The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 18

which occupied thie term are recorded in detail by the other evangeli,te, Matthew and Luke. 1. A. temptation appealing to ordinary bodily wants. 2. A temptation appeal- ing to spiritual pride. 3. A temptation appealing to ambition and the love of power. V. St. Mark implies, what the other evangelist& explicitly record, oun SAVIOUB'R VIOTOBY, I. It wae gained by a holy character, The prince of this world came, and had nothing in him. 2. By a resolute and determined opposition. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 3. Dy the 1188 of the weapons of &ripture, II the devil quoted the Word, ae he can for his purpoaes, Christ had ready the appropriate reply, couched in the words of inspiration. 4. It was a wmplete victory; for the tempter wns foiled at every point. 5. Yet it was a victory which did not preserve the assailed from a renewal of attack. The devil left him for a season, only again to return to do his worst and again and finally to fail. VI. 'l'he period of conflict and resistance was BUcceeded by ANGELIC HINISTBATIONS. The Son of God was encompassed by the services of these messengers from heaven, from his birth to his agony, and from his agony to his resurrection and ascension. How natural that those beings who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation should minister to him who is salvation's Author and Giver! And it is instructive to find that, ss the agency of temptation was not a human agency, so the ministrations which followed were not human ministrations. In what way the angels tended their Lord and did him service, we are not told; whether, as poetic fancy bas feigned, by spreading for him a table in the wilderness, or by soothing his spirit by their sympathy as he emerged from the scene of unparalleled conflict and unparalleled victory. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Let every man expect temptation; it is the common lot, from which the Son of man himself was not exempt. 2. If temptation does not come in one form it will come in another; the tempter adapts himself to age and sex, tem- perament and education, position and character. 3. Let the Christian, when tempted, remember that he has the sympathy and may look for the succour of the High Priest, who was tempted as we are, though without sin. 4. Let the Saviour's mode of meeting and resisting the tempter be prayerfully pondered and copied; the Scriptures furnish the Christian's armoury," 'l'he sword of the Spirit is the Word of God." Vere. 14, 15.-.The Divine Preacher. Christ was known as a Prophet before he was manifested as the Priest and the King of humanity. He came preaching. In these verses is related the fact of a ministry in Galilee. 'l'he occasion was the cessation of John's ministry; the place, that northern province which had been foretold as the scene of the Messiah'!! labours, and in which he had passed the years of his youth. 'fr have here put upon record the substance of the Saviour's preaching. I. CnmsT WAS A PREACJIEB. This fact seems to imply three things. 1. That Jesul regarded men as intelligent, responsible beings. He did not seek to awe or terrify them by portents. He did not attempt to cajole them by complying with their sinful tendencies and prejudices. He did not appeal to superstition. He treated men as beings having an understanding to be convinced, a heart to be affected, a moral nature rendering them susceptible to Divine motives and capable of willing obedience. 2. 'l'hat Jesus had confidence in his message. It was not with that assumption of &uthority which disguises conscious weakness; it was not with the hesitation which betrays suspicion of the weakness of the cause; it was with the confidence of one who 1pea s forth words of truth and sobemess,-that the great Teacher spoke. 3. That Jesus had the assurance that his message would be accepted. His was not a fruitless enterprise. He came with a Divine commission, which should not, could not, be frustrated. His wt rds should not pass aw;,.y ; all should be fulfilled. And Christ's gospel is still to be _iromulgated in the same manner, in the same spirit. Christ's ministers are called upon to flreach-to preach Christ crucified-to preach, wbeti:ier men will hear or forbear. The religion of our Saviour is one which appeals to what is best and purest in human nature enlightened by the Spi1 it of God. IL CHRIST, AS A PREACHER, HADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. 1. An appointed time for a Divine visitation had now arrived. "Known unto God are all his works from the ioundation of the world." '!'here ifl a season for every step in the Divine procedure. That .he advent of the Messiah, and the setting up of a spiritual kingdom, and the bringing in of an evedasting riQ;hteousness, were all foreseen and fo:retold, we are dis-  THE G-OSPE'L ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [011, L 1--4&,,