The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 21

Remember that Christ has called you anu is calling you. The burden of hie appeal is this-" Come ye after me I " And, when saved, seek that you may be the means of saving others. 3. For those who, hearing the voice of the Lord Christ, are disposed to obey bis call. Bear in mind that he demands a complete surrender, that he will not be satisfied unless the hoart is dedicated to him, unless, with the heart, all that we have is yielded to his service. There is sure to be something in the way of obeying the Divine and heavenly call. You will, like the fishermen of Galilee, have somethin" to give up in following Christ. Be prepared for this, and count the cost, But, for your soul's sake and for the sake of your salvation, let nothing hinder you from faith and consecration. " Count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.., Vers. 21, 22.-(Jhrist's authority in f-«Jching. This passage informs us of three circumstances connected with our Lord's early Galilean ministry. 1. It was exercised largely in Capernaum, a populous and busy town on the western shore of the Lake of Galilee. This fact exhibits Christ's resolve to mix with the people and to seek their enlightenment and welfare. 2. It was exercised specially on the sabbath days. In this Christ practically asserted his own principle, "The sabbath was made for man." Although a day of physical rest, it was stamped, by the Lord's action, as a day for spiritual activity and influence. 3, It was frequently exercised in the synagogues. These were not, indeed, of Mosaic institution, but had sprung up since the Captivity, and were esp2cially connected with the professional labours of the scribes. They were a sign that the Hebrews cultivated an intellectual religion. The practice of regular religious instruction was sanctioned by the great Teacher, when he attended the syna- gogues, conrormed to their usages, and took advantage of the assembling of congre- gations in them to exercise his ministry of teaching. L CHRlsT FULFILLED HIS SPIRITUAL MTh"ISTBY AMONG MEN LARGELY BY TEAOHING, 1. This was a recognition of man's intelligent, rational nature. Our Lord did not appeal so much to men's fears as to their reason, their gratitude, their love. Instruc- tion is the debt which every generation owes to its successor, and which the wise owe to the ignorant. The more the ministers of Christianity appeal to the intelligence of their hearers, the more do they follow the example of their Master. 2, It was an assertion of his own office. He claimed to be "the Light of the world." And this was i.n virtue of his very nature. He was "the Word of God," uttering the thought, expressing the mind, of God. There is something deeply affecting and truly encourag- ing in this representation of the incarnate Son of God, going about teaching the ignorant, the poor, the uncared for. 3. It was a revelation of Christ's own character, \Vhat condescension, gentleness, sympathy, were manifest in the quiet, patient manner in which the Lord frequented these lowly edifices and taught those simple congregations I lL CHRIST'S TEACHIKG WAS RECOGNIZED .AS AUTHORITATIVE. 1. In this it con- trasted with the teaching of the scribes, who -were the acknowledged and professional instructors in religion of the people of Israel. But they were expositors of the sacred books; they repeated and enforced the traditions of the elders. There was little tr nothin" oriuinal in their lessons; whereas Christ spoke from his own mind and heart, and ack:nm~ledged no master, no superior, 2. There was authority in our Lord's presence and manner. From the impression which his teaching made upon strangers, from their recorded testimony, it is clear that there was a Divine dignity in his aspect nnd his speech; "Never man spake like this man." 3. There was authority in the substance of his teaching. 'l'ruth has an authority of its own, an authority which is often, when questioned by the lips, confessed in the heart. Our Lord's revelations of the Father, his expositions of the spiritual nature of religion and morality, his insight into human nature, his predictions of the future,-all alike impressed his hearers with a sense of Lis special, unique authority. 4, This quality in our Lord's teaching was confessed by the conscience of men. It was not that the people were simply awed by his manner and language. What was best in their nature did homage to him. They could not question his wisdom, his justice, his insight, his compassion. III. CHRIBT18 AUTHORITATIVE TEACHING PRODUCED A PROFOUND IMPRESSION. This is described as astonishment, aruazement. The novelty of the style, the tone, the 111&tter, of our Lord's teaching, to some extent accounts for this. 'l'he unprecedented OR, L 1-45.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 17