The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 126

aidcnce of our Lord's popula1ity. The people left their cities and villa"es their hotnes and occupations, in order to follow Jesus. From various parta of th~ province of Galilee, through which he had just been travelling upon an evangelistic tour the people flocked to the neighbourhood of the lake. They came also from Jerusalem ~nd Judrea, where successive miracles had made his name and person familiar to the inhabitants of the metropolis. Not only so, but from the east side of the Jordan, and ldumrea; and (strangest of all) from Phcenicia, far away in the north-west, multitudes, attracted by the great Prophet and Phy1,ician, found their way to Gennesaret. It is plain that an immense impression had been created by the ministry of our Lord, that he was becomina the chief figure in the land, succeeding to the prominence and the popularity of Joh~ the Baptist. 2. This same passage brings before us the grounds of our Lord's popularity. Wherever he had gone, be bad so acted as to justify the name he gave himseU "the Son of man;" he had shown himself the universal Saviour and Friend. Some' came grateful for healing virtue and for pardoning mercy, having themselves tasted and seen. that the Lord was good. Some brought to him the maladies of themselves or their friends, hoping to experience his grace. The unclean spirits came, confessing him to be the Son of God, acknowledging his regal authority, prepared to flee at his bidding and to leave the sufferers free. Some came to see him of whom such great and delightful tidings had been spread abroad ; and others hoping that they might witness some illus• trations of his saving might. His ministry of teaching attracted some, and the sequel tells us how richly such were rewarded by the incomparable discourses which were delivered at this period of Christ's career.. And there were, doubtless, some few noble, devout, and ardent sonls, who longed for the revelation of a spiritual kingdom, which should fulfil the promises of God and realize the ancient and prophetic visions. 3. The consequences of Christ's popularity are no less clearly related. It is plain that at this period our Lord was quite embarrassed by the excitement and eagerness of the crowds. who thronged around him. It was this embarrassment that led him, first to withdraw to the lake, and then to request that a boat might be in readiness to receive him from the pressure of the crowd, and, if necessary, to take him to the near seclusion of the eastern _shore. It was this embarrassment also which led him to direct those who par• took of the benefit of his compassion to refrain from celebrating his praise, and even to keep silence concerning what he had done for them. 4. But let us bear in mind that this popularity was but superficial. Jesus knew well that most who followed him did so either from curiosity or with selfish desires of benefiting from his ministry. He was not deceived by the popular interest and acclaim, He was aware that at any moment the tide might turn. .At Nazareth it was proved how ungrateful and violent the people could be when once their passions were roused or their prejudices crossed. .And his ministry closed amidst the clamour and the execration of the fickle multitude, upon whose minds the arts of crafty priests and politicians played, as the storm-wind plays upon the surface of the mighty sea. Il. WE HAVE A PICTURE OF OUR LORD'S PERSECUTORS, THEIR PLOTS AND PROJEOTS. At the very time that multitudes were openly thronging around Christ, the!e w~s- secret consultation among men of position and influence as to the means of effe~ting his ruin. We observe the occasion of this hostile attitude and action. For a while there had been no opposition, but rather a general interest and expectation. The chango, seems to have come about as a consequence of the violation by the Lord Jesus of the customs anc traditions of the ceremonial rabbis or scribes. There were deep-seated reascnt.6 for the hostility cherished against the Prophet of Nazareth by the religious leaders-scribes and Pharisl:les. 1. His conduct towards the common people was a grave offence. The rabbis generally held the unlearned and lower class in great contem_pt; in their esteem those who knew not the Law were cursed. '!'hey would not associate with them or touch them. Now the Lord Jesus made himself at home with all classes, and accepted invitations, not only from rulers and scholars, but from public~ns, at whose table be met the worldly and the sinful. He even chose one from the despised' class of tax-collectors to occupy a place among his own immediate friends and fol- lowers. He ate and drank with publicans and sinners, and, when he preached, encouraged such to draw near to him. "The common people heard him gladly." That an ackn\,lwledged rabbi should act in such a way was a scandal in the vi_ew of the self- righteous and ceremonious; it was conduct likely to lower the learned 1n the general cm. UL 1-36.] THE GOSPEL ACCOHDING TO ST. MARK.