_FULLNESS OF GRACE AND GOODNESS_ ‘I have compassion on the multitude.’ Mark 8:2 Let us take the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude as showing the fullness of His grace and goodness (Php_4:19). I. THE GREATNESS OF THE MULTITUDE (Mark 8:1).—We might think that this would interfere with the bl... [ Continue Reading ]
_BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS_ ‘From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?’ Mark 8:4 These words were the question of the disciples which drew forth the answer of beneficent miracle. These same words, in a deeper spiritual sense, are the question which the world has ask... [ Continue Reading ]
_HUMAN AGENCY AND GOD’S WORK_ ‘He asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.’ Mark 8:5 Why did Christ ask that question? He Who could change the water into wine by a wave of His hand, by a whisper of His voice might have created and spread a banquet upon that grassy slope! But He... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DIVINE ECONOMY_ ‘He took the seven loaves.’ Mark 8:6 The narrative is full of incident, and is most instructive to any Christian believer. It shows the sympathy of Christ, His generosity, His compassion. But what I want to direct your attention to to-day is rather the Divine economy. Why di... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘ALL THINGS COME OF THEE’_ ‘And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and He sent them away.’ Mark 8:9 We may always conclude that a miracle had a deep abiding spiritual effect when, of the persons upon whom it was performed, nothing further is recorded. Of the Syro-Phenician woman, of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GRADUAL MIRACLE_ ‘I see men as trees, walking.’ Mark 8:24 This particular miracle is the parable of our times. I. IT IS SO IN REFERENCE TO THE THINGS OF GOD.—We pray indeed for grace to live as we ought, in the careful avoidance of known sin, and the diligent discharge of known duty; but d... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GREAT CONFESSION_ ‘Whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ.’ Mark 8:29 This incident arose out of a conversatfon ‘by the way.’ Happy are those journeys in which time is not wasted on trifles. I. THE VARIETY OF OPINIONS ABOUT CHRIST.—Every kind of... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE GREAT REBUKE_ ‘Get thee behind Me, Satan.’ Mark 8:33 We see St. Peter who had just witnessed so noble a confession, presuming to rebuke his Master because He spoke of suffering and dying. We see him drawing down on himself the sharpest rebuke which ever fell from our Lord’s lips. We have he... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS_ ‘And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ Mark 8:34 Here is the one rule which binds us to-day. There are three points in it—they are not a... [ Continue Reading ]
_PROFIT AND LOSS_ ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’ Mark 8:36 Christ does not ask men how they will answer at God’s bar for their lives, only how they will answer for their conduct to themselves, and how the gain and loss will stand at the... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE VALUE OF A SOUL_ ‘What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’ Mark 8:37 The value of a soul! I. HOW GOD HAS TAUGHT IT. (_a_) _ At Bethlehem_ I stand with the shepherds beside the Holy Child, I try to grasp the mystery of God Incarnate, and I cannot; my brain grows dizzy at the effort... [ Continue Reading ]