_TRANSFIGURED!_ ‘He was transfigured before them.’ Mark 9:2 We will gaze for a brief while upon the luminous and glorious aspect of Christ’s body in the moment of His Transfiguration. I. THE UNVEILING OF CHRIST’S DIVINITY.—We will see first of all the revelation, the unveiling of His Divinity.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AN IMPETUOUS ANSWER_ ‘And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here.’ Mark 9:5 Certainly, as far as we can judge, this is an instance in which silence would have been much better than words. It was childish to speak. For what he said was both ill-timed and ill-advise... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEAR HIM!_ ‘This is My beloved Son: hear Him.’ Mark 9:7 The voice of Christ is still heard in the world. I. HE HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK. (_a_) _ Who has a higher claim_ on our bodies and souls? Whose words can bring so much profit at all seasons and under all circumstances? Who will be so patient... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST ALL IN ALL_ ‘Jesus only with themselves.’ Mark 9:8 It is clear that this is one of the most solemn and suggestive passages in the whole Scriptures. Let us take a view of the Transfiguration as a whole, so that we may understand this concluding lesson of it. I. HISTORICAL MEANING OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE RISING OF THE DEAD_ ‘Questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.’ Mark 9:10 The resurrection from the dead was not realised by even the very chiefest of the Apostles. Their difficulty was substantially the same with that which was afterwards felt by some of the Co... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE POSSIBILITIES OF FAITH_ ‘Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ Mark 9:23 Christ’s ‘if’ answered, and more than answered, the man’s ‘if.’ I. FAITH THE CONDITION OF GOD’S GIFTS.—Observe the expression, ‘If thou _ canst_,’ not ‘if thou _ d... [ Continue Reading ]
_FAITH AND DOUBT_ ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.’ Mark 9:24 This cry of a soul in distress was spoken to God. Yet it contains elements which look to us incompatible: the affirmation of faith, and the confession of doubt. “_ I believe_.” It is an emphatic statement, made to Him who kne... [ Continue Reading ]
_MODERN UNBELIEF_ ‘Help Thou mine unbelief.’ Mark 9:24 These words afford a fit starting-point for some remarks upon present phases of unbelief, showing, as they do, man’s need of faith. Unbelief in an active form seems to exist more round Christianity than any other religion. It is only Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LENTEN FAST_ ‘This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.’ Mark 9:29 Here we have set before us a very striking and significant contrast: the contrast between the spiritual power of Jesus fresh from the Mount of Transfiguration, and the want of such power in His disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST IN THE CHILD_ ‘And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me.’ Mark 9:36 As Christ’s days on earth, so now, He comes to us under various forms—as babe,... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘WHOSE I AM’_ ‘Ye belong to Christ.’ Mark 9:41 Who are they who belong to Christ? I. THOSE WHO COME TO CHRIST.—So the Saviour said: ‘All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me’ (John 6:37). You are invited to come just as you are. Are you young? ‘They enter the narrow way easiest who enter... [ Continue Reading ]
_PURITY AND PEACE_ ‘Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.’ Mark 9:50 I. LET US MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR HEARTS THE SAVING GRACE of the Holy Ghost, sanctifying, purifying, preserving from corruption, our whole inward man. II. LET US WATCH THE GRACE given to us with dail... [ Continue Reading ]