This past Tuesday I came into the office fairly early in the morning. As I walked from the door toward my office, it was dark inside. No problem. It’s a wide passage, one I’m familiar with, so I don’t feel the need to walk carefully. Only on this Tuesday, some cabinets were going to be installed in the youth pastor’s office which is next to mine and those cabinets were sitting alongside the counter just outside the offices, waiting to be installed.
I was walking fairly briskly in the darkness through what I thought was an open space, when my thigh rammed the corner of the cabinet. I dropped my backpack and bent over in pain.
One of the Biblical metaphors for the human condition and God’s work in remedying that condition is the metaphor of darkness and light. Humanity without God is wandering in darkness. In the darkness people are lost. In the darkness people get hurt. Jesus came as the light of the world. God’s kingdom is a kingdom of light. As Christians, ambassadors of God to a dark world, we are bearers of light.
In our passage today, Jesus has some things to say to us about that.
(Again, the gospels, though accurate and reliable, are not biographies. They are not written to give an account of Jesus’ whole life and history. Rather, they focus almost exclusively on the three-year ministry of Jesus, and even then, devote over a third of their material to the last week of his life, the time of his crucifixion and resurrection.
Each of the gospel writers had his own agenda: Matthew wrote for a Jewish audience, and emphasized Jesus as fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Luke highlighted Jesus’ concern for those considered less valuable in that society: prostitutes, the poor, foreigners, women, tax collectors, and so on. John’s particular focus was on Jesus’ as the Son of God So each gospel records Jesus’ life and ministry from a particular perspective.
Mark’s gospel is the simplest and most straightforward. His agenda is simply to record the essential facts of what Jesus said and did. His gospel reads like an action story, with very little in the way of lengthy discourse. Mark outlines Jesus’ person, life and ministry, and Matthew, Luke and John color it in for us. That is a bit of an oversimplification, but not much. And if you need to get familiar with Jesus, Mark is the best place to start.)
As a writer, Mark groups his material to highlight certain themes. For example, in chapters 2 & 3, he records five episodes that demonstrate the increasing hostility Jesus faced from the religious leaders.
Today’s passage comes in the middle of several parables that Mark groups together as representative of Jesus’ teaching.
The single great theme of Jesus teaching, in all the gospels, is the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the reign of God, it is the sphere in which God’s will is carried out, his values lived. In the kingdom of God goodness is honored, love and integrity and wholeness and wisdom are characteristic. It is where sin and darkness and all that is antithetical to God is pushed back. Injustice and poverty and sickness are diminished. Jesus came, above all, as the inaugurator of God’s kingdom. He did that by dying on the cross for our sins to redeem a fallen humanity. But you also see him in the gospels bringing wholeness and acceptance one life at a time. You have him teaching at length about what it means for us to live as citizens of that kingdom: forgiveness, generosity, and so on.
In today’s passage, Jesus talks about the role we play in the establishment and advancement of God’s kingdom. He starts with a question, the answer to which is obvious: Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Of course not! That’s just plain foolish, like deliberately putting the lens cap back on before taking a picture. No, Jesus says, Instead don’t you put the lamp on its stand? A light that is hidden is no help in dispelling darkness.
Jesus said in John 8:12 I am the light of the world. We as Christians are people into whose lives the light of Christ has shone. He has brought forgiveness, fullness of life, restoration of relationship with God. Through Christ we have been brought out of a kingdom of darkness, and into God’s kingdom, a kingdom of light.
But Jesus also said, You are the light of the world. In other words, now that we have the light, we are called to be bringers of that light to those yet in darkness. The Bible also calls it being a witness for Jesus, or ministers of God’s reconciliation, or God’s ambassadors. However you call it, our world is a dark world and people need Jesus. it is us whom he calls to shine his light into the darkness.
We have been given a lamp, and all around us is darkness. So what do we do? Do we hide it under a bowl or a bed? The right answer, we know, is “Of course not!” Except we sheepishly have to admit, we do actually hide the lamp. We know it’s dumb, but we do it. We know it does not help anyone but we hide it nonetheless.
We hide the light of Christ under a bowl or a bed.
Maybe your bowl is apathy: you frankly don’t care that people are in darkness. Not that you are glad people are in darkness, but they do not occur to you. We are more concerned with the fact that the praise time is too short (or too long) than we are concerned about the fact that people all around us are in darkness. So often in churches we just frankly care more about the things that matter less. Is that you?
Maybe your bowl is a lack of ‘fuel for your lamp’, to mix metaphors: you’re starving the light by consistently ignoring the twin practices of prayer and Scripture. The light of Christ is dimming in your life and the light, rather than shine, barely glows at all. Is that you?
Maybe you hide your light under the bed of fear: “What will people say if I talk about Jesus? Will I sound awkward, or pushy, or forced? Will people think less of me? Will I be embarrassed?” Is that you?
Maybe it’s the bed of money or comfort: we don’t shine the light because we’re too preoccupied with making the extra money, or accumulating the nicer stuff, or paying off a mortgage of a house that’s $30 thousand more than we really needed. The value of “More! Better!” tends to cover up the light, as we seek first those things rather than God’s kingdom. Our culture, even our Christian families, often encourage us to consider our own future security before God’s kingdom. Over time I’ve often heard things like “Don’t waste a year in Bible School”, or “God may be calling you to mission or ministry, but it’d be wise to learn a career first, just in case”, or “Being a pastor isn’t a wise career move. Pastors don’t make much.” Have you heard or said that? Are you sacrificing your light on the altar of comfort, security and even luxury? Is that you?
The biggest “bowl”, however, is busyness. No question. In our culture and in our church the single greatest factor that hinders us is that people are too busy. We don’t read and pray because time is a premium. We don’t build relationships with people who need the light because we’re too busy. We don’t exercise our giftedness in the church’s mission of bringing light because we’re too busy. Is that you?
Whatever the “bowl” or “bed”, we have lots of reasons why our light is hidden. But the fact remains that in a world that is dark, the light of the world is still Jesus, and if we do not shine him, there is no hope.
What does it mean for us to shine? Well, it includes a number of things.
Good deeds, for example. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, Let your light so shine before people that they might see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
You shine when you demonstrate integrity, generosity, self-control, compassion, humility, charity and grace toward people. When we forgive and do not get defensive when someone hurts us. We shine when we remember that it’s only money (and not even our money, for that matter, but God’s), and treat it accordingly. Essentially, we shine by living differently than many people live.
We also shine by actively sharing, by speaking of God and Jesus Christ to people. When we are told of a particular crisis in one’s life, we simply say, “I’ll pray for you.” When someone asks what we did this weekend, and we mention that we went to church and why that matters to us, we shine. When we are open with others about Jesus and how he has made such a difference in our lives, we shine.
We shine by being a part of the church’s ministry. When you teach the five year olds in Sunday School, or you’re a teenager and you go talk to a first-time comer to youth, or you invite a friend to church, or you pray for our outreach ministry: you are a vital part of helping your church shine the light of Christ.
We have the light, and we want to put it on its stand, not under a bowl or a bed.
Jesus said, Do you bring in a lamp only 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. Just a few verses earlier, he had told his disciples, The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. See, in Jesus, as we said, the kingdom of God had come and was pushing back the kingdom of darkness. At this point in the gospel, of course, that had only just begun, and people did not understand. But Jesus was making it known to his disciples and eventually, in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they would understand and, under the power of the Holy Spirit of God, they would proclaim the kingdom of God over centuries and across the world. The secret was out. What was concealed is being made known.
Then Jesus leaves the metaphor of light and employs another one. He talks in terms of a measuring basket. People then, as now, measured items for sale in the market: a pound of apples, a gallon of milk, a bushel of grain. Jesus says, 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 he has will be taken from him.
Here’s the “kingdom of God principle” Jesus is talking about (and remember, this is in the context of shining the light of Christ): Our experience of the kingdom (what is measured to us) is directly proportionate to our sharing of that kingdom (the measure we use).
Our mission as a church is to “know Christ and make him known”. How well we know him depends on how well we make him known. We often assume, I think, that first we need to grow strong as a church in order to effectively reach out. That is not a right assumption. In fact, we grow strong by reaching out.
Philemon verse 6 says, I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
You have heard me share this before, but please allow me to say it again:
What are the things we really desire to see in this church, and even the things we know God wants to see here?
- Heartfelt, passionate worship of God? The Bible: that as we are actively committed to shining the light of Christ to those in darkness, we will understand more fully God’s goodness to us in Christ. That will certainly evoke a deeper worship.
- How about greater joy? When we see God’s kingdom breaking into the lives of people, when we see people who were in darkness coming into the light of Christ, wouldn’t that fill your heart with joy? The angels in heaven celebrate when a sinner comes to repentance, Jesus said. Wouldn’t you do the same?
- How about loving relationships, a greater sense of community here? Serving in the trenches together in our mission of making Christ known will bind us together much more than any potluck ever could.
- Maybe you think more people involved in the ministries of the church is what we need. I tell you, nothing gets people excited about being involved more than the knowledge that they’re a part of something great, that is making a visible difference in people. If people are coming to the light through this church, we’ll have more volunteers than opportunities for service.
We need to pay attention, intentionally and urgently, to devote ourselves to the salvation of people, to bring light to the darkness. The most effective way to grow spiritually as individuals is to increase the shine factor in our own lives. Because with the measure we use, it will be measured to us. Our experience of God and his kingdom will be directly proportional to our sharing and shining the light of Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus says something troubling: For whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
To the extent that we shine the light of the kingdom, we will have an impact, and bear fruit, and experience the favor of God. To the extent that we hide the light, even the light we do have will diminish in our own life, and in our church.
Some of you may be wondering why church can sometimes seem lifeless and flat, or why a sense of revival and renewal seems to be slow in coming, or why in your own life your faith seems so status quo. I wonder if we became more outward oriented, shared more of God’s heart for lost people, that God himself would blow in with a fresh wind, and fan into flame again the coals of our faith. I am convinced that he would.
Jesus told a story in Matthew 25 about a rich man who goes away for an extended period. Before he leaves, he entrusts his resources to his servants to manage in his absence: five portions, two portions and one portion respectively. After a long time, the man returns home, and calls his servants in for a meeting, for them to give an account of how they’ve managed his resources. The first one, the one with five portions, says, “Look, I’ve doubled your assets!” The man says, “Good job! You’ve proven faithful with a little bit. Now I’ll entrust you with a lot.” The servant with the two portions says, “I’ve done the same: doubled the assets you entrusted to me.” Again, the wealthy man says, “You’ve just earned a bonus and a promotion. You’ve been faithful with a little bit. I feel safe putting you in charge of a lot.”
But the third servant says, “I know you’re a pretty tough boss, so I was afraid of blowing it. So I just kept your resources hidden away, and now here it is.” To this servant the man said, “You wicked, lazy servant. Yeah, I’m a hard master. So you could at least have put the money in the bank and earned interest. You’re fired!” And he gives his portion to the first guy, who started with five and ended with ten.
God entrusts us with things: money (however many thousand a year), a home, a car, abilities and talents, experiences that have formed us, 24 hours a day (the same amount Jesus had!)…
For what purpose does God bless us like that? Because he is good? That is part of it. But God gives us resources so that we will use them in the service of the kingdom. God graciously (and astonishingly!) lets me own a home and a car and put food on my table. But primarily God entrusts me with things in order that I might be able to shine the light of Christ. And if I hide away what he has given (that is,ignore my gifts and abilities, or let myself be deceived into thinking that the house, car and paycheque aren’t God’s) and do not use it for his purposes, why should he trust me with more?
From a kingdom-of-God perspective, with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. If you are generous with our resources for God’s sake, he will be generous with his kingdom resources to you, which will in turn enable us to be even more generous. If we hide the lamp under a bowl or bed, the light will eventually dim in our own lives. If we display the lamp, in our own hearts the light of Christ will burn hotter, brighter.
As a church, as we prove faithful with what we have been given (people, a building, strong finances and amazing gifts in you), God will bless. If not, he will not bless. Why should he? God, like any wise person, invests his resources and energy where there will be a pay-off.
People are wandering in darkness. God gives flashlights and batteries to those churches and people who will shine the light into the darkness and distribute the lights.
To the extent that we shine the light of the kingdom, we will have an impact, and bear fruit, and experience the favor of God. To the extent that we hide the light, even the light we have will diminish in our own life, and in our church.
So how do we respond to Jesus’ words?
Well, first of all, it is worth remembering that lights do not grit their teeth and really try hard to shine. They simply shine. Nor do you have to understand wave and particle theory in order to operate a light. Nor do we need more training in order to shine the light of Christ. It’s simpler than that.
So, how can we do it? How can you put your light on its stand?
Let me suggest a number of things:
- begin to pray, even a few minutes each day. Pray that your light will shine. Prayer does several things. It moves the hand of God in the lives of people for whom you pray. It also changes your heart so that you become more aware of people in darkness. You begin to notice people, as God’s concern for them gets cultivated in you. (I find that happening in my own life, and I find myself often praying for someone: like the guy I bought lunch for, or the woman I saw taken to an ambulance this week, or the people in the gym where I exercise.) Begin to pray.
- Get involved in your church’s ministry of outreach. When there is an opportunity to deliver a food hamper, take it and bless the life of someone in need. Visit a seniors’ home. Volunteer in a food bank (and shine the light not only on the clients but on your fellow volunteers).
- Stay connected with people who do not know Jesus. Statistically, within a couple years of someone coming to faith, they no longer have good friendships with people who are not Christian. Hopefully this is because all their non-Christian friends find Jesus, but often it’s because we become so immersed in church culture that we forget Jesus is concerned primarily with those still in the dark. It has been said, with some truth to it, that the church is the only organization that exists solely for the benefit of its non-members. So we need to stay in relationships where our lights can shine. So if you play hockey or baseball, or live in a community, or volunteer at the library, or go on seniors’ outings, then begin to consider those as opportunities to shine, to live in a way that reveals Christ, and to speak of him as appropriate.
- Join a mothers-who-care group and be involved in praying for your child’s school.
- Initiate spiritual conversations with your co-workers. Tell them you’ll pray for them if they tell you their marriage is hurting, or they’re having some medical tests done.
Or if you can think of a specific and concrete opportunity for you, shine in whatever context it provides.
God’s light – the Lord Jesus! – has shined on us, on you. He has poured out on us, on you, a measure of his kingdom.
Please, do not hide the light. Please, do not share the gospel. Shine, and you will find God’s light growing brighter in your own life. Share Jesus and you will find that you yourself will know him more.
AMEN.