the same kind. But it is in the section of the Gospel beginning at chap. iii. 7, and extending to chap. vi. 13, that the disciples pro- perly come to the front. An intention on the part of the evangelist to give them prominence is betrayed in the pointed way in which he refers to them in iii. 7: “And Jesus with the disciples withdrew towards the sea”.* A little further on in the same chapter we read of the retirement of Jesus to the mountain with a band of disciples, out of which He selects an inner circle of ¢welve.2 And at various points in this division of the Gospel the disciple-band is referred to in a way to indicate that they are assuming a new importance to the mind of Jesus.*
7. This importance was due in part to dissatisfaction with the result of the general ministry among the people. Jesus had preached often, and healed many, in synagogue and highway, and had become in consequence the idol of the masses who gathered in increasing numbers from all quarters, and crowded around Him wherever He went, as we read in chap. iii. 7-12. But this popularity did not gratify Him; it rather bored Him. He did not weary in well-doing, but He was disappointed with the outcome. This disappointment found expression in the parable of the sower, which was really a critical estimate of the synagogue ministry to this sad effect: much seed sown; little fruit. From this comparatively fruitless ministry among the many, Jesus turned with yearning to the susceptible few in hope to find in them a good soil that should bring forth ripe fruit, thirty, sixty, or even an hundred fold. After a long enough time had elapsed to make it possible to form an estimate of the spiritual situation, He judged that in a disciple-circle lay His only chance of deep permanent influence. Hence He naturally sought to extricate Himself from the crowd, and to get away from collisions with un- sympathetic scribes, that He might have leisure to indoctrinate the chosen band ir the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Leisure, quiet, retirement—that more and more was His aim.
8. This desire for opportunity to perform the functions of a master is made more apparent by Mark than by the two other synoptists. He comes far short of them in his report of Christ's teaching, but he brings out much more clearly than they Christ's desire for undisturbed intercourse with the twelve, the reasons for it, and the persistent efforts of the Master to accomplish His object. It is from his pages we learn of the escapes of Jesus from the crowds
1 μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν stands before ἀνεχώρησεν in the best texts. ? Chap. iii. 13. 3 Vide iii. 31-35; iv. 10-25; vi. 7-13.