Mark 4:21-25 Burying the Light

First Things: Devotions in Mark’s Gospel

Mark 4:21-25 Burying the Light

Light from God is a gift. This light is clearly identified as Jesus Himself. He is the light of the world. It comes up often in John’s Gospel, and John is going to help us understand what is being communicated in this paragraph: 

Mark 4:21   And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? ²² “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. ²³ “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. ²⁵ “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

There are two illustrations given in this section. The first has to do with a light or a candle. Its presence in your life is a blessing, and makes a difference. How hard are you going to work to bury it? On the other hand, the second illustration is a measure, either a scoop shovel or a teaspoon. With which would you rather invest in God’s blessing?

To both of these, we are presented with common conclusions that just don’t make sense. Why would someone hide heaven’s light? Why would we be stingy in our own lives with the measure of God’s blessing. But, it happens all the time. We want to straddle the fence. We want a foot in two different boats. I just doesn’t work. The benefits are ruined, replaced by pain.

So this is where John helps. In John 12, there are Jewish leaders who “believe into” Jesus (John’s way of showing personal commitment to Jesus). But, but, but … 

John 12:42–43 “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”

You see, they felt that they had too much to lose. So they reached out to Jesus, but, but, but … at the same time, they kept holding on to their former attachments and alliances. They wanted the approval that comes from God only through faith in Jesus Christ, but at the same time they also wanted the approval that comes from men. They wanted it both ways. And that’s not faith. That’s playing games with God.

Do I think God likes being toyed with? No, I don’t. And yet, can we see that we sometimes do the very same thing, when we hide our Jesus-profession behind our public persona, or when we short-arm our commitment to God’s will and ways, in service or sacrifice, protecting and preserving self, keeping ourselves safe from what? From the blessing of God?

No one does this, right? No one would bury a candle? No one would cheat themselves from what is best, would they? No, never. And yet it happens every single day.