The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 46

These two brethren e.ppee.r to have removed from Bethsaida, possibly because of mar- riage connection with the place or for their convenience as fishermen. 1. It wa, a home with ordinary associations. There was nothing special or distinctive e.bout it or about others whioh our Lord frequented, and in which he did some of his mightiest deeds and apoke some of hie most weighty words. His presence gave sanctity to domestic asso. ciations from the time of his first miracle (John ii. 2) to the hour when he made himself known in the home of Emmaus (Luke xxiv. 29). We are not to sever ourselves from them-even Peter did not (ver. 30; 1 Cor. ix. 5)-but should rather seek to recognize and welcome Jesus amidst them. It is a happy thing when there is family peace and love such e.s seem to have prevailed in this home. A "wife's mother" would occnpy a difficult and delicate position, but such had been her wisdom and gentleness, her sym- pathy and constancy, that she had now the love of all, and therefore, directly Jesus entered the home, her illness and need of help prompted the urgent and united prayer he so gladly answered. 2. It was a home in lowly life. A fisherman's house-not the stately palace of a Herod. In contrast with our Lord's humility and graciousness, how paltry seems the ambition of those who would make any sacrifice to get a stately estab- lishment or to push their way into higher social circles I A palace often hides from the world aching hearts and wasted lives, while a cottage may be the home where love and peace are constant, because Jesus is in the midst. 3. It was a home significant C!,f higher fellowship. The Christian Church sprang rather from the homes of the people than from the temple at Jerusalem. If it had originated in the temple, sacramentalism would have found more justification than it does in the ~ew Testament. But the temple was not frequented by the great Teacher to the extent we might have expected. His Church met in the homes of Capernaum and Bethany. The relations between his disciples were to be those of brothers and sisters, bound together, not by law, but by love. Let us, then, try to make the Church a home, and thence the voice of our gracious Master will speak with effectual power to a weary world, saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."-A. R. Vers. 32, 33.-0hrist the Healer. The healing of Peter's wife's mother, following on the cure of the demoniac in the synagogue, aroused the whole city of Capernaum. Believing that what this good Physician could do for one he could do for all, crowds of suppliants gathered e.round our Lord on the evening of the sabbath day. In this incident we see-- I. THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THE SA vroun. 1. His accessibility. Whether in the syna- gogue or in the house, whether in the glow of noonday or in the cool of eventide, he was always ready to meet a case of need where there was faith and expectancy. He was not like a popular physician, with whom the patient makes a previous appointment, in whose ante-chamber he waits till exhausted, and whose fe_e cripples his means. At any time," without money and without price," Christ would heal the sick. He is" the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Even though the shadows of life's evening are falling around the sin-sick soul, it is not too late to offer the prayer," Jesus, Master, have mercy upon me I" 2. His consideration. His varied methods of cure showed his readinesa to meet the special circumstances of each. 'l'hus, he took Peter's wife's mother "by the hand," perhaps because she was delirious and could not understand his words, or because she was weak and needed the confidence which that expectant hand-grasp would give. Similarly, he touched the eyes of the blind, and his disciple~ took the cripple by the hand (Acts iii. 7). Christ still adapts himself to men'a peculiar necessities. 'fo some a word of promise inspires hope, in others a word of warning awakens thought. A sermon may e.rouse to penitence, a mother's love may win to Christ, e. grief may make serious, or a joy me.y bring a man on his knees in thankfulness. Happy is it when, in all of these or in any of these, Christ appears to the soul. 3. His sympathy. 'l'his was of the essence of his work. Matthew here appropriately e.pplies to him the words of the prophet, "Himself took our \.nfirmities e.nd bare our sicknesses;" by which we understand that there was nothing per- functory or mechanical in his healing work. He felt every case, and came in living contact with the soul he cured. His touch was not merely physical, it was an out- going of soul Hence he "sighed" when he c11r1Jd the blind; he "felt virtue" going Gut of the hem of his garment; he "wept" and " groaned" at the grave of Lazarus• 42 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO Sr. MA.RK. [OII, L 1-46.