Mark 6:1 I. Christian doctrine applicable to all classes of men. II. Christian doctrine calculated to excite the profoundest surprise. III. Christian doctrine always conveying the impression of unique power. IV. Christian doctrine showing the magnificence of the personality of its teachers. Par... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:2 Does Labour block the way. I. "Is not this mighty worker and wise teacher a carpenter?" Well, and what then? Skill in handling the plane and driving the saw does not expel wisdom from the speech, love from the heart and beauty from the life. "Carpenter" though He be, "never man spake like... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:3 The Holiness of Common Life. I. The holiest of men may to all outward eyes appear exactly like other people. For in what does holiness consist but in a due fulfilment of the relative duties of our state in life, and in spiritual fellowship with God. Now the relative duties of life are uni... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:5 The text contains two remarkable instances, in a short space, of the manner in which the feelings and circumstances of men are ascribed to God in the Scriptures. It is said of Him who is Almighty, that He could there do no mighty work; it is said of Him to whom all things were known, that... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:6 I. Let us consider the nature of unbelief. What is it? The word, so translated, will be found twelve times in the New Testament, and always in one signification. In its fullest sense, of course, it only exists in lands where men enjoy the light of revelation. Where there is little known th... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:20 The Peril of playing with Spiritual Convictions. I. There is no greater peril than that of amusing ourselves with God's truth, taking pleasure in hearing it, in joining in discussions about religion and objects connected therewith, yet not making it the rule of action, or really doing any... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:26 Let us briefly examine the plea set up by Herod in the case before us. It was twofold. I. The first was for his oath's sake. In a moment of hasty excitement he had rashly promised on oath to give the girl whatever she would ask; and therefore he fancied himself bound to do as he had sole... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:30 Talking it over with Christ. They had been for some time separated from Christ. It was necessary in order to their becoming healthy and stalwart Christ's men, that they should not continue for ever at Christ's side, but that with something of Him, something of His principles, His Spirit,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:30 Devotion possible in the Busiest Life. We may learn from our Lord's life of toil, that there is nothing in a life of perpetual labour to hinder our attaining to the highest measure of perfection. There was never any one whose life was fuller of endless employments, or more broken by coun... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:30 The Marvellous Meal. I. The disciples had been away from Jesus, on their first missionary tour, journeying on foot from town to town, preaching what He had taught them, and working miracles with the power which He had bestowed. When they returned, they had much to tell and to ask; and the... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:31 Christian Work and Christian Rest. I. With all our Lord's constant activity in doing good, let us hear the words of this text, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while." We know from other places in the Gospels, of what rest our Lord was here speaking, and how He em... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:34 I. The spirit and object of our Lord's teaching are given in the words of my text. His teaching is the teaching of a merciful Saviour, and its spirit is compassion and tenderness. "When He saw the people, He was moved with compassion toward them." And its object is to save that which was l... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:39 Note: I. The need which comes to men of simply being fed by God, of ceasing from forth-puttingness and self-assertion, and simply being receptive to the influences which come to them from Divinity. II. Two lessons come to us out of the scene. (1) Seek your life's nourishment in your lif... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:45 The Disciples in the Storm. The whole of this narrative is historical; all literally took place eighteen centuries ago; but at the same time this page of the Gospel is like a sublime parable whose minutest features comprise a teaching for all ages, and which is wonderfully adapted to sus... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:48 Mysterious Passages of Life. I. The mysterious passages of life are as truly meant for us as when on that melancholy night Jesus decidedly and deliberately left His disciples till "the fourth watch," till the very verge of daybreak, to labour alone with the rough waves, and to weary thems... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 6:56 Christ's Healing Virtue. I. The Healed. Those here noticed were evidently affected with a variety of diseases of body and mind. From the circumstances, indeed, that all the affected of the surrounding region were assembled around the Redeemer, we may justly imagine that in some the sight... [ Continue Reading ]