The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 274

himself from earthly h<mowrs, whereas too often hi, d-isciples greedi1y seek them. Our Lord "constrained" hie disciples to go away, for they were evidently loth to do so. It we.a for their good, They were in danger of becoming infected (if they were not already infected) with the spirit of the people. To them it seemed that the longed-for kingship of their Lord was within reach, But for the second time he resisted the temptation-" All this will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." And for them he answered in a moAt unexpected way the prayer, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." 3, Ghrist left us an example of seGret and tarnest prayer, He was alone with Goel at the close of that exciting day, The quiet of even- tide calls us also to secret prayer. Our Lord hereby renewed his strength, and from it he came forth to conflict and victory. "Pray to thy Father, which is in secret." 4, Ghrist is often out of our sight, but we are never o·ut of his, Lost to the sight of hi:1 disciples, he nevertheless "saw them toiling in rowing." II. WE LEARN RESPECTING HIS DISCIPLES: 1. We are sometimes left to toil on in dark- ness, without Christ's realized presence. He leaves us alone for a time that we may feel our need of him. Though the wind may be "contrary" to us, it is a good wind if at last it brings our Saviour near. 2. Our extremity is his opportunity. It was about "the fourth watch of the night"-between three and six in the morning-that Jesus came; and the hours had been so long and weary since they started upon their voyage, that they must have been fast losing hope and courage. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. 3, If our strength is insufficient to bring us to him, his strength is s11:tficient to bring him to us, It was so when he redeemed the world, He came to earth because we could not climb to heaven. It is so in our special occasions of necessity. He sometimes comes for our deliverance in unexpected ways-" walking on the sea." 4. In al,l our troubles Jesus says, "It is I; be 11.ot afraid."-A. R. Vers. 1-6.-The carpenter; or, the dignity of honest labour. "In his own country," "in the synagogue" where he had learned in his youth, he now" began to teach." There were "many" who knew him, who had seen him pass in and out amongst them, talking to them, perhaps like, yet unlike, the other growing youths and the young men working for them, an artisan--one of many, These" hearing him were astonished ; " and though "the wisdom" of his teaching they could not deny, nor the "mighty works" wrought by his hands, yet, as they knew him and his relatives full well, they were" offended in him,'' and believed not. So easily iA the poor frail heart led away from blessing by prejudice, How great was the loss of these needy Nazarenes I "He could there do no mighty work, save" (oh, wonderful reserve!) "that he laid his hands ona few sick folk, and healed them," Let us leave this unbelief for the present-it will arrest our attention again and again- and let us see the high tribute paid to the honourableness of lowly labour by this Doer of" mighty works "-this "Prophet" robbed of his "honour among his own kin, and in his own house." If labour was first imposed as a curse, it is turned truly into a bless- ing by this example of him who thus helped to cultivate the fields around. Here pride is truly shamed if it looks upon labour as beneath it: it was not beueath him who is above us all. Let every son of toil see in this "carpenter" the highest evidence that all handicraft is exalted to a true dignity, and that hard industry, so far from being a degradation, is honourable and honoured. Now, since the "prophet is not without honour," let not "the carpenter" be ; for in this instance they are one, The occupancy of a sphere of lowly industry by Christ henceforth consecrates it as- I. A SUITABLE OCCUl'ATlON OF TUIE, The responsibility of rightly occupying our time cannot be evaded. Of it, as of all other talents, an account must be rendered. 1. Diligent, honest labour is a profitable employment of time. 2, It is healthful. 3. It saves from the degenerating influence of indolence. 4. It is a source of pure and bene- ficent enjoyment, II, As AN BONOUBABLE MEANS OF MAINTENANCE. 1, There is nothing degrading in honest toil. 2. It has its essential value in the world'11 great market. It deserves its fair remuneration; and, inasmuch as it is in a high degree necessary for the well-being of society, its claims are everywhere, if not alwf.lys justly, recognized. 3, In a man's employment of his strength and skill in procuring what is needful for his own life and for those dependent upon him, his independence of character is preserved a.nd bis best alfections stirred. 27'2 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [oH. vr. l-G6.