Ill. THE TWELVE, AND THEIR TREATMENT OF THE CHILDREN. It is instructive to observe that the very persons whose office it was to make Jesus known to men, and to introduce all the needy to his notice, and to commend them to his aid, should have on this occasion interfered with the approach of those whom Jesus would have welcomed. The twelve rebuked the parents, and forbade the children to be brought to Jesus, pro- bably from a mistaken idea that the Lord would not care to be troubled with those so young and go helpless. How important that Christians shoul! not interpose to prevent children from seeking Christ and the fellowship of his people!
IV. JEsus, AND HIS TREATMENT OF THE CHILDREN. The narrative gives us a delightful view of the Saviour’s character, as the children’s Friend. 1. What he fel, A very strong expression is used to denote our Lord’s disapproval of his disciples’ con- duct. He was “moved with indignation” by their demeanour. They were both misrepresenting him and inflicting a wrong upon the applicants for blessing. 2. What he said. His language includes a special reference to the occasion, and a genera! statement of a Divine principle. “ Suffer the children to come!” “ Forbid them not!” How gracious a revelation of the Saviour’s mind and disposition, and how instructive a lesson for his people! The general principle he enunciates is even more valuable: “ Of such is the kingdom of heaven.” ‘The reference is doubtless to the dependence and teachableness of little children. God’s kingdom is composed of childlike natures, The proud, self-sufficient, and self-confident are out of harmony with a spiritual society which recognizes a Divine Head and is governed by Divine laws. 3. What he did, Doubtless, in these actions, Jesus was obeying the impulse of his affectionate nature. Yet he intended to teach the world how gracious is his heart, how compas- sionate are his purposes, how vast and widely extended are the arms of his love. He took them in his arms, verifying the prediction concerning him as the Good Shepherd, Ue laid his hands upon them, signifying his tender interest. He blessed them, praying ‘er them, and pronouncing over them words of Divine benediction.
oH. X.1—52.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. &
Appurcatiow. 1. An encouragement to Christian parents to bring their children to the Saviour. 2. An inducement to the young to look to Jesus as the Giver of true blessing. 3. An example to the Church of Christ as to the spirit in which the Lord’s people should deal with the young—with inexperienced and immature natures. No impatience or contempt, but rather gentleness and consideration, should distinguish the attitude of Christ’s people towards the lambs of the flock.
Vers. 17—22.—Loved, yet lacking. An interesting character this, coming in the Gospel history like a meteor out of the darkness for a brief moment, and then vanishing again, to be no more seen, An interesting conversation this, casting valuable light upon the character and the demands of Christ, and upon the aspirations and virtues, the tests and the deficiencies, of human nature. Strange that Jesus should love one who came before him in this one short interview; stranger still that, in this loved one, he should find a lack so serious and even fatal, that such promise should issue in such disappointment! In this young ruler we havea type of a class of &pplicants to Christ.
I. He possrssED MANY THINGS. How much was in this young man’s favour! 1. His worldly position. Though young, he was a ruler, and the possessor of great riches, It was to his credit that, when his worldly condition and circumstances were such, he ay acted as he did, evincing a mind set upon higher blessings than this world can give,
His character. There is no reason to disbelieve his assertion that he had in his out~ ward life kept the Law of the Decalogue, Christ did not charge him with hypocris in this profession; he rather admitted its truth in requiring more than compliance with the rules of morality. 3. His reverence for Jesus. ‘This is apparent in his action and attitude: ““he came kneeling down on the road before Jesus;” and in his address, “ Good Master,” as well as in the fact that he reverently asked the judgment of the
rophet of Nazareth upon a most important question. 4. His aspiration after eternal afe. This was a proof of a noble dissatisfaction and a noble desire; this question which the young ruler addressed to the one Being who was able to answer and resolve it.
Il, He was LOVED AND TESTED BY CuRisT. 1. Jesus loved him, doubtless seeing in