_CHRIST IN US_ ‘It was noised that He was in the house.’ Mark 2:1 We are all houses, whether we will or no. The only question is, Who shall inhabit us? It is a blessed thought that Christ died not only to redeem us, but to dwell in us. I want to point out some marks, suggested by the narrative in... [ Continue Reading ]
_VICARIOUS FAITH_ ‘And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.’ Mark 2:3 Just as every human disease was a symbol of the moral condition of the soul, so every miracle Jesus wrought on the body was a token of what He would do for the soul. I. THE FAITH OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_FORGIVENESS AND A NEW LIFE_ ‘When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’ Mark 2:5 The narrative from which the text is taken abounds in points of the deepest interest, but I am going to speak on only one subject, viz., forgiveness. I. THE FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
_A WALK BY THE SEA_ ‘And He went forth again by the sea side.’ Mark 2:13 The paralytic healed, our Lord left the house and, no longer surrounded by sceptical scribes, walked by the seaside. But the crowd would not leave Him. ‘All the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them.’ Think of this... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST’S CALL_ ‘And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him.’ Mark 2:14 This incident is narrated also in Matthew’s Gospel (Mark 9:9) and in Luke’s Gospel (Mark 5:28). Luke adds that Levi (known... [ Continue Reading ]
_CONSORTING WITH SINNERS_ “How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?’ Mark 2:16 This question, which was asked by the scribes and Pharisees, is very instructive, for the answer to it illustrates the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in His work and Person. I. CHRIST AND SINN... [ Continue Reading ]
_THINGS WHICH DIFFER_ ‘No man seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment … and no man putteth new wine into old bottles.’ Mark 2:21 These words were a parable and the principle laid down in them is one of great importance. The evils that have arisen from trying to sew the new patch on the old... [ Continue Reading ]
_A NATIONAL TREASURE_ ‘The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the sabbath.’ Mark 2:27 This is our Lord’s endorsement of the Fourth Commandment. The Sabbath, that is God’s holy Sabbath ordained at Creation, the hallowing of which is comma... [ Continue Reading ]