A Lamp On A Stand (Mark 4:21-25)

Why does Jesus speak in parables? There are many parables spoken by the Lord Jesus. These parables reveal the secrets of the kingdom of God. The parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl, and the parable of the net. Those are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 13. Parable is a condensed story which plainly explains the things in it like how it is, why it is, what it is. It is like a double-edged sword. It may trigger the sense of hearers that they want to know more what the hidden deeper meanings are. Or, some might just pass by, thinking that they know already it. We shall not be the latter because we cannot simply pass by. It is designed to deliver the significant messages and revelations on the kingdom of heaven. One phrase repeated many times here is “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” It means that we shall be carefully attentive to what the Lord says. We may miss a meal. We may miss a TV show. We may miss a vacation. But we cannot miss his words of truth which tells and reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of God. How do we do it in the midst of challenges and difficulties? Life is not a joke, nor a game. It is a serious matter. The Scripture says so. Our Lord Jesus tells the parables for humanity to learn the secrets of life designed and made by God in his infinite wisdom and knowledge. Why do we not, then, paying careful attention to what he says?

“He said to them, ‘Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’ ‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’” (Mark 4:21-25)

It is obvious that no one puts a lamp under a basket or a bed. Instead, everyone puts it on its stand. The lamp is to shine and give light in the darkness. What does it tell? It tells a significant truth. Some may think that they could hide something all the way to the tomb. Not so. Why cannot anyone hide anything at all? Because God is light. Light reveals all things as in the daylight. All things include not only the visible but the invisible. In fact, the visible things are all but the manifestation of the invisible things. God sees and knows our hearts and minds. He knows the deep things of humanity. God’s eyes are like blazing fire in whom nothing is hidden and concealed. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) Our Lord Jesus says, “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:3) That is what the lamp is for. It reveals all things. Nothing can be hidden or unknown in the sight of God.  

What is the lamp then? In the parable of the sower, Jesus tells that he sows the seed which is the word. The word of God is the lamp. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God sows his word in the hearts of mankind to listen and pay careful attention what it is and why it is and how it is. Because it tells the reality and truth of humanity. It tells that we are helplessly lost and fallen. It tells that we are poor and inadequate in spirit. It tells that God loves us so dearly. It tells that Jesus Christ is the Messiah God sent. It tells that there is the end of the world and the beginning of the new beginning. It tells that we shall rejoice even in the sufferings and trials. It tells that Christ in us, the hope of glory. It tells that as the Son in the Father and God in the Son, so also we in Christ and Christ in us. It tells that we are born again and united with Christ through the blood and share his glory as heir of God and co-heir with Christ. it tells that there is an evil who has rebelled against God. it tells that the devil is not in the league of God but a creature made by him who rules and reigns all things. It tells that no one has seen God except Christ the Son who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of him, sustaining all things by his powerful word. It tells that God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. Without the lamp, it would have not been known. That is why the Scripture is given. It is a gift from heaven above for those who read, understand, accept, and obey the precepts and statues.

“Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

Why is the lamp given? TO MEASURE! So, we shall measure what we hear. How shall we measure? How shall we understand and accept the word of God? How shall we read, study, and take it? How shall we carefully hear it? It is so significant how to measure it because with the measure we use it will be measured to us and even more. The Amplified Translation writes this way, “Then He said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]--and more will be given to you besides.’” (Mark 4:24) The right way of measurement in our study of the Scriptures is that we accept and put them into practice in our midst. James says so pertinently on this matter of acting on the truth we learn in the Epistle to the saints. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25) So, we shall respond to the word by obedience to the Lord!

What is God’s blessing to those who respond and obey the Lord? “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Mark 4:25) The Amplified Bible translates as this. “For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.” A teachable heart is the heart that is willing to venture out in obedience to the Lord. The commandment of God is to love one another, embracing each other, loving the unlovable, and forgiving the unforgivable. Everyone knows loving enemies is not an easy thing to do, even to the mature. But it is the commandment of God. So, we shall obey just as our Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death. However, it is not possible to obey God with our flesh and blood—dedication and commitment whatever they are. It is only possible in the way our Lord Jesus demonstrated on the cross, giving his whole body to the Father on behalf of the sin of the world. Jesus bled and died for our sins and transgressions just as it was prophesied in the Scripture. Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death because it was the will of God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is called the mystery of Christ.

This section, “A lamp on a stand,” is followed by the parable of the sower. There are four kinds of field which the seed is sown. Except the good soil, the three fields bear no fruits at all. The lamp is used to examine and test what kind of heart is. Our God is generously and faithfully sowing the seed for us to examine our hearts. The seed is good and ready to bear fruits. But the other fields will not bear fruits except the good soil. The word is sown in the hearts of mankind, but only a few understand and accept it and bear fruits. It depends on how we measure it. The stubborn heart bears no fruit, being taken away what has been sown. They are like passers-by. They are unteachable because of the hardened heart. Others have no root. They are consumed by the worries of lives, duped by the deceitfulness of wealth, choked by the covertness of other things in the world. God is unfailing and faithful in keeping his promises. They cannot bear fruits as long as they do not pay careful attention to the word as the standard measurement of truth. They cannot but experience all but the emptiness and boredom and meaninglessness in the midst. It is called the wrath of God.  

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

However, those who have good soil, receiving the word and responding by obedience to the Lord, will bear abundant fruits, thirty times, sixty times, and one hundred times. Here it indicates that the blessings of God is increasing, not the other way around. Jesus says more will be given to those who measure rightly and put them into practice. What will be given more? The fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches the revelations of the Scriptures, which gives understandings. It goes on and on as the blessings of heaven. Thirty times, sixty times, and one hundred times! It indicates the blessings of heaven aren’t coming stingily but abundantly. What a promise!

April 22, 2018

© 2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

A Living Stone (1 Peter 2:1-10)

Why doesn’t God bring his beloved children into his kingdom immediately after the rebirth in Christ? Instead, why does he leave them on the earth for a while? So, why does he let them struggle and suffer quite a while in this earth? Jesus says that he is sending his disciples among the wolves. Is it not too dangerous to put his sheep among wolves? Yes, it is dangerous and perilous and risky to live in the world. No doubt. But God remembers his children and knows how to protect them from all sorts of dangers and perils. In fact, he is in charge of taking care of them because he has sent them out all over the places in the world. He is the commander in chief and takes full responsibility for the safest passage to salvation though we may not see and understand how he is. Jesus Christ promises his disciples that he will always be with them, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The reason God let us stay in the earth for a while as sojourners and strangers is to learn how to handle lives in Christ. Trials and sufferings in our midst are divinely and even mysteriously designed by the hand of God even before the creation of the world. We have so many things to learn on earth to prepare for the ages to come, especially the mysteries of God. Apostle Peter teaches us that we are all a holy priesthood in Christ, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Once we were in darkness, but are now in wonderful light. Once we were lost and blind, but now are found in Christ. One we were not his people, but now we are his beloved children.

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-4)

This is essentially part of the previous chapter. Having been redeemed and transformed with the unfathomable price of the blood of the Son, we ought to rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Of course, we know that it is not possible to do all that with our flesh and blood but only possible in the Spirit. It will be so natural that we’ve been made and able to knock down all the evils in Christ for the power of God has been given to us. But it is not an easy passage to learn this truth. It is a long process in time and space to grow up in our salvation which we will experience the fulfillment of God’s promises. Growing in the faith of Christ is solely dependent on God according to his divine program even before time began. What we need is to keep on craving pure spiritual milk, the words of truth. Babies grow just like that. There is no other way for the salvation of lives than the total reliance on Christ and his work on the cross and the resurrection from the dead. If anyone builds a house on other grounds than Christ Jesus, they will be ashamed when storms strike. Anyone in Christ may have tasted that the Lord is good if truly born again through the blood of Christ. The Lord is good doesn’t mean that he is like a good uncle or neighbor who seems nice always, but that he is always holy and righteous. The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is not changing case by case, though different infinitely person by person. He remains the same as a holy and righteous God. So, no one can escape the wrath of God whenever and wherever and whatever violated the supreme laws of God. On the other hand, if we keep the commandments of God, we will have peace and rest in him.

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:5-10)

Jesus is the living Stone which was rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him. The language ‘Stone’ is used to indicate and impress the sense of immovability and fixedness. A building is relied on a cornerstone to stand up straight and firm. If anything in the building doesn’t depend on the cornerstone it wouldn’t be able to escape the severe loss. That’s what it means Jesus is the living Cornerstone. If anyone doesn’t believe in him, they will not be able to escape the righteous judgment of God on the Day of the Lord. People who reject him cannot find a way out on the last day. Anyone, however, trusts in him will be saved safe and secure in the midst of challenging and dangerous lives on earth. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The Messiah came to the world according to the Scriptures. But when he came into the world, into his own people, they didn’t recognize him, nor accepted him as the Promised One to come. Despite of the evidences which could prove him that he was, the people rejected and handed him to the hands of the Gentiles to crucify him on a cross. Indeed, they crucified the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. But the Lord crucified was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. The power of death couldn’t get hold of the Lord in the cold tomb. On the third day, the resurrection power of God made the dead alive forever. That much power has secured the cornerstone into its right place forever. So, how much are we supposed to rely on Christ? Everything, from A to Z. Why? Because he is the giver of all things, life, love, peace, joy, power, authority, praise, honor, glory. He created all things that has been made for him and through him. He is the head of all things. He is the beginning and the end. He knows all and all things will be united through him. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’” (John 14:6-7)

As we come unto him, the cornerstone, we also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In Christ, we also are like living stones because we are being built into a house where our God indwells forever. The image of stone is used to indicate the irrevocability of God’s high calling (Romans 11:29). Our God is steadfast and faithful to keep all of his promises. With what purpose are we called as living stones? To be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Levitical laws teach what the work and service of priesthood is. The priests offer sacrifices on behalf of the people who bring the gifts and sacrifices to God. Only the Levitical priesthood can serve the Lord, entering into the holy place to offer sacrifices acceptable to God. Only the high priest is allowed to enter into the holy of holies once a year. No ordinary man is allowed to enter the holy place. If they attempt to try to enter the forbidden place in the Tabernacle, they should pay the price of life. Why does God strictly forbid non-priesthood to enter into the holy place at all? Because he is holy. Without the help of priesthood, no one can come to the Lord according the Law of Moses.

That’s why anyone in Christ is called a holy priesthood. Without being made a royal priesthood and a holy nation, no one can access to the holy resident of God. The Holy Spirit of God has made his holy resident in our hearts at the most exquisite moment of conversion experience through the blood of Christ Jesus. We’ve been cleansed and purified by the blood, and so God has made his indwelling place within us. We’ve been delivered and liberated from the bondage of darkness and blindness deceived by the father of lie, the devil. We’ve been called into a marvelous light and become his sons of light. Every believer in Christ has become his holy temple. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) So, now every person in Christ is a holy priesthood and God’s special possession, which enables to enter into the holy of holies through the faith in Christ. What does it mean by that in practice? Romans Chapter 5 explains the practical application of entering into the holy of holies as a royal priesthood. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2) When Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, giving the access to enter into the throne of grace, the holy presence of God through the faith in the Lord Christ. In Christ, we are able to enter into the throne of grace ten times, one hundred times, even one thousand times a day. But not without going through the way of the cross! No cross, no resurrection. No death, no life. In practice, it means we accept and believe the fact that we died with Christ and were buried with him and on the third day raised from the dead with him. Jesus is still telling, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) Our merciful and graceful Lord Jesus gave a Samaritan woman a living water welling up the eternal life. It indicates the Holy Spirit within us. The word of God is in our mouth and heart. Whenever needed, we quickly and speedily run for him who indwells within us forever.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

April 4, 2018

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