The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 269

it conditioned itself, &S infinite power always does in this world; and by this limitation it was not lessened, but W&S glorified as moral and spiritual power. In Nazareth thoru was an absence of the ethical condition, on the existence of which miracles depended- an absence, namely, of that faith which has its root in sincerity. If we have that, all else is simplified; if we have it not, we bind the hands of the Redeemer, who cannot do his mighty work, of giving us pardon and peace, because of our unbelief. Christ marvels at it. He does not wish to leave us, but he must; and old improssions become feebler, the once sensitive heart becomes duller, and we become "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Nevertheless, he leaves not himself without a witness. If he must quit Nazareth, he will go "round about the villages teaching," encircling the town with the revelations of power which it will not r~eive into its midst. And though he "can do no mighty work " such as Capernaum had seen, he will lovingly "lay his hands upon a few sick folk," who in an unbelieving city have faith to be healed. "Thou despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful."-A. R. Vers. 7-12.-Preparations for preaching. From amongst his disciples our Lord selected a few who were to be in a peculiar sense his representatives and ambassadors, and they have had their successors in all the ages of Christendom. Mark significantly says," 'l'hen Jesus began to send them forth;" for ever since that day he has been giving similar work, and qualifying similar representatives. A study of their characteristics and of their instructions may be profitable to us. • L THEY WEllE TO GO FORTH FBOJII TBE PRESENCE OF JEsus. All the apostles had companied with him, and so had heard bis instructions and been witnesses of his work. This qualified them for their mission. They were not to teach dogmas which might be read up as for an examination, but they were to tell of a life, of a person, of a death, of a man through whom they had known God. Hence Jesus" called them to be with him," and then sent them forth. This principle has always prevailed in the Church. Moses would never have proclaimed God's Law, or known it, unless he had gone into his presence on SinaL Elijah would never have dared to attempt what he did, had he not been able to realize the truth of his often-uttered declaration, "The Lord God of Israel, before whom I stand! n These disciples could not have spoken as they did, unless they had been with Jesus. So, if we merely get up certain facts or theories, and rehearse them in the andience of the people, without ever having a sense of our Lord's nearness, our work will be a spiritual failure. First let us come and see the Lord in the temple, as Isaiah did, and when we hear his voice, and have our tongue touched with a live coal from off the altar, we shall be ready to say, " Here am I; Lord, send me." II. THEY WEBB TO BE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER. " He began to send them forth by two and two," for their mutual encouragement and help. Show the advantage of Christian friendship and fellowship. We lose spiritual culture by the isolated condition of Christian life. United work does not always bring pleasure, but it always brings discipline, often through the trials which come from incompatibility of temperament. Picture to yourself the experience of the disciple who was appointed by our Lord to have Judas Iscariot as hill companion. Simon the Cananaian would see and lament his growing selfishness and avarice ; he would fear to weaken his influence or damage his reputation among strangers, and yet would feel he must be loyal both to Judas, and his Lord. What self-control this would beget I what charity, which would shut its eyes to evil to the very last! what discipline of selfl what earnestness of prayer for guidance I And if an unpleasant companionship may be thus fruitful, much more may the companionship that is pleasant become so, if it be the appointment of the Lord. When two young people agree ;to link their destinies for weal or woe, to bear with ea.eh other's failings, and to strengthen one another's hands, it is a happy thi.J, g when they can say and feel, that" the Lord Jesus sent them forth by two and two," III. THEY WEBE TO BE OONTENT WITH THE UBE OJ' IIIOBAL INFLUENCE. On entering a town, they were not to demand accommodation from strangers by some display of miraculous power, but they were to inquire who in the town was worthy, ,.e. who was receptive, being numbered amongst the devout ones who were" waitin~ for the conso- lation of Israel" The home of such a one was to be the centre from which the OH. VI. 1-56.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 1 0 ST. MARK.