Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 96

1 Peter 3:18 "That He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit."

Day 96 – Mark 4

“That He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

ENIGMATIC STATEMENTS

The parable about The Sower may be considered a long parable. Some parables were much shorter. Sometimes, Jesus did little more than to give a thought-provoking statement, like this one. All these things reflected the teaching skills of the Master.

“Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put
under a basket or under a bed?
Is it not to be set on a lampstand?'”
MARK 4:21

THE USE OF RHETORICAL QUESTIONS

A rhetorical question was not meant to receive an answer. It was a special way of speaking. The answer is so obvious that an answer was considered unnecessary.

1. Is a lamp brought forth to be put under a basket?

2. Is a lamp brought forth to be put under a bed?

The answer to both these questions would be an obvious “No!”

3. Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

The answer, this time round, is an assured “Yes!”

WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THESE STATEMENTS?

The answer may be found in the following statement.

“For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed,
nor has anything been kept secret but that it should
come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:22-23

1. The Seed sown in hearts

The outcome would be as obvious as a lamp put on a lampstand!

2. How the Word of God is received

How did the multitudes receive the Word preached? One may pretend to hear, but the outcome would reveal whether any genuine effort had been put in to hear the Word. We will not be able to hide anything!

3. Challenge to hear well

Ears are God’s gifts to mankind. How we use our ears is entirely up to us. How wonderful it would be if we hear the Word of God well, and we produce fruit, thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold. How sad it would be if nothing good resulted from having heard the Word of God! The lamp cannot but shine on a lampstand!