work, minister food to the hungry and wealth to the nation. 3. Jé was the owtcome of selfishness. One of the best tests we have of the lawfulness of ambition is this question— How does it affect my feelings towards others? There is reason to fear that the idea of these disciples was that the chief places in the kingdom should be allotted to them, regardless of the claims of their brethren. No wonder, then, that they were rebuked by their Lord, and that when the ten heard it they had great indignation, Self-seeking ever tends to separate friends, and to arouse discord in the Christian Church. Selfish- ness is the root of the indolence that dishonours the disciples of Christ ; it is the cause of civil dissensions; it is the spring of the bloody wars that desolate the world; and when it asserts itself in sectarianism it checks the advance of Christ’s kingdom, and brings upon the Church paralysis and death. Against it Christ Jesus declared ruthless war. He declared that men must deny themselves if they would follow him ; he taught us to love our enemies, and still more our neighbours, and said that if a man would be really great, he must minister to others for his sake.
Il. Tue rREPLy or our Lorp. He pointed out the distinction between real greatness and seeming greatness, and declared that dignity in his kingdom was bestowed accord- ing to a certain law—the law of moral fitness, A similar law asserts itself everywhere in God’s economy. Each plant and animal have their own habitat, and for their well- being we are compelled to study those conditions which the Creator designed for them. The disciples supposed that honour was at the arbitrary disposal of the Lord on the ground of personal favour. It was so with the positions held under the Roman govern- ment. The favour of an emperor might appoint a Pontius Pilate Procurator of Judaa, in complete disregard of character and suitability. It was not to be so in Christ’s Church, whether on earth or in heaven. There would be distinctions of rank and honour, but they would be given by God to those worthy of dignity, and fit for it. In the kingdom of righteousness nothing would be arbitrary, or dependent upon caprice. To some extent this is so in the attainment of knowledge. Knowledge cannot be given by @ teacher because a pupil is a favourite, or because a pupil wishes to be first among competitors; but it is the reward of individual work and consequent fitness, And great- ness in heaven will not consist in so many pleasures or dignities, but in the enjoyment of so much life, in the developments of power and in the possibilities of service. These, then, are some of the principles laid down in our Lord’s reply : 1. Prepared places are for prepared people. (Ver. 40.) 2. Hewmble ministry ts the source of highest exaltation. (Vers. 43, 44.) 8. Christ’s mission ¢s the pattern of Christian service. (Ver. 45.)—A. RB.
Vers, 46—52.—Blind Bartimzus: the publicity of Christ’s miracles. Our Lord stood face to face with men. He said with truth, “I spake openly to the world, and in secret have I said nothing.” His life was spent in the glare of publicity. His miracles were not performed among chosen witnesses, who might be interested in the propagation of what was false; nor in the secrecy of some convent or retreat. They were wrought on the mountain-side, in full view of five thousand men, besides women and children; ina synagogue full of worshippers hostile to his claims; or on a public road, crowded with pilgrims going to the Passover. This not only strengthened the evidence of the super- natural, but it was a sign that the blessings signified by such wonders were not intended for a class but fora race. Therefore we must beware lest we, by act or word, should be saying to any earnest seeker, what the crowd said to Bartimsus, “ Hold thy peace!” By our coldness we may tacitly rebuke enthusiasm, and by our inconsistencies we may destroy the desires of the contrite. Christ can save us from this. He can by a word transform us, as he transformed that crowd, so that those who had just been saying, “Hold thy peace,” became ready to say, “ Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” Subject—Jn this miracle we have reminders of some characteristics of owr Lord.
I. Tux power or Jzsus. Its exemplification outside Jericho was appropriate both to the beauty of the city and to its memories. Jericho was an oasis in the desert. There palms flourished and roses grew. Whether approaching it from the robber-haunted road from Jerusalem, or from the Dead Sea valley, it was significant of the Paradise Christ came to restore, which would be beautiful with the flowers of his grace and fragrant with the sweetness of his love. And here Joshua, the Jesus of the Old Testament, had proved the power that was his because the Lord was with him. The angel of the covenant which appeared to him was a 4écursor of the mighty Conqueror who came
OH. X. 1—52.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 85 Si ee a ee ee