Read Mark 4:21-25 – we have been in this chapter for a couple of weeks now. Light, Lamps, and Lampstands are scripture images of importance.

If you haven’t read my last two posts here in Mark 4 – please go back and read them so this all fits together.

In Revelation 1:13 and 20 Jesus is seen walking among the lampstands and those lampstands are identified as the Church.

In Mark 4 Jesus has begun speaking in parables to large crowds to spark interest and to encourage those who wanted to know more to seek him out privately for fuller revelation.

Already in this passage, he has talked about casting seed, and for different kinds of soil encountered by the Sower. We have looked at that and made the observation that 3 of the 4 types of soil produced growth, but only one produced a good crop.

Jesus then explained it in more depth to those who came to him in private conversation seeking deeper truth.

Then he “abruptly” seems to change the metaphor from seeds to a lamp, in v21. is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? – NO he isn’t changing the subject, he is making an observation about the revelation. He is saying, “I’ve taught you something, what will you do with it?” Because in v26 he goes back to talking about the seed and harvest.

The question then is what do we do with light?

In Revelation 1:20 the church is seen as a Lampstand – lychnia. A GOLDEN lampstand, but still just a vessel for display of light. As a church, we have light, but we are not the source of light. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus talks about light, lamp, and lampstand, but let’s not get too far chasing a rabbit.

Jesus is saying, “I’m giving you revelation here about light from the lamp, what will you do with the revelation, will you shine it or ignore it?”

What do we do with light? It’s like when James talks about the Word of God being like a mirror and we need to do something with what we see, or will we walk away and forget? When you wake up in the morning, and look in the mirror, will we comb our hair, or just imagine we look like our best photo on the wall, and go away with bedhead?

The Holy Spirit gives us Light, he Reveals Jesus to us, and his work in the world. We can be lit by the revelation and become light – (Phos) as in Matthew 5, but we are not the source. We are not the Lamp, we are light from the Lamp (lychnos), and we are Lampstands (Lychnia) who just hold up and shine forth the light.

So, with this light about the work of Sower with Seed and the Soils, Jesus asks: “do you brig in a lamp and put it under a basket or under the bed?”

I had to laugh at that image and think, there are some churches where the only fire in then is when they hide the lamp under the bed, catch “on fire” but they are burned up. Their only “fire” is on their tails as they run out. That made me laugh and then made me tear up a bit.

Will we hide the light of revelation here? NO! Let’s take the truth that Christ is revealing… put it on our stand, read, learn, adjust to what we see, and let it SHINE, change us, transform us.

Then v23 – if anyone has ears to hear… let him Listen

v24 – and he said to them PAY ATTENTION to what you hear

Pay Attention is the word blepo = beware, careful, consider – and is in the present active imperative – So Jesus is saying this is IMPORTANT, and needs to be done RIGHT NOW. Young Literal says take heed. NIV – carefully consider

This is important – what is the light being given? Be Careful, Pay Attention and Adjust to it!

If you are outside on a stormy night, in complete darkness, trying to get home, and lightning flashes and in that split second you see you are dangerously close to a Cliff… you need to Take Heed, and Give Care, Pay Attention to your Steps.

If we receive instruction, what will we do with the light?

Then here Jesus speaks of Conditional Results to How we respond to the Light… v24 by the measure you use it will be measured to you. What do we do with the instruction we have will determine the proportion of results. Then v25 whoever has, more will be given, whoever does not have, what he has will be taken.

Well, that doesn’t seem fair. Oh yes, it is. When you put this with the revelation regarding sowing, seeds, and soil, I cannot help but process this in a couple of way. If I have lots of seed, and lots of land, then just cast away and let the 4 soils do whatever they will… BUT… if we have limited land and limited resources, then develop the land you have to it’s fullest and use the resources in the best way possible for harvest.

“Pay Attention”, Jesus says. If we do the most with the light, with the resource, and see the result… God will enlarge our measure of responsibility. But if we hide the light, fail to use the resources, fail to develop the land, then he will invest his resources elsewhere…

And then notice the beginning of v26 and I’ll pick up there next week…

The Kingdom of God is Like This…

Oh my…