Lamps, Baskets, and Beds

This morning, we continue looking at the parables of the Lord Jesus here at the beginning of Mark, and we will continue to do so for the next three Sunday mornings including today.  Today, we will look at the parable of the lamp and the parable of the measure.  Next week, we will look at the parable of the mysteriously growing seed, and the last Sunday of May, we will look at the parable of the mustard seed.

 

Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and parables have two purposes.  Their first purpose and ultimate purpose is to reveal truth about the kingdom of God to the insiders or to those who are saved.  Their second purpose is to conceal and confuse and bring judgment on the outsiders or those who willfully, purposefully, and intentionally reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

Today our text is Mark 4:21-25.  There are many who would consider these five verses to be just one parable, the parable of the lamp.  However, I would say there are two parables here.  The first certainly is the parable of the lamp in 4:21-23.  The next is the parable of the measure found in 4:24-25.  I believe these to be two separate parables because of the phrase used in 4:21, “Also He said to them…” and that same phrase used again in 4:24, “Then He said to them…”  This morning we will consider both.

 

I normally don’t take the liberty of looking at verses in a different order than they were written, but I am going to do that today.  I think it will benefit you and me both to consider verses 24-25 first and then verses 21-23.

 

 

25. Accepting the Word is Essential, 4:24-25.

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

 

Here we have the parable of the measure, and Jesus began with the caution to be careful in to what we listen.  Without saying it directly, His encouragement is to listen to the Word.  Listen to the Word of God.

 

Be careful about listening to the thoughts of men.  Be careful about listening to those who are supposedly God’s men, but what they teach isn’t exactly Scripture.

 

The remainder of 4:24 basically says the more an insider listens to the Word and receives it, and distributes it, the more truth about Jesus will be revealed to him and or her.

 

Verse 25 offers even more insight.  Remember, these are insiders that to which Jesus is talking.  They are His disciples.  God will give more understanding to the man or woman who wants more of it. 

 

We have as much of Jesus as we desire.

 

On the other hand, if you have been given a little bit of revelation and understanding and you don’t use it and share it, that little revelation and understanding will be taken away. 

 

That doesn’t mean that anyone has lost his or her salvation.  However, let me ask this.  Who kind of person has terminal cancer and finds out the cure but doesn’t want to share the cure with others in the same condition? 

 

It means don’t expect to get more revelation if you aren’t going to share what you have been given.  Use it or lose it!

 

For some of you here this morning, you are blowing and going in your walk with Jesus.  You are meeting with Him daily.  You are taking in every sermon and every Bible study, and you are then turning around and sharing what you have been given.  You are ministering to those God has given to you.

 

On the other hand, some of you are as stagnate as you can be in your walk with God because you once were given guidance or direction or an assignment from God, and you didn’t do anything, and you are still aren’t doing anything and yet you wonder why things are so dry in your relationship with Christ.  They are dry because you never acted on what you had been given.  Use it or lose it.

 

Remember what Jesus said in John 14:15.

 

John 14:15, 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

 

Accepting the word is essential to salvation and essential to receiving more.

 

 

2. Agreeing to Witness is Expected, 4:21-23.

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

 

Notice again, Mark began this parable of the lamp with “Also He said to them…”

Think about this lamp.  It was a lighted wick in a shallow clay bowl full of oil.  It was normally placed on a shelf on the wall.  However, sometimes it was placed in the center of the house on a stand to light the entire home at night if it was a wealthier family.

 

Think about the basket.  It was used to carry flower or grain.  It didn’t have any holes in it.

 

The bed was literally a dining couch.  People reclined on them for eating purposes.

 

Jesus asked His first question in verse 21, and the right answer to the first question is “No.”  A lamp is not brought to be hidden under a basket or under a bed.  To hide it under a basket would put it out.  To hide it under a bed would risk catching the bed on fire.

 

Jesus then asked a second question in verse 21.  Also, the right answer to the second question is “Yes.” 

 

A lamp is brought to be put on the lampstand.  A lamp is brought to shine light.

 

Verse 22 has the heavenly meaning of this second parable.  Nothing is hidden except to be revealed.  Everything that is secret will come to light.  The ultimate purpose of parables is to reveal the kingdom of God to insiders.

 

In verse 23, Jesus summoned the insiders to hear and take it to heart.

 

The first application is that as an insider, you are expected to witness to your saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  It should not be an option.  I would even go so far to say that if a Christian is silent, there must be a question of whether he or she is truly saved.

 

A lamp is not brought to be hidden under a basket or brought to be put under the bed.  It is brought to be put on the lampstand.

 

The great commission is found in every gospel and from the words of Jesus our Lord.

 

Matthew 28:19, 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Mark 16:15, 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

Luke 24:46-48, 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

 

John 20:21, 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

 

The second application is that if you are really a Christian, it will be obvious.  Some commentators say the “lamp” in verse 21 is Jesus.  It certainly could be. 

 

If Jesus is the lamp inside of you, there will be no such thing as keeping my faith from my politics.  People should know if you are a Christian president or lawyer or teacher or coach or doctor or small business owner or whatever. 

 

Agreeing to witness is expected.

 

 

Conclusion

First of all, accepting the word is essential.  That begins with accepted the word that Jesus is the only way to peace with the Father.  See Romans 5:1.

 

Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Then, if you are going to grow as a follower of Christ, you must accept and obey the word of God, and then God will give you more and more to accept and obey.

 

Consequently, if you aren’t going to accept and obey what He has already given you, don’t expect Him to give you more when you’re not following what you have.

 

Secondly, agreeing to witness is expected.  If you have accepted the word, it is expected that you will be a witness to the life-changing message of the gospel.  Anything else is unthinkable.