The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 276

Vere. 14-29,-Herod: the disordered conscience, The fame or the disciples reaches tho ears of Herod, and has the effect of recalling to him a shameful deed of blood with which his memory is charged, and leads him, in contradiction to his Sa.dducean professions, to declare, "John, whom I beheaded; he is risen." 'l'hus two diverse cha- racters are brought near together. There are others in view, but they are not prominent. There is the royal dancer, with her skilfulness and obedience, sacrificing her high prospects -" unto the half of my kingdom "-to the foul wish of her mother. We see her visa"e of corrupt loveliness, over which a cloud gathers, settling on her heated brow, as she finds that her whole reward is to be a gory dish; and we see the half-exposed coarse- ness of her unmaidenly spirit, which could receive and carry the bleeding head and lay it llt her mother's feet. That mother-no. Alas, to what depths can poor human nature descend I Few words are needed to describe the two principal figures. The peace, the serenity, and the brightness of a heavenly life in the one, standing beside the darkness- the pitchy black darknes~f evil in the other. One a rough man from the wilderness, but the chosen herald of the great King, of whom it was declared that of all bom of women a greater than he had not been, A great man, yet humble and meek; not worthy to loose the sandals of his Master's shoes, yet brave enough to reprove a wicked prince to his face. This was one, The other is that prince, the representative of a licentious oourt in a licentious age, big with the pride of conquest, yet trembling from fear of the people. A mixture of coarse animal courage with the weakness and vacillation whicl::. indulgence brings, But a man with a conscience. His heart a dungeon, across whose dark gloom shoots one ray of light. Little is said of John-very few words; a. mere profile. "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." What faithful- n.ess I What brave fearlessness I Good men and brave always bear testimony to the authority of law. "It is not lawful" is a prickly hedge on either side of the path oflife. Once more of John, bringing Herod more into view. "Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous man and a holy, and kept hi:n safe. A.nd when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly," So the silent power of a holy life is declared by the example of its influence over this reprobate. Into the darkest chambers of that dark heart this ray penetrates. And the words of warning o.nd teaching alternately please and pain-" he was much perplexed." Herod is evidently a weak man. He is impressible, but he lacks firmness of character-the hardness of texture that retains the impression of the hand laid upon it. He yields to good, but it is not lasting ; he ylields equally to evil. He is sufficiently alive to the claims of holiness to pay them tribute, but not sufficiently so to prevent the rage of passion. He is open to the appeals of o. holy life; not less to the demands of a dancing-girl. He fears John, and he fears public opinion. He is weak-that weakness which is wickedness. lie would give half his kingdom to a girl whose dance delightE1d him, and he would give the head of the man whom in his heart he honours to satisfy her demands. True, he was sorry-" exceeding sorry;" "but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her." Oh, what noble fidelity I Oh, what honour I Yet has he not sufficient fidelity to truth to say, "Over that man's life I have no power;" nor honour enough to say, "That head is not mine to give." What an unbalanced spirit I what a turbulent sea I This character reveals- !. THE NECESSITY FOB A RULING PRINCIPLE IN LIFE; ,. the single eye," which, while it g.i-ves unity to the whole character, preserves by its simplicity from the ontanglewents of temptation. II. THE NECESfllTY FOB PROMPT DECISION, BASED tlPON PRINCIPLES ACKNOWLEDGED B CONSCIENCE, IIJ. THE DUTY OF AN UNQUESTIONING SUBMISSION TO THE LAW OF RiaHT. IV. A.nd it teaches the terrible lesson that TilE HABITUAL INDULGENCE IN ONE snt WZLL UNDEBMINE THE WHOLE STRENGTH OF MORAL CONVICTION AND SENSE OF RlGllT,-G Vere. 30-44.-The miracle of the loaves. The apostles, having returned to Jesus after their first tour of healing and preaching, relate to him "all things what.soever they Lad done, and whatsoever they had taught." Touched with consideration for them ST, MARK, 'I 2a THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [ex. vi. 1-56.