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May 1929
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K i n g ' s
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Seed Thoughts From St. Mark By R ev . W ilfred M. H opkins C hapter III.
f DRIED UP HAND—A case of atrophy due to lack of nourishment, so that its vital force was lost. A type of the loss of power to serve Christ through not assimi lating sufficient spiritual nourishment (which in itself is sin) ; i.e., through the neglect of the means of grace or their careless and thoughtless use, so that spiritual power becomes atrophied. [We learn from Luke that it was his right hand, which is the hand of power and service.] 2—WERE WATCHING HIM—The word in the original implies lying in wait with hostile purpose. THAT THEY MIGHT ACCUSE HIM—So they misused and lost the oppor tunity they had of being saved by the Incarnate WORD, as today men misuse the Written Word who simply study it that they may find fault with it, and so also miss the salvation it was intended to convey. 3—STAND UP IN THE MIDST—He knew what they were thinking (cf. Luke 6:8), but that did not hinder Him from doing that which ought to be done, nor did it lead Him to do it in secret. Neither men’s judgment nor their opposition should ever hinder us from the right course or prompt us to avoid their knowledge of our doings. 4—IS IT LAWFUL TO DO GOOD, etc.?—They had asked Him if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath (cf. Matt. 12:10). He does not answer their question (He never does answer idle or caviling questions) but asks them another, applying that higher general law which should govern each particular case— to fail to do good, would be to do evil; to fail to save life, would be to kill. Not petty rules, but broad principles, should govern our actions (except where there is a definite command ment or prohibition). THEY WERE SILENT—They could not answer His question; it was unanswerable; it was impossible to refute the Divine reasoning. [It is noteworthy how skillfully He continually avoided their pitfalls; He was as wise as a serpent as well as harmless as a dove. For such wisdom we should ever pray in our dealings with adversaries.] S—WITH ANGER—A strong word in the original, indi cating fierce wrath. The idea that Christ could not be angry is a false and misleading one (cf. Ps. 2:12). Nor is it true that His anger, of course, was always righteous anger, and such anger is not only Divine, but is sometimes incumbent upon us (cf. Eph. 4:26). The idea that Christ was never angry has done much to foster that pernicious heresy that the God of the Old Testament is not the same as the God of the New. SYM PATHIZING WITH THE CALLOUSNESS OF THEIR HEART (cf. chap. 14:38)—He knew the weakness of the flesh and the power of temptation, and it grieved Him that they yielded to it. He was angry with the sin, but grieved for the sinners, as He ever is. This should be our attitude toward those who fall into sin. Note that the sympathy and the grief do not obviate the punishment. STRETCH FORTH—He again commands the humanly impossible. The way to blessing is to believe that nothing is impossible if He commands it, and to act on that belief. WHOLE AS THE OTHER—What He does He does perfectly and, where there is perfect faith and perfect “No one marked an angry word That ever heard Him speak.”
willingness, immediately; failure, either partial or total, is always on our part, not His. 6— COUNSEL WITH THE HERODIANS—The Pharisees professed to be a religious people whose King was JEHOVAH; the Herodians were semi-unbelievers, a Court Party who favored the power of Herod and of Rome: yet in their hatred of Christ the former were willing to cooperate with the latter. So the Church today enters into compact with the world that it may accomplish its purposes, at the sacrifice of the truth. The Phar isees hated Christ because He exposed their failings, refused their teaching, and put them to silence. 7— JESUS RETIRED . . . TO THE SEA—He never ran into danger needlessly, but always avoided it until the hour was come; then it never hindered Him. We are not to be fool hardy in order that we may not be cowards. 8— IDUMAEA . . . TYRE AND SIDON—Descendants of Esau and Gentiles. The gathering of the peoples to Him (cf. Gen. 49:10), typical of His world-wide dominion. Note the ful fillment of the Old Testament prophecy. HOW GREAT THINGS HE DID—Attracted not by His teaching, but by His works. The world is still attracted rather by results than by doctrine, though the latter is indispensable. 9— THAT A LITTLE BOAT SHOULD ATTEND CON STANTLY—Henceforth He would preach in the open air, rather than in the Synagogue, (1) because of the crowds, (2) be cause of the official rejection of His message and His person. 10— HE HAD HEALED MANY—Comparatively few of His miracles are recorded (this fact precludes a forged story, which would have been full of them) ; there would be a multitude of witnesses to the truth of the Gospels living when they were written (cf. 1 Cor. 15:6). PRESSED HIM—Literally “fell upon Him,” so eager were they to touch Him. PLAGUES—Lit erally “scourges” ; the word in the original denotes “whips.” Diseases are not natural and inevitable, they are “scourges,” i.e., punishments for evil (not necessarily the evil of the diseased, for we have to suffer both for the sins of other men and for those of humanity). Behind all this eagerness, however, there was no spiritual force; it was wholly for physical benefits. 11— WHEN THEY SAW HIM—A definite statement of their personality; they "were not mere effects of disease. FELL DOWN—Why should they have fallen down before a mere carpenter? THE SON OF GOD—Not “a son of God” ; being spirits they were in a position to know, and their testimony is invaluable. 13—GOETH UP INTO A MOUNTAIN—To pray all night (cf. Luke 6:12, 13). How constantly He was in communion with His Father; and note that to be so, He got away from the world, and by Himself. An example that we should eagerly and constantly follow. CALLETH . . . WHOM HE HIMSELF WOULD—A reminder that He has the authority and power to choose His messengers. For that call we should always wait; without it we go forth in vain. AND THEY COME—Happy are men when they thus obey His call; such obedience is the path alike of duty, privilege, and honor. .14—HE APPOINTED TWELVE—The same number as the sons of Jacob and the foundations of the New Jerusalem. He called them Apostles (cf. Luke 6:13). The word means a Messenger, one who is sent forth, or an Ambassador. These men were to be the Pillars and Princes of the Church, which we can-
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