believeth, and as an evidence of his faith accepts Christ’s baptism, and fulfils the promises and vows which he then took upon himself, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, shall be saved. But he that disbelieveth shall be condemned (5 8 amotioas, KataxpOhoera) The condeme nation anticipates the doom which will be incurred by continual unbelief.
Vers. 17, 18.—And these signs shall follow them that believe. Such evidences were necessary in the first dawn of Chris- tianity, to attract attention to the doctrine; but our Lord’s words do not mean that they were to be in perpetuity, as a continually re- curring evidence of the truth of Christianity. St. Gregory (on 1 Cor. xiv. 22) says, “‘ These siens were necessary in the beginning of Christianity. In order that faith might take root and increase, it must be nourished by miracle; for so even we, when we plant shrubs, only water them until we see’ that they are taking root, and when we see that they have rooted themselves, we cease to water them. And this is what St. Paul means where he says ‘ Tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the un- believing’ (1 Cor. xiv. 22).” In my name shall they cast out devils. St. Mark, of all the evangelists, dwells most perhaps on this, as characteristic of our Lord’s work, and as the evidence of his supreme dominion over the spiritual world. They shall speak with new tongues. This was the first intimation of the great miracle to be inaugurated on the day of Pentecost. The gift was con- tinued but for a very limited time. They shall take up serpents. The instance of St. Paul at Melita (Acts xxviii. 3—5) would be familiar to St. Mark’s readers. And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them. There are some few traditionary notices of the fulfilment of this promise; as in the case of “Justus Barsabas,” mentioned by Eusebius (‘H.E.,’ iii. 19), and of St. Jobn, mentioned by St. Augus- tine. It may be observed of this passage, that no one could have interpolated it after the cessation of the signe to which it refers, which took place very early.
Ver. 19.—So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven. Here is another interval. The evangelist has gathered up some few of the most important words and sayings of Christ ; and now he takes his reader to Bethany, the scene of our Lord’s ascension. It has been well observed (see Bishop Wordsworth, tx loc.) that the fact of the Ascension is gradu- ally revealed in the Gospels. St. Matthew does not mention it at all. St. Mark refers to itin this brief and very simple manner. But St. Luke describes it with great fulness, both in his Gospel and in the Acta of the
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on. xvi. 1—20.] THE GOSPEI ACCORDING TO ST. MARK.
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Apostles, throughout which book he leads his readers to contemplate Christ as as- cended into heaven, and as sitting at God’s right hand, and as ruling the Church and ,the world from the throne of his glory. Ver. 20.—And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. These words are alluded to in several passages by Justin Martyr (about a.p. 160), and, for the reasons
later than the time of miracles being wrought. They form a fitting introduction to the Acts of the Apostles. Cornelius & Lapide concludes his Commentary upon 8t. Mark with the following beautiful apos- trophe of St. Augustine :—* O kingdom of everlasting blessedness, where youth never grows old, where beauty never fades, where love never waxes cold, where health never fails, where joy never decreases, where life never ends!”
given above, could not have been written
HOMILETIOS.
Vers. 1—8.—The empty sepulchre. In this passage there is no direct narrative of the Saviour’s resurrection. The evangelist probably tells what, and only what, he had heard from credible and well-known witnesses. There were no such witnesses to the act of the Lord’s emergence from the tomb. But the Marys and Salome had stated what they had seen and heard. They declared that, although they went early to the sepulchre, they found it both open and empty. They related their interview with the young man, the angel, who informed them that Jesus had risen, And it is upon their testimony that the evangelist bases in the first instance his gospel of the resurrection.
I, LovE wil FIND OCCASIONS AND WAYS OF EXPRESSING ITSELF. In our Lord’s ministry, devout and attached women had often provided for his wants. When the end of that ministry arrived, these affectionate friends were found faithful to their Master ; they were amongst the witnesses of his crucifixion and his death. Nor did they then withdraw, but lingered by the lifeless body until it was deposited in the new-hewn tomb. Even then their love was not satisfied; it remained for them to finish the rites which had been so hastily performed by Nicodemus and Joseph, and so abruptly suspended by the sunset which was the commencement of the Jewish sabbath. Behold them, accordingly, in the garden immediately after sunrise. On the past evening they have purchased spices; and they have now, at early morning, come, laden with the fragrant preparations, to perform the last offices to the body of him they have long honoured and loved. The incident reminds us of the grateful and most graceful tribute offered to Jesus by the sister of Lazarus, who poured the costly per- fume over the sacred feet of her Lord, her Benefactor. In both cases the value and the charm of the services are owing to the love by which they were inspired. Love followed Jesus, not only in the way, and into the dwelling, but to the cross and to the grave. They who truly love the Lord Christ will find opportunities in abundance of proving their affection.