Mark 4:21-25

The Lamp

Devotional 21 of 50 · Mark chapter 4

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After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples,

Mark 4:21-25 · BSB

²¹Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? ²²For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. ²³If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you. ²⁵For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Jesus

It’s hard to imagine a life without electricity, yet for most of human history, houses did not have light bulbs. Think of the difference just a single candle would make when lit in a completely dark room in ancient Israel. Everything lost in the darkness would suddenly become visible. It would make no sense to take this burning candle and put it under a basket. If you don’t need the light, just blow it out—don’t cover it with a basket (this also sounds like a fire hazard). Why did Jesus tell us something so obvious? In parables, there is always a deeper meaning.

In this parable, what—or better yet, who—is the lamp? In the Gospel of Mark, in the original Greek, we find a clue about this lamp. In the Greek, it is not “a lamp”; it is “the lamp.” Some see the lamp as the word, like the parable of the soils. Others see it as the message of the gospel, but the lamp corresponds best with the center of the gospel—Jesus Himself.

What happens when we see Jesus as the lamp? Like a lamp, Jesus illuminates the darkness. And although some may reject Him as not being the Messiah, His light cannot be kept under a basket. One day, His glory and light will illuminate all the earth, and no shadows will remain.

Jesus also speaks of how nothing will be concealed and everything will be brought to light. On the day of glory and His return, all human hearts and the deeds of men will be laid bare. Every secret sin will be exposed. All will know His majesty and glory, no longer as a flickering wick but as an inferno of glory and majesty when Jesus returns.

His Desires

Once again, we are seeing the command, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear,” in verse 23. It’s clear that Jesus does not want us to skim past these parables. He wants us to listen to them and really take them to heart. And if we don’t understand them, seek and pray for real revelation.

And as verses 24–25 display, He wants us to use this word, to live in this revelation, and to be faithful to His heart and His teaching. He desires to give us more revelation as we pay attention to and use what He is teaching us. His heart is to give more of Himself—so be faithful to live out the revelation you've already been given.

Follow Through

Command: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear (verse 23).
Command: Pay attention to and use what you hear (verse 24).
Confess your sins to the Lord Jesus, knowing that everything’s going to come to light on the day of His return.

Testimonies

This is where people will share how they actually obeyed this passage — and read what happened to everyone else who obeyed the same words.

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Devotional 21 of 50

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Comments

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