Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Mark 6-7
Mark 7:24
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
He could not be hidden. This is Jesus of whom this verse is speaking. He could not be hidden away. After all, the Lord Himself said, …I am the light of the world… (John 8:12). Light cannot be hidden. It can be covered, turned off, or shaded, but light is piercing, it invades the darkness and the darkness flees.
Consider the sun. A person can cover themselves so that the sun does not shine on them, they may hide from the sun, but the sun is never hidden. It shines through the gloom of storm clouds; it radiates beyond those darkened clouds. The silver lining around them testifies that the sun still shines behind them.
Christ, like the sun, cannot be hidden away. He shines through the lives of His believers. For not only did Christ say that He was the light of the world He also said, Ye are the light of the world… (Matthew 5:14). Through the faithful converts to His gospel He shines bright throughout this dark world. Every good work, every alms, every kind word or gesture, every drink given to a thirsty soul shines forth His glory, for those works glorify Him. He that is glorified cannot be hidden for through His glory He shines forth light into a dark and dismal planet.
He, Himself, tried to hide Himself, but He could not be hid. Those healed of Him would naturally tell others of their story of healing. “I was blind but Jesus touched my eyes and now I see!” “I was deaf, but Jesus touched my ears and now I hear!” “I was a leper, but Jesus cleansed the leprosy from my body!” Can you hear their joyful testimonies? Others who would hear of their healing would probably move heaven and earth to find Him so they could be healed too. Someone would see Him enter a home, and forthright that home would be surrounded by those needing healing.
These healings testified of His power and person. Nicodemus, the Pharisee that came to Jesus by night, almost had it right when he said, …Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:2). Yes, he was almost right. Where he missed it was that Jesus was not just a “teacher” He was God in the flesh, the Messiah, the Emmanuel. It was evidently the healings that drew Nicodemus to Jesus. John 3 always leaves a question mark in the heart of the reader. Was that Pharisee born again that night? According to John 19:39-40 perhaps he was, either at that time or another.
Back to the point. Jesus could not be hidden, cannot be hidden. This is a provoking thought, a challenge, even a source of conviction for today. If we are healed from every sin, forgiven of every wrongdoing, and saved eternally, how can we, or why would we try to hide Him away? Fear? The joy of salvation should overcome fear. “I once was lost but now I am found!” How can we not share that good news with everyone else who has a sin problem? But, yet, sooner or later, even the most backslidden among us will testify of Him, for it is a truth, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World cannot be hid.
Dr. William T. Howe
Comments