IV. Iv muusTRATES THE METHODS OF ProvipENcE. When innocence suffers and violence prevails, the foundations of moral order seem to be shaken, and the righteous exclaim, “ What shall we do?” The face of Providence seems obscured. But God is One who hideth himself. What we call the evil in nature may be the disguise of his wisdom; and not less does he conceal himself behind the evil of men. Here the greatest evil on their part gave occasion for the greatest good.
Y. Iv ILLUSTRATES THE ILLUSIVENESS OF APPEARANCES. Jesus is insulted by Roman soldiers; himself the spiritual Emperor of mankind. He is mocked with a semblance of royalty ; the mocking expresses an eternal fact. “Ridicule is the test of truth.” Beware of mockery and ingolence; we may be defying the Spirit of God. Seek below the praise and the blame of men, their applause and their abuse, for the eternal fact. Judge not of Christianity by what men say of it, but by itself. Estimate not its divinity by the worldly honour that attaches to it; but rather by the dishonour of the many, and the loyalty and life of the few. Truth and meekness, truth and spiritual force,—these are mightier than all falsehood and scorn.—J,
Vers, 21—32.—The Crucifixion. I. THERE MAY BE A BLESSING IN ENFORCED SERVICE. Simon the Cyrenian is raised into the light of history ; perhaps to teach us this, No nobler honour for the Christian than to reflect, “I have been called to bear the cross.” And for some to reflect, “I was forced into carrying the cross I would have refused, or left on the ground.” So with that other Simon, surnamed Peter.
Il. Pany 18 BATHER TO BE STRUGGLED WITH THAN ARTIFICIALLY SUPPRESSED, We seek anodynes for our troubles, Jesus teaches us to react against them by the force of faith. In the hour of duty we are to seek presence, not absence, of mind; to collect our faculties, not to distract them.
Ill. WHat I8 PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE MAY BE MORALLY IMPOSSIBLE. Christ could have come down from the cross in the former sense, could not in the latter. He pre- sents the ideal of suffering service for us, and the revelation of God’s ways. There may be things which God cannot do, in our way of speaking, because he knows they are not he to be done. vee sabe cannot save ourselves at the expense of duty, and must
content to appear foolish or impotent to many. Suffering and salvatio eternally wedded and at one.—J. a P srtee
Vers. 33—39.—Death of Jesus. I. THERE MAY FOR A TIME BE AN ECLIPSE FOR
a aa oe “No He There is an extremity of trial in these words, No oO e very sun of life seems extinguished, and all worth of exi j
Resech can ee no foothold in this ances ; ot ae
Il. YET THERE I8 NO ABSOLUTE DARKNESS. Out of it comes the cry of faith, The first words of a long-remembered psalm break from the lips of Jesus; a psalm that rises out of the minor into the major key, from the darkness into the blaze of prophetic vision, Doubtless in that moment the soul of Jesus passed swiftly through the whole scale of that psalmist’s experience, and rose into joy upon the wings of thanksgiving
Ill. May THE TERMINUS OF LIFE AND OF SERVICE BE IDENTICAL! We may breathe this prayer before the cross of Christ. Our work finished, what need have we to tarry ? Pericles, in his oration over those who fell for Athens’ good, says that, devoting their lives which had been usefully passed in peace on the field, their happiness and their life ended at the same moment. As Christians, our ideal is service, terminable only with life, “Too busy with the crowded hour to fear to live or die.” May wa
/
on. xv. 1—47,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 831 Se EE ee ee ee eee eee
“Obey the voice at eve obey’d at prime; Lowly faithful, banish fear, Right onward drive unarm’d; The port, well worth the cruise, is neat, And every wave is charm’d.”
IV. Fous coronat opus. ‘“ Many signs showed that he who died upon the crose was the Son of God.” “Regard the end.” It refiects its light upon the whole course from its beginning. What deep conviction of sin, of righteousness, of judgment; ot the frailty of man, the power and wisdom and the love of God, roots itself in the cross of Jesus! It is an end which is a beginning.—J.
Vers, 40—47.—The burial, I, FarrH TARIVES IN soRRow. Remoter disciples draw near, and secret disciples come forth, in the hour of humiliation and defeat. The sun sets, but not their hope; and the stars rise, but their faith is earlier up.
Il, Love survives aLL Loss, Its burning ray, like that of a hidden gem, flashes out ip the gloom. The nobleness of Christ had taught them to master selfishness and despair. His form was enshrined in the “amber of memory.” They who had been all eye when he was present, were all recollection now that he was gone.
Iil. GrRI=Fs ARE CERTAIN, JOYS COME BY SURPRISE. It was certain that Jesus was dead; and none expected his resurrection. There is change, not loss, in the kingdom of the spirit. God takes away a good to restore it in a new form. Disappointment vacates the heart for higher blessings. His revelation is in light and shadow.—J.