David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 4:21-23

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.”

There are no secrets that will never see the light of day. That’s what Jesus is saying here. That ought to give us all pause, for we are a secretive lot. We hide our finances in foreign secret accounts. We go stealth with our sexual or emotional desires and activities. We keep our power plays at home and at work close to our chests. One day, however, all these will be revealed.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, together with editor Kristinn Hrafnsson, have put together a website that reportedly uncovers secret, classified, and other sensitive information from around the world. The group has released a number of significant documents which have become front-page news items. Early releases included documentation of equipment expenditures and holdings in the Afghanistan war and corruption in Kenya.

But an even greater uncovering awaits the light of God’s truth. For it will shine into the hearts of all people: Assange and Hrafnsson included. More importantly it will shine into your heart and mine as well. For many this is a stunningly fearful thought. We would much rather keep our secrets.

But there is something that turns this into good news: that is the grace and love of God. When God reveals secrets it is to free us from their tyranny. Secrets keep us locked down with fear and foreboding because we fear that we will be judged by them. Jesus’ intent, however, is not to judge us, but to free us. He will take our sins – even our secret sins – upon himself. He will bear the judgment that we deserve. He will remove them from us and open our hearts to his love and salvation.

We cannot hide from God – either ourselves or our actions. But we need not hide from him, for he is seeking to save us and to bring the light of grace and truth into our lives.

Jesus’ promise also encourages us who yearn for His kingdom to come and his will to be done. The reality of Jesus’ righteousness, and rule over all will come to light. The defeat of Satan will see the light of day. The ruse of his power and evil intent will be uncovered. Injustice and deceit will be revealed for what it is.

So let the Son shine! Let the ruse be over. Let the truth be told. For what God that truth is grace-filled and freeing. Let’s have some light indeed!

Mark 4:21-32

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.”

²⁶ And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. ²⁸ The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

³⁰ And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”