“and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4.23b, NRSV)
To our rational minds, Jesus’ saying seems impossible. If you have nothing, how can anything be taken away from it? Even Mark’s fellow gospel writers seemed to stumble on Jesus’ enigmatic saying. Luke 8.18 says, “Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” Luke changes the equation to make it more sensible. So what did Jesus have in mind? Did Jesus fail math class in school?
The dilemma might be eased for us a bit if we take into account that Jesus was speaking in one of his favorite modes: the parable. Let’s keep in mind that Jesus wasn’t working out a mathematical equation, but teaching his disciples about the kingdom of God in a parable. If we remember this, we will not confuse our ordinary way of thinking with Jesus’ use of poetic language, which stretches language beyond its normal boundaries. Parables are ordinary stories that get a heavenly twist.
Putting this verse in context we find that Jesus has been speaking “to a very large crowd” near the Sea of Galilee. The crowd consisted of gawkers, followers, and the curious. Mark tells us that Jesus spoke in parables to keep hidden from outsiders (Mark 4.12). Only when he was alone with his disciple did Jesus reveal the inner meaning of his parables. Just as certain groups have inside jokes or stories that only the “in group” gets, so Jesus’ parables functioned as insider information. If we think that Jesus failed math when he told this parable, then we are still outsiders, we don’t get it, yet.
More on this parable the next time.
