Unspoken Objections to Christ
When Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? — Mark ii. 8.
Ceetain men who had been hearing and watching Christ, not only, on various occasions, spoke against Him loudly, but, as in this instance, sometimes kej)t their objections within their own hearts, and so set themselves silently, but not less resolutely, against Him. The point of the subject is this very silence. Objection may be in feeling, not in speech; it may be strong enough to harden the heart, but not bold enough to express itself in argument. There are amongst ourselves men who never say a word against Christ, who have unspoken doubts, difficulties, and objections, in their hearts. Not for the world would they say one damaging word, yet their inward life is a continual struggle against the appeals and claims of the gospel.
The text shows —
I. An impoetant aspect of human power: Secrecy. — Having two lives. — Speech not always sincere or complete. — Mental reservations. — These considerations make us mysteries to each other.
II. A STARTLING INSTANCE OF DiVINE INSIGHT.
We hide our thoughts from each other j our silence is as loud as thunder in the ear of God! — The terribleness of a bad man living always in the light, — in such light, — the light of infinite purity! — Never having a thought we can call exclusively our own! — Our heart-talk overheard! — Our thoughts turned into language, and pronounced in the hearing of the universe!
III. A SPLENDID MANIFESTATION OF ChRIST’s FEAR-LESSNESS. — He need not have answered more than was spoken. He would, if an untrue and incompetent teacher, have reasoned, “If they say nothing, I shall say nothing.^^ Instead of this. He penetrated the secret thoughts of those who heard him, and answered more objections than were addressed to His ear. This should not be overlooked in estimating his claims as a teacher. The wonderfulness of the expression —” When Jesus perceived in His spirit: “Elisha said to Gehazi;, “Went not my heart after thee?” Every movement in the universe seems to touch a chord in Jesus Christs being. There is not a word in my tongue, there is not a thought in my heart/^ etc.
The fearlessness of Jesus Christs challenges to the human heart is a splendid element in the Christian argument. It is infinitely appropriate to the dignity of His person and the universality of His appeals. He was never afraid of coming upon something for which he was unprepared. Nor did he ever make his work less than he might have done. Literally, He spared not Himself.
IV. A SOLEMN EXAMPLE OF THE CONFUSION WHICH WILL FALL UPON ALL ChRISt’s OBJECTORS. Thougll not
in the text as a recorded fact, it is necessarily in the text as a spiritual reality. What must it be to have your heart’s thoughts spoken aloud by another voice than your own! Apply this (1) to vain self-excuses; (2) to secret love of iniquity; (3) to social insincerities.
The application of the whole forces upon us the inquiry, What manner of heart can hear the scrutiny of Christ?
Looking at the whole history of Jesus Christ, we are entitled to declare that it is impossible to have any objection to His person, doctrine, or claims, vjhich He cannot answer. Whatever there may be in our hearts, which we have never mentioned to our most trusted friend, Christ can answer it. The question is not whether a minister can answer it, but whether the Master can answer it. What is your unspoken objection? Doctrinal? Disciplinary? Philosophical? Ethical? Grammatical? Where is it that you strike your foot against a stumbling-block? Take your objection or difficulty boldly to Christ Himself, and pay no heed to the voices of self-displaying debaters.