3rd Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 28th January 2021 — Gospel: Mark 4,21-25
Live to Witness
Jesus uses a common object such as ‘lamp’ that is familiar to home setting. The lamp is a clay dish filled with oil, with a wick put into the oil. The lamp here represents truths which Jesus has imparted to his disciples. These truths are not to be put under a basket or under a bed, but out in the open for men to see. The ‘bushel’ basket may represent business, which will steal the time that should be given to the Lord. The ‘bed’ may speak of comfort or laziness. However both are enemies of evangelism, i.e. sharing the truth. The disciples are called to shed God’s light and reveal his truth. Light and truth are to be the character, the very nature and behaviour of the disciples. But they could not “give out” without first “taking in”. The underlying truth is hidden to all men but made known to followers of Jesus. The divine intention is that the disciples will explain those hidden truths to willing hearts. There is no sense trying to “cover things up” because God will one day reveal all things. In the first place the disciples are to live the truth. Secondly, they are to bear witness to this truth.
