The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 50

then, without and within, is complete. This is the t111e "beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ." It is begun historically; it is begun personally.-G. Vers. 9-13.-The officml preparation. "The beginning of the f?Ospel of Jesus Christ" embraces yet another element. The preparation of "the way" of the Lord ie followed by the preparation of the Lord himself. This we must name- Ths preparation of the M,-ssiah, the Christ, I. The fir,;t step in this preparation is TBB ASSUMPTION OF THE BU\fAN NATURE. "The Word became flesh." "It behoved him," who" took hold of the seed of Abraham" with a view to raise it up, "to be made like unto" them whom he would call "hle brethren." And" since they are sharers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same." Never will the world exhaust the mystery of the Incarnation. No event in human history can equal the grandeur or significance of this. "He was made man" is a greater truth than "he suffered and was buried." It was an infinitely greater condescension to become man than to pass through the lowly shades of human history. The humble home, the toilsome endurance, the poverty, the sufferino- -all fall below "Jesus was bom in Bethlehem." This event is the most stupend~us of all events in the history of the human race. II. The second step in this preparation is THE PASSING THROUGH THE LOWLY CON- DITIONS OF THE HUMAN LIFE. 'l'he words of the ninth verse tum our thoughts back to silent days of preparation going forward in the house of the carpenter at Nazareth of Galilee, wherein he passed into and passed through and honoured all the stages of human life fro~ infancy to manh~o~, and wh~re he sanctified the condition of helpless weakness, of ignorance, of subm1ss1on, of toil, and of honest labour; sanctified the home and the workshop, and the relationships and intercourse of common villap;e life • exalted the lowly lot, and thereby every lot. This was another element of tha.t like~ ness to "his brethren " which it behoved him to assume. During this period the glory of bis person was shrouded. Men had not yet been permitted to behold II the glory as of the only begotten from the Father," in which he was unlike his brethren. Yet he dwelt. among men, the Incarnate Word, 11 full of grace and truth," though not yet "made manifest to Israel." In that tabernacle the true Shechinah was hidden. "He was in the world, and the world knew him not." A few who, with Simeon, 11 were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem," by prophetic intuition, saw in him the salvation "prepared before the face of all people; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" In Nazareth "he was subject unto" father and mother, the honoured mother keeping II all the sayings in her heart" that concerned him. III. A third step in this preparation is THE SUBMITTING TO ALL THE ORDINANOEB OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness does not consist in an attendance upon ordinances, but consists not without it. John, who probably knew the character of Jesus better than any saving only Mary, hesitates when he presents himself for baptism; he even "hinders him" with the words, 11 'I have need to be baptized of thee,' so much better art thou, so much higher; and yet' comest thou to me?'" He who though II separated from sinners," had da.ily mingled with them; who had submitted to every ordinance of the Lord for man's sake," was circumcised the eighth day," was presented in the temple, that they might II do concerning him after the custom of the Law;" who at twelve years of age, and doubtless in succeeding years, "went up after the custom of the feast," would now II fulfil" this II righteousness" also. He passed through all in fellowship with the sinful, and for sinful ones, paying his tribute of duteous attendance on the Divine ordinance, leaving here "an example" that we should do as he had done. As one has said, "He who now comes to this baptism ill not a sinner, but a righteous man, who needs neither repentance nor pardon. It is he who for us fulfils all righteousness, who, bom of a woman and made under the Law which was given to the unri1?;hteous, has already hitherto observed and performed all the commandments of the Lord to Israel, a'fvl for that 1Jery reason now subjects himself to that baptism which was ordained of God as the concluding commandment of the old covenant, through which is the transition to the new." 1 IV. '£he fourth step in this preparation is THE PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL DESIGNATION"" • Stier, 'Words of the Lord JesUB,' vol. i. p. 30. cm, L 1-46,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 47