The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 227

III. A MAN MEETING ms BAvioUB. With his morbidly quickened sensibility he knew who Jesus was, and had a presentiment of what was coming. His abject prostration, coupled with hie daring misuse of the sacred name, indicate the distraction and disorder characterizing him, Christ dealt with him wisely, firmly, lovin"'lr, He asked, " What is thy name?" He tried to summon the man's better self: to bring about a severance in his thought between himself and the evil ; he gave him time to think what need he had of help, and what hope and possibility there was of it. Then to the demons came the decisive word, "Go I" and in a short time he was to be seen "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind." In each of us the dominion of sin must be broken, and Christ only can break it. Appeal to those who have long been under tile dominion of sin, not to despair of themselves, on the ground that Christ does not despair of them. It was when his friends had given up this demoniac as hopeless that his redemption came. So, when self-reform has proved useless, and benefactors fail, and friends lose heart, he proves "able to save to the uttermost." Dealing pitifully with the sinner, he deals ruthlessly with his sin, and will hurl it into the depths of the sea.-A. R. Vers. 17, 21.-The rejection and the reception of Jes?U, Onr text present.a us with a striking contrast. Only a few miles of sea separated these people physically, but morally what a gulf was between them I On both sides of the lake Christ's words had been beard, and his works of power had been seen, but how different were the results I If be had been like us, variable in temper and disposition-at one time moody, at another genial-we might more easily account for this. For the dispositions of sinful men are like the Lake of Galilee-now raging in a storm, and now calm and still under the smiling heavens. But there was no such variableness in the Perfect Man. He was not cheery when the palm branches were waved on Olivet, and angry when his disciples forsook him and fled. He was not one thing in Gadara, and another in Capernaum. "He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." We must look elsewhere to account for this phenomenon, and we shall find its causes to be those which sever eo widely in character and destiny, two hearers who sit in the same church, or two children who kneel beside the same mother's knee. I. Tm!: V ARIOUB ASPECTS IN WHICH CHRIST PRESENTED Hllll'.SELF. His relations to those around him were not simple, but complex. '\Ve may be great in one aspect of our character, but he was great in every aspect. 1. He appeared as a Teacher. In the synagogue, on the beach, amidst the crowd, he uttered Divine truth, and expected on the part of his hearers humble and obedient minds. He assumed that he knew what they did not know, respecting the nature of God, the meaning of the old dispensation, the phenomena of life, the coming future, etc. He adduced no arguments, but demanded (as he still demands), on the ground of what he was and is, the acceptation, or the rejection of his words. "He spake as one having authority." .. This is my beloved Son; hear him." The acceptance of Christ as a Teacher implied much, because he taught no abstract theories, but enunciated principllls which would revolutionize the views held about the Jewish economy, and would banish popular sins. Show what Christ demands of disciples now, and the spirit in which we should receive his revelation. 2. He appeared as a Saviour. Thought and action were blended harmo- niously in Christ, e.nd should be blended in every Christian. The 'l'eacher of the people we.a the Healer of their bodies and the Purifier of their souls. This complex work is entrusted to the Church. Christ cured the demoniac, and restored sight to the blind, and health to the leper, as signs of what he had come to effect for men. 3. He appeared as a Friend. He entered the homes of the people at Capernaum and elsewhere, to curo illness in Pater's house, to blnss children in another home, to share festivity in Cana, to weep with mourners in Bnthaay. This friendship the disciples rejoiced in. 'l'he presence of that Friend had d1,livered them in the storm. As such he presents himself at each heart, saying, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock," etc. II. TBE DIFFERENT EFFE0TS OF SU0H PRESENTATION ON THE PEOPLF" 'l'his may be illustrated not only by the conduct of the disciples and of the cured demoniac, but by contrasting the condition of the people of Oadara with that of the people in Caper- naum. This exemplifies: 1, The rejection of Christ. 'l'he most o.stounding miracle will not produce faith in those who care more for their possessions than for purity and  224 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O S'l'. MARK. [011. v. 1-43.