Christ's Growing Kingdom

Previously (Nov 30) we looked at David's kingdom, and how it grew slowly over a period of time that spanned decades. The growth of David's kingdom had four stages:

1. Authority in his father's house - After his anointing as a teen, only God and one prophet recognized David as king. He exercised no authority, except over his father's sheep.
2. Authority over volunteers - After he went into Saul's service, and during the time he was a refugee, there was a growing group of people who acknowledged him as their current leader and/or future king, and followed him. (see 1 Sam 22.1-2; 25.30)During this time David had no civil authority.
3. Authority over his own people - At age thirty, one tribe, David's own, anointed him to be their king, and he assumed civil authority over part of his people. Seven years and much war later, all of the 12 tribes of Israel publicly acknowledged him as king, and he exercised civil authority over all of his people.
4. Authority over foreigners - After establishing rule over his own people, he slowly conquered the Gentile nations that that were Israel's enemies and the Gentile nations that occupied the land that God had promised to give to Israel.

Since Jesus has been called the son of David, can we expect His kingdom to slowly emerge with expanding authority?

Let's look at what Jesus said:

Matt 13.31 (NET) He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

The kingdom starts insignificantly small, grows, and then dominates. Even foreigners (wild birds) benefit from it.

Before ascending into Heaven, Jesus said to His apostles:

Acts 1.8 (NET) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

Again, there is a progression: starting in Jerusalem and extending to the ends of the earth.

In Jesus' parable on the banquet (Luke 14.15-24), there is also a progression: the people close to the host, strangers in the streets and lanes of the city, and then strangers along the highways and in the hedges.

So far we seen Jesus talk specifically about increasing size of the coming kingdom, but what about the stages of increased authority? Is there evidence for that?