Secrets or Surprises: Mark 4:21-25

Often, when I am reading parts of the gospels that include Jesus teaching people, I am amazed at the simplicity and profoundness of the illustrations He used. On one hand, the illustration is so simple that even a child understands it, but on the other hand, it speaks into a deeper truth that challenges even the most savvy adults.

The short section of teaching that we are focusing in on in this podcast episode is one such place that includes both simple illustrations and difficult challenges – all within a five-verse-long passage.

We’ll be reading from the gospel of Mark, chapter 4, using the New American Standard Bible. Starting in verse 21, Mark tells us that:

²¹ And He [Jesus] was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? ²² For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ²⁴ And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. ²⁵ For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

This passage opens with probably the most simple of illustrations. Jesus contrasts the role of a lamp and the illogical locations for it to be used. Not only does a lamp under a basket or under a bed pose a fire hazard, since lamps during that of time-period were lit with fire, but it defeats the purpose of lighting the lamp in the first place. In this introduction to Jesus’ key point, He asks the question why anyone would turn on a light, only to then hide that light from shining.

It is both simple and profound, because if we then take this thought and apply it to ourselves, Jesus is essentially saying that we must not hide ourselves. If God has made us a light, then hiding us away is very illogical. As lights pointing people to Jesus and God, He is more likely to place us on a lamp-stand, and give us a platform to shine from.

But this is where we often stop reading – but as we read further, the passage continues with a pretty significant challenge in the next verse. Verse 22 says, “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.”

One of the things my wife, and probably a number of other people close to me, will tell you is that I like giving surprises. A surprise is something that is hidden for a short period of time, and then suddenly revealed. The purpose of a surprise is to prompt some suspense and tension in anticipation of the big reveal. The purpose of a surprise is not to hide something indefinitely – but instead to draw our attention to the point in time when it is revealed.

Trying to hide something indefinitely is called a secret. A secret, whether it is one kept by a single individual, or one held by a small group of people, is different. The purpose of a secret is to remain hidden – and depending on how important it is to those wanting to keep the secret hidden, they will lie and mislead anyone and everyone from finding out.

But Jesus’ challenge is that secrets are destined to come to light. No matter how hard or how well we try to bury them, they are destined to be revealed at some point in the future.

It is as this point in our conversation where my brain asks an interesting question: Why does Jesus talk about not hiding a lamp or light in the same breath as revealing secrets?

Part of me wonders if this teaching is connected with sharing testimonies. Often times, our testimony about how our relationship with God grew comes from experiencing some form of hurt – not from God, but from something or someone that hurt us. We might have even been the person who hurt ourselves.

When something happens that causes us pain, our natural instinct is to either focus on it and on the pain while pushing others away, or it is to bury the pain and pretend that it doesn’t exist. Both of these options push the pain into hiding.

But what if the pain had a purpose? What if the pain was meant in some way to be a light to others? What if that mistake we made, and the consequences that followed, could be shared as a way of helping others avoid failing in the same way?

Perhaps Jesus is talking in these first two verses of our passage about how we are better suited to be witnesses from our failures in life rather than from the triumphs we accomplish. If so, our secrets may become our greatest testimony following the resolution and consequences that come from revealing the truth.

Moving to the last two verses in our passage, we read, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (v. 24-25)

Jesus promises that God will return to us the actions and attitude we give others. That means if we keep secrets from others, the world will feel like it is keeping secrets from us. That also means if we are genuine, generous, and grateful, then the world will be genuine, generous, and grateful back to us.

Jesus cautions us to take care of what we pay attention to. The things we focus on will shape who we become, and once we have begun developing habits leading us in one direction, it is more difficult to change course.

Jesus wants each of us to pay attention and be intentional about who we follow – because who we follow has the power to shape who we are and who we become in the future. It is critical for us to be extra selective of the things we let into our lives because our future life depends on it.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open these challenges by saying, intentionally seek God first in your life and intentionally focus on Jesus and what He has done for you. Jesus is the only place you can find light that leads to eternal life, and Jesus is the only One worthy of our faith, hope, trust, and belief!

Also, as I regularly challenge you by saying in one way or another, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself – and specifically focus in on the four gospels to learn more of what Jesus is like. Jesus came to show us what God the Father is like and if you have a picture of God the Father that is not the same as your picture of Jesus, then Jesus came to help fix your picture of God. Jesus wants you to know that God the Father loves you and God the Father is a big reason why Jesus faced the cross as a sacrifice for your sins!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or turn away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!