The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 229

when he was gone? A right feeling on his pa.rt and on ours. See the teaching of our Lord in John xv. on the necessity of the branch abiding in the vine. 4. Pear, The people were greatly excited. They had begged Christ to go out of their coasts, lest be should destroy more of their possessionii. It was not improbable that they would wreak their vengeance on a man whose deliverance had been the cause of their~loss. They did not believe, as Christ did, that it was better that any lower creatures should perish if only one human soul was rescued. But this is in harmony with all God's works, in which the less is being constantly destroyed for the preservation and sus- tenance of the greater. 'l'he luxuriant growth of the fields is cut down that the cattle may live; myriads of creatures in the air and in the sea are devoured by those higher in the scale of creation than themselves; living creatures are slain that we may be fed and clothed. In harmony with all this, the destruction of the swine was the accom- paniment of, or the shadow cast by, the redemption of the man. And high above all these mysteries rises the cross of Calvary, on which the highest life was given as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. In this event we can see glimpses of Divine righteousness and pity ; but these people of Gadara shut their eyes to them, and were angry a.t their loss. Amongst them this man l]lust "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." II. THE CONVERT's DUTY. (Ver. 19.) 1. His work was to begin at home. "Go home to thy friends." His presence there would be a constant sermon. In the truest sense he was "a living epistle." Sane instead of mad, holy instead of unclean, gentle instead of raving; he was "a new creation." All true work for God should commence in the home. Self-control and self-sacrifice, gentleness and patience, purity and truth, in the domestic circle-will make the home a temple of God. 2. His work was to be found among old acquaintances. Some had scorned him, others had hated and perhaps ill-treated him. But resentment was to be conquered in him by God's grace, and to those who knew him at his worst he was now to speak for Christ. Such witness-bearing is the most difficult, but the most effective. John the Baptist told the penitents around him, whether publicans or soldiers, to go back to their old spheres, and prove repentance by changed life and spirit amid the old temptations. 3. His work was to be quiet and unostentatious. Perhaps Christ saw that publicity would injure him spiritually, for it does injure some; or it may be that the excitement involved in following the Lord would be unsafe for him so soon after his restoration. For some reason he had assigned to him a quiet work, which was not the less true and effective. Luke says that he was to show "how great things God had done for him," as if the witness-bearing was to be in living rather than in talking. Speak of the quiet spheres in which many can still serve God. 4. His work was to spread and grow. 'l'be home was too small a sphere for such gratitude as his. lie published the fame of the Lord in " all Decapolis." This was not wrong, or forbidden, for there were not the reasons for restraint of testimony in Perrea which existed in Galilee. It was a natural and legitimate enlargement of commission. Similarly the apostles were to preach to all nations, but to begin in Jerusalem. He who is faithful with a few things is made ruler over many things, sometimes on earth, and invariably in heaven.-A. R. Ver. 22.-Thefaith of Jairus. Faith was the one thing which Christ demanded of every suppliant who came to him. He asked the blind man the question, "Believest thou that I am able to do this?" He said to the father of the lunatic child, "All things are possible to him that believeth." Here he assured the woman in the crowd who had been healed, "Thy faith bath saved thee;" and to Jairus he said," Be not afraid, only believe." All these are exemplifications of the words, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Faith is the hand which the soul stretches out to receive the blessings of pardon, salvation, and peace. If two men have sinned, and are both conscious of guilt, one may walk at liberty, while the other is burdened; because, though he is grieved about his sin, and hates it, and therefore has truly repented, the latter fails to believe the assurance," Thy sins are forgiven thee." Similarly, in trouble a Christian may exhibit a serenity which fills onlookers with wonder, not because his trouble is lighter or his sensibility less, but because he bas faith to believe that God is doing good through the trouble, or that he will ultimately bring good out of it. This ST, MARX, Q 226 THE GOSPEL - ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [OB. V, 1-43,