Mar 4:24 | KingComments | STEP | After the Lord Jesus has compared the Word to seed sown to bear fruit, He now compares the Word to a lamp ( ; ). Where there is fruit, there is also testimony. The fruit must become a light. The implanted Word not only results in salvation of people and fruit among believers, but also leads to testimony. He speaks “to them”, they are the ones who ask for the explanation ( ). They are now also held responsible for giving testimony. The light received must be dispersed. The spreading of light has nothing to do with the possession or exercise of a gift, but with the new life that Christ is and becomes visible. Just as the seed remains without fruit or produces but little fruit due to certain causes, the light of testimony can also be dimmed due to certain causes. A first cause is the basket. This is a picture of commerce or activity. Activities of all kinds can occupy a person in such a way that there is no room for a testimony to the Lord. Another cause is the bed that can become a large bed like that of Og king of Bashan ( ). This is a picture of laziness and ease. Also because of this, Christians do not bear witness to the Lord Jesus. They prefer an easy life rather than the effort to go out and tell others of Him. The light belongs on the lampstand, so that it is spread unhindered. To be a light is more difficult than speaking to a large group. It is about showing the Lord Jesus as the light in all things of life every day, all day long. The Lord warns that it will become public how our testimony has been. There will come a time when everything that covered the light and prevented it from spreading will come to light. Everything that could not bear the light will be revealed, even the most hidden motives of the heart ( ). The purpose of this warning is that we will be faithful in giving our testimony. The Lord is also saying that the hidden faithful remnant of the Jews will someday be manifested in the future. The little fruit will be seen everywhere. The fact that what He said in secret and is written down here by Mark is also a fulfillment of that word. This word about the light, like His word about the seed ( ), is of personal importance to every listener. In order to both bear fruit and radiate light, we must listen. The call “if a person has ears to hear, let him hear” is therefore an urgent appeal to each of the disciples individually. In listening, the disciples must heed what they hear, for God will act with them according to their faithfulness in the stewardship of the Word entrusted to them. We must heed what we hear, for it is our task to distribute what we ourselves have received. That is why it is important to listen and keep our ear to the ground. Do we get up in the morning with the desire to listen to the Lord ( )? Our spiritual poverty comes to light when we have nothing to share. With the standard of measure with which we measure others, we ourselves will be measured. Only they possess something who distribute it in grace, and they will receive more abundantly ( ). Those who as a matter of fact possess nothing will also lose the pretense of what they possess. For example, the Jews possessed the oracles or words of God ( ), but they did not really possess them because they did not recognize Him about Whom it is all about. Therefore they – the unbelieving Jews – will lose everything that God’s Word contains for them and on which they boast. The same goes for the Christians who are Christians by name only, who confess Christ only with their mouths, but have no new life.

‏ Mark 4:24

Under a Basket or Under a Bed

After the Lord Jesus has compared the Word to seed sown to bear fruit, He now compares the Word to a lamp (Phil 2:15; Psa 119:105). Where there is fruit, there is also testimony. The fruit must become a light. The implanted Word not only results in salvation of people and fruit among believers, but also leads to testimony.

He speaks “to them”, they are the ones who ask for the explanation (Mk 4:10). They are now also held responsible for giving testimony. The light received must be dispersed. The spreading of light has nothing to do with the possession or exercise of a gift, but with the new life that Christ is and becomes visible.

Just as the seed remains without fruit or produces but little fruit due to certain causes, the light of testimony can also be dimmed due to certain causes. A first cause is the basket. This is a picture of commerce or activity. Activities of all kinds can occupy a person in such a way that there is no room for a testimony to the Lord.

Another cause is the bed that can become a large bed like that of Og king of Bashan (Deu 3:11). This is a picture of laziness and ease. Also because of this, Christians do not bear witness to the Lord Jesus. They prefer an easy life rather than the effort to go out and tell others of Him.

The light belongs on the lampstand, so that it is spread unhindered. To be a light is more difficult than speaking to a large group. It is about showing the Lord Jesus as the light in all things of life every day, all day long.

The Lord warns that it will become public how our testimony has been. There will come a time when everything that covered the light and prevented it from spreading will come to light. Everything that could not bear the light will be revealed, even the most hidden motives of the heart (1Cor 4:5).

The purpose of this warning is that we will be faithful in giving our testimony. The Lord is also saying that the hidden faithful remnant of the Jews will someday be manifested in the future. The little fruit will be seen everywhere. The fact that what He said in secret and is written down here by Mark is also a fulfillment of that word.

This word about the light, like His word about the seed (Mk 4:9), is of personal importance to every listener. In order to both bear fruit and radiate light, we must listen. The call “if a person has ears to hear, let him hear” is therefore an urgent appeal to each of the disciples individually.

In listening, the disciples must heed what they hear, for God will act with them according to their faithfulness in the stewardship of the Word entrusted to them. We must heed what we hear, for it is our task to distribute what we ourselves have received. That is why it is important to listen and keep our ear to the ground. Do we get up in the morning with the desire to listen to the Lord (Isa 50:4)?

Our spiritual poverty comes to light when we have nothing to share. With the standard of measure with which we measure others, we ourselves will be measured. Only they possess something who distribute it in grace, and they will receive more abundantly (Pro 11:25). Those who as a matter of fact possess nothing will also lose the pretense of what they possess.

For example, the Jews possessed the oracles or words of God (Rom 3:2), but they did not really possess them because they did not recognize Him about Whom it is all about. Therefore they – the unbelieving Jews – will lose everything that God’s Word contains for them and on which they boast. The same goes for the Christians who are Christians by name only, who confess Christ only with their mouths, but have no new life.