Mark 4:21-25 ~

Reproduction of an Oil Lamp used during the days of Jesus.

Mark 4:21-25

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.”

There isn't a wasted word in the passage.  It reminds me of the two different occasions I've discussed this passage.  The first time I was a teenager with a small youth group of about 5 people with a lovely priest named Bill Clarkson (who we discovered from a Tommy Lee Jones interview they are very good friends and Bill Clarkson is a Priest, Head Master for a boys school in Atlanta).  And later in a prayer group, it was the same topic.

Why are some miracles secret? 

Matthew 8:4

And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Mark 7:36

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.


John 4:48
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

Daniel 6:27

He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Mark 11:28

and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?

John 6:26

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

John 6:30

So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

And consider how Jesus healed. He went into Jairus' daughter room and put people out to heal. The deaf man who was healed privately and in an understandable and personal manner, Jesus reached out to touch, to heal, to love.

It is amazing what God does. We say as Christians - we are the hands and feet of God. We underestimate God.

Ephesians 3:18-19

may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

God loves us individually. Jesus knew people by name. The passage of Ephesians means you. For you to know. 

When Jesus encountered the Pharisees - they were never pleased. Jesus answered, 

Luke 19:39,40

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Matthew 21:16

and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”


Numbers 22:28
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Let's add to this with a personal experience. I went up to Father Bill Nelson at Christ Church in Plano, Texas to express awe and wonder at the healing of my mom's thyroid tumor. Father Bill Nelson replied with firmness, "I was there, but the power is always the Holy Spirit of God in Jesus Christ."  My mom was healed in public at the Church altar rail during a Wednesday morning healing and prayer.

Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

How do we know about Jairus' daughter's healing? Secrets were told. Proclaimed. John tells us in the end of his Gospel - Jesus did so many things. Protestant Churches have miracles every day. Why don't they band together to have a Protestant Church reporting miracles division? The Catholic Church does and it is fabulous. Why doesn't the Catholic Church research Protestant Miracles? They should all do this. If it is from God, we can pray about it and it will be established.

For all the things we want to do, to live, to accomplish, for the prayers we give to Father God giving Him our honest thoughts, we rest in HIM. Abiding in Him. Waiting upon HIM. Giving Justice with Mercy, Walking Humbly with JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Praying for the way God sends us in Ministry. 

 Luke 10:1
 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.



Psalm 17:1-7
 
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
² From your presence let my vindication come!
    Let your eyes behold the right!

³ You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
    you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
⁴ With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
⁵ My steps have held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

⁶ I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
     incline your ear to me; hear my words.
⁷  Wondrously show your steadfast love

In the Name of Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen.  

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