The Light of the World


Mark 4:21-25
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “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. 25 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.”

If you’ve ever attended Sunday School, chances are very good that you’ve sung “This Little Light of Mine”. This passage conjures up those old memories and the tune chases itself around in the brain (sometimes relentlessly). But once again, I am drawn away from the trivialized version of the passage that we’ve worn out and instead wondering about a deeper, more challenging concept. Perhaps this passage isn’t about me and my ability to share Jesus, but instead it is about Jesus and the mystery of God’s plan that He reveals with His very life.

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In John’s Gospel, we find Jesus calling Himself the Light of the World. If we keep that in mind as we read Mark’s words, this passage takes on a different hue. Suddenly this passage isn’t about me sharing the Gospel (which is vital – don’t get me wrong here) but instead it is about Jesus and the great mystery of God’s plan that His presence here on earth begins to reveal. Jesus introduces us to a view of God that is brand new in His incarnation as the Christ.

The natural and best way to understand this is as follows: The reign and rule of God and the age to come have come proleptically and in principle in Jesus and are to a large extent hidden, since (1) Jesus does not regularly manifest his glory, (2) the old age is still with us, and (3) the work of Satan is not gone. But it will not always be so. Full revelation and sight will occur, first at Jesus’ resurrection—“there you will see him, just as he told you” (16:7)—and then at the Parousia—“you will see that the Son of Man is sitting at the right hand of the Power” (14:62 [cf. 13:26]). This is confirmed, as it were, by the transfiguration (9:2–8), which shows Jesus in glory as he is declared to be the Father’s beloved Son (9:7).
Voelz, J. W. ©2013. Concordia Commentary: Mark 1:1–8:26. (pp. 309–310). St. Louis, MO: CPH.

Throughout the Scriptures we are reminded that God is mysterious. He reveals Himself as He desires and we can never fully grasp His glory or His plans until (and if) He decides to enlighten us. Now Jesus comes to let the Light of His glory be revealed (to some extent) and we are the grateful recipients of that revelation. He closes these thoughts with the fact that some may look Him square in the eye and yet still not be able to see God looking back at them. They see, yet don’t see, and hear, but don’t hear. Please Lord, let us not be those deaf, blind people.

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