What are you doing with your Lamp?(Mark 4 vv. 21–25)

Tell the story of Rachel using the knife upside down.

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.” 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.”

I. Lamps are meant to give light.

A. This parables would be obscure for those who failed to seek the truth in it.

For those who will not accept Jesus Christ, there is no understanding of spiritual things. Jesus is reminding us that we are spreading light to a dark and difficult world.

We are not in a country club where each person has his or her own opinion and nice people do not argue about them. No, we are in a war, a spiritual battle, against evil. God guarantees that though some people will be destroyed in the battle, God will win.

B. 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. If that is true of humans, it is even more so with God. But whatever is hidden will be revealed. In fact, the disciples found things they did not understand revealed fully with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Jesus is the lamp, the light of the world. Jesus is the light that is hidden from some eyes because they refuse to see, but he will be revealed in glory to all.

II. A lampstand is not for decoration.

A. A lamp belongs on a lampstand.

It’s inconceivable to think that a lamp would be placed anywhere except upon a lampstand. That is where it belongs in order that it may light the entire room.

In this parable Jesus pointed out the self-evident fact that a lamp was not meant to be lit and then hidden under a measuring bowl. Rather, it was to be placed on its stand where it would give light. This story from everyday life conveyed a spiritual truth for anyone willing to learn from it.

B. If the lamp was not lit, or if it was covered up, it did the home no good.

If Jesus is the lamp then we are the lampstands. We are called to shed God’s light and reveal His truth. Jesus’ words here declare that a person is responsible for the light or knowledge he or she has received.

We must first absorb the truth that Jesus taught through parables, so that we are be able to absorb more truth later. We can not “give out” without first “taking in”

III. Consider carefully what you hear.

A. 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.

We must take heed what we hear as well as take heed how we hear. Our spiritual hearing determines how much we have to give to others.

B. Whoever acquires some understanding and wants more will receive more.

Proper understanding will lead to accepting Jesus and entering the kingdom and to more and more blessings from God. Those who have no interest in parables and the kingdom about which they teach will soon find themselves further from it than before they ever heard about it.

There is no such thing as standing still in the spiritual life; if we cease to grow, then we shrink. This is either a promise or a warning, depending on our spiritual attitude.