Mark
Christ, the servant, goes about his work at once.
1:22. There is an awful possibility of being “astonished,” without being convinced, persuaded, saved.
23. A devil in a synagogue!
30. The French for mother-in-law is “belle-mere “-
beautiful mother.
Suffering everywhere: — In the synagogue. V. 23.
In the home. V. 30,
In the city. V. 32.
But Christ is there too.
2: 1. If Christ is in the house, your neighbors will soon know it.
3. Four men thought it worth while to bring one man
to Christ.
4. They thought it more important to get to Christ
than to have an orderly meeting.
5. Christ saw not their “perseverance” or “ingenuity,” but their “faith.” Christ’s coming —
Awakens hope, effort.
Brings pardon, power.
Calls forth praise.
6. A new religion provoked opposition. Formality
versus Will of God.
8. To know the hearts of men was, with the Jews, a
test of the true Messiah’s claims. See Isa. 11:3.
9. The true character of a miracle: the outward manifestation of the power of God, in order that we may believe in the power of God in things that are invisible.
11. “Thy sins be forgiven thee.... Arise and walk.” A separate miracle, — being healed. So to-day, a drunkard may be forgiven, but he does not at once recover his steady hands, etc. The spiritual miracle must come first. Matt. 6: 33.
17. Christ, the Great Physician.
How do we know when people are sick in mind?
in body? in soul?
What is the medicine? Prisons, hospitals, etc. Who are sick in soul? Isa. 1: 6; 1 John 1: 7.
23-28. Withered hearts.
1- 5. Withered hand.
3. “Stand forth” — as a confession of need. 5. “Stretch forth” — as a confession of faith.
4. These are indeed obstinate in their infidelity who,
when they can say nothing against a truth, will say nothing for it; and when they cannot resist, yet will not yield.
5. Every conversion is a miracle. The sinner can no
more “believe” than this man could raise his withered hand, without power being given from on high.
6. Christ’s enemies.
7-12. Christ’s friends.
13-19. Christ’s messengers.
13. Chosen,
Bought,
Planted,
that they should bear fruit.
3:28-30. The unpardonable pin: A union of light in the head and hatred in the heart. Not a sin of ignorance or presumption, but of defiance.
4: 26. The seed passed through seven stages: (1) cast into the ground; (2) springing up; (3) growing; (4) blade; (5) ear; (6) full corn in the ear; (7) harvest.
28. Blade of thought.
Green ear of conviction.
Full ear of faith.
Christ overcomes the storm, chap. 4: 39;
the devil, 5: 13;
disease, 5: 29;
death, 5: 42.
5: Devils prayed, and Jesus answered.
A wicked man praj’ed, and Jesus answered. A believing woman prayed, and Jesus answered. All asked for something, and all got it. Three very bad cases — devils, disease, death — beyond the reach of man (for man had tried and failed), cured by Christ.
Note the testimony of the evil spirit to Christ: saw Him afar off: ran and worshiped: confessed His divinity: dreaded His indignation.
2. Satan as a master is bad; his work worse; his wages worst of all.
19. A missionary convert.
22. It was his daughter’s trouble that drove the ruler to Jesus.
5: 23.” My daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray
thee, come and lay thy hands on her that she may be healed: and she shall live.” A short prayer, and to the point.
35. “Thy daughter is dead.” A great part of the business of preachers to-day is to contradict this statement. Thy daughter, thy son, is unf dead. Instead of ceasing to pray, be more urgent and earnest than ever.
6: 20.” Herod feared John... and did many things. ‘’
Had he feared God, he would have done every thing.
Herod was once a hopeful case Mark 1 2: 34. but the sin of adultery kept him back. It was the price of his soul.
27. John the Baptist, the last of the prophets, died as a martyr for the law of Moses, not because of his testimony concerning the Messiah.
31. “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” There is progress in a Christian’s life when he may not seem to be going ahead. Like a canal-boat in a lock, when it stands still but is rising all the time.
34. God the Father, “full of compassion.” Ps. 145: 8; 78: 38. God the Son, ’ moved with compassion. ‘’ Luke 7: 13; Mark 1: 41.
37.” Give ye them to eat.” Christ uses us and our resources.
6:41. i< Christ gave them to his disciples to sol before, them.” Go and distribute.
7: 24. “He could not be hid.” As it is with the head,
so it is with the members. Matt. 5: II.
29. The Syrophcenician woman did what the lawyers and scribes could not do — she entangled Jesus.
8: 34. You cannot follow ti/tcr Jesus, until you have first
come to him.
36. He who sins for profit shall not profit by his sins.
38. We are most ashamed of Jesus when He has most cause to be ashamed of us.
9: 8. Jesus only.
34. Man only.
Jesus alone on the mount of transfiguration, and alone on the mount of suffering.
The. Christian Life: -
1 ‘On the mountain-top” (v. 2).” In the plain” (v. 0).
Spiritual. Practical.
Communion. Conflict.
Occupied with Jesus. Occupied for Jesus.
JESUS ONLY.
Once it was the blessing — now it is the Lord: Once it was the feeling — now it is His word; Once His gifts I wanted — now Himself alone: Once I sought for healing — now the Healor own: Once ’twas painful trying — now ’tis perfect trust: Once a half salvation — now the uttermost:
Once ’twas what I wanted — now what Jesus says: Once ’twas constant asking — now ’tis ceaseless praise; Once it was my working — His it hence shall be: Once I tried to use Him — now He uses me; Once the power I wanted — now the Might y One: Once I worked for glory — now His will be done!
9: 20. Like a bad tenant, the devil tried to do as much harm as he could when he got notice to quit.
10: 17. Salvation sought and missed.
10:21. Jesus’s first look was one of love: “Jesus beholding him loved him.” V. 21.
Jesus’s second look was one of sorrow: “Jesus looked round about, “and said,” How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the king dom of God.” V. 23.
Jesus’s third look was one of hope: “Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” V. 27.
“One thing thou lackest.” One leak can sink a ship, one sin destroy the sinner.
22. Men read the Old Testament story of earthly prosperity held out as a reward for well-doing, and the New Testament disclosure of heavenly joys beyond the highest earthly possessions, and they say they would like to have the Old Testament rewards in this world, and the New Testament treasures for the next world. The call of the Master comes in to decide for one or the other: not both.
10:33. Jesus proclaimed his coming sacrifice; hence He did not die a mere martyr’s death.
45. Jesus gave His life a ransom for many.
Jesus gave Himself for the church. Eph. 5:25. Jesus gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20.
13: 36. A watchman on a boat was asked what he did
when he felt sleepy. “I clean the lamp,” he replied.
14: 9. It is God’s way, to magnify any good jK)int He sees
in us. Love hides sin.
15: 21. Rutherford speaks of the sweet burdensomeness of
Christ’s cross. It is such a burden as wings to a bird or sails to a ship — it carries one forward to the desired haven.