Nothing is Hidden

Mark 4 : 21 - 25

Jesus says that a lamp should not be put under a basket or under a bed. In other synoptic gospels such as Matthew 5 and Luke 8, in the original language, the word ‘lamp’ takes the case of an object, whereas in Mark, it takes the case of a subject. This has a theological significance. In the Old Testament, a lamp or light is a metaphor of God Himself e.g. in 2 Samuel 22, 2 Kings 8, Psalm 132. A lamp could also point to the promised Messiah. Psalm 119 says ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet.’. Here in Mark, in the original language, a definite article is used, so it is ‘the’ lamp instead of ‘a’ lamp. This verse talks about Jesus Himself and not just any ordinary lamp. Jesus Christ should not be put under a bed. In Europe, religion is often considered a private matter that should not be brought to a public square. It is a taboo to talk about religion with other people, and it should be kept in one’s private closet. How relevant is then what Jesus says here: ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?’. Again, this is not just any ordinary lamp, but Jesus Christ and the news of the Kingdom of God. We might keep it private within our hearts and our neighbours do not have to know about it. This is what putting it under a basket or a bed means. We pray for a spiritual revival in Europe because this is the place where God has worked before. However, if christians put Christ under a bed, we can forget about it. We succumb to the narrative here and keep Christ a private matter. We are not called to conform to society. If the early church conformed to society, there would have been no persecution. At that time the society was worshipping Caesar, and if the christians followed in doing so, then there would be no christianity at all. It is sad if today people are no longer sensitive to the narrative of the Kingdom of God. It is not fitting to put Christ under a bed - it is not His place. Christ is not someone whom we are ashamed of witnessing. Christ should not be kept hidden in one’s private closet - that is not where He should be.

Beauty, by nature, is something to be shared. Here we have flowers next to the pulpit. Is there any point in placing the flowers behind the pulpit, hidden from everyone? I could then tell you there are beautiful flowers behind the pulpit, but you would wonder why I kept them hidden. It is indeed strange. How more so is Christ! If we keep Christ hidden in an enclosed space, perhaps we do not see Him as beauty that needs to be shared. We then become ashamed of being considered people from the medieval age who still believe in superstitions. This bible passage invites us to witness Jesus Christ. People do not put a lamp under a basket or a bed such that its light cannot pass through. We would not do that unless we do not believe that it is a lamp. If it is indeed not a lamp, then we might as well bury it. But is that the case with Christ?

In the life of Christ, there is indeed hiddenness in the sense that He shows His glory through His humble humanity. This is the paradox. If Jesus came as a general or an emperor, many people would perhaps pay attention. But faith in Christ would be coercive. It would be because of fear, not because of love, not because of seeing the true glory, but mixed with worldly glory. Jesus came as an ordinary man, but blessed are those who can see the glory of God there. That means they have spiritual eyes to see. Now, this is the calling of the church, the calling of you and me, to manifest the Christian life in a very humble way, like Jesus, through humanity. It is not by demonstrating that Christianity is great or being triumphalistic, but precisely through simplicity, sincerity and perhaps also through how we honestly struggle with vulnerability in life. We then truly live it out before God amidst this imperfection. That is what is authentic and appealing rather than pretending or being hypocritical, which will not be a witness.

You and I know the story of the Kingdom of God. Just last week we contemplated this part. The Kingdom of God is like a seed that is sown. Some are received, believed, and then bear fruit. But the growth of the Kingdom of God is also somehow hidden. This is the difference between the Kingdom of God and a worldly kingdom or worldly empire. It is impossible for a worldly empire to be hidden. There was once the Roman Empire. You can still see its remnants in Switzerland. They expanded all the way here, and there are still remnants, even though it was a very long time ago. A worldly empire wants to announce and declare its power and glory visibly. But the Kingdom of God can only be seen by people who are born again by the Holy Spirit. They see the beauty of Christ. They see the beauty of the church, the beauty of the christian community, despite its imperfections. It seems unpromising, unimpressive and ordinary. But in the Kingdom of God, there is actually true light because Jesus is the one who initiates this. It is not because christians are better than other people. Jesus is the one who gives light and is witnessed.

This world has many hidden things and is not transparent because it lives in darkness. If people live in light, there is nothing to hide. If people have the beauty of Christ in their lives, there is nothing to hide and be ashamed of. We share it with others, hoping they will also get that beauty. The question is then whether our lives are filled with the beauty of Christ. If we don’t have the beauty of Christ in our lives, we have nothing to share. Some people cannot get out of their life struggles and then become bitter, disappointed and indifferent, to the point that some prefer living with animals. Humans are disappointing and animals seem more promising. There is even a great philosopher who takes this view. How pitiful. It is so difficult to enter a relationship of love because of fear of being vulnerable. It is then better to have a private life like a castle surrounded by a moat. How can such a life enter the relationship of love? Jesus invites us not to hide what we have received from Him. Instead, we are to witness Him, and the more we witness, the more we see how the Kingdom of God grows. It is hidden and mysterious yet powerful.

Verse 24 says ‘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.’. This saying of Jesus can be applied in many contexts, and if you take this verse without the context, you might think about generosity i.e. if you’re generous, then others will be generous to you. However, based on the context of the passage, it is not about generosity but about how people receive the news of the Kingdom of God and of Christ. Some people hear in passing. They know it has a culture: Christmas, Advent, flowers, music, etc. But maybe people only know it to that extent. However, there are people who listen from within their hearts. They don’t just hear in passing, but they listen with the ears of their heart. They believe and finally bear fruit because they have fellowship with Christ. Now, this is the measure of hearing. What kind of hearing? Hearing hurriedly or listening carefully? In English, as we discussed last week, there is a difference between hearing and heeding.

How much do we enjoy the reality of the Kingdom of God in our lives? Are we mere spectators or outsiders who only see churches and Christmas markets, but never enter it? Concertgoers dare to buy expensive tickets and might have posters of the celebrity, but their lives remain distant from the celebrity’s life because they are just fans or spectators. Just because I like watching people play football, it does not mean I also want to be a football player. I can be something else, but I can still be a football spectator. However, people who follow Christ are not like this. You do not come as a spectator, let alone as an outsider. There are no outsiders in christianity. There are only people who follow Christ, believe in Him, and establish a loving relationship with Christ in their hearts. They then bear fruit and witness Christ because He is not meant to be put under a bed. People who follow Christ are not a fan club but those who are blessed by God. The more we witness Christ in our lives, the more will we be given. If we are ashamed of Christ and do not channel God’s blessings, then what is the point of God blessing us? I am not talking about material blessings here. Cain was actually quite blessed materially. Esau who sold his birthright was also blessed materially. However, they did not get the spiritual blessings and ended up perishing. They received rain, sunshine and material blessings, but those do not mean that God is pleased with their lives. It only shows the breadth of God’s heart in blessing them.

What is the sign of a life that is pleasing to God? Certainly not that you and I have well-being, health, a decent salary, and smart children. If it were so, we wouldn’t need Jesus Christ. It comes from a life that does not hide Christ under a bed or basket out of shame. There is courage moved by love, that is firstly the love for God, and then the love for our neighbors, as they also need Christ. Our neighbors also need the experience of beauty. It would be a great shame if that beauty is kept to ourselves. A person playing the piano can play by themselves at home, but I believe that if there are people watching and enjoying it, there will be more joy. It is not about being narcissistic, but because beauty by nature is something to share. When the choir sings and others hear, I believe there is more joy there than if the choir sings alone. If we share all the beauty received from God, we understand why Christ should not be like a lamp that is put under a bed, but on a lampstand. The question is whether our lives deserve to be the lampstand that illuminates others, not with our own light, but with Christ in it. I hope this becomes our life.

Verse 25 says, ‘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.’ Meditating on this part is frightening. People who move backwards will keep going further backwards, and become unused by God. The ones who witness will receive more blessings and be used more by God until they are crushed. Maybe people will deem it pitiful, but that is life that truly glorifies God. Do not fall asleep like the foolish virgins who do not prepare themselves with oil and cannot light up their lamps when the Lord comes. Let us be people who prepare ourselves and ask God to keep our lamps lit up in the grace of God. May God bless us all. (S.W.)