The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 125

L THE CONDITION OF THIS MAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE IS A SYMBOL OF THE STATE AXD fiEED OF MAN. He was a ma.n " with a. withered hand." 1. The hand is the symbol of man's practical nature. The husha.ndman, the mecha.nic, the pa.inter, the musician, every craftsman of every grade, makes use of the hand in executing works of art or fulfilling the task of toil. The right ha.nd may be regarded as the best bodily emblem of our active, energetic na.tnro. It is our lot, not only to think and to feel, but to will a.nd to do. 2. The withering of the hand is symbolical of the effect of sin upon our ,practical nature. As this man was rendered inca.pable of pursuing an industrial life, so the victim of sin is crippled for holy service, is both indisposed and incapacitated lor Christian work. The withering of muscle, the paralysis of nerve, is no more disas- trous to bodily effort than the blighting and enfeebling power of sin is destructive of all holy acceptable service unto God. 3. The apparent hopel,essness of this man's case is an emblem of the sinner's hopeless state. This unhappy person was probably con- demned by his misfortune to poverty, privation, neglect, and helplessness. He was aware of the inability of human skill to cure him. The case of the sinner is a case of ,inability and sometimes of despondency. Legislation and philosophy a.re powerless to deal with a.n evil so radical and so unmanageable. Unless God have mercy, the sinner is undone! II. THE MIRAOUL0UB ACTION OF CHRIST snm0LIZES ONE ASPECT OF HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK. And this in two respects: 1. He saves by the impartation of power. Christ in the synagogue spoke with authority, both when addre.9sing the spectators who cavilled, and when addressing the sufferer who doubtless welcomed his a.id. Power accompanied his words-power from on high; healing virtue went forth from him. How grateful should we be that, when ihe Son of God came to earth with power, it was with power to heal and bless I He is "mighty to save." There was power in his person a.nd presence, power in his words and works, power in his example and demeanour, power in his love and sacrifice. When he saves, he saves from sin and from sin's worst results. The spiritual inefficiency and heJplessness, which is man's curse, gives place to a. heavenly energy and activity. The redeemed sinner finds his right hand of service whole, restored, vigorous. Under the influence of new motives and new hopes, he consecrates his renewed nature of activity to the Lord who saved him. 2. He saves with the concurrence of human effort. Observe that the Lord Jesus addressed to this sufferer two commands. He bade him" Stand forth!" which he could flo; and "Stretch forth thy hand I " which he could not d~r at least might, judging from the past, have felt and believed himself unable to do. Yet he believed that the Prophet and Healer, who spoke with such authority, and who was known to have healed many, was not uttering idle words. His faith was called forth, and his will was exercised. Without his obedience and concurrence, there is no reason to suppose that he would have been healed. So every sinner who would be saved by Christ must recognize the Divine authority of the Saviour, must avail himself of the Saviour's com- passion, and in humble faith must obey the Saviour's command. It is not, indeed, faith which saves. It is Christ who saves, but he saves through faith; for it is by faith that the sinner lays hold upon the Saviour's might, and comes to rejoice in the Saviour's grace. APPLICATION. 1. The first requisite for a sinner who would be saved is clearly to see, and deeply to feel, his need and helplessness. 2. The next requisite is to come into the presence of the Divine Saviour. 3. Yet again, it is requisite to exercise faith in him who is mighty and willing to save. 4. And every healed and restored sinner should consecrate all his active powers to the service of his Redeemer. Vers. 6-12.-Persecution and popularity. The evangelist represents, in very ~o.phic language, the crisis in the ministry of Jesus now reached. We learn what was the attitude towards Jesus, both of the populace and of the ruling classes. We see the scribes and Pharisees meeting with the Herodians, and plotting against the Bene- factor of mankind. We see the multitudes thronging from every quarter to look upon, to listen to, the far-famed Prophet of Nazareth. It is a striking contrast. It may be to us an earnest of what was to come; of the malice that ~Jew the Lord of glory, and of the prnise tho.t should encompass him from all lo.nds; of the cross, and of the throne. L WE HAVE A PICTURE OF OUR LORD'S POPULARITY. L Th.is passage fornishes the 122 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [ea. m. 1-35.