Daily text, for Saturday, March 12. 2016

[Queen Esther]

When [the mustard grain] has grown, it is the largest of the vegetable plants and becomes a tree.—Matt. 13:32.

In Jesus’ illustration, the grain represents the Kingdom message as well as what results from the preaching of that message—the Christian congregation. Like the mustard grain that is “the tiniest of all the seeds,” the Christian congregation had small beginnings in 33 C.E. However, within a few decades, the congregation grew rapidly. (Col. 1:23) This growth was beneficial because Jesus tells us that “the birds of heaven” were able to “find lodging among its branches.” These figurative birds picture righthearted individuals who find spiritual food, shade, and shelter within the Christian congregation. (Compare Ezekiel 17:23.) Jesus used the amazing growth of a mustard grain to illustrate the power of God’s Kingdom arrangement to expand, protect, and conquer all obstacles. Since 1914 the growth of the visible part of God’s organization has been phenomenal!—Isa. 60:22. w14 12/15 1:7, 8