Mark 3

Mark 3:21-34

In this chapter we have, 1. Christ’s healing a man that had a withered hand on the sabbath-day, and the combination of his enemies against him for it, ver. 1—6. 2. The universal report of people to him from all parts to be healed, and the relief they all found with him, ver. 7—12. 3. His ordaining his mother applies to be attendants on him, and the preachers of his gospel, ver. 13—21. 4. His answer to the blasphemous cavil of the scribes, who imputed his power to cast out devils, to a confederacy with the prince of the devils, ver. 22—30. 5. His evening his disciples for his warrish and dearest relations, ver. 31—35.

1. AND he entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2. And they watched him, whither he would heal him on the sabbath-day, that they might accuse him. 3. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4. And he saith unto them,

Our Lord proceeds to teach them under other parabolic representations.

1. By the ufe we make of a candle when lighted up, Christ informs them what he juftly expected of them, even to fhine as fights in the world; communicating to others the truths they in fecerit learnt of him, and keeping fuck nothing of the whole counfci of God. Whatever gifte of nature or grace we enjoy, they are to be employed for God’s glory and the good of mankind, and not through love of ease, or falfe fhaine, concealed or neglected. It is not enough that we walk in the light ourselves, we muft let our light aflo fhine before men.

2. He warns them of the danger of negligence in improving the means and mercies they enjoyed. They are called upon to hear, and to take heed what they hear, that they may not let the word flip, nor be deluded; but by a careful ufe of their meafure of the gift of grace to increafe their ftore, God being ready in communicate more abundant knowledge to fuch attentive hearers, and to give farther affiftances of spiritual light and ftrength to thofe who employ aright in the fervice of Christ and immortal fouls the portion they have received, whilft he punfhes the negligent and inattentive, by withdrawing from them the privileges wherewith he had favoured them.

3. He defcribes the progrefs of his gofpel in the world, and of the feed of divine grace in the heart, by the growth of corn which, though unfeen for a while, and covered with earth, fhoots up, increafes infenfibly till the harveft, and then produces the ripe ear. Thus the miniftry of Jefus at firft was fcarce perceived, but the feed he fowed afterwards fprang up, continues through his word and fpirit ffull to grow, and fhall fhorfiy fill the face of the whole world with fruit. And fo allo in every heart, where the feed of eternal life is fown by any minifter of God, it grows without his care, when perhaps he is removed far away, or fleeps in death; it is watered with the dew of heavenly influences; and though the manner of the fpirit’s operation in the divine change which is wrought is myfterious, as the manner how the corn vegetates, yet the effects are edifoly, the foul is renewed day by day; the feed of grace, from fmall beginnings, fhoots infenfibly upwards till the time of harveft, when the ripe corn is gathered in, and perfected in hollnefs the faints of God enter their eternal reft. Lord, quicken this feed fown in our fouls day by day!

4. Much to the fame purpofe as the former, is the parable of the grain of muftard-feed, and reprefenta, (1.) The progrefs of the gofpel; which, from the fmalleft beginnings of the miniftry of twelve poor fithermen, hath fpread through the earth, and fhall in due time reach from pole to pole, when all the kingdoms of the world fhall become the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ. (2.) The work of grace upon the heart. At firft, like a grain of muftard-feed, it is fcarce perceptible, but increafing with the increafe of God, the herb grows into a tree, and erect to be tranplanted among the cedars of glorified faints in the paradiife of God.

5. He added many other like parables, that by line upon line, in this familiar manner, he might communicate spiritual truths under material objects; and without a parable fpake he not seen them. They who defired to underfand might eafily do it; and where difficulties arofe, he was always ready, when alone, to explain them to the disciples; whilft thofe who fuperficially heard, neglected and forgot the word preached, were juftly left in their native blindnefs and ignorance.

6. And the fame day when the even was come, he faith unto them, Let us pafs over unto the other fide. 26. And when they had fent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the fhip, and there were allo with him other fittle fhips. 37. And there arofe a great ftorm of wind, and the waves beat into the fhip, fo that it was now full. 38. And he was in the hinder part of the fhip, aafteep on a pillow: and they awake him, and fay unto him, Maffer, careft thou not that we perifh? 39. And he arofe, and rebuked the wind, and faid unto the fea, Peace, be ffull: and the wind ceafed, and there was a great calm. 40. And he faid unto them, Why are ye fo fearful? how is it that you have no faith? 41. And they feared exceedingly, and faid one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the fea obey him?

Mark 3:35-41

No fooner had Christ finfited his difcourfe, and difmified the people, than he hida the disciples crofs the fake, having work that calla him to the other fide. Jefus was never weary in well-doing, neither fhould we.

1. The disciples, without freftation, obey; ready to follow their mufter wherever he led them; and exceedingly they fet fail in the fame veffel which had been his pulpit, and a number of other boats accompanied them. For though the multitude departed, thofe whofe hearts were affected with what they had heard, chofe to cleave to the Lord, and fallow him witherfoever he went, by land or by water. Niet. (1.) They who are

Christ’s disciples indeed, will never leave nor forfake him, whatever dangers may threaten. (2.) If Christ be with us, we may boldly launch forth; his presence and bleffing will be our fupport and comfort.

2. A dreadful and fudden ftorm brought them into the moft imminent danger; and, covered with waves, and full almoft of water, the boat was ready to founder. Niet, The church, and every faithful foul in it, hath at times been brought into the moft perilous circumftances; nothing hath kept either from finking but this, that Christ was there.

3. He stept fecurely in the stern on a pillow, tired with the labours of the day: the ftorm that drove the disciples to their wits end, semued but to rock him fuffer to repose. Niet, When we are in our deepft difteffes, Christ sometimes appears to disregard our danger, as if he stept, inattentive to our cries; but he fees, he hears, and will be found a very present help in trouble.

4. The disciples in a fright awake him with their cries; Maffer, careft thou not that we perifh? art thou indifferent about our danger; and wilt thou fuffer us to be drowned? Their application to him bespoke their faith, but their adderfs breathed the language of impatience and difhonourable fear. Such a mixture of grace and corruption often appears in the beft of men.

5. The Lord, whom winds and waves obey, arofe; and at his commanding word, Peace, be ffull, the billows in a moment ceafed to roar, the fuelling fca substled, the winds were husted, not a breath of air dumped the ocean, not a whisper broke the solemn science. When our unruly pallious are like the troubled foe which cannot rest, Isa. Ivii. 20. the voice of Jefus, heard by faith, sobdues their violence, and calms their rage—Under deep afflictions and temptations, when we are ready to abandon ourselves to defpair, he silences our fears, and stills our griefs; speaking that inward peace to the confluence, that in the musft of sortows can make us rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

6. He rebukes their unbelieving fears. Why are ye fo fearful? fo unnecestarily, fo inordinately fearful? Hear is it that ye have no faith? not in execrise at leall; though they had faith in him in general, in this particular their fears prevailed. How often do we under our trials deserve the fame rebuke?

7. The miracle filled the mariners with moft reverential fear of the mayesty in which Jefus now appeared, and with amazement they observed to each other, that he muft be furely more than man, whom stormy winds and raging waves fo instantly obey.