The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 39

uncertain as to his willingness. The spirit c,f the Saviour was therefore concealed from him. Yet Christ answered his prayer. (There is no evidence that the leper identified the will with the power.) III. CHRIST'S METHOD OF RESTORATION I8 ADAPTED TO THB SPECIAL MORAL OONDfflON OF THE BUI\JECT OF HIS MERCY. It was his sympathy and willingness that had to be demonstrated to the poor leper. This is done by the assurance "I will·" and the touch (bi:avi_ng cere_monial defilement and physica! repugnance).' So, in ~ving men from their sms, their defects of character and experience are met by special revelations and mercies. A complete and perfect faith in Christ is the evidence and guarantee of perfect salvation. IV. SPECIAL EXPERIENCES OF DrvnrE GB.ACE DO NOT FREE FROM LESSER DUTIES, BUT RATHER INCREASE THEm OBLIGATION. The Law was to be honoured. Civil and religions obligations were enjoined. There was a public use in the rules that were imposed, and it was well they should be observed. V. MERCY KAY BE RECEIVED WITHOUT ITS OBLIGATIONS BEING FULLY REALIZED OB OBSERVED. The leper was cured, but not perfectly. He had not learned the obedience of faith. His inattention to Christ's request created a serious inconvenience and hindrance in prosecuting the work of salvation amongst others. Those who have received benefits from Christ should attend implicitly to a.II that he enjoins. "Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you" (John xv. 14). The spiritual ble.ssings of Christ are dependent on perfect subjection to his will.-M. Ver. 24.-0hri,st and the demona. L THE FEELINGS THE QUESTION BETRAYED. 1. .A 1ense of inevitable relation. His presence at once discovers them ; there is no escape when he is near. Their true character is more strongly and unmistakably manifested, as darkness is revealed by light. A positive sense of relation to his person and work is called forth. How far may this have been a witness within themsclve1._personally-in their own individual consciousness ? how far a merely constitutional instinct? how far due to connection with the personality of the possessed? That it was beyond their own control is evident. They were unwilling witnesses to his power, and their obedience was not due to loyalty or attachment. So whenever the truth is manifested, it addresses an instinct in intelligent nature which cannot be wholly indifferent to it. 2. Conscious unlikeness and antagonism. Being what they were, they could not acquiesce in what he was or did. His presence was judgment and torture to them. They had the keenest perception of his purity and sinlessness, without being attracted by it; on the contrary, their opposition was only the more excited and extreme. The opposition was that of hell and heaven in their essential principles. 3. Fear and apprehension . .A moral awe and dread attended the conscioUBness of such holiness, the awe which moral authority inspires. It is akin to what is felt towards God. But there was also " a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation." Their empire was not only in jeopardy, it was already doomed. And they must stand or fall together. " Art thou come to destroy w, " How? By dismissing them to Hades. " But even in Ha.des Christ does not leave their empire to the demons. Thus it was by the destruc- tion of their empire generally. Certainly it was by dismissing them to the Gehenna ef torment (according to which the expression in Matt. [viii. 29], the Hades of tor- ment, is to be explained)" (Meyer). In this the sinner is one with the demon. II. THE .A.NSWEB IT DIPLIED. The possessed one who asked the question knew it had but one answer. Christ had nothing whatever to do with the demons, and they had nothing whatever to do with him. They had nothing f,o do with him: 1. ...4.s agents and representatives of wil. At a later date he could say," The prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me" (John xiv. 30). None had ever convinced him of evil So from the mouth of the demons themselves was the great calumny, after- wards so diligently promulgated, " He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the devils casteth he out the devils" (eh. iii. 22), answered by anticipation. There is no key that will unlock the mystery of his devoted life save that of simplicity of purpose and in.finite love. 2. ...4., moral beings. There was the clearest knowledge of his character and dignity. "The demons who were in those possessed seem to have perceived sooner than the rest who Jesus was (yea, sooner even than most of the men with wlwm, he walked at that time)" (Bengel). "The Holy One of Goel" (cf, Ps. :ir.vi.) OR,L 1-46,] 'l'IIE GOSPEL ACCOUDING TO ST. MARK. 35