The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 53

spirit. 2. It is a spirit of antagonism to truth, 3. It is a malignant spirit, " tearing" its victim till he cries aloud. 4. Till Jesus speaks, it dominates over the entire life of its victim. 5. But in his presence it is a conquered spirit. "With authority he com- mandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." There ts no power, m earth or in Hades, above him. Christ's word then, now, and always, casts out the evil spirit.. lll. But men suffer many pains and sorrows, Ignorance, folly, mistake, ~in,-all com- bine to expose the tender Jlllsh to inju~y. It is the holy mission of the Son of man to BEAL BUl'llAN INFIRMITIES, to dry up the fount of human sorrow, to wipe the tears from human faces. 'fhe prostrate mother-in-la\V of his chief apostle is named to him as he leaves the synagogue, " and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up ; and the fever left her, and Bhe ministuecl unto them." lle has ~hown his relation to truth as its Fountain, to the evil spirit as its Conqueror,.to disease as its Healer. Lo! the need of his presence and work is demonstrated. The cool of the day affords suitable time, and "they bring unto him all that were sick, and those that were possessed with devils." Of them," he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many devils." Oh, gracious visitation! Well might "all the city be gathered together at the door." What a holy excitement! What a day of grace! This but typifies the healing power of his word and doctrine. At once we learn that Christ stands opposed to human suffering. But disease is the natural consequence of broken law. It is the just retribution follow- ing disobedience. Is Christ opposed to law? No, he heals disease and casts out devils, as he commanded his disciples to do; 1. By his word and spirit bringing men to obedience to law. 2. By the sick being brought in penitent faith to him, when the moral end of the sickness is truly answered. 3. By ministrations of that charity which Christian teaching awakens and sustains. 4. By bis own Divine word of blessing upon the efforts of men to learn and keep the laws of nature, which are bis laws. Thus "the gospel of Jesus Christ" begins. For its end we wait. The seed-corn is cast into the earth. The harvest will follow.-G. Vers. 40-45.-The cleansing of the leper. The work and wonders of the previous day created so great an excitement that he early rose, "a great while before day," for calmness and the refreshment of solitude and prayer, and tinding "a desen place," be there "prayed." 0 hallowed ground I Simon and his companions follow, and find- ing him, say," All ore seeking thee." But he" came forth to preach," therefore he would go "elsewhere," and the marvellous account given is, "He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out devils." In the course of biti tour "there cometh to him " one of the many in whose bodily infirmity preachers and teachers have always seen the type of the spiritual sickness; "there cometh to him a leper." He is alone, for the multitude avoid him. Attention must not be diverted from these t,,,o-tbe ,'11/fferer and his Saviour. I. TBE BUFFEREB .U,"D BIS APPEAL. Leprosy is thus described : "The most t.errible or all ma.ladies, a living dea~h, a poisoning of the springs, a. corrupting of a.11 the humours, of life; a dissolution little by little of the whole body, so that one limb after another actually decayed and fell away. The Jews called it 'the finger of God."' They knew no cure for it. His "beseeching" cry is beard a.s he draws near, and ere he falls, kneeling, where so many afterwards knelt, at the feet of Jesus. He bas heard oftlc.e fame of the Rabbi, for it bas spread afar. With piteous words he cries," If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." What an inversion of this is much of the faith of to-day! The goodness of Jesus all acknowledge, but many deny his power to heal. This man knew only what ha.d been reported to him-the power. He had not yet gazed into the tender eyes that beamed upon him, He had not yet beard the calm and gentle voice that breathed the tenderest love of the tenderest of all souls. But he will hear it. He had not felt the pressure of that hand of power; but, strange to say, he on whom no friendly hand has rested for long, will feel its healing touch. It needed not the cry to pierce to the heart of the great Healer; the sight was enough. But the words "tLou canst" denote a. faith which indicates the needed preparation. But the appealing "If," and "If thou wilt I" Oh,if all depended upon thatalone,how many more would be healed! Once it was said "II thou cat!.st;" when the quick reply," If thou canst," both rebuked the doubt (pardonable uncler the circumstances) and threw back upon the questioner the . sense of weakness. Here is 'lo doubt of the power; but "wilt" thou? ::iu the unclean, IIT. MARK. 50 THE GOSPEL ACCORDrnG TO ST. MARK. [ CB. I. 1-40,