The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 288

He thus intimated, under the thin veil of an almoet transparent figure, his incarnation Wld atonement--his life as an example, and his death as an expiation, in other words, the benefits procured by his manifestation in tbe flesh, and the blessings purchased by his sacrificial blood-shedding on the cross. 3. This food partaken of by faith. He enforces all this by urging their acceptance of these benefits and blessings. They have been secured, but, in order to be fully enjoyed, they must be partaken of; and they cannot; be partaken of without faith-they cannot be made our own without faith; in a word great as they are and precious as they are, they can in no way benefit or profit u; without the exercise of faith. Accordingly, he sets forth faith under the suitable symbol ol eating and drinking, and graciously invites to its exercise. He encourages them to the performance of this duty by several considerations of the most cheering kind. He holds forth to them the prospect of a living and lively union that would thence ensue, a,nd ever after exist, between him and them; be promises them nourishment, life, and comfort as the consequences of that union; and be comforts them with the assurance of fellowship and friendship in time, and unspeakable felicity through all eternity; for he says," He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him;" again be says, "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; " while he further adds, to crown all, " Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketb my blood, bath eternal life." 4. Want of food, natural and spiritual: its effects. There is no difficulty in forming a correct idea of the condition of body that would result from want of daily bread. It would stunt an individual's growth, make him a starveling in appearance, e.nd leave him without strength for work of any kind. Similar, but still worse, is the condition of soul resulting from the want of spiritual bread. Without Jeswi, who is the living Bread that came down from heaven, there is neither life nor growth, neither grace nor strength, nor spiritual power of any description in the soul. On the other hand, by union with Christ we live. So it was with the apostle: "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ livetb in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." By virtue of that union we are strengthened. So with the same apostle : " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." By means of this union we receive spiritual food daily, and thus" grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." By this heavenly food we are qualified for spiritual work and warfare. Hence our Lord's direction, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Hence the blessing pronounced on those " who hunger and thirst after righteousness;" hence, too, we can cordially join in the well- known words- ,. Good is the Lord I He gives us bread; He gives his people more; By him their souls with grace are fed, A rich, a boundless store." Three practical duties we learn from the whole: (1) cordiality in accepting the provisions of the gospel by living faith on our living and loving Lord; (2) contentment with our lot, and thankfulness for daily bread, as also for the spiritual food of the soul ; and (3) entire consecration to that God in whom "we live, and move, and have our being,"" who satisfieth our mouth with good things," and "filleth our soul as with marrow and fatness."-J. J. G. Vers. 45-56. Parallel passages: Matt. xiv. 22-36; John vi. 15-21.-Miraculous orotection. I. WALKING ON THE WATER. 1. .Almighty power. Every one who bas glanced over the early pages of English history is familiar with the story of Canute the Dane. 'l.'hat king wished to reprove the fulsome flattery of his courtiers when they spoke of his power as unlimited. He ordered his chair to be set by the sea- side as the tide was coming in. He peremptorily commanded the waves to with?raw, and waited a while as if for their compliance. He seemed to expect prom~t obed1en<;e, and watched to see them retire; but onward, onward came the surging sea; its waves kept steadily advancing, till the monarch fled before it, and left his chair to be washed away in its waters. He then turned to his courtiers, and solemnly reminded them that that, Sovereim alone was absolute whom the winds and waves obcyed-wk controlled the form~r, and set bounds to the latter, 11aying, " l:litherto  2S6 'IRE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MARK. [ea. v1. 1-50,