Mark 4:21-25

Intro

How many of you like hide and seek

This is/was my wife’s favorite game

This is a classic game

Whats the point

To not be found

But we really know thats not that fun

After a while you move you come out

How about easter egg hunt

The object is to find the hidden eggs

Treasure hunts

Curse of oak island

People seek treasure because they know it can be found

We like to play versions of hide and seek

but what fun would it be if it was only hide

No seeking no finding

That wouldnt be fun at all

There would be no point in playing

Well just like last week we looked at one of the parables Jesus taught

and what is something we saw last week

This parable had a meaning that was hidden from most

Part of what makes these parables great is that a hidden meaning is shown through examples that everyone knows

Read Mark 4:21-25

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.”

Two Parables one warning

Here we see Mark introduce two more parables and in the coming weeks we will see a few more

These parables may seem more obscure So lets see whats here

Start with the first one

Mark 4:21–23 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.”

So an obvious question where does the lamp go

Under a basket

Under the bed

Or on a stand

But the next line comes in

Nothing is hidden except to be made manifest

Nothing hidden will remain that way for long

All the secrets will come to light

So how do these two statements come together whats the hidden meaning here?

Why would Jesus talk about a lamp

Something that brings light that illuminates things

And he starts with a challenge about what do you do with it

The hearer will think no you let is shine

Why because it is supposed to illuminate things its supposed to give light

Just as the word of God will shed light on the mystery of the kingdom

I think this is the Key here who is that lamp what is the lamp

Its a representation of the purpose of Jesu

Its what he will do

And the question is what will we do with that revelation

Remember previously he declared to his disciples

Mark 4:11 ESV

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,

His disciples will be given the knowledege for everyone else it will be in parable

The other will search for this knowledge

it will be hidden, but it will not remain hidden

Soon the full revelation of God will be revealed

Soon you will understand all of this

This is the journey mark takes us on the journey of discovering who Jesus is

This Journey will culminate later with Peter declaring him to be the christ

And ultimatley with what pastor Jesse referenced on sunday

Jesus coming back and a new heaven and new earth

So what about the warning?

I know we only looked at one of the parables but I want to switch

Because the warning is in this parable is reinforced in the next

Look at Mark 4:23

Mark 4:22–23 ESV

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.”

Two part to this sentence

Nothing is hidden except to be made manifest

This is language of revealed truth

Making something manifest is the sam language used to talk about the son of man who will be made manifest for us

This part speaks of the what will happen

Jesus will be made manifest

We will be confronted at some point with the question who do you say Jesus is

at some point he will be made manifest to you and when he is I hope you have learned to call him by his name of lord and savior

When he is fully revealed nothing secret will be hidden

It will all be brought to life

THIS IS A STARK WARNING

Some of you may be hiding who you really think Jesus is

Some of you may be thinking you know this is for later in life

Some of you may be sitting here saying in your heart something you may never say to us

That this is all just myth and made up none of it makes sense

This book is so outdated

There is no such thing as God

Some of you may just say yea there may be a God but he is little and I control my life

WELL WHEN HE IS MADE MANIFEST

You will be laid bare

You will be exposed

and what you think of Jesu will be revealed

So take heed

This is reinforced in the next few verses

Read Mark 4:24-25

Mark 4:24–25 ESV

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.”