INSTITUTIONS OF MEN I8 ONE OF AUTHORITY. Only direct Divine sanction, or a higher truth vindicating itself at the bar of reason and conscience, or in the field of experience, can justify the attitude of Christ and his religion towards the religions and superstitions of men. Arbitrary assumption will soon betray itself, and the spiritual nature of man must be satisfied. ‘This question of authority is sure to be raised sooner or later by the upholders of the systems and beliefs Christianity impugns. And Qbristians are counselled to “ give a reason of the hope that is in” them. — TL. To aL. GENUINE INQUIRERS CHRISTIANITY PRESENTS A SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE, 1, The life and works of Christ are his justification. They prove him “sent from God.” The evidence upon which our belief in these is based is as strong, at least, as for any other historic matter. 2. The experience of the tion of Christian doctrine and practice in the ages subsequent to the Oross, 3, That tihthedate witness of the conscience and the heart, With the first and the third of these the temple authorities were already conversant.
III. HypPooririoaL AND ILLEGITIMATE INQUIRIES INTO THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST OR HIS SERVANTS MAY BE RESISTED AND EXPOSED. 1. Christ knew the motives of hés inquisitors. 2. He placed them in a false position én order to expose these to themselves and others, 3. All Divine revelations have similar evidence, and stand or fail together. Had they believed John, they would have believed Jesus. As they believed neither, it must have been because they hated the truth. It was for the interests of true religion that this fact should be made evident. He proceeded to prove the traditional unrighteousness of the Jewish people and their leaders in a series of “ parables” or similitudes, which were at the same time so many appeals to conscience. (It would be well for the preacher to remark upon the unbroken consecution of ch. xi. and xii. in the spoken discourse of Christ.)—M.
Vers. 1—3.—Jesus the King. On the occasion described in these verses Jesus assumed kingly authority. Loved as a Friend, revered as a Teacher, and followed as a Worker of miracles, he now declared his kingliness, and demanded obedience and homage. Therein he taught us, his subjects, some lessons,
J. As a Kine, Jesus REQUIRES ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE. To the two disciples this command must have appeared strange. After finding the animal denoted, they were not to ask for it, but to take it; and if their action was questioned they were merely to say, “The Lord hath need of him.” If it belonged to a foe, some might arrest or assail them for robbery. It was not the first occasion, however, on which they simply obeyed. Christ had a right to their absolute obedience, and their faith was tested by this demand upon it. Unquestioning obedience to truth and to duty is far too rare. We want to see the reasons for a command, the probable issues of it, and when we see neither too often we withhold obedience. Peril from this is now more frequent, because authority as such is weakened on all sides. Children in the home, which is the true sphere for the cultivation of obedience, are too often allowed to question when they ought to be told to obey. If we are sure of duty as followers of Jesus Christ, we must be regardless of consequences, He anticipates our difficulties, as he foresaw the question of the owner of the colt. He asks us to take cne step, and to take it boldly, although we do not see what the next will be, nor whither it may lead us. If we goon to the Red Sea, it will afford us a path of safety and cut off our foes from following us. If an angel rouses us from sleep, and we arise and follow him, the great iron gate we cannot stir will open to us of its own accord.
II. As a Kina, Jesus CLAIMS THE USE OF ALL THAT HE REQUIRES, We forget that we are not the absolute owners of anything. All we have is held in trust; but our seeming possession tests our disposition, and helps to develop character. - If we wish to prove the honesty of a servant, and let his skill in management grow, we do not give him small sum each day, and check and wate: him till the evening, and then expect a strict account. No; we put a large sum at his disposal, and “after a long time” reckon with him, with the result, that if he has been faithfui he has increased his capital and his fitness. So God puts at our disposal wealth, talents, etc., in the hope
1% ' THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on. x1 1—33
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that for our own sake we will use all loyally for him. Christ Jesus, during his ministry, was as one “having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” No colt was his, but one was there, and when its owner heard “The Lord hath need of him,” it was ready for the Lord’s use, The message sent to that man, when it comes home to our hearts, should silence all objections to the making of effort or sacrifice. If we have to give up some luxury so as to help the poor, if we have to sacrifice leieure that is hardly earned to teach the ignorant, if we have to part with one who is desr to us, our anger and defiance will be quieted when we say to ourselves, “The Lord hath need of them.” The owner was perhaps a secret disciple. The Lord knew him, although the apostles did not. Now, after loving Jesus quietly, the opportunity for showing his love was suddenly proffered, and he gladly gave what he could. Christ asks of us, as he asked of him, what is possible and reasonable; and instead of waiting tu do something great, let us do what we can, and that which is mean in itself will be hallowed and glorified when used by our Lord.