherd then slept in the entrance. As the shepherd cared for every sheep, the Good Shepherd gave His life to His followers (Ezek. 34:23) who knew His voice. Anyone who wants to hurt His sheep must pass the only entrance where the Good Shepherd waits. Jesus is the entrance and the Good Shepherd. Jesus, as the shepherd, refers to God’s care for man. There was care, protection, and enough to eat in the garden. Mankind had no worries or anxiety!

6. True Vine (John 15:1, 6)

Jesus as the Vine refers to God’s calling and purpose of creation commissioned to man (Gen. 2:15). This imagery emphasizes that fertility in the Christian life springs from joy in Christ. Even though Jesus ascends, unity with His disciples is maintained. The vineyard is a well-known image from the Old Testament, where it refers to the believing people (Ps. 80:9–16; Isa. 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 19:10– 14; Hos. 10:1).

7. I am the Bread of Life (John 6:48)

Man ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And God forbade them to re-enter the garden, lest they should eat of the tree of life. (Gen. 2: 9; 3:17, 22, 24). We read again of the tree of life in Revelation (Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19). But the Bible also speaks of wisdom as the tree of life (Prov. 3:18, 11:30; 13:12; 15:4). So Jesus is now our daily bread (Matt. 4:4). Jesus here refers to Himself as the bread that came down from heaven, in contrast to the manna that the migrating Israelites gathered. The manna was good bread that could quench the physical hunger, but it was temporary. The people ate from it and were satiated by it for a day, but they had to get some of this bread to eat daily, which could not save them from death either. Jesus, who is much greater than Moses, offers Himself as spiritual bread. He satisfies us perfectly spiritually and thereby gives us eternal life.

8. I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)

God first created Light. Without light, there can be no life. Jesus is, therefore, the new creator. He determines the day, the seasons, and the tides of our lives. In Him, we were recreated and became new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). Light presupposes new life. “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20). “and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:24), “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” (Col. 3:10)

How Does God’s Garden Work?

1. SEEDS & ENCLOSURES

The Bible begins in a garden and ends in a garden city, and the in-between is full of stories of God’s encounter with humans in vineyards, orchards, gardens, mountains, fields, and forests. Take out the gardens (Eden, Gethsemane) and the mounts (Sinai, Hermon, Ararat, Nebo, Carmel, Olives, Zion), and you’ve cut the heart out of the Scriptures.

The word KHEN (חן) – usually translated as “grace” or “favour” – means “continuous outer wall or continuous barrier” – the same word for a tent shell or covering. And more so, in Ancient nomadic terms, the continuous wall formed by the greater camp comprised individual tents that collectively symbolized protection, family, and belonging. “Thus says Yahweh, The people who were left of the sword found KHEN in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” (Jeremiah 31:2)
When God made man, He strategically placed an enclosed garden. H1588. גַּן gan: A common noun meaning garden, enclosure. (Gen. 2:8-10, 15, 16; 3:1-3, 8, 10, 23, 24; Ezek. 36:35; Joel 2:3).

2. YOU CAN CHANGE THE SPOTS, BUT NOT A MAN’s NATURE

“For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” (Luk 6:44) This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “you have to born again” (Joh 3:2-5). DNA determines the outcome. Without regeneration, we cannot have all these projects to try to make man better. Dr Ado Krige, the legend and father of many successful rehab centres in SA, calls his centres regeneration centres. The first miracle of Jesus, wherein He regenerated the best wine out of water in a second, points to this. This is the core of the gospel! He is making us new creations. (2 Cor 5:17) The founding DNA of an organization determines the culture and success of that organization. Partnerships and strategic alliances only work if the values-DNA is inherently similar.

The Church is one of the most powerful social changes ever, thanks to Jesus. He brought together all sorts of people and turned them into a group known for being kind, humble, and eager for what’s right. They became peacemakers with pure hearts, tough enough to handle persecution and challenges. Their new way of living laid the foundation of Western civilisation. [5]

3. THE PEOPLE YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH DETERMINES YOU

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Mat 6:27-28) You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. Bill Johnson says: find your church, find your destiny. The lily flourishes because it is in the right habitat. It will not grow in a desert. So, each one of us is made for a relational habitat where we can grow. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” (1 Cor. 15:33)

4. NATURE IS RELATIONAL (INTERRELATED)

Everything in nature is connected and related to the other. Recently, Yellowstone National Park saw its ecosystem restored, which is what is called the trophic cascade effect, as wolves were reintroduced. You will not find mono-culture forests in nature. Although each species has its unique identity and purpose, it always functions within a specific ecosystem of interrelated harmony. Commercial farming is not sustainable because we purposefully create an imbalance in nature, which in turn requires us to use more and more chemical manipulation to achieve the same results.

In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Martin Luther-King

Jesus taught the parable of the wheat & tares to leave them until the end; then it is burned and destroyed (Mat 13:24-30). One of Christianity’s greatest mistakes throughout history is the notion that by separating oneself from nature, one becomes more holy. This self-imposed holiness does not have the strength to suppress evil desires. It is the holiness of the one that changes history! Like Daniel, Nehemiah, Ester & Mordechai. A hand full of salt makes one sick, but salt released in a soup gives it a taste. We are not from the world. Like Jesus, we are aliens, called to live sinless lives in a crooked generation.

Jesus unsettled the stringent religious culture of the Jews when He revealed that God’s favour, jubilee restoration, was for the Gentiles, too (Luke 4:16-30). You cannot have a Christian School or Christian building or entity. Neither the school nor the building can announce Jesus as Lord and their personal saviour. We seek that Headmasters and teachers be Christians so they can disciple their pupils to follow Jesus, too. What we create, how we do business, and what we produce causes delight (EDEN-effect) and invite people to a new lifestyle. Daniel could not label what he did in Babylon as a Hebrew, yet by asking permission to obey his dietary rules, his countenance and overall health surpassed the other captives.

5. SPIRITUAL POWER IS NOT IN NUMBERS BUT IN RELATIONAL INFLUENCE

Politicians seek numbers to leverage power and influence. This leads to great folly, as no one person ought to represent a group identity. People change their minds constantly. Why should I be determined and classified as a matter of association? “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened” (Mat 13:33). The kingdom’s power is in the power of the one. Real influence is being trusted and respected by Kings. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Matt 13:31; Luk 13:18) Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings (Zech 4:10 The Message)? A farmer understands that the quality of the seed determines the harvest. The parable of the sower also reveals that the outcome of the harvest was determined by the soil condition (heart), not the seed or the sower. Everything is grounded in healthy relationships – organisations, families, nations, and businesses thrive and survive because of strong relationships.

You do not build immunity in isolation and quarantine; getting dirty with the inhabitants makes it more effective to challenge counter-culture. But here is the MAIN issue: Jesus never sinned (Heb. 4:14; John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21). This is a very important truth!!

Salt does not work if it loses its saltiness. God desires our holiness in the midst of a sinful world! That’s the power of the church! We do not settle! We live spotless, blameless, dedicated, holy, and innocent lives in a broken, dirty world.

You overgrow a weak culture by planting a new, stronger one among it, and the stronger takes over the weaker. This is God’s way of gardening.

Consider, for example, how you change a lawn by introducing a stronger cultivar and planting it among the old. Eventually, the stronger cultivar overgrows the old, weaker variation.

6. STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED THE POWER OF ONE

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.” (Luk 13:6-9) Since the beginning, God strategically placed His send-ones in situations to liberate His people. Moses was strategically placed in a river to be found by the princess of Egypt. Nehemiah, Daniel, Esther, and the young slave girl who told Naman of a Prophet in Isreal were individuals who brought about change in human history through their personal holiness.

7. NATURE IS SELF-SUSTAINABLE

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know-how” (Mar 4:26-29). Many videos depict how nature would eventually take over all the constructions of man over time when man is removed from the earth. Nature does not need our intervention; we were called to cultivate and guard it (Gen 2:15).

When God does something, it is sustainable. “Then, one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a law teacher who held respect from all the people and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago, Theudas rose up and claimed to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-40). Thus, I contend that only what is birthed, maintained, and fulfilled in Christ will be sustainable.

8. CHANGE IS FROM WITHIN

He told them another parable: “Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (Matt. 13:33). Yeast is often used in the Bible as a symbol of evil or impurity. Here, however, it is also a positive symbol of growth. Although the sourdough looks insignificant, it spreads throughout the dough. The kingdom started small but will continue growing as dough spreads leaven. Eventually, the whole world will experience its influence.

Yeast is an example and metaphor to illustrate the growth of the kingdom of heaven in the individual heart and in the world as a whole – because:

It contaminates from within,
It is secret in its operation,
It spreads by particle to particle contact,
It is irreversible; one particle of leaven can change any amount of flour,
It is organic and self-sufficient, like a plant and changes the particles it touches with similar reproductive power.

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23)

“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13)

9. SMALL THINGS PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.” (Matt. 13:31; Luk. 13:18)

A mustard seed was the smallest seed a farmer could use. Jesus uses this as an example to indicate that the kingdom does start small but will grow so that it will bear great fruit. The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the unexpected and previously unknown nature of the coming of God’s royal rule. The kingdom came but began as a mustard seed. As something small and humble, it does not come in the expected form of glorious splendour that one would expect. Gradually, the kingdom developed and became something great.

“After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!” Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.” (Zech. 4:10 The Message)

Small seeds become strong and large trees. As with nature, the Lord is most glorified through us when we are fruitful, healthy, and fulfilled. Man’s growth is often compared to that of a tree or a garden.

10. SEASONAL TIMES

Creating a fertile garden takes patience and time. God does not work according to a clock in minutes and hours. He works in seasons cyclically. Look at His seven days a week and the Sabbath. The Seventh Month is the great day of atonement. The Seventh year, is debt relief (Deut. 15), the seven year cycle is the Jubilee year (Lev. 25).

So, we need to renew our thinking and start thinking like God. Nowadays, stores try to attract consumers with the same fruits and vegetables for twelve months of the year. The Lord knew that we needed Vitamin C, found in the fruits ripening in winter. Fruits with a high sugar content are again found in tropical, hot areas where we need energy. Much agricultural production depends on accurate planting and harvest times, which coincide with the rainy seasons.

So is our life according to seasons:

the season of dependence on primary caregivers, our parents and family,
the season of discovery and detachment in our teens,
the season of finding the right soul mate,
the season of having children and raising them,
the season of being productive in our middle years,
the season of wisdom and discipleship when we begin to pass onto the next generation.

There is also a set time for spiritual things to happen. Through the prophets, the Lord gives us an indication of what He is going to do next. “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). Thus, Daniel knew it was seventy years and a time for their deliverance from captivity (Jer. 25:12; 29:10; Dan. 9:2). It is important to understand the times so that we know how to pray. “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” (Zech. 10:1)

The Jews did not calculate Jesus’ coming and expected: “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:56).

Our lives also sometimes go through seasons of winter and summer. Learn to understand each season and remain grateful. Because in every season, there is a divine provision.

We Are God’s Garden

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Ps. 1:3)

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” (Ps. 92:12–14)

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jer. 17:8)

“Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ezek. 47:12)

“For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (Isa. 51:3)

The love song between the bride and the groom happens around a garden (Song of Songs 4:12; 16; 5:1; 6:2).

A Tree is Known By Its Fruit

“For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” (Luke 6:44)

Read Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43.

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:35 NKJV)

“…But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” (NLV)

” …But brilliant men like you can justify your every inconsistency!” (The Living Bible)

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” (Message)

When two lines are close together, with one veering just 1% off its intended path, the deviation may not be immediately noticeable when viewed up close. However, as you distance yourself, the small error becomes more apparent, allowing you to see whether the line truly stayed on course or strayed. This perspective shift underscores how broader viewpoints can often reveal discrepancies that are overlooked at a closer range.

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing.” (Acts 5:38)

Some people do not even know they are going astray, and there will be false teachers and apostles. The longevity and natural sustainability will eventually stand the test of time.

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.” (Matt. 25: 41-43)

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:37)

[1] Wohlleben, Peter. (2016). The hidden life of trees: What they feel, how they communicate—discoveries from a secret world. Greystone Books.

[2] Comer, John Mark. (2015). Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. Zondervan.

[3} Sweet, Leonard. (2009). So beautiful: Divine design for life and the church. David C. Cook.

[4] See the sermon on the Eden-type-church: https://www.harvestercederberg.co.za/eden-church/

[5] Holland, Tom. (2019). Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. Basic Books.