I. How ARE WE TO EXPLAIN THE HOLD WHICH THE HARD SAYINGS OF CHRIST HAVE UPON THE DEVOUT MIND? Their “keeping” the saying was doubtless for the most part a voluntary thing, yet there was also a sense in which it was involuntary. The subject it concerned awed and interested them, and they could not, if they had wished to do it, throw off its fascination. And so it is with the other hard sayings ; that which is to be said of this may be said of them. 1. Because of relation with similar expertences. Many atime had the actions of Christ, or their own spiritual history, presented enigmas that refused to be summarily explained. They were con- tinually stumbling upon some new, strange thing. They had just come out of a scene of which the wisest and soberest of them might well wonder whether it was fairyland or fact. And they were conscious of deep yearnings and aspirations to which the Saviour’s words seemed to answer as the key to the lock. These had evidently some- thing incommon. The doctrines of Christianity may be difficult for the carnal mind to construe, but they appeal to a deep, universal, albeit depraved, human consciousness, which forbids their being at once dismissed from the thought. 2. And the sense of mystery ts itself an element of fascination, The mind goes forth freely after the infinite and eternsl in speculation and fancy, if notin serious moral interest. If there be but a substratum of apparent fact upon which thought can build, the sense of a mystery lying beyond is congenial to man; and he will continually return to it in efforts to penetrate it. This is why—at least, one reason why—the world around us never palls upon our senses. Its commonest things are steeped in wonder of the unknowable, if we but take one or two steps onward in the study of them. 8. In addition to this, the disciples knew that no mystery was uttered by their Master without some gracious meaning in it, which would sooner or later be made known, The hardest doctrine was, they felt, closely connected with their welfare, and would be seen to be so by-and-by. And Christians have experienced the same ever since. Our daily life is, if we be thoughtful, the best expositor of the deep things of grace, and keeps hover- ing within our horizon many an angel of revelation ready to deliver his message in
ue time.
IL. How sHOULD THESE BE DEALT wITH? The disciples “ kept,” ¢.c. held fast, the saying; thus affording an example to all true Christians. 1. We should continuall endeavour to understand or learn their meaning. Sometimes simple communion wi one’s own heart will be enough ; or, again, it may be necessary to discuss them with others of a kindred spirit, Many of the happiest hours of life are so spent. Not that we shall always succeed; very often there will remain an element of the infinite or the unknown that will trouble us. 2. But when human wisdom fails, Divine wisdom may be invoked, “'They asked him,” and he cleared away the difficulty to the extent to which they made it known. To the praying soul the light will come in ever- increasing fulness. More light will break forth from the book of earthly experience, and from the written Word of comfort and revelation, And when the mystery still remains insoluble, the Spirit of Jesus will give us faith and patience until “the day dawn, and the day-ster arise in our hearts,” and we know even as we are known.—-M.
Vers. 14—29.—The ewe of the demoniac child. This stands out in striking contrast with the halcyon hour on the mountain with which the three had been favoured, Their brethren were experiencing a grester difficuity than they had ever yet known, But the discussion of the saying they had kept, formed for the three an intermediate step down into actual life, and daily events and troubles. Christ, on the other hand, Bppears to have received a greater fulness of Messianic consciousness and power
oH, x. 1—50.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 21
through his transfiguration, as was his wont after similar retirements into spiritua . seclusion, This incident affords a view of Christ's manner of dealing with exceptional difficulties in spiritual service.
I, AooREDITED SERVANTS OF CHRIST WERE BEING DESPISED AND DISCOURAGED. (Vers, 14—18.) 1. Thetr spirtt was being daunted. The people ceased to respect them, and the scribes began to turn the failure to account as an argument against their Lord. What could they say or do? Their Master was absent, and they were at their wits’ end. A situation with its parallels in every age of the Church. Moral phases of individual, social, and national life which seem to defy remedy or even amelioration. Difficulties and failures in mission work, etc. 2. Their usefulness was at a standstill. The enemies of their cause had now the upper hand, and they were pressing them with objections and sneers. Perhaps they were even asking why their Master had gone away so mysteriously, and left them to cope with difficulties for which they were unequal. It was high time Jesus should come to their rescue. And lo! as the thought arose within them almost despairingly, he appeared! “The multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed.” ile had come just at the right moment, as if he divined ‘the need for his presence.