Mark

Overview and Recap

Just wanted to take some time before we dive into our passage today to give a recap and overview of what we have gone over thus far in Mark.

I hope this can help us understand the over all story line that John Mark is taking us through.

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In our passage, it is said that John Mark collected a bunch of sayings that had been circulating of Jesus that are technically wisdom sayings. These deal with everyday life but are easily included under the broad term “parables”.

One is in each verse.

In either way, Mark brings these sayings together in one place because of the relevance to his understanding of parables.

Now… you may remember verses 10-12 telling us that parable veil the truth from those who have no appreciation for it...

Mark 4:10–12 ESV

10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

But then we see in verses 21-25 Mark write how parable ultimately reveal the truth to those who consider them carefully and understand. The two passages balance each-other. Emphasis on one of the ideas, and exclusion of the other would lead to error. We’ll talk about this more here in a sec.

But let’s open up by reading our passage for tonight.

Mark 4:21–25 ESV

21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

So like I said to begin… John Mark collects for us in this passage 4 sayings for us. Let’s break these down.

1. Jesus & the Kingdom of God are to be revealed! Not hidden. (V. 21)

Mark C. A Description of Responsibility (4:21–25)

Jesus’ words here declare that a person is responsible for the light or knowledge he or she has received. One does not take a lamp and hide it. Therefore, a person does not take the truth and deliberately obscure it.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 John 1:5 ESV

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

John 9:5 ESV

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The Bible also speaks of our lives being a light that reflects the ultimate light in JESUS!

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

2. Already but not yet. (V.22)

The statement seems to contradict v. 21 by indicating that a lamp may be hidden temporarily.

Jesus and the kingdom were in fact concealed temporarily.

Jesus was fully revealed following his resurrection, but the kingdom will not be fully realized until the consummation.

Mark (C. A Description of Responsibility (4:21–25))

Jesus is the light that is hidden from some eyes because they refuse to see,

but he will be revealed in glory to all: to the disciples in their lifetimes and to the Pharisees at the final judgment.

3. Pay attention to what we hear & beware how we act upon it! (Vv. 23-24)

Mark C. A Description of Responsibility (4:21–25)

Consider carefully what you hear. “Hear” in the Bible also carries the meaning of “act upon.” Jesus was telling us to pay attention to what we hear and beware how we act upon it. These verses came after Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders when they accused him of acting by Satan’s power.

Mark C. A Description of Responsibility (4:21–25)

Maybe you have heard the story about two men, one a baker and the other a butcher. Rather than charging each other, they would trade their goods to each other. But the butcher became angry because the pound of flour he was given for his pound of meat always came up short of a pound. He confronted the baker. The baker told him, “I don’t have a measurement on my scale, but a balance, so I always used your pound of meat on one side of the balance.” His point was clear. The butcher had been trying to cheat him by giving him less meat, but he did not want the same standard of measurement used against him!

Mark C. A Description of Responsibility (4:21–25)

What measure were the religious leaders using? If they were using the Law, then the Law would become their judge, because the Law pointed to Jesus Christ. If we use the truth we have received to condemn others instead of attracting others to Jesus, this measure will be used upon us.

4. To those who love the truth and wants more, more will be given. To those who oppose the truth and have no interest, will find themselves further from it. (V. 25)