(A Meditation on Mark 1:, il, 3:)
In those three chapters we get the divine record of two parallel lives, and, at the same time, the greatness of their contrast will be observed by the thoughtful reader. One record, perfect and divine, the other that of Iranian nature away from God, hence sinful, and in the end demonstrated (as in chap. 3:) to be exceeding sinful.
In the gospel of Matthew (the first twelve chapters), the Holy Spirit goes over the same ground, and gives the same development of good on one hand and of evil on the other, but with more material added suited to the object of that Gospel. The two, if studied together (Matt. 1:-12:; Mark, 1:-3:), give much light, and the lessons are full of profit for meditation, but we will devote ourselves in this meditation to those three chapters.
In the first chapter we are at once introduced to the Lord Jesus as the perfect Servant. How wonderful, we exclaim, the grace, that sinners ever should be brought into His presence and introduced to Him before whom seraphim veil their faces, yet it is true, and as we trace His every step we behold the face of Deity, yet veiled with a true and perfect humanity.
In these three chapters they hear Him preach, teach, and see Him heal, and also deliver the oppressed, and as a Shepherd call His own sheep by name. But if they thus behold a prophet, teacher, and servant, it was none less than the Son of God who was all this.
As we open the chapter we note the sevenfold witness to Himself given:
1.Prophets prophesied of Him (ver. 2).
2. John bore a faithful testimony to Him (vers. 4-8).
3.The Holy Spirit descends upon Him (ver. 10).
4. The Father's voice proclaims Him, ''Thou art my Son, etc." (ver. ii).
5. Satan has to leave Him, after tempting Him forty days and finding nothing in Him.
6. Wild beasts are harmless and tame in His presence, Lord of Creation (ver. 13).
7. Angels at such a period of trial and temptation, yet of triumph and victory, come and minister to Him the Servant of servants, and yet Lord over Creation. Thus, as we view Him presented to Israel
and the earth, the glory of His person is recognized and borne witness to. Blessed truth which commands the worship of our hearts now and forever.
He commences His service by preaching the gospel and calling upon men to repent, the first lesson for man away from God and in his sins, " Repent ye and believe the gospel (vers. 14, 15).
Next He calls His servants, four in number (fishermen), to follow Him. At this time we begin to trace His path as servant here below (16-20). What an honor conferred upon those men of humble life to be called to follow Him during the time of His sojourn here! They were vessels, no doubt, long thought of, and already prepared for the occasion (although, doubtless, unknown to themselves), and by their humble life fitted in this way to be companions of One who was the very embodiment of humility ; hence suited to Him they were, as suited to them was He.
Next we trace His steps from the seaside to Capernaum, and there He entered the synagogue upon the Sabbath where we are informed He "taught," as before He had preached (ver. 14, 21, 22). Then as the Shepherd of Israel He delivered one of His sheep from the grasp of a cruel foe (vers. 23-27).
When we reach this stage of His ministry we observe how the masses are attracted by His word and work. "They were astonished at His doctrine:for He taught as one that had authority, and not as the scribes" (ver. 22). Note here with care, "Not as the scribes," for the contrast between His ministry and theirs could be readily seen. The scribes were mere formalists; religion was their business, and they taught simply as they learned from their books. His ministry was far different. He came forth from the presence of God, and in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit spake the word of God, presenting it to the heart and conscience of men. The masses felt preaching of that character was the very voice of God to their souls. This is where we note the first contrast of the two parallel lives now before us in those three chapters.
If this new teaching was received by the masses, the scribes felt their popularity as teachers would wane, and their teaching fade away. Here we see human nature put to the test, and we see it manifests itself in the presence of One the very embodiment of perfection itself. Man cannot tolerate being set aside, cannot take a low place. And if even Jesus, the Father's gift to men, is introduced, and in the power of the Holy Spirit manifests Himself, on the part of man there develops envy and bitterness. Such was the case in the history of the religious leaders of that day. These things, we observe, develop until at the end they place Him upon the cross (chap. 15:18; Rom. 8:7).
But to return again (vers. 27 and 28). The people are further amazed, and His fame soon spreads through the whole province. He commences at the seaside, then passes to the synagogue, and from there the report of His teachings and miracles spread, until all Galilee hears the message. "The Lord hath visited His people in giving them bread." Wonderful days were those days for that favored land and people!
He pursues His labor of love and enters Peter's home, giving proof of His mission by raising up his
mother-in-law from a bed of sickness. " And at even, when the sun did set they brought unto Him all that were diseased and them that were possessed with devils, and all the city was gathered together at the door, and He healed many that were sick of divers diseases and cast out many devils." Marvelous was the work and marvelous the grace and love that met their need that day.
The next day we trace His footprints, and very early; " In the morning rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed" (ver. 33). What an example is here given us for the profit of the after servant, and what a lesson for those just called, and now walking by His side day by day. What lovely perfection we behold in the lowly life of Jesus here on earth, and what a contrast to that of the scribes and Pharisees who prayed, not in "a solitary place," but upon the corner of the streets to be seen of men.
Here we behold in the early morn the Lord of life and glory upon His knees, as a man, as a servant, expressing His dependence upon the Father. Lord, may we here pause and learn the lesson more fully, drink in this sweet, lowly and dependent spirit that ever characterized Thy life when here among men, and learn from this "solitary place " the importance of following the example, using our knees, as well as hands and tongues, for Thee.
Simon and they that were with Him soon follow, and when they found Him, they said, " All men seek for Thee." A busy day had just been passed, till evening the masses had thronged Him. But again, early, the disciples say, "All men seek for Thee." Let us again pause and note another lovely perfection of that life which was perfection itself at every stage. "And he said unto them let us go into the next towns:that I may preach there also:for therefore came I forth " (vers. 37, 38). He, ever perfect in doing His Father's work, desired to press on and finish His work. He was not deterred in the least from any part of that work by the popularity of the hour. That was nothing to Him, no bait that the enemy could use to hinder Him pursuing His Father's work, caring for His glory alone while here. Yet it is a bait often used by the enemy since to turn servants aside from quietly pursuing their course with humility of heart.
Nothing could hinder Him being in the "solitary place," nor yet pursuing His work from place to place with a decided and steady purpose, seeking His Father's glory and not His own. What a lesson, we repeat, for us all. Let us know the power of those two lessons; let us know what it is to look and care for the smile of the Master of every true servant. Let us seek His approval; let us watch against the wiles of Satan, who may suggest, as a bait for the flesh, that we are important, and that all seek for us. Let us imitate what the Lord here sets before us as an example so needed if we are to be here on earth servants for Him. How much this implies. "And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils."
Next the record of cleansing the leper is given and the result was, as he published abroad the fact, they came to Him from every quarter (vers. 39-45).
In chapter twenty-one we see Him once again in Capernaum, where we first beheld Him casting out a demon, and now upon His return He still finds it the place of need, the field was white, the harvest ripe, the need was great. We will next see how unable were the leaders to ease the burden for the oppressed, and how little the desire they had to do so. At this time they bring a palsied man, and through the roof they let him down, and He seeing their faith grants the blessing, and even this beyond their faith; they desired the body healed, but He grants forgiveness also, and the man receives a double blessing. " Thy sins be forgiven thee." How sweet these words must have been to that man's ears; what music they contained to cheer his drooping spirit. But for the scribes it was far otherwise, to forgive and bless had no charm for them. This work was new, the ministry powerful, the results marvelous, so that the populace were carried away:"We never saw it on this fashion."
Now we note the development of a life so different to His, so opposite, and even hostile; envy was deep seated in the hearts of those men, the scribes; their popularity as teachers was on the wane, and the teaching of another was growing in acceptance. " But there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies ? Who can forgive sins but God only?" This was the thought of their hearts; true, not yet expressed, but the Lord read it there. He was a teacher, so were they, and their own glory as such they sought, but with Him different. What a lesson for us as servants now! When nearness to Him is cultivated and the drinking in the lowly spirit that so characterized Him, the perfect Servant, the moral characteristics of His life will be displayed. When we see God attaching special honor and blessing upon others, when we see them advance, then let the heart beware, for the flesh within is ever ready to manifest itself as do the scribes in this chapter. They complain, look for some accusation, but the spirit of the Lord was the very opposite. An old writer wrote, " None are so slow to recognize gift in others as preachers themselves." This fact is truly exemplified by the spirit of the scribes, and here every servant, every teacher, every preacher, no matter what the sphere of service may be, needs to pause and seek to cultivate that spirit. "Let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3-11). Beware of the flesh within that seeks its own glory and the advancement of self. Let us turn from that unholy spirit, the envy, the jealousy, the bitter feeling which we see here in its germ with the scribes, and which when fully developed led them to put Him upon the cross. What a hateful thing the flesh is in the presence of holiness!
But all this opposition on their part did not deter the Lord in the least. The need lay before His eyes, and the desire to meet that need lay heavy upon His heart. So He adds to the palsied man:"Arise and take up thy bed." What grace! What power! How strengthening and cheering to Peter, James and John, as well as the others whom the Holy Spirit had attracted to Jesus, were these things. Yet with the scribes it was far otherwise. They watch Him with a keen eye, yet He goes on with His work, as the Shepherd of Israel, seeking the sheep however far astray. A. E. B.
(To be continued)