EMORY UNIVERSITY
AN EASY GUIDE
= TO THE =
GOSPEL OF MARK
By
EDWARD MacKNIGHT BRAWLEY, D.D,
(COPYRIGHTED)
1917
M. J. Cabroll, Printing
Raleigh, N. O.
DEDICATION.
To
CHAKLES CLINTON SPAULDING
The Christian Layman
Whose Splendid Services as
Deacon and Treasurer
°f
White Rock Baptist Church
Durham, N. C.
Save shoicn the Value of Conse¬
crated Business Ability to the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ, this
volume in grateful acknowledg¬
ment of these services is dedi¬
cated by his Pastor and Friend
s
The Author.
INTRODUCTION.
This book was written for plain people who have but little
education, to assist them in reading and understanding the
Bible. The intention is to promote Bible study in the homes
of the people. Commentaries are not generally owned by
the people, and it is difficult to make much progress without
some help.
One chapter in Mark may be taken as a lesson. It should
be carefully read privately two or three times keeping the
Analysis in mind. Then read the explanatory section, "The
Course of Thought and Action." But if the class is com¬
posed of young people, it will be better to divide one chapter
into two or even three lessons.
Christians cannot live the life that Jesus wants them to
live, unless they know how He lived and what He said. And
in studying the Bible it is well to begin with the shortest and
earliest Gospel, which is that of Mark, although it occupies
the second place in our New Testament. The date of com¬
position cannot be definitely fixed, but it was between 62 and
$8 A. D. Mark wrote especially for Gentile readers. His
aim was to show that Jesus was a mighty man, a man of
earnest activity. It contains sixteen chapters only, and can
bo read through carefully in forty-five minutes at one sitting.
And to read this book or any other small book of the Bible
in this way is a thing that cannot be too highly commended.
Mark, whose full name was John Mark, was not one of the
twelve apostles, but was a companion of Peter. When Paul
and Barnabas made their first missionary tour, they took
Mark with them as an assistant; but he did not long remain
with them. Later he went on a tour with Barnabas. After
this he was with Peter at Babylon (2 Pet. 5:13), and from
him doubtless learned the facts about Jesus.
As nearly as can be ascertained, John the Baptist began his
ministry about July A. D. 26. Six months afterward, in
January A. D. 27, Jesus was baptized. The temptation in
the wilderness immediately followed. Jesus then returned
to the Jordan where John pointed Him out as the Lamb of
God who would take away the sin of the world. John re-
4
pea ted this remarkable statement 011 the following day when
two of his disciples followed Jesus. Read the account in
John 1:35-51, and observe the value of personal work in
saving men. In April, the first passover during Christ s
ministry occurred, when He cleansed the Temple and had the
remarkable conversation with Nicodemus. He then retired
from Jerusalem into the district of Judea and for the next
eight months performed a ministry that was similar to John's.
This is called the early Judean ministry, an exceedingly
important part of Christ's work, although the Synoptists
(Matthew, Mark and Luke) make no reference whatever to it.
Early in December after John was put in prison, Jesus left
Judea and entered upon His great Galilean ministry which
covered about twenty-three months. Mark's Gospel is de¬
voted almost exclusively to this ministry, which begins in
Chapter 1 at verse 14.
In reading Mark, it will be found profitable to keep the
Analysis in mind. Commit it to memory if possible.
THE REVIVAL OF BIBLE STUDY.
Very few people really read the Bible in their homes. It
is the sadly neglected book. And in the churches the reading
of the Scriptures, as a rule, accomplishes practically nothing.
This is true because very few pastors read in such a way as
to cause the people to understand, and the people generally,
not expecting any benefit, give no attention. Hence ignor¬
ance of the Bible is widespread. Many people who profess
to be educated, and who really do possess considerable knowl¬
edge of history, literature and science, are nevertheless dread¬
fully ignorant of many of the very plainest truths of the Bibl®.
Expository preaching has so completely been displaced by
text-sermons that the Bible is not explained in our pulpits.
Hence we find everywhere general ignorance of the word of
God. One result of all this is the poor spiritual tone in our
churches, which manifests itself in a low standard of Chris¬
tian living, in few conversions, and in the difficulty of raising
money to conduct our missionary and educational work.
5
The Bible must be restored to our homes, and this book is
written to aid in this work Any earnest woman who can
read well can invite a few of her friends and neighbors to
meet at her home, or some other suitable place, for the purpose
of studying the Bible one hour each week. They will con¬
stitute a Cottage Bible Class. The lessons may be long or
short, according to their ability. Such work if generally
done would bring about a revolution in our churches.
6
CHAPTER I.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. John the Baptist Preparing for Jesus, 1-8.
2. The Baptism of Jesus, 9-11.
3. Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness, 12, 13.
4. The First Galilean Ministry, 14, 15.
5. Call of the First Four Disciples, 16-20.
6. Jesus Cures a Demoniac at Capernaum, 21-28.
7. Peter's Wife's Mother and Others Healed, 29-34.
8. A Preaching Tour in Galilee, 35-39.
9. Healing a Leper, 40-45.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The task that Mark undertook was to relate the official lif«
and ministry of our Lord. Hence he says nothing of the
birth and the private life of Jesus. Note the meaning of the
full name, Jesus Christ. Jesus means Savior and Christ
means anointed. John the Baptist's work was to prepare the
way for Jesus. This preparatory work was predicted by
Isaiah (40:3) and by Malachi (3:1). John was a great
man. He was appointed to the work of identifying the
Messiah, and was a man of great holiness of character. A
more unselfish man never lived. His testimony as to the
Deity of Jesus is well worth studying. It is found in John
1:15-34.
When the time came for Jesus to enter upon His work,
His first act was to be baptized. For this purpose He went
a distance of sixty miles, probably on foot, from Nazareth of
Galilee to the place where John was baptizing. By that act
He fully consecrated Himself to the work which He came to
earth to do. Coming up out of the river of Jordan He was
immediately taken by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to
be tempted by Satan. The temptation continued through
forty days, very probably by internal influence upon the
f
mind; but at the end of this time, Satan appeared in bodily
form, and with spoken words tempted Him three' times
(Matt. 4:3-10). Returning from the wilderness, Jesus after
some months entered upon the first period of the Galilean
ministry, "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God," and
saying, "repent ye, and believe the gospel." Realizing the
need of helpers, Jesus called four men to assist in the work of
preaching. Notice who they were (verses 16 and 19). Three
of these men, and possibly all four, had already spent eight
or nine months with Jesus (John 2:2, 12, 17; 3:22; 4:2,
27). It is well worth while to look out these passages.
Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and reared in
Nazareth, yet during His ministry He made His home in
Capernaum, a city on the northwestern shore of the Sea of
Galilee. As His custom was, when the Sabbath day came,
He went to the synagogue for the purpose of worship. The
synagogue building was just like our church edifice. He
taught the people, but not after the manner of the scribes
who were the regular teachers. They always based their
teachings upon the authority of eminent scribes of the past.
Jesus planted His teachings squarely on His own authority,
and this astonished the people, for they had never previously
seen or heard of such a thing. In the times of Jesus certain
evil spirits were permitted to enter men. These spirits were
called demons, and the unfortunate people thus afflicted were
called demoniacs. Sometimes they were spoken of as people
with unclean spirits. Such a person was in the synagogue
when Jesus was teaching. The demon recognized Jesus and
cried out. Jesus promptly rebuked him and commanded
him to come out of the man. Immediately this wonderful
news went everywhere. Leaving the synagogue in company
with his four disciples Jesus went to the home of Peter whose
mother-in-law was very ill with fever. Malarial fever was
quite common in Capernaum. Jesus promptly healed her.
And in the evening, just after the Jewish Sabbath closed at
sunset, a great crowd of sick people and demoniacs were
brought to Jesus. So great was the number that Mark says
"all the city was gathered together." All these people Jesus
Jiealed. By this time the excitement was intense, and Jesus
8
felt the need of a quiet hour and communion with His Father.
So rising early the next morning, He went into a solitary
place. But the people still sought Him, and so He went off
on a preaching tour. This proved to be a wonderful mission
in teaching and healing. Read the fuller account in Matt.
4:23-25, and try to realize how extensive these labors were.
While on this tour a leper begged Jesus to heal him. Jesus
was moved with compassion and touched the man and healed
him. Desiring to keep down excitement He charged the
man to say nothing about it; but the healed man blazed the
thing abroad and such crowds gathered that Jesus was com¬
pelled to seek the desert. And yet, even there, the people
came to Him from every quarter.
WOED STUDIES.
1. The Heavenly Voice.—Three times during our Lord's
ministry the Father spoke from heaven. The first was at the
baptism of Jesus, and was proof of the Deity of the Son.
The second was at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:7), and the
third, in the courts of the Temple on Tuesday of Passion
week, just three days before the crucifixion (John 12:28).
2. Temptation.—It is no sin to be tempted. So long as
the will holds out against the invitation to do wrong, all is
well. But temptation ends and sin begins when the will
surrenders. Jesus was fully tempted but never sinned (Heb.
4:15).
3. Demons.—These are spiritual beings at enmity with
God who had power to enter men and control them. They
are agents of Satan in his work of evil. They are the "prin¬
cipalities and powers" mentioned in Eph. 6:12.
4. Synagogue.—The word is used much as we use the
word church. Sometimes it describes the people, at other
times it means the building. The synagogue originated in
Babylon during the Captivity.
5. Leprosy.—This disease was very common during the
days of Jesus. Those who had it were compelled to remain
by themselves. While not commonly contagious, it was loath¬
some to everybody. Leprosy is a type of sin.
9
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The convert is expected to yield full obedience to
Christ's commands always and everywhere. Baptism is a
command.
2. True repentance involves deep sorrow for sin, hut the
essence of repentance is the decision of the will to quit sin in
all its forms.
3. Sin, repentance and faith should be fundamental
themes for all the preaching in revival meetings.
4. Every Christian is expected to be a fisher of men.
5. Secret prayer refreshes the soul and adds to the be¬
liever's power.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who prepared the way for Jesus ?
2. What can you tell about him? See Luke 1:1-15
and 80.
3. What was the effect of John's preaching?
4. How did Jesus enter upon His work?
5. What did His baptism signify ?
6. Is baptism Christ's command to all believers, and
have you submitted to it ?
7. Is temptation a sin ?
8. When does it become a sin ?
9. How may we become fishers of men ?
10. What can you tell of demons \
CHAPTER II.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. The Paralytic and Authority to Forgive Sins, 1-12.
2. The Call of Matthew, 13, 14.
3. Matthew's Feast, and Complaint against Jesus,
15-17.
4. The Question of Fasting, 18-20.
5. Parables of the Cloth and the Bottles, 21, 22.
<6. The Disciples Pluck the Ears of Corn, 23-28.
10
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
It is now fifteen months since Jesus was baptized, and
three months since He entered upon His Galilean ministry.
The time is about April A. D. 28, the season for the Passover
at Jerusalem. Jesus has completed one great missionary
tour throughout Galilee, and now returns to His home in
Capernaum. At once the people hear of it and come to the
house. It was an immense crowd that blocked every avenue
of approach. A certain man who was helplessly paralyzed
was brought by four men to Jesus on a pallet, each man hold¬
ing one corner of it. Finding it impossible to enter the room
where Jesus was, they went up on the flat roof of the house,
and removing some portion of the roof let down the bed with
the paralytic at the feet of Jesus. These men wanted their
friend cured, and they together with the sick man believed
that Jesus could perform the cure. The faith of these men
was manifested by their acts, although Jesus could see it in
their hearts. The man evidently had been a great sinner, and
his present physical condition was the physical cost of his
sins; and so Jesus first attends to the man's spiritual needs
as they were his greatest. The man was penitent, and Jesus
knew it, and so He forgave the man's sins. When Jesus
said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee," certain scribes who
were present charged Jesus with blasphemy, saying only God
can forgive sins. Now that was true, but Jesus was God
though manifested in human form, a fact which they did not
know, and which many of them would not accept. He then
healed the man and the people were amazed.
Jesus had tried to win all classes of people to His cause.
At the beginning of His ministry He made an effort to win
some of the better class, but made only a few converts. In
His first missionary tour in Galilee in which he visited a
great many synagogues and preached and taught, He met a
large number of the substantial, middle class, the backbone
of the nation, what we would now call the church-going
people. But He did not so impress these people as to make
many converts. And so at the end of fifteen months' work
the cause of J esus did not appear to be encouraging. JJe-
11
now decides upon a radical step. He would reach down and
touch the bottom of human society. And so He calls Matthew
to follow Him. Matthew had education and wealth but no
social standing. Jesus tells Matthew His plans. Matthew
gives a feast to which he invites even the social scum of
Capernaum. When the great crowd had assembled, Jesus
and His disciples sat down and ate with them. This was
probably one occasion when Jesus spoke those three wonder¬
ful parables of grace,—the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and
the Lost Son, recorded in Luke, chapter 15. But whether
they were delivered on this occasion ,or later only during the
Perean ministry, Jesus now brings the gospel home to the
hearts of the outcast and depraved, telling of God's wonderful
and forgiving love, and saying, in reply to criticism, that He
came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Opposition to Jesus has now fully set in, and the Pharisees
and certain of John's disciples bring a charge of omission of
duty against Christ's disciples for not fasting often. Moses
in the law provided for one fast only,—on the great day of
atonement (Lev. 16:29). But the Jews added many more.
Jesus disposed of the criticism by saying that His disciples
had no proper occasion for fasting, and hence did not do so.
In order to understand the controversy about plucking the
ears of corn, the following facts must be borne in mind.
Immediately after the occurrences just mentioned, Jesus
attended the Passover in Jerusalem where He cured an impo¬
tent man at the pool of Bethesda. Mark does not mention
this event, but John gives it in full in chapter 5. Head this
chapter care^rlly. There is now open conflict between Jesus
and the Jews, and they tried to kill Him (John 5:15). Ac¬
cordingly the Jews sought to get evidence against Jesus on
the two charges of Sabbath-breaking and blasphemy so as to
convict Him before the Sanhedrin. They actually secured
detectives who were to follow Jesus around and watch Him.
So when Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem to return to
Capernaum, these detectives went along with Him. And
when the disciples went through the wheat and barley fields
and pulled oil some of the grain which they rubbed between
their hands and then ate, the cry of Sabbath-breaking is
12
raised. The Jews called what the disciples did working oil
the Sabbath. Christ replied with crushing effect and enun¬
ciated a great truth, that the Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Scribes.—Men who at first devoted themselves to copy¬
ing the law which they did with great care. Afterward they
became teachers of the law. They are sometimes called law¬
yers, since they interpreted both civil and religious law.
They were numerous in the time of Christ, had great influ¬
ence with the people, and many of them were members of th«
Sanhedrin.
2. Son of Man.-—A title adopted by our Lord, who ap¬
plied it to Himself in the gospels seventy-eight times. The
disciples never addressed Him in that way. Jesus did not
use it to deny His deity, for He constantly claimed divine
attributes; but it served to put emphasis on His humanity.
He was the God-Man.
3. Publicans and Sinners.—The publican was a Jew
who was in the service of the Roman government as tax-col-
lector. As this government was foreign and heathen, strict
Jews cut off all publicans from social and religious life. They
were outcasts, as were those called sinners on account of their
bad lives.
4. Fasting.—Voluntary abstinence from food from re¬
ligious motives. The Mosaic law is silent about it except
the uncertain passage, Lev. 16:29.
5. Sabbath.—God's law provided one day in seven as a
rest, for man's welfare. But in the times of Jesus the
Pharisees had added hundreds of additions which made Sab¬
bath observance intolerable.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. In our Lord's day some persons were healed of their
bodily diseases by the faith of others. Matt. 8:13, Mark
7:29; but they could not get spiritual healing in that way
13
Now as then, if any sinner wants his soul healed, he himself
must repent and believe.
2. Matthew's low position in social life did not prevent
him becoming an eminent servant of Christ Grace can ac¬
complish wonders.
3. When Jesus said He came to call sinners, He showed
His ability to save to the uttermost. (Heb. 7:25.)
4. The business of publican gave great opportunity for
dishonesty. When Matthew was called, he quit the business
entirely. This illustrates his repentance.
5. We cannot patch the old garment of a sinful life with
a piece of the cloth of righteousness. An entirely new gar¬
ment is needed.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is palsy, and what is shown regarding this
man's life?
2. What does Jesus do for this man ?
3. What then occurred, and who were the scribes ?
4. Who was Matthew, and what book did he write ?
5. Why did he make a great feast ?
6. Who were the publicans and the sinners ?
7. What complaint was made against the disciples of
Jesus ?
8. What is the meaning of the parables of the Cloth
and Bottles ?
9. What means did the scribes employ to get evidence
against Jesus?
10. Can you explain the facts in the incident of the
plucking of grain ?
CHAPTER III.
(Bead this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Jesus Heals the Withered Hand, 1-6.
2. The Multitude Healed, 7-12.
14
3. The Calling of the Twelve Apostles, 13-19.
4. The Overpowering Multitude, 20, 21.
5. The Unpardonable Sin, 22-30.
6. The New Relationships, 31-35.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION".
The detectives are still watching Jesus. They follow Him
from Jerusalem to Capernaum, and into the synagogue,
where on a Sabbath day He cured a man with a withered
hand. Note the second verse. "And they watched him,
whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they
might accuse him." These Scribes and Pharisees had now
come together from Judea, Jerusalem, and Galilee (Lute
5:17). They watched with an evil purpose, and their watch¬
ing was a challenge to Jesus. They virtually dared Him to
heal the man. Now Jesus had backbone, and a plenty of it,
so He commanded the man to stand up. The man stood up.
And then looking His enemies squarely in the face He asked
them whether it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or to
do evil by failing to do the good that should hare been done.
This question they could not, or would not, answer. Jesus
then commands the afflicted man to stretch forth his hand.
The man instantly obeys and is healed. Such a demonstra¬
tion of divine power could not be met with words, and so the
enemies of Jesus went out of the synagogue and entered into
a conspiracy with their own political enemies the Herodians
to find some way to destroy Jesus.
In order to understand verses 7 to 12, the mind mus1
dwell on the narrative, and the imagination must picture the
wonderful scene. Such is the great fame of Jesus that peo¬
ple have come together not only from the portions of country
occupied by the Jews, but even from the surrounding heathen
country. And they so crowd upon Jesus that He had to get
off the land into a boat in order to have freedom of action.
Immense numbers were healed, and those who had serious
diseases insisted on putting their hands on Jesus in order to
be cured. Even the demons on seeing Jesus fell down before
Him and cried out that He was the Son of God.
15
Christ's enemies were organized, but thus far He has no
organization whatever in the interest of His kingdom. He
has been going around with some disciples preaching and
teaching and healing, «but has made no provision for the
carrying on of His work after His death. So He now took
a number of these disciples to a mountain where He would
find the privacy needed, and there He spent all night in
prayer to God. When the morning came He brings His
followers together, and from the whole number of them
chooses twelve to be apostles. He ordained them, that is,
He set them apart, for three distinct purposes: 1. That
they should be with Him; 2. That they might assist Him in
preaching; and, 3. That they might have power to cure dis¬
eases and to cast out demons. These men henceforth would
be Christ's close friends and companions and would catch
His spirit. He would teach them many things which He did
not teach others concerning the kingdom of God; and after
His death they would be able to carry on Christ's work.
On returning to Capernaum a great multitude at once
came to Je3us. They so crowded Him and kept Him so busy
healing the sick that He actually had no time to eat. The
excitement was still growing, and some of His friends really
believed He was losing His mind, and desired to take Him
by force and carry Him home that He might have rest.
Meanwhile the enemies of Jesus in Capernaum had been
in communication with those in Jerusalem, and a delegation
from that city now attack Jesus. The prefer a charge of
the gravest character against Jesus. They said He was in
partnership with Satan, and used Satan's power to perform
His works. jSTow Jesus did all His miracles through the
aid of the Holy Spirit, and when men in spite of reason sank
so low in the moral and spiritual scale as to attribute to Satan
what belongs to the Holy Spirit, they revealed a condition of
depravity and moral blindness that showed that they were
beyond the reach of mercy. Their rejection of Christ pro¬
ceeded from a will that was deliberately set against Him; and
as they now had no power to change this will, their sin was
unpardonable.
The excitement was still growing and the mother and
16
brothers of Jesus now come for Him. They, too, probably
felt that He was about to lose His reason. These brothers
loved Jesus as a brother, but did not accept Him as Messiah
until after the resurrection. Note who in this dispensation
are the real brothers and sisters of Jesus.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Herodians.—They constituted a political party that
was directly opposed to the Pharisees. They supported the
administration of Herod, and were friendly to the Roman
government. But although Herodians and Pharisees were
bitter political enemies, they unite to put Jesus to death. So
they will unite again during the last week of Christ's life.
2. Disciple and Apostle.—A disciple is a pupil or fol¬
lower who has accepted the doctrines of his teacher. An
apostle is a disciple who is sent forth to preach these doc¬
trines. Considering the qualifications of an apostle as laid
down by Peter in Acts 1:21, 22, it will be noted that an
apostle must have seen Jesus. Hence we cannot have apostles
now.
3. Beelzebub.—He was the prince of the demons (Matt.
10:25; 12:24). Jesus identifies him with Satan (Luke
11:18).
4. Unpardonable Sin.—This sin mentioned here is blas¬
phemy against the miracle-working power of the Holy Spirit
In I John 5:16 a certain sin is mentioned which is unpar¬
donable. Just what it is, we do not fully know. But a
sinner can by continually rejecting the pleadings of the
Spirit so drive Him ofT that He will never return. That,
too, is an unpardonable sin.
5. Christ's Brothers.—Jesus had four borthers,—
James, Joses, Juda and Simon. And at least two sisters
(Mark 6:3). They were either the children of Joseph by a
former marriage, or were Mary's children, and younger than
Jesus.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Instant obedience was required of the man with a
11
"withered hand; so also instant obedience is required of every
sinner. Repent now.
2. Jesus did not need the testimony of demons, and
would not have it; but He did need, and needs now, the testi¬
mony of His converts in soul-saving.
3. Judas was a hypocrite, but somehow he got in among
the Apostles. So if hypocrites now enter our churches dur¬
ing revival meetings, we should not be surprised. Nor should
we wonder when some of them find their way into the min¬
istry.
4. Sinners should be made to understand that they can
go just a little bit too far in trifling with their soul's eternal
welfare. If the Holy Spirit should become weary of the
sinner's constant rejection of Him, and should leave that
sinner finally, he may be said to be sealed for eternal punish¬
ment.
5. All sinners are invited to come to Jesus and become
His brothers and sisters.
QUESTIONS.
1. Tell the story of the conflict between Jesus and the
Scribes and Pharisees.
2. What effect did the preaching of Jesus have on the
country at large ?
3. How were the demons affected, and why did Jesus
reject their testimony ?
4. Where and how did Jesus spend the night before
calling the twelve Apostles ?
5. Can you name the Apostles ? (Matt. 10:2-4.)
6. What was to be their work, and can we have Apos¬
tles now?
7. What was the unpardonable sin mentioned in this
chapter ?
8. How may sinners commit an unpardonable sin now ?
9. Is it true that as long as there is life there is hope ?
10. How may sinners become brothers and sisters of
J esus ?
18
CHAPTER IV.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Parable of the Sower, 1-9.
2. Why Jesus Used Parables, 10-12.
3. Parable of the Sower Explained, 13-20.
4. Parable of the Candle, 21-25.
5. Parable of the Seed Growing of Itself, 26-29.
6. Parable of the Mustard Seed, 30-34.
7. The Stilling of the Storm, 35-41.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The Pharisees still bitterly oppose Jesus, and their oppo¬
sition is increasing. A remarkable change now takes place
in the manner of Jesus' teaching and preaching. To what
extent this change is due to the efforts of His enemies to find
something in His utterances with which they might accuse
Him, we do not know. However, He begins now to teach
largely by parables. In this chapter Mark gives us several
of them. Matthew, in chapter 13, adds some others. But
we are to understand that Jesus spoke many more than are
recorded (verse 33).
The first parable, the Sower, tells how different people
receive the gospel. The "wayside" hearers are those who do
not give serious attention to the sermon. They scarcely
listen attentively more than a minute or two at a time. These
are the people who never remember the text, and never get
any clear thought out of the sermon. Preaching does them
no good. And because they are careless, Satan comes and
takes away the word that might have led them to eternal life.
We have next the "stony ground" hearers. As Jesus used
the expression "stony ground" He meant a place where strata
of limestone rock came near the surface, with only a few
inches of soil upon them; the underlying rock would warm
the soil, and make the wheat come up sooner than elsewhere.
Such wheat would practically have no root, and would soon
19
wither in the hot sun. Verses 16 and 17 should be carefully
read. They illustrate a large number of people who profess
saving faith during revival meetings. At first they are very
happy and give great promise of service to Christ. But they
do not last long. When the meetings close, their "religion"
seems to close also; for they fall away, leave the churches,
and are soon back in their former lives. These people were
not converted. They had a kind of false faith which may be
termed superficial. It embodied the action of the intellect
with some slight but exciting feelings of the heart; but it was
fatally defective because it did not include the action of the
will. "They on the rock are they which, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for
a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke
8:13. This is the kind of "converts" made by preachers
who are more anxious for numbers than they are for genuine
work. Verses 18 and 19 tell of the "thorny-ground" hearers;
and it is a sad story of unfruitful lives of really converted
people for the reason given. But the "good ground" hearers
are an honor to Jesus and a blessing to the world. The para¬
ble of the seed growing by itself is a great comfort to all
Christian workers. They often sow in tears, and have heavy
hearts because they cannot see the grain come up. Some¬
times it remains concealed in the ground for a long time, and
there is nothing but discouragement. But some day the grain
will grow. Some day the earnest word faithfully preached
will be so used by the Holy Spirit as to bring the sinner to
Jesus. The parable of the mustard seed tells how the king¬
dom of God will grow from very small beginnings until it
finally cover the earth. The kingdom will stretch "from
shore to shore."
It may be said with reference to verses 11 and 12 and
Jesus's use of parables, that only a few hours previously the
Pharisees had made the outrageous charge that Jesus was in
partnership with Beelzebub. Their malignant insult made
them guilty of unpardonable blasphemy. These people
Jesus had in mind in uttering verse 12. Moreover, teaching
by parables would sift the people. Spiritually minded people
would easily grasp the spiritual truth of a parable; worldly
20
minded people could not. Thus Jesus would instruct those
who desired instruction and fellowship with Him. Old
Matthew Henry quaintly wrote: "A parable, like a pillar
of cloud and fire, turns a dark side towards Egyptians which
confounds them, but a light side towards Israelites which
comforts them, and so answers a double intention."
An eventful day has closed. Jesus is weary. He gives
orders for the boat to be taken to the eastern shore of the
lake that He might rest. Soon He is asleep, and a violent
storm suddenly comes, such as is common to the Sea of
Galilee. The disciples fearing for their lives awoke Jesus
and asked if He did not care for their safety. Jesus re¬
buked them first, and then rebuked the winds. They had
some faith in Jesus, but not yet enough to keep them quiet
in impending danger. The winds and the sea obey, and
there is a great calm. "Jesus with his disciples in the ship
is a beautiful emblem of the church tossed and shaken by the
tempests of the world, yet always safe; for Jesus is with her
to the end." The disciples feared exceedingly, but they are
growing in faith. They are being trained for yet greater
tests of faith in the days that are to come.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Parable.—The word parable means comparison, and
is sometimes applied to mere illustrations or arguments in¬
volving a comparison without narrative, Mark 3:23. Those
given in narrative form are so pleasing that people usually
think of them alone as meant by the parables.
2. Mystery.—The Bible meaning of this word is a fact of
Christianity that the human reason could not discover, but
which is revealed by the Holy Spirit. The local church is a
mystery (Eph. 3:1-7), and so is the resurrection (I Cor.
15:52).
3. Kingdom of God.—Called by Matthew kingdom of
heaven, is the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers. The
kingdom must carefully be distinguished from the church.
We enter the kingdom through regeneration. Only such
people can and do enter. We enter the church on profession
21
of this regeneration. Those who join a church without hav¬
ing the new birth, will be in the church but not in the king¬
dom. The kingdom should always be entered first.
4. Offend.—Means to stumble or cause to stumble, or
to sin.
5. Sea of Galilee.—A fresh-water lake, fed by the river
Jordan. It is a little more than twelve miles long and about
seven miles wide. It is almost enclosed by hills, and is
subject to violent storms which often come suddenly.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Every Christian should be a sower of gospel seed, and
he should sow in public utterance and in private speech.
2. We should expect differing results from our seed-
sowing. God has nowhere promised uniform results.
3. In revival work we should always guard against the
temptation to get large numbers. There is no objection to
large numbers being saved; the objection is to hurrying
people into professing saving faith when they are not born
again. Better be content with a few genuine converts than
to receive a host who have never known God in the pardon
of sin.
4. Many a time after a revival meeting closes, the gospel
takes effect in the hearts of sinners.
5. Our Lord expects us to grow in faith. The more we
learn of Him, the stronger should be our trust.
QUESTIONS.
1. What new method of teaching does Jesus now
employ ?
2. What is a parable, and why did Jesus use parables ?
3. In the parable of the Sower, describe the various
classes of hearers.
4. Should we expect the same results whenever we
preach or teach?
5. What is meant by the kingdom of God ? Are you
in the kingdom ?
22
6. Have you faithfully tried to lead anyone into the
kingdom ?
7. When our work has apparently failed, has it always
truly failed?
8. Why did Jesus get weary at the close of the day's
work?
9. Where did His disciples take Him in the boat ?
What occurred ?
10. Does Jesus expect a constant growth in faith on
our part ?
CHAPTER Y.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Jesus Heals a Dreadful Demoniac, 1-9.
2. Destruction of the Swine, 10-13.
3. Jesus Requested to Leave the Country,, 14-17.
4. Telling the Wonderful News, 18-20.
5. Jairus' Earnest Request, 21-24.
6. Healing an Afflicted Woman, 25-34.
7. Raising Jairus' Daughter from the Dead, 35-43.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
If the last section of the preceding chapter is read in con¬
nection with this chapter, we shall learn that Jesus mani¬
fested great power in four directions,—over nature, over
demons, over disease and over death. All this proves the
omnipotence of Jesus, and shows that He was truly divine.
Jesus has had a sad and busy day. It began with the
blasphemous accusation of the scribes and the foolish effort
of certain friends to stop His work. It gave to us the won¬
derful parables. Jesus went over to the eastern side of the
Sea of Galilee in order to find the rest He needed; but which
He did not get. Eor as soon as He left the ship He was met
by a man with an unclean spirit. He was a dreadful
demoniac. In addition to being possessed by demons, the
23
man was insane. In those days there were no hospitals or
asylums, and unfortunate people who ought to be eared for
in such places were either left to suffer and perish, or were
driven out of the towns. So this unfortunate man lived in
the tombs. When he saw Jesus afar off he recognized and
worshipped Him. Jesus promptly commanded the demons
to leave the man, and they protested. They were a great
number, and did not desire to leave the country, and so they
begged and received permission to enter a herd of swine,
about two thousand in number. The devils drove the swine
down a steep place into the sea and they were drowned. The
men who took care of the swine immediately told the news
to everybody, and the people came out to learn more of what
had happened. They came to where Jesus was, and saw
Him and the man. And now a beautiful contrast shows it¬
self. In verse 5 the man was in the tombs, crying, and cut¬
ting himself with stones. In verse 15, the man is sitting,
and clothed, and in his right mind. Everybody saw what
had occurred, and yet they urged Jesus to depart out of their
coasts.
Now the people who lived in the country of the Gadarenes
were mainly Gentiles, but many Jews were among them. If
the swine belonged to the former, their destruction by Jesus
was an act of "sovereign authority," like the destruction of
the barren fig tree (Mark 11:14). 'But if they belonged to
the Jews, they ought to have been destroyed, for the Jews
were forbidden by law to eat swine's flesh and therefore ought
not to have reared swine. The sad fact stands out clearly
that the people drove away a man who could do them untold
good, simply because he interfered with their property.
Gratitude in the man who was cured made him desire to re¬
main with Jesus. He probably wanted to serve Him. But
Jesus knew that the man could do more good by returning to
his kindred and friends and telling them of Christ's won¬
derful mercy. And that is what the man did. He went
from city to city in Decapolis, and told the story of his heal¬
ing, and men marvelled. It is best even now when Jesus
blesses a man, for him to go to his friends first and tell them
the news, and persuade them to accept Jesus also.
24
When Jesus returned to Capernaum a great crowd soon
gathered. Among them was a prominent citizen named
Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, probably the lead¬
ing one there which the Roman centurion had built (Luke
7:5). This man's young daughter was very ill, and he was
so grieved that he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him
to go at once and lay His hands on the little girl and heal her.
Touched with compassion Jesus went with him. While on
the way to the home of Jairus surrounded by a crowd, a dis¬
tressed woman who had suffered from an ailment for twelve
years met Him. She had not only suffered a long time, but
had also spent all her money in the vain effort to be healed.
But the doctors could do her no good. Medical practice in
those times was crude and unscientific, and was largely a
matter of superstition. As a last resort she seeks Jesus, but
on account of the crowd she could not get very near to Him,
nor could she tell Him her trouble. But her faith was strong,
and she believed that if she could but touch His garment she
would be cured. So she pushed her way up behind Jesus
and stretched out her trembling hand and touched his outer
garment and was instantly healed.
While Jesus was talking with this woman, a messenger
comes who tells Jairus that his little daughter was dead, and
it was too late for Jesus to do her any good'. In this belief
Jairus shared, and so Jesus told him not to be afraid, only
believe. Jesus took Peter, James and John and with Jairus
they went to the bereaved home where they found the hired
mourners making a great lamentation. These people were
hird to do the weeping. That was the custom then. Jesus
knowing that He could give life said the girl was only sleep¬
ing, but the people ridiculed Him. Jesus then cleared the
house, and taking the parents and the three disciples went to
the dead body. Taking the damsel by the hand He told her to
arise. Immediately she arose and walked. Astonishment
resulted, and Jesus commanded silence on the part of all.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Gadabenes.—Inhabitants of the city of Gadara and
the surrounding country. Gadara was a Greek city and was
25
situated east of the Jordan, nearly opposite to Tiberias. It
was the metropolis of Perea and was wealthy.
2. "Clothed, and in His Right Mind."—This striking
statement found in Mark 5:15, made concerning the demoniac
who was healed, is often wrongly quoted and hence misunder¬
stood. People commonly say, "clothed in his right mind."
Now what Mark said was that the man had his clothes on,
and had recovered his reason.
3. Ruler of the Synagogue.—A man who directed the
worship in the synagogue, maintained order, and gave atten¬
tion to its general affairs. He presided at the service and
appointed or permitted certain men to pray and read the
Scriptures.
4. Professional Mourners.—The Jews made great
-demonstrations on all occasions of sorrow, and, to assist in
the lamentations, certain women were employed. The num¬
ber of these mourning women was determined by the wealth
•of the family.
5. Decapolis.—An association of ten Greek cities. All
of them with one exception were situated east of the Jordan,
and east, and south-east of the Sea of Galilee.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Since Jesus had the power to drive demons out of a
man, He has the power to rescue any sinner today.
2. Driving Jesus out of their coasts was a fatal thing for
the Gadarenes. Equally so is it for a sinner to drive Jesus
away when He seeks to enter his heart.
3. Jesus quickly responded to the request of Jairus to
heal his daughter. He as quickly responds to the appeal of
every sinner now who wants his soul healed.
4. The poor, sick woman had unlimited faith in Christ's
ability and willingness to heal her. Such faith on the part
of a sinner would bring instant salvation.
5. Jairus's daughter was brought from physical death
back to physical life. The same divine power can now bring
a sinner from spiritual death and give him spiritual life.
26
QUESTIONS.
1. What caused Jesus to go into the country of the
Gadarenes ?
2. What was His experience there ?
3. How did the inhabitants regard the healing, and
what did they do ?
4. What distinguished man met Jesus when He re¬
turned to Capernaum, and what was his request ?
5. How did Jesus treat this request?
6. What woman tried to get close to Jesus, and why ?
7. What can you say of her faith ?
8. On hearing that the girl was dead, what did
Jesus do?
9. How did Jesus act on entering the home of Jairus?
10. What did Jesus do for the girl ?
CHAPTER VI.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Christ's Second Rejection at Nazareth, 1-6.
2. The Apostles Sent forth to Preach, 7-13.
3. Various Opinions of Jesus, 14-16.
4. The Story of John the Baptist's Death, 17-29.
5. Report of the Twelve Apostles, 30-32.
6. Feeding the Five Thousand, 33-44.
7. Jesus Walking on the Sea, 45-52.
8. Jesus Healing the People, 53-56.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
J esus is now about to enter upon His third and last general
missionary tour throughout Galilee, and plans for it on an
extended scale by putting the Apostles also to work. Once
more He visited His old home and kindred and friends at
Nazareth, and they rejected Him as they did about eighteen
months earlier when they really tried to kill Him (Luke
27
4:16-30). Jesus had spent the first thirty years of His life
at Nazareth where He supported Himself by working at His
trade as carpenter. Everybody in that city knew Jesus.
Going into the synagogue on the Sabbath He taught with
such wonderful power that the people were amazed. But
faith was but little, and Jesus performed only a few mighty
works. It is interesting to read the names of the four brothers
of Jesus, and note the fact that He had at least two sisters.
For some months Jesus had been training the Apostles in
the doctrines of the kingdom of God, and the time has now
come for these men to go among the people and tell the good
news of the kingdom. Accordingly Jesus sent them out, but
not as skilled preachers. They go more as apprentice-preach¬
ers; and by two and two for mutual assistance. Matthew
(chapter 10) mentions three different commissions which
were given to these Apostles. They differ widely from each
other because they were given at different times for different
periods of work. The present commission under which these
men now go out is the very opposite of a world-wide com¬
mission. They are to go to none but Jews, and only to good
Jews. They are to make no provision for board or clothing.
They were not to endure any hardships. The time has not yet
come for the commission to preach the gospel to every
creature, and for suffering on the part of the Apostles; but
such things will soon come.
One result of the preaching of Jesus and the Apostles was
that various opinions were entertained as to who Jesus was.
Herod's troubled conscience made him believe that John the
Baptist had risen from the dead, for he had put John to
death. This sad story is now given. John was no preacher
to mince his words when grievous sin was committed. Herod
had committed a dreadful sin; he took his brother's wife from
him and married her. A poet once wrote that hell had no
fury like a woman who was scorned; and it was proven so in
this instance. Herodias plotted John's death. Read the
story carefully and observe the woman's plotting and note
the part that dancing played in the matter. The woman got
what she wanted—John's head; but she also got what she
28
did not want,—a bloody hand and a guilty soul which, must
have tormented her in the hour of death.
The Apostles now return and make their report. They
rejoice at their success, and Jesus takes them apart to a
quiet place for meditation and rest. But they do not get
much rest; for the passover season is at hand and great
crowds are going to Jerusalem. As soon as the people see
Jesus, they crowd around Him. He has compassion on them,
and teaches them many things. And more still. The people
have been together for many hours and are now hungry. They
seem to have no food. So Jesus performed one of the greatest
of His miracles by feeding five thousand men, beside women
and children with five small loaves and two fishes. The ability
to do such a thing abundantly proved the divine character, of
Jesus. John (6:15) tells us that the people were so im¬
pressed with the miracle that they wanted by force to make
Him king. So Jesus slipped away from the crowd and went
to a mountain to pray. Meanwhile the disciples, having been
sent by Jesus to Bethsaida, found that they had great diffi¬
culty in crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus saw them in their
distress and went to their relief. He walked on the water to
reach them. This is another one of Christ's great miracles,
and it also proved Him to be divine. When the disciples
saw Jesus coming they were greatly frightened, supposing
Him to be a spirit, and they cried out. Jesus soon ended
their fears by saying, "Be of good cheer: it is I, be not
afraid."
Reaching the western side of the Sea Jesus was soon in
the midst of a great crowd as on so many former occasions.
All sorts of sick people were brought to Jesus. Some were
brought in beds. "And whithersoever he entered, into vil¬
lages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets,
and besought him that they might touch if it were but the
border of his garment: and as many as touched him were
made whole." Such was the wonderful work of Jesus and
He did it in order to prove to men that He was the Son of
God, and that if any sinner believed on Him he would receive
eternal life.
29
WORD STUDIES.
1. Three Apostolic Commissions.—A careful reading
of Matthew, chapter 10, will show three distinct commissions
which were given at different times to the Apostles. One was
to continue in force as long as Christ lived. The second was
to begin at the Pentecost following Christ's ascension and
continue until the destruction of Jerusalem. The third then
was to begin and continue until the end.
2. Herod Antipas.—Son of Herod the Great was ruler of
Galilee from A. D. 4 to 39. His disgrace consists in taking
his brother's wife, and in putting to death John the Baptist
at the request of a bad woman. His brother Philip ruled the
country east of Galilee.
3. Herod's Oath.—It was when Herod was doubtless
filled with wine that he promised with an oath the daughter
of Herodias anything which she might ask. When she asked
for the head of John the Baptist he was sorry, but felt com¬
pelled to grant it on account of his oath. He probably did
not realize that no promise to commit a crime is ever binding.
4. Herodias and Her Daughter.—As long as people
read history, they will read of the dreadful deed of this in¬
famous woman and her depraved daughter. It is bad enough
for any woman deliberately to go to hell, but it is worse if
she take her daughter with her.
5. Passover.—One of the three great annual feasts of the
Jews. It occurred generally in April.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The clearer our knowledge of Christ is, the worse is
our sin in rejecting Him.
2. It is a blessed privilege to tell men of pardon through
Jesus. All of us should carry the good news to our uncon¬
verted friends.
3. Men who preach should do so as fearlessly as John
the Baptist did. Consequences belong to Christ; not to His
servants.
4. Every bearer of salvation has a satisfying conscience
even if he has not produced great results.
3U
5. The ease with which Jesus fed the five thousand is the
same ease with which He feeds the souls of believers.
QUESTIONS.
What can you say of Christ's second rejection at
Nazareth?
How is it that a prophet has so little honor in his
own country ?
Tell the story of John the Baptist's death.
What can you say as to John's bravery in condemn¬
ing the king for his sin ?
What can you say as to the conduct of Herodias ?
Is a bad woman capable of rearing an upright
daughter ?
What was Herod's duty when Herodias' daughter
made her murderous request ?
Are we obligated to keep a promise to commit a
crime ?
Tell the story of the feeding of the five thousand.
Can you relate the story of Jesus walking on the
sea ?
CHAPTER VII.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Complaint of the Pharisees about Unwashed Hands,
1-5.
2. Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees for Exalting Tra¬
dition, 6-13.
3. Real Defilement is of the Soul, not Body, 14-23.
4. The Syrophenician Woman's Appeal, 24-30.
5. The Deaf Man Healed in Decapolis, 31-37.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The day after Jesus fed the five thousand, He made an
address in Capernaum which resulted in a large number of
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
31
His followers leaving Him. Jesus purposely sifted the
crowd. A passover was at hand but Jesus did not attend it.
He kept away from Jerusalem because of the violence of the
enmity of the Jews. They had determined to kill Him.
After the feast, certain of the scribes and Pharisees from
Jerusalem went to Galilee for the purpose of keeping up the
warfare against Jesus. They soon found occasion for an
attack. It seems that some of Christ's disciples were seen
to eat without first washing their hands. Now the law of
Moses did specify certain purifications, but not a special one
before eating. This was one of the traditions handed down
from the teachers of earlier days. The Jews had a large
number of such traditions which they regarded as equally
binding with the law of Moses, and sometimes even superior
to it. The various traditions regarding the Sabbath law con¬
stitute an instance of this sort. Jesus did not hesitate to
attack these cherished traditions, and to denounce the Phari¬
sees as hypocrites. And it must not be forgotten that the
very first break between Jesus and the Jews was caused by
the traditions concerning Sabbath observance.
Jesus now severely denounces the Pharisees for exalting
traditions above the law of Moses. The fifth commandment,
as given in Ex. 20:12, required the people not only to love
and respect but also to care for their parents. Now the
Pharisees had this tradition, that if a man's parents needed
some money or anything else which he had but did not wish
to give, them, all that the man had to do was to say that the
thing in question was dedicated to God, and he was released
from all obligation to his parents. Thus the word of God
was made of no effect by the tradition of men.
Jesus has been talking to the scribes and Pharisees. He
now turns again to the multitude. The great declaration
which Jesus made in verse 15 must have astounded the Jews,
for the law of Moses had declared many kinds of food un¬
clean, and the cherished traditions were largely occupied
with this matter. It can easily be seen that the Pharisees
felt that Jesus was assailing some of the main points in re¬
ligion. Note what Jesus said of these people in Matt.
15:13, 14. The great principle which Jesus desired to set
32
forth is that the outward cleansing of the body cannot cleans©'
the soul. The heart of man is deceitful above all things,,
and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), and what every man4
needs is a regenerated heart.
Our Lord now leaves Galilee and goes into heathen terri¬
tory. He is now in the last six months of his Galilean minis¬
try, and will frequently go into adjacent places in this time-
to avoid the final conflict until the proper time came. There
were good reasons for this course. Herod supposed He was
John the Baptist risen from the dead, and might interfere-
with Him. Then there was a large number of people who
would take Him by force if they could, and make Him king.
This would bring about a revolt against the Romans and
promptly lead to His death. Jesus needed rest, and so He-
went to the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon, two Gentile-
cities. But He cannot enjoy the rest He needs and seeks.
A sorrowing mother whose young daughter was possessed
with a demon hunted Jesus and found Him. She has heard
of His wonderful cures, and now begs Him to cast forth the
demon out of her daughter. The reply of our Lord was ap¬
parently very harsh, but He was only testing her faith and
humility. Jesus told her it was not proper to take the chil¬
dren's bread and to cast it to the dogs. Now the Jews often
spoke contemptuously of Gentiles as dogs. The woman
would not be pushed aside, and thus fail to get what she
needed. A mother's love for an afflicted child was driving
her on. And so she tells Jesus that even the little dogs that
play around the house were permitted to eat the crumbs,,
small bits of bread, that the children would throw to them
while at their meals. Womanly devotion wins, and Jesus
sends her away with the assurance that her daughter is
healed. And it was even so.
Jesus now departed from the neighborhood of Tyre and
Sidon to go to the Sea of Galilee. He went through the*
country known as Decapolis. They bring to Him a man
who is deaf, and who has an impediment in his speech. The
people asked Him to put His hands on the man and heal him.
But Jesus took the man aside from the multitude, and put
His fingers into his ears, and spittle upon his tongue, and:
33
gave the command for the healing. As on other occasions
Jesus commanded silence about the miracle; but the people
told of the wonderful healing everywhere. They shouted out
that Jesus had done all things well.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Jewish Ceremonials.—"The Jews carried ceremonial
observances to absurd lengths. ' Beginning with the cere¬
monial laws of Moses, which were rendered necessary by the
condition and character of the people, the Pharisees had
gradually enlarged upon them until they had built up a
system of observances which a common life time was not
enough to learn." Jesus boldly attacked this system and
swept it away as far as He could in the interest of true
worship.
2. Jewish Traditions.—The Jews had their written lawr
and their unwritten law or traditions. These unwritten
laws were said to have been given orally by God to Moses,,
and by him communicated orally to the Elders of the people.
3. Tyre and Sidon.—These were rich and populous cities
of Phenecia. The former was noted for its dyes, the latter
for its fisheries.
4. Syrophenician Woman.—This woman was a Greek.
She is called Syrophenician because that was her race. There
were Syrophenicians and Libyan Phenecians, or Cartha¬
ginians.
5. Crumbs.—Where people ate by dipping their hands in
a common dish, it was the custom to wipe their fingers on the
soft, inner part of the bread, and throw these pieces called
crumbs to the little household dogs that assembled under the
table.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The Pharisees added to the law of Moses and made
religious life difficult. So some people now add to the plan
of salvation a number of useless things, and make it difficult
for a sinner to find Christ.
2. Many excellent Christian people are burdened with
34
traditions respecting salvation. They found Christ in a
certain way, and expect every penitent sinner to have the
identical experience.
3. Religion is a life; not a thing you can put on or off at
pleasure. And you can get it not by taking things that are
without, but through a change of heart within.
4. Like the Syrophenician woman, every inquiring sinner
must persistently seek Jesus; and he must overcome all
obstacles that he finds on the way to the cross.
5. The deaf man did what Jesus commanded. He did
not set up his will against that of Jesus. Even so must the
sinner's wih be eurrendered.
QUESTIONS.
1. What complaint did the Pharisees make against
some of the disciples?
2. Was their complaint justified by any law?
3. Why did Jesus denounce these Pharisees?
4. Was the Jewish traditional law harmful?
5. How did the Jews say they got their traditional
law?
6. What can you tell of the Syrophenician woman ?
7. Why was Jesus seemingly harsh to her?
8. How did she win her plea ?
9. On leaving the region of Tyre and Sidon where did
Jesus go?
10. What can you tell of the miracle Jesus performed
in Decapolis ?
CHAPTER VIII.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. The Four Thousand Fed, 1-9.
2. Jesus Refuses a Sign to the Pharisees, 10-13.
3. Warning against the Leaven of the Pharisees, 14-21-
4. A Blind Man Given 22-26.
35
5. Varying Opinions of Jesus, 27-30.
6. Jesus Foretells His Death, 31-33.
7. Exhortation to Self-Denial and Cross-Bearing,
34-38.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
Jesus is now in Decapolis, and we have reached the sum¬
mer of A. D. 29. The people are either going to or return¬
ing from Jerusalem. A great crowd is following Jesus, and
they have been with Him three days and have had but little
food. The excitement made the people careless as to their
physical needs. It is now only two or three months since
Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes.
He now performs a similar miracle. The question of the
disciples seems strange in view of this recent feeding, but it
must be remembered that they were slow to learn. There are
fewer people now to feed, and there is more bread than on
the former occasion. Note how orderly Jesus proceeds, and
the care in gathering up the fragments. This miracle should
be compared with the similar one in chapter 6, and the re¬
semblances and contrasts noted.
Jesus now went into the country adjacent to Dalmanutha,
a town on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. Here he
meets the Pharisees again. It seems to have been the expec¬
tation of the Jews that when the Messiah did come He would
in part at least prove His claim by some manifestations in
the heavens. These enemies of Jesus now demanded such a
aignj and with hostile intention for they do not intend to be
convinced of the Messianic claims of Jesus. Our Lord never
worked a miracle upon any such demand, and so He now
refuses to do so; and He is grieved in spirit at their continued
hardness of heart
The conversation that follows concerning the. leaven of the
Pharisees took place in the boat while they were crossing
toward the northeast. "The Pharisees had just before shown
anew their wrong notions of the Messianic reign, and their
hostility to Jesus, and Matthew tells us (16:1, 6) that the
Sadducees were associated with them in that hostility and in
36
fins warning. Herod had shown jealousy and superstitious
fear of Jesus (Mark 6:14). The disciples misunderstood
"him and thought he was referring to the fact that they had
no bread in the boat. In the midst of all these supernatural
deeds and spiritual instructions their minds were dull of
apprehension as to spiritual things and constantly gravitated
toward the merely temporal and preseht and commonplace."
Jesus now heals a blind man. Compare this miracle with
that in the previous chapter, verses 32-87. The use of means
was not necessary in either case, and was probably an aid to
faith. Note the fact that Jesus enjoined silence in both
cases. The country was already too much excited. The
varying opinions entertained by the people concerning Jesus
are interesting. Peter had the right view but it would never
do for him to speak publicly of it now. That Jesus was the
Messiah was a dangerous doctrine to proclaim. It would
have brought on the crisis. Herod would have thought that
Jesus meant to displace the Herodian dynasty. Pontius
Pilate would have regarded Him as a rebellious rival to the
Roman emperor, and would promptly have arrested and exe¬
cuted Him. So Jesus talks of His approaching death. He
speaks of His suffering many things, of His rejection by the
Jewish leaders, of His death and resurrection. All these
things would come to pass in the spring of the coming year.
But the doctrine of a suffering Messiah was a teaching so
foreign to the ideas and expectations of the disciples, that
they cannot grasp it. It seems to be the utter annihilation
of all their hopes. Although they had been faithfully and
carefully taught by Jesus, they still clung to the idea that
the Messianic kingdom would be a temporal affair, and they
would all have important offices in the administration of
affairs. And strange to say, these men never grasped the
actual truth until the feast of Pentecost spoken of in Acts 2.
So Peter began to rebuke Jesus for telling of His coming
sufferings, and Jesus turned about and rebuked Peter
severely. Several important teachings close this chapter.
One is that self-denial and cross-bearing always accompany
discipleship. Another is that the complete surrender of one's
lif« to Christ is the very best use of it A third shows the
87
surpassing value of a human soul. This thought should make
us energetic in personal work for the salvation of sinners.
And the last shows the importance of publicly professing
Christ and living openly for Him.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Dalmanutha.—This town whose exact situation is
unknown was a place on the western shore of the Sea of
Galilee. It was in the vicinity of Magdala.
2. Pharisees.—One of the three chief Jewish sects; the
other two being the Sadducees and the Essenes. They were
the patriotic party of the nation and their boast was that they
maintained the Mosaic law. But they burdened this law
with numberless traditions. They believed in the resurrec¬
tion of the body, in angels and in spirits.
3. Sadducees.—This was the liberal party and was the
opposite in doctrine to the Pharisees. They had no scruples
about adopting many of the opinions and practices of the
Gentiles. They were a comparatively small body, but were
educated and rich and hence influential.
4. Caesarea Philippi.—A city so called in order to dis¬
tinguish it from Caesarea in Palestine which was on the
coast. It was located at the foot of Mount Hermon, at the
main source of the Jordan.
5. The Christ.—Messiah and Christ mean the same
thing. It is an official designation and means anointed.
Jesus was the personal name of the Son of God, and that was
the name He bore during the thirty years of private life.
When He was anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism,
He became the Christ.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Men are always willing to enjoy the material thingB
which Jesus provides, but so few want the spiritual things.
2. We all know how natural hunger feels, but how few
of us really hunger and thirst after righteousness.
3. The personal attention Jesus gave to the blind man
is offered lo every sinner who desires spiritual sight.
38
4. Jesus may have preached and worked miracles, but if
He did nothing else no sinner could he saved. He must die
for our .sins and be buried and rise from the dead. All these
things lie did, and the proclamation of these things is the
proclamation of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
5. Secret disciples are of but little service to Christ. We
must profess Him with our words and our lives.
QUESTIONS.
What can you tell about the feeding of the four
thousand ?
Point out the resemblances and contrasts between
this miracle and that of the five thousand.
Why did Jesus refuse to give the Pharisees a sign ?
What was meant by the leaven of the Pharisees ?
Tell the story of the blind man whom Jesus healed.
What were some of the various opinions of Jesus?
Why did Jesus foretell His death?
Was the death of Christ necessary for our salvation ?
What are you doing to make that death known
among men %
What important fa.cts are set forth in verses 34
to 38 ?
CHAPTER IX.
(Head this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. The Transfiguration of Jesus, 1-10.
2. Instruction concerning Elijah, 11-13.
3. J esus Heals a Demoniac Boy, 14-29.
4. Jesus again Foretells His Death and Resurrection,
30-32.
5. The Childlike Are the Greatest in Christ's King¬
dom, 33-37.
6. Even Irregular Service of Christ Is not Forbidden.
38-40. ^
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ov
7. To Help or Hinder Christ's Servants Will Bring
Reward or Punishment, 41, 42.
8. All Hindrances to Christian Service Must Be Cut
Off, 43-50.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The opening verse of this chapter really belongs to the
preceding chapter. It is now about one week since Peter's
great confession and the statement of Jesus concerning His
sufferings and death, and it is very fitting that He should
make some exhibition of His glory both as a divine and
human Savior. Hence we have the Transfiguration of Jesus.
The place where this wonderful and impressive event oc¬
curred was Mount Hermon. The time was summer and it
was night. Jesus took his three most intimate disciples—
Peter, James and John, and ascended the mountain. They
were with Jesus when He raised Jairus' daughter. They
will be chosen later on to witness His sufferings in Geth-
semane. Peter in his second epistle (1:14-16) refers to
this momentous event. The Transfiguration served not only
to give strength and courage to the three disciples who wit¬
nessed it, but also to all the others through them, although
they were not now allowed to speak of it. "And may not
Jesus himself, in his human nature, have needed to be
strengthened by the unearthly glory and the heavenly con¬
verse to go resolutely forward toward his cross and bitter
passion, even as an angel strengthened him in Gethsemane?
(Luke 22:43.) " The heavenly visitors are Moses and Elijah.
The former was the giver of the law; the latter was regarded
as the greatest of the early prophets. Luke tells us that they
spoke of the death of Jesus which would before long occur at
Jerusalem. Peter, eager and impulsive as always, desired to
keep these heavenly visitors. Note the Father's voice from
heaven testifying to the Deity of Jesus, and the exhortation to
hear Him.
Coming down the mountain on the day following the
Transfiguration Jesus and the three disciples find the re¬
maining nine greatly perplexed and mortified because they
40
were unable to cast a demon out of an afflicted boj. Certain
scribes standing in the crowd looked upon them with con¬
tempt. The child had epilepsy in its worst form, and more¬
over was insane. The father is in agony of mind for his
only son, and appeals to Jesus; but his faith in Christ's
ability was weak. Jesus assures the man that it was not
a question of His ability to heal, but rather of the ability of
the father to believe in Jesus' power. A great teaching now
follows, that all things are possible to him that believeth.
With tears in his eyes the father cries out that he does believe
and begs Jesus to increase his feeble faith. The child is
then healed, but only after passing through a dreadful physi¬
cal experience. The demon who had afflicted the boy seems
to have been a particularly malignant one. As there is order
and gradation in the kingdom of blessed spirits, so there is
also with the spirits of evil (Eph. 6:12).
From this northern region our Lord passed through Galilee,
and did so as secretly as possible. "It was the last time He
was to visit the scene of so great a part of His public life, and
He felt, as He journeyed on, that He would no more pass
from village to village as openly as in days gone by, for the
eyes of His enemies were everywhere upon Him." Jesus
now for the second time foretells His own death and resurrec¬
tion, and the disciples are perplexed.
Jesus returned to Capernaum. On the way there the dis¬
ciples had a dispute as to who should get the important offices
in the kingdom soon to be established. These men, although
devoted to Jesus, still cling to the current Jewish idea of the
kingdom of heaven. They expect Jesus to set up an earthly
government, and each man was trying to get the best office.
The lesson. Jesus teaches them is that he who would be the
greatest must be willing to render service to others, and that
the childlike spirit is the proper one for His followers. Mat¬
thew (18:3) gives this additional statement, that unless peo¬
ple turn and become as little children, they cannot even enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
In the teachings that follow we are to learn the lesson of
religious sympathy and toleration. Men do not think and
act alike. A fundamental principle which all Christians
41
cherish is the right of private judgment. This does not
mean that a person has the right to make any passage of
Scripture teach what he wants it to teach, but that taking
language in its ordinary use and applying the accepted rules
of Scripture interpretation, he is permitted to find the mean¬
ing for himself. The chapter closes with earnest admoni¬
tions to cut off all habits and acts which mar the Christian
life and imperil the soul. It we will closely examine our
lives, we may find many hands, and feet to cut off, and eyes
to pluck out.
WOKD STUDIES.
1. Mount Hermon.—The southern end of the Anti-
Lebanon chain. It rises to the elevation of 9166 feet above
the level of the sea. Its summit is covered with snow all
the year round. It was on this mountain that the Trans¬
figuration of Jesus occurred.
2. Kingdom of Evil Spirits.—In all of our struggles in
the Christian life, we are fighting against an organized em¬
pire. Paul's statement in Ephesians (6:12-17) clearly
shows this; and these verses should be carefully studied.
3. Christless Ambition.—If the spirit of humility that
Jesus commends in this chapter should be possessed by Chris¬
tians generally, all of our churches and other religious bodies
would be much better off. Ambition for office has torn
asunder many an organization, and the cause of Christ has
been seriously damaged.
4. Childhood is Salvation Time.—The proper time to
save a sinner is childhood. Then only are repentance and
faith easy acts for him to perform. The farther he gets
from childhood, the more he lessens his chances for salvation.
5. The Offending Hand, Foot and Eye.—Jesus spoke
the last words of this chapter in the form of a parable. To
offend, in Bible usage, means to stumble, or to cause one to
stumble. Many of our cherished acts that are as dear to us
as the hand, the foot or the eye, cause us to stumble. We
should cut them off.
42
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The glory of Jesus on the mount of Tranfiguration
will be the glory of every redeemed soul.
2. Jesus drove the demon out of the little boy, and He is
driving demons out of men now by the power of gospel truth.
3. If Jesus had not died, we would be better off had we
not been born.
4. Let us always rejoice that we can sing of the fountain
filled with blood.
5. When a child is saved, he is altogether saved,—soul
and life.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the Transfiguration of Jesus?
2. Where did it occur, and who went with Jesus ?
3. What heavenly visitors conversed with Jesus, and
on what subject?
4. What occurred when Jesus returned to the foot of
the mountain ?
5. About what did the disciples dispute ?
6. Who did Jesus say is the greatest?
7. Are our churches now sometimes afflicted with men.
with Christless ambition?
8. How should we treat Christian people who do not
think just as we do?
9. Can we help or hinder Christ's people without help¬
ing or hindering Him?
10. What should we do with the things that injure our
Christian life ?
CHAPTER X.
(Head this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.}
ANALYSIS.
1. Jesus Prohibits Divorce, 1-12.
2. Jesus Blessing Little Children, 13-16.
3. The Story of the Rich Young Man, 17-22.
43
4. Jesus Tells of the Danger of Riches, 23-27.
5. Service Rendered for Christ's sake shall be Re¬
warded, 28-31.
6. Jesus again Foretells His Sufferings and Death,
32-34.
1. Ambitious Request of James and John, 35-45.
8. Blind Bartimeus Healed, 46-52.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
Between the events narrated in the last chapter and those-
now recorded, the Perean ministry of our Lord occurred,
which covered about five months and included a large num¬
ber of very important events.
Among the live questions in the times of Jesus was this
one of divorce. The moral state of the people was low, and
divorce was exceedingly common among the Jews, as well as
the Greeks and Romans. A man could put away his wife
for any cause or no cause, provided only he was displeased
with her on account of her appearance, character or conduct
There were some people who believed that divorce should be
permitted only for one cause, namely, adultery; but by far
the greater number believed it should be given for a number
of reasons. When the Pharisees asked Jesus for an opinion
concerning this question, they knew that no matter what He
said it would make trouble for Him, especially if it came
to the ears of Herod who had married his brother's wife.
When Jesus asked them to state what Moses commanded,
they replied that he permitted it. This law is given in
Deut. 24:1. Jesus then explains that Moses did allow
divorce because the people were too ignorant and sinful to
live on a higher moral plane, but that when God instituted
marriage He intended the man and his wife to remain per¬
manently together until death. The teaching of Jesus con¬
cerning divorce is of great interest to us, because Christians
are to follow this law of Christ rather than State laws which
permit divorce for a number of reasons. The following
summary is the law for the churches:
1. If a man and his wife cannot for any reason get along
44
together, they may mutually agree to separate; but neither
party can marry again without sin.
2. If either party is guilty of adultery, a divorce is
allowed the innocent party. See Matt. 5:32 and 19:9.
3. Adultery is the only offence which in God's sight can
break the marriage bond.
4. The innocent party may marry again, but the guilty
cannot. To allow the guilty party to marry again would be
an inducement to commit sin; for if a man had a wife whom
he did not want, all he would need to do is to commit adultery
and let his wife divorce him, and then he could marry another
woman. JSTo man is allowed to commit crime in order to
profit by it
While Jesus was continuing His instruction regarding
divorce certain women brought their little children to Him.
He was known as a great rabbi among the people, and mothers
often took their children to such venerable men for a blessing.
But the disciples did not take kindly to such interruption,
and rebuked these mothers. Jesus came to their defence in
the beautiful words of verse 14, teaching again that only
those of child-like spirit are fit to enter the kingdom of
heaven. And now comes a sad story. A young man (Matt.
19:22), of great wealth, and a ruler of a local synagogue
(Luke 18:18), came running to Jesus, desiring to know what
to do to inherit eternal life. In replying to him Jesus does
not deny that the term "good" is applicable to Himself, but
seeks to have the young ruler think of God who alone is
essentially good. It is found that he has led an upright
life, and is a splendid young man; but he lacks one thing.
Now all that the Jews sought to do was the performance of
external duties; they had no such deep spiritual views of
duty as Jesus taught in Matt. 5:28-48. Jesus sees that the
one thing which this young man lacks is supreme devotion
to God, and so applies a severe test to him. This test was a
willingness to abandon his great wealth for God's service.
The test is severe, but Moses stood it, and Abraham also in
offering up Isaac. Many others have since then stood it in
various ways. But the young man failed. Jesus then spoke
of the great danger of riches, and also the certain reward that
45
awaits all those who make sacrifices and suffer for Him now.
Once again Jesus speaks of His sufferings and death. He
is almost at the end of His career. About one week more
and He will stand within the shadow of the cross. And now
we have the ambitious request of James and John. They
want the highest offices in Christ's kingdom. Such a request
at this time from these men who were among the most inti¬
mate of His followers must have saddened His heart. When
Jesus asked them if they could drink of the cup that He
drank of, they said they could. And they spoke more truly
than they knew, for not many years after the ascension of
Jesus, Herod had James killed with the sword.
The story of blind Bartimeus closes the chapter. He was
sitting by the highway begging. Hearing that Jesus was
passing, he cries out for mercy. On being asked what he
wanted, he said his sight. Jesus gave it to him in accordance
with his faith.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Divorce.—It is a matter of sincere regret that the law6
of the various States concerning Divorce are not in harmony
with the law of Christ. It should be remembered that mar¬
riage has two sides; it is both a religious obligation and a
civil contract. With the former, Christ and the church are
concerned; with the latter, the State. The officiating minister
at a marriage acts both for Christ and the State. By State
law he is made an officer to witness the civil contract, while
God does the marrying. It is very evident that the State
can annul only the civil contract. God alone can annul the
real marriage.
2. One Thing Lacking.—There was but one thing that
the young ruler lacked, but it was an important thing; and
not to have it was fatal. So many a young man now lacks
just one thing to make him a real success in life, a power of
good to humanity, a blessing to the cause of Christ.
3. Riches.—It is the misuse of riches that makes its pos¬
session dangerous. Some good people would be entirely
ruined if they should become wealthy. It is merciful in God
46
to keep them poor. But the right use of riches enables a man
to be a great power in the kingdom of God.
4. Reward Here.—We do not have to wait until w© get
to heaven before receiving any Christian reward. Tf in
order to serve Christ we lose the love of our natural kindred,
we shall get a spiritual kindred which is sometimes even
better.
5. Fellowship With Christ in Suffering.—In giving
His final comission to the Apostles as we learn from Mat¬
thew (chap. 10:24-42), Jesus made identity of experience
between Himself and them a certainty. They would suffer
and toil with Him here, but rejoice and reign with Him
hereafter.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Divorces have seriously injured many earnest Chris¬
tian workers.
2. Unless we are willing to surrender all as Jesus may
demand, we cannot be saved.
3. Poverty has helped many souls to enter the kingdom
-of heaven.
4. The humblest place in Christ's service is often one
of distinguished honor.
5. Are men usually as earnest in seeking for spiritual as
for bodily healing ?
QUESTIONS.
1. How did the Jews regard divorce?
2. What is the Christian law regarding divorce ?
3. When State laws concerning divorce conflict with
the law of Christ, what is the right course for
the churches ?
4. If you should be put to a severe test as was the
young ruler, could you stand it ?
5. Are riches necessarily dangerous ? Is poverty
necessarily a blessing ?
6. In what spirit should we engage in Christian
service %
47
7. Why did Jesus speak again of His death ?
8. What does the Lord's Supper represent ?
9. Is selfish ambition dangerous?
10. Which is of greater importance, the healing of the
body or of the soul ?
CHAPTER XI.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
Preparation for the Triumphal Procession, 1-6.
Christ's Entry into Jerusalem as King Messiah,
7-11.
Jesus Curses the Barren Fig Tree, 12-14.
The Second Cleansing of the Temple, 15-19.
The Fig Tree is Found Withered, 20-23.
Instruction concerning Prayer and Forgiveness,
24-26.
Christ's Authority Challenged, 27-33.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
We have now reached the last week of our Lord's life.
After healing Bartimeus at Jaricho, Jesus went to Bethany
where He arrived on Friday afternoon. The next day,
Saturday, being the Jewish Sabbath was probably quietly
spent. But large numbers of the people of Jerusalem went
to Bethany on Sunday morning to see Jesus, and Lazarus
whom He had recently raised from the dead, while the leaders
remained in Jerusalem and plotted the death both of Jesus
and Lazarus.
The time has now come for Jesus to present Himself to
the Jewish nation as the Messiah. "Hitherto Jesus had
been intent upon showing his character as the Son of man,
the type of the kingdom he was founding j now that this was
reasonably clear, and he had proved the faith of his disciples
in him as the Christ of Jewish prophecy, he wished to make
it equally clear to them and to the people generally that he,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
48
such as he was, without political ambitions, meek, self-
sacrificing, loving, was indeed the Christ." So He sends to
a friend in Bethphage and borrows from him an ass' colt
whereon never man sat, in order that He might ride in
kingly style into Jerusalem. In eastern countries the ass
has always been held in high esteem. The horse was used
especially for war while the ass was the symbol of peace.
"To the Jew it was peculiarly national, for had not Moses led
his wife, seated on an ass, to Egypt ; had not the judges ridden
on white asses; and was not the ass of x\braham, the friend
of God, noted in Scripture ? Every Jew, moreover, expected,
from the words of one of the prophets (Zech. 9:9), that the
Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on an ass. No act
could be more perfectly in keeping with the conception of a
king of Israel, and no word could express more plainly that
the king proclaimed Himself the Messiah." The large crowd
of people in Jerusalem and on the road soon caught fire with
enthusiasm, and not the least cause of it was the recent raising
of Lazarus from the dead. And so they make a great demon¬
stration. Some went before Jesus in the procession and some
followed after, and they shouted hosanna. Many threw
their garments in the way for Jesus to ride over, while others
cut down branches off the trees for the same purpose. The
many thousands were clearly with Jesus, but they were re¬
joicing in Him not as a spiritual, but as a political deliverer.
It is not certain where Jesus spent Sunday night. He
may have returned to Bethany, or He may have spent it on
Olivet praying. If the latter, then we can understand why
He had no breakfast on the following morning and was
hungry. Afar off He saw a fig tree with leaves, and went
to it hoping to find something to eat. It was not yet the-
season for figs, but the fig tree always brings the fruit first
and the leaves afterward; so if there are leaves, there cer¬
tainly should be fruit. This tree had nothing but leaves.
So Jesus pronounced a curse upon it. The whole affair was
intended as a significant symbol of a people abundant in
profession, but lacking in good works. Such were the Jews.
At the very beginning of His ministry Jesus cleansed the-
Temple by expelling from it certain men who were engaged^
49
in banking and trading. He now does the same thing again.
Certain of the Temple authorities made money by renting,
spaces in the outer court. They had no right to do this.
Christ's condemnation is recorded in verse 17. On the day
following, which was Tuesday, the very last day of the public
ministry of our Lord, as Jesus and the twelve passed by
on their way to Jerusalem, they saw the fig tree dried up
from the roots. When Peter called attention to this fact,
He gave the instructive lesson of having faith in God. With
great solemnity He sought to impress upon them a truth
which would be of the greatest importance to them when
they went forth as His Apostles to establish and spread His
kingdom,—that an unfaltering faith in God would overcome
all difficulties, even those regarded as insuperable by men.
An instructive lesson follows concerning prayer and forgive¬
ness. Prayer without faith is worthless; and we must for¬
give others if we are to be forgiven. The same truth was set
forth by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:15).
And now the Pharisees are bitter in their rage against Jesus,
His great reception by the people with their loud hosannas
and His cleansing of the Temple have made them desperate.
They demand His authority for His acts. It was perfectly
proper for them to make inquiry if they really desired infor¬
mation or were open to conviction. But seeing clearly
enough the indications that He was Messiah, they were de¬
termined not to admit that for a moment. Our Lord not
only evades their malignant and plotting inquiry, but by His
question suggests the real trouble, that they were not willing
to be convinced of His divine mission, since they would not
believe the testimony borne to Him by the forerunner. The
baptism of John is several times elsewhere used (Acts 1:22;
10:37; 13:24) to represent his whole mission, just as he
was popularly distinguished from others of that familiar
name by calling him John the Baptist. The Pharisees had
hoped that Jesus would claim divine authority for His acts,,
and then they would have something of which to accuse Him;
but these enemies of Jesus are unable to make answer, and
-are put to silence, and they go off defeated.
50
WOKD STUDIES.
1. Bethpiiage.—The name means house of figs. It was
a village near Bethany, on or near the road from Jericho to
Jerusalem. It was probably located between Bethany and
Jerusalem.
2. Bethany.—A small town on the mount of Olives,
nearly two miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho. It
was the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.
Simon the leper at whose home Jesus was anointed by Mary
(John 12:1-9) also dwelt there. From a point near this
town Jesus ascended to heaven.
3. Mount of Olives.—A hill which is before Jerusalem
on the east, and separated from it by the valley of Kidron.
This mount is famous for a number of things in Bible history.
Jesus was riding over its slopes when He wept over Jerusa¬
lem. He was sitting there with His disciples gazing across
the valley at the splendid Temple and the city when He
prophesied the destruction of both. After His last passover
He retired to the ifiount of Olives. The garden of Geth-
semane was to the west of it, either at its base or some small
distance up its ascent.
4. Christ's Friends near Jerusalem.—Jesus evidently
did not have many friends in or near Jerusalem. Lazarus,
Mary and Martha, Mcodemus, Joseph, the man who loaned
Him the ass' colt for the triumphal entry and the man at
whose house the last passover was eaten, are about all we
have certain knowledge of.
5. Hosanna.—An acclamation of the people when they
marched around the altar at the feast of Tabernacles. It
was a short prayer to Jehovah for deliverance taken from.
Psalm 118:25.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. We should gladly give to the Lord's service our time,
our property and ourselves.
2. Let us not shout hosanna to Jesus when the revival
meeting is running, and "crucify Him" when it closes.
3. The barren fig tree presented a beautiful appearance
51
afar off. The presence of its green leaves was a profession of
fruit-bearing. But when the test came there was found
"nothing but leaves." So also is it true of many a demon¬
strative "convert" in our meetings.
4. We often fail in revival work because our faith does
not measure up to our desires.
5. Jesus encountered great bitterness at the hands of the
very men He was anxious to save; and we need not grieve be¬
cause we sometimes have the same experience.
QUESTIONS.
1. Tell the story of the triumphal entry.
2. What was the object in view in making this demon¬
stration ?
3. What was the effect on the people? And on the
Jewish leaders?
4. Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?
5. Have we any barren fig trees today ? Are you one
of them?
6. Why did Jesus cleanse the Temple? Had He done
so before?
7. Do some present-day church buildings need cleans¬
ing ? Why ?
8. If we would be forgiven, what act in us is essential ?
9. How did the Jewish leaders challenge Jesus?
10. How did Jesus reply to them? What was the
result ?
CHAPTER XIL
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. The Wicked Husbandmen, 1-12.
2. The Question about Paying Tribute, 13-17.
3. The Question about Marriage and the Resurrection,
18-27.
4. The Two Great Commandments, 28-34.
52
5. Christ's Unanswerable Question, 35-37.
6. Warning against the Scribes, 38-40.
7. The Widow and Her Two Mites, 41-44.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The time is still Tuesday, three days before the crucifixion;
the place is the courts of the Temple. On this the last day
of our Lord's public teaching He becomes more outspoken in
condemning and denouncing the Jewish leaders.
The great object of the parable of the wicked husbandmen
ib to set forth the fact that God has assigned great privileges
and duties to Israel, and that He expected them to render
Him due service and honor. They have not measured up to
their opportunities, and Jesus now exposes them and states
that these opportunities will pass to others. The various
messengers sent to the husbandmen represent the prophets.
Often these prophets were crully maltreated. Observe how
the bad treatment grew. The first messenger got an ordi¬
nary beating and was sent away. A second messenger was
sent, and this one they stoned, inflicting a wound in the head,
and sent him away shamefully handled. A third messenger
was killed. Other messengers were sent, some of whom were
beaten, others were killed. Finally the owner's son was sent
Him they promptly killed. That any other nation should
enjoy religious privileges equally with the Jews, was a
thought the Jews never entertained. That their religious
rights should be taken from them and given to others, was
entirely out of all reason. But what Jesus said and meant
was so clear that His meaning was fully understood; and
they would have done violence to Him but were afraid to
attempt it because the people stood with Jesus. And so the
leaders went their way, still determined on His death.
The Pharisees and Herodians now join hands against
Jesus. They did so once before (Mark 3:6). They are
bitter political enemies, and cordially hate each other, but
they regard Jesus as a common enemy. The Roman govern¬
ment ruled the Jewish people who were compelled both to
pay taxes to Rome and use its money. The Pharisees hated
53
to do these things. The question about the tribute money
was so framed that any direct answer which Jesus might
give would have thrown Him in opposition either to the
Roman government or the Jewish people. With great wis¬
dom Jesus gives an answer that caused His enemies to
wonder. And now comes an interesting incident. One of
the scribes who seemed to be an upright man asked Jesus a
question concerning the commandments. The Jewish teach¬
ers were accustomed to dispute as to which were the greatest
commandments; and so this question now is quite natural.
The answer Jesus gives is of such a character as to win the
approval of the scribe. Read his words carefully in verses
32 and 33, and you will realize the truth of what Jesus said
in verse 34, that this scribe was not far from the kingdom
of God. It is difficult to refrain from desiring to know
whether this man finally entered the kingdom, or simply
remained not far from the kingdom and was finally lost.
Jesus now puts an unanswerable question to the scribes
concerning Christ being the son of David. He has in mind
Psalm 110, a Psalm which is quoted in the New Testament
more than any other. This Psalm 110 should be carefully
read. It clearly affirms the deity of Jesus Christ and an¬
nounces the eternal priesthood of Mjessiah. The Jewish
teachers regarded it as distinctly Messianic. "In this lofty
and mysterious Psalm, David, speaking by the Holy Spirit,
was carried out of any beyond himself, and saw in prophetic
vision that his Son would also be his Lord."
Jesus now delivers a terrible denunciation of the moral and
religious shortcomings of the leaders of the Jewish nation.
Mark makes only brief mention of it, but Matthew in chapter
23, verses 1-39, gives it in full. It should be carefully read.
This last and greatest day of conflict in Christ's ministry is
now ending, and Jesus strikes back hard at His enemies.
And they richly deserved all that Jesus put upon them.
In the chapter we are studying Mark mentions three things
against the Scribes,—their love of display and delight in
public notice, their cruel avarice and their pretentious de-
voutness.
Our chapter closes with a very beautiful story of giving.
54
Jesus was now about to leave the Temple. What is called
the treasury was a receptacle fastened in a suitable place
into which the people could cast their offerings. Jesus sat
and watched the people as they gave. Many rich ones gave
liberally. Finally a poor widow came and threw in two
mites whose value was very much less than a cent. But
Jesus commended her by saying she had given more than all
the others; for they gave out of their abundance and had
much left, while she gave all that she had, even her living.
It may not be proper as a rule to give every dollar one pos¬
sesses, and Jesus does' not expect us to do it. But extra¬
ordinary cases may arise which might justify such an act of
self-denial. Jesus regarded this woman as feeling called
upon to do the extraordinary thing. It should be remem¬
bered that no one can say he gives the widow's mites unless
he gives all he has.
WORD STUDIES.
L Vineyard.—"Much imagery is drawn in Scripture from
vineyards, and Isa. 5 :l-7; Psa. 80:8-16 are strikingly similar
to this parable." The owner puts his vineyard in perfect
order, with hedge, winepress, and tower in which the watch¬
man may guard the ripe grapes (compare Isa. 5:2), which
must have instantly occurred to the scribes as they listened.
2. Husbandman.—A farmer. Those spoken of in this
parable were like the farmers in our day who cultivate the
land on shares.
3. Caesar.—The general title of all the Roman emperors.
The reigning emperor in the time of Christ was Tiberius.
4. Jewish Marriage Laws.—Moses in Lev. chap. 18
gives a summary of the marriage regulations. The question
put to Jesus about the woman having seven husbands brings
to view the law in Deut. 25:5, where a man was to marry his
brother's widow if she were childless.
5. Giving. Christians are to give freely and liberally
for the support of the cause of Christ. The Bible knows
nothing about a uniform assessment for all the member*
Every member should give, the poorest as well as the richest,
according to the law laid down in 1 Cor. 16:2.
55
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The treatment given the son of the vineyard's owner is
condemned by all thinking people. But do sinners treat
Christ any better ? If we do not submit to Him, we crucify
Him afresh.
2. Many people in Christian lands are rejecting Jesus
and being finally lost, while many in heathen lands are ac¬
cepting Him and being saved.
3. Allegiance to the civil government is commendable
and proper, but allegiance to God comes first in the order
of duty.
4. We often damage the cause of our Master, and our
own influence over others, by making too much show of our
piety.
5. When a sinner comes and says he is willing to sur¬
render all to Jesus, he must be made to understand that a full
surrender includes his possessions.
QUESTIONS.
Tell the parable of the wicked husbandmen.
Can you explain the meaning of this parable?
What was the meaning of the question about paying
tribute ?
Has Christ's answer any application now?
What is the story of the woman who had seven
husbands ?
What were the two great commandments of the law ?
What was Christ's unanswerable question ?
Why did Jesus give warning against the scribes?
Can you state the law of Christian giving ? Where
is it found ?
Can a covetous man be truly called a Christian ?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
56
CHAPTER XIII.
(Read this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Destruction of the Temple Foretold, 1, 2.
2. Misleading Signs as to the Time Predicted, 3-8.
3. Persecution of Christ's Followers before His Com¬
ing, 9-13.
4. Signs That Must Be Heeded, 14-23.
5. The Savior's Coming Described, 24-27.
6. Exhortation to Watch for His Speedy Coming,
28-37.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
We have on record three long discourses delivered by Jesus:
(1) The Sermon on the Mount, found in Matt, chapters 5 to 7#
(2) This discourse on the Mount of Olives, recorded also
more fully in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew. (3)The fare¬
well discourse to the disciples. It begins at John 13:31, and
if we include the intercessory prayer, closes with chap. 17.
This second of the three discourses is much more difficult to
explain, because Jesus tells of the destruction of Jerusalem
and the Temple and also of His second coming which will
occur at the close of the present dispensation. Aside from
studying the chapter before us, the longer report in Matthew
should be carefully read.
It is now late in the afternoon of Tuesday when Jesus
leaves the Temple. Passing out of the structure which was
perhaps the grandest mass of religious buildings ever seen on
earth, the disciples call His attention to its beauty and
grandeur. Jesus then predicts its utter destruction. Sit¬
ting on the Mount of Olives with His most intimate dis¬
ciples, Peter, James, J ohn and Andrew, near Him, they ask
concerning three things: (1) the time of the destruction of
the Temple; (2) the sign of His Coming; and (3) of the
end of the world. Jesus first warns them against imposters.
"Various religious imposters, making themselves at the same
57
time political leaders, appeared before the destruction of
Jerusalem, A. D. TO, for example see Acts 21:38. But we
know of no one who distinctly claimed to be Messiah until
Bar Cochba, about A. D. 130, and many fanatical Jews or
Christians in later periods. Thus, this prediction cannot be
said to have been strictly fulfilled, if the connection be re¬
stricted entirely to the destruction of Jerusalem." Jesus
also warns them against extraordinary calamities. "Before
the destruction of Jerusalem there were rumors of wars be¬
tween feome and the Parthians, which doubtless greatly ex¬
cited the Jews, leading to a hope that the Romans would be
overthrown and driven from that part of the world. And
after the death of Nero, in A. D. 68, there were furious civil
wars between different sections of the Roman empire, nation
against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The Jews
were ready to regard any great war or other extraordinary
calamity (earthquake, famine), as a sign of some special
divine interposition about to occur; and so the Jewish Chris¬
tians would think such things showed that the end was at
hand, and the Messianic reign in its full development was
about to begin. But Jesus declared that this would be a
mistaken inference. Very often in subsequent ages have
some devout people looked upon great political revolutions,
public calamities, or social changes as signs that the second
coming of Christ was at hand."
Jesus then tells them in verses 9 to 13 of the dreadful
persecutions that would come upon His people between the
years 30 and 70 A. D. The wonderful story in the book; of
Acts tells how all this came true. The Apostles more than
once were brought before the Council and the Holy Spirit
conducted their defence and secured their release. This
period was noted for bitter family dissensions. This could
not have been otherwise since Christianity sought its first
converts in Jewish families; and to this day there is no such
bitterness caused by conversions to the Christian faith as
that consequent on the turnnig to Christ of a member of a
Jewish family. From verse 14 to verse 23 we have the
mention of certain signs which must be heeded when the
Romans come to destroy Jerusalem. Verses 19 and 20
58
speak of the fearful afflictions which would come upon the
people during the siege of the city. The horrors were really
awful. If the hardships and sufferings and sore perils of
that time of siege had continued long, everybody in Palestine
would have perished, including the Christians who seem here
meant by the elect. "The destruction of Jerusalem was in a
high sense a coming ol Ciu-isr, because it completely ended
the old dispensation and led the Jewish Christians to under¬
stand that they need not continue to offer sacrifices. The
propriety of calling it a coming of Christ is manifest from
Mark 9:1 and Matt 16:28 (compare Dan. 7:13, 14). But
in the present discourse we seem compelled to understand
verse 26 and the following verses as pointing also to the far
greater and final coming of Christ." When Jesus went up
to heaven at the completion of His earthly work, the promise
was given that He would return in like manner as He went
up (Acts 1:10. 11). The ear1}- Christians made much of
the doctrine of our Savior's return, and the New Testament
is full of it. We are now making a sad mistake in giving so
little attention to it. There needs to be an awakening on this
subject. Christ will come speedily and surely, but at a time
known only to God. Our duty is to be prepared for that
great event, and we should live in constant expectation of the
Savior's return. This chapter closes with a parable which
sets forth the duty of constantly watching. It will be sad
indeed if the Master should come and find any of His people
sleeping. Constant watching j'or our Lord's return would
elevate the Christian life, improve the condition of our
churches, and lead to a great ingathering of converts. Are
you praying for your Lord to oome quickly 2
WORD STUDIES.
1. The Temples.—The Bible tells of three temples. The
first was Solomon's which was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar
when he captured Jerusalem in 587 B. C. The second was
Zerubbabel's, which was built when the Jews returned from
the Babylonian captivity. The third was Herod's, a truly
great and magnificent structure. It was standing in Christ's
59
day, and was destroyed by the Romans when Jerusalem was
captured in A. D. 70.
2. Abomination of Desolation.—The key to the inter¬
pretation of this phrase seems to be given by Luke 21:20,
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh," and thus
shows that it is to be explained in some connection with the
Boman legions.
3. Bearing Testimony for Jesus.—Such testimony is
recorded as borne before the Sanhedrin by Peter and John in
Acts 4:8-12, 19, 20; 5:29-32 (compare the death of James in
Acts 12:2) ; by Paul in Acts 23:1-6; and before governors
and kings by Paul in Acts, chapters 24, 25, and in 2 Tim.
4: 10, 17; see also as to the testimony of John , Rev. 1:9.
4. Tbibulation.—Much of the language bearing on
tribulations must be taken as figurative, especially verses 24
and 25.
5. Watching.—The beautiful parable spoken on this oc¬
casion by Jesus and recorded in Matt. 25: 1-13 deserves to be
carefully read and studied.
. SALVATION POINTS.
1. Herod's magnificent temple went down in utter ruin
because of sin. So even now sin is tearing down even the-
greatest of human institutions.
2. We must be careful not to infer too hastily that the
end of the world is approaching because of great international
calamities.
3. He who never suffers for Christ may well question
whether he really belongs to Christ.
4. Every Christian should be prepared for the coming
of Jesus, and should induce all his sinner friends to get ready.
5. Christian, watch I Your Lord may come to you sooner
than you think.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did Jesus go when He left Jerusalem?
2. What disciples sat near Him and questioned Him f
60
3. What did Jesus tall: about. and why?
4. What misleading signs of the time were predicted ?
5. Why would Christ's followers be persecuted ?
6. When persecuted and brought to trial, what special
help was promised ?
7. Can you give any instances of these persecutions
from the book of Acts ?
8. What is meant by the coming of the Lord ?
9. Are you getting ready for His great second coming ?
10. What is the immediate and constant duty of all
Christians ?
CHAPTER XIV.
(Bead this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. A Conspiracy against Christ, 1, 2.
2. Jesus Anointed by Mary, 3-9.
3. Judas Conspires to Betray His Lord, 10, 11.
4. Preparation for the Passover, 12-16.
5. Jesus Announces His Betrayal, 17-21.
6. Jesus Institutes the Lord's Supper, 22-25.
7. Jesus Warns the Disciples that They Will Forsake
Him, 26-31.
8. The Agony in Gethsemane, 32-42.
9. Judas Betrays His Lord with a Kiss, 43-45.
10. Jesus Is Arrested and Forsaken, 46-52.
11. Jesus Is Led to High Priest Annas, 53, 54.
12. Jesus Examined and Condemned by the Sanhedrin,
55-65.
13. Peter Denies His Lord, 66-72.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The enemies of Jesus were anxious to arrest and kill Him,
but feared to take action during the passover on account of
His popularity with the people; so they decided to wait.
Returning to Bethany Tuesday evening, Jesus spends the
61
next two days in repose and reflection before entering upon
the tragic experiences of Gethsemane and Calvary. A beau¬
tiful incident occurred during this time. It was at a feast at
the home of a man named Simon whom Jesus had cured of
leprosy. Mary and Martha and Lazarus were all present,
and Mary anointed Jesus with a costly perfume known as
spikenard. She poured it on His head and the odor of the
ointment filled the house. She also wiped His feet with her
hair. John (12:1-9) gives an interesting and graphic ac¬
count of this beautiful act. Judas finds objection, com¬
plaining of the waste, but Jesus shows highest appreciation
and predicts a fame for Mary wherever the gospel shall be
preached.
Judas evidently for sometime has not liked the way things
were going. He was dishonest and covetous. So he goes to
the chief priests and proposes to deliver Jesus into their
hands for a financial consideration. The amount agreed
upon was thirty pieces of silver, about $20 in our money.
It was promptly paid and the bargain closed. The part of
Judas in the conspiracy was to pilot the servants of the San-
hedrin to some place where Jesus might be arrested without
causing a popular uprising.
Jesus had taken great care to provide before hand for the
celebration of the last passover. The place was chosen and
all other arrangements made. The man at whose home the
supper was to be celebrated was doubtless a secret disciple
of Jesus, as Joseph was. And now when they sit down great
sadness comes over the company, for Jesus tells them that
one of their number would betray Him. All except Judas
are conscious of innocence, and yet each one asks, "Is it I ?"
Jesus indicates the guilty one, and makes the awful state¬
ment that it would have been better for him if he had never
been born. The supper was eaten with the usual ceremonies,
and it was probably at its close that Jesus pointed out the
traitor. John (13:30) tells us that Judas went immediately
out, "and it was night." Judas having gone, Jesus now in¬
stitutes a new ordinance, the Lord's supper. The paschal lamb
which was just eaten was a type of Him who was the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8) for sin-
62
ners. The type now passes forever away, for its fulfillment
has come. Henceforth we shall celebrate the death of our
Lord in the new ordinance. Great dangers are just ahead of
them all, and Jesus warns the disciples that the Shepherd
would be smitten that night, and the sheep scattered. They
.all profess undying loyalty, and doubtless they are sincere
in their profession. Peter, still bold and confident, assures
the Lord that though all men might desert Him, he never
would; and then the Savior tells him that even in this night
before the cock crow twice he would deny Him thrice. And
now Jesus has reached Gethsemane. He leaves eight of
them in one place, and takes Peter, James and John and
retires further into the garden. Heavy grief comes upon
Him and He goes off to pray for His soul is "exceedingly
sorrowful unto death." "It was the human soul of the God-
man which suffered this anguish. The divine nature could
not suffer, in any proper sense of the term. How his human
soul could suffer apart from his divine nature is a part of the
mystery of the incarnation, like his temptation, his increasing
in wisdom (Luke 2:52), and his not knowing the day or the
hour (Mark 13:32). The suffering in Gethsemane cannot
be at all understood except as we perceive in it a real human
distress. Observe too, that there was no bodily suffering
(like that on the cross), though the mental agony produced a
bloody sweat. This suffering cannot have been a mere dread
of death, or distress at the interruption of his ministry. Many
have endured these, and also bodily agonies far greater
those of crucifixion, with calm resignation and even triumph¬
ant joy for Jesus' sake. What he endured must have been
more. The explanation is found in Isa. 53:5; 2 Cor. 5:21."
While Jesus was yet speaking to Peter, James and John the
garden of Gethsemane was filled with armed men. Judas
was leading a great multitude with swords and staves from
the chief priests and scribes and elders. He goes up to
Jesus and kisses Him fervently. That was to be the sign.
Peter somehow had possession of a sword, and he quickly
struck at one of the foremost in the crowd. He smote a
-servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Jesus is put
under arrest. And now comes the awful story of the de-
63
sertion of Jesus by His disciples. They all forsook Him and
fled. Even Peter, the foremost disciple, and John the be¬
loved, also went; and Jesus was left alone with His enemies.
They take J esus first to Annas for a preliminary examination.
Peter had followed the crowd to the place, and at this point
denies Jesus for the first time. Meanwhile John had recov¬
ered from a momentary panic at the arrest and was present.
He stood heroically by Jesus from this time to the end. Jesus
is then sent by Annas to Caiaphas, the actual high priest,
and the Sanhedrin (John 18:12-24). A night session of
the Sanhedrin is held in the palace of Caiaphas and Jesus
is condemned for blasphemy (Matt 26:57-75). Peter again
denies Jesus a second and even a third time. He then re¬
membered the words of Jesus, and his better nature asserted
itslf. He repented and wept bitterly.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Spikenard.—A very costly oil that was drawn from an
Indian plant that grew in the mountains of India. None
but the wealthy could afford to use it Mary bought twelve
ounces of this costly perfume in order to show her love to her
Lord (John 12:3).
2. The Lord's Supper.—This was established for one
single definite purpose. Paul (1 Cor. 11:26) tells what it is.
And we are to celebrate the Lord's Supper only in this life,
"till he coma"
3. Gethsemane.—It was a small garden or an olive
orchard on the slope of Olivet Jesus often went there for
meditation and prayer. So Judas had no difficulty in locat¬
ing Jesus when he wanted to betray Him.
4. Annas.—A high priest at Jerusalem about the time
when John the Baptist began his ministry. He was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas. Although Annas was not the
officiating high priest when Jesus was arrested, he was yet
the most influential priest and bore the title.
5. Caiaphas.—The officiating high priest. He was deeply
responsible for the death of Jesus. It was in his palace that
the chief priests, scribes and elders met to plan a way for the
64
arrest of Jesus (Matt 26:3-5). Caiaplias afterward took
part in the trial of Peter and John (Acts 4:6). He was
deposed from office by the Roman president of Syria m
A. P. 36.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. Religion does not change the essential traits of char¬
acter, but brings one's better qualities into greater prominence
and enables him to control the others.
2. How Judas ever got into the Apostolic band we do not
know. It shows us that we need not despair if hypocrites,
get into our churches during revivals.
3. Let no Christian boast of his own strength. Who
would have thought that Peter and John would forsake
J esus ?
4. Young converts are very liable to feel that they are
stronger than they really are. They should be careful always
to depend on Jesus.
5. If a sinner would only stop long enough to reflect on
what Jesus did for him, he would find himself unable to con¬
tinue his refusal to surrender his heart.
QUESTIONS.
What can you tell of the conspiracy against Jesus?
Can you tell the story of the anointing of Jesus?
Why did Judas betray Jesus? How much did he
get for it ?
What occurred at the passover supper ?
When did Judas leave the room ?
What new supper was instituted? What it its
meaning ?
When Jesus was arrested what did Peter do?
How did all the disciples act ? How can you ac¬
count for it ?
Where was Jesus taken? /
How did Peter conduct himself ?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
65
CHAPTER XV.
(Head this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Jesus Is Formally Condemned by the Sanhedrin, 1.
2. Jesus Refuses to Defend Himself before Pilate, 2-5.
3. Pilate Desires to Release Jesus, 6-11.
4. Jesus Delivered up to Be Crucified, 12-15. .
5. Roman Soldiers Mock Jesus, 16-20.
6. Jesus Is Led to Be Crucified, 21-23.
7. Jesus Is Crucified, 24-26.
8. Jesus Reviled and Ridiculed, 27-32.
9. Terrible Suffering and Death of Jesus, 33-37.
10. Immediate Results of the Death of Jesus, 38-41.
11. Burial of Jesus, 42-47.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The condemnation of Jesus by the Sanhedrin at the early
morning meeting was illegal. Not all the members were
present, and the trial was not conducted in accordance with
the law. So a second trial was necessary, which was held
after daylight, and Jesus was formally condemned. But the
Sanhedrin did not have the power to inflict the death penalty,
and so Jesus had to be taken before the Roman governor
Pilate. Here they accuse Him of many things. Luke
(23:2) gives us three points: "We found this man (1) per¬
verting our nation, (2) and forbidding to give tribute to
Caesar, (3) and saying that he himself is Christ a king." It
should be remembered that the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus
for blasphemy, which was a religious offence. Now they ac¬
cuse Him before Pilate of civil offences, because the Romans
would have nothing to do with religious questions. J esus re¬
fuses to defend himself. He preferred to bear with silent
-and patient dignity what He saw was inevitable. Pilate is
satisfied that Jesus is innocent, seeing that envy is at the bot¬
tom of all the accusations; and so he desires to release J esus.
The Jews refuse to have this dona When Pilate asks what
66
he should do with Him who is called the King of the Jews,
they answer, "Crucify him!" He proposes to compromise
by scourging Jesus and releasing Him, but the Jewish leaders
would not listen to it. He went through the ceremony of
washing his hands to show that he disclaimed all responsi¬
bility for the decision he is now about to render. He decides
against Jesus, and turns Him over to the military authorities
to be scourged and crucified. Pilate might wash his hands a
hundred times, but he could never wash the blood stains from
his soul. His weak compliance with the demands of the
Jews availed him little, for only a few years later he was ac¬
cused and removed from office and sent into exile where he
committed suicide. "Jesus has been condemned upon his own
testimony, and that perverted, and the unhappy Roman gov¬
ernor, though seeing that he was innocent of any civil offence,
has reluctantly consented to his being crucified. This is the
most solemn portion of the Bible."
The rough soldiers how take possession of Jesus. They
put an old military cloak on Him, a crown of thorns upon
His head, and a reed in His right hand. Then they mock
Him and spit on Him and strike Him on the head with the
reed. After indulging in these things until satisfied, they
dress Jesus in His own clothes and lead Him off to crucify
Him. An innocent African coming out of the country was
at this moment passing along. His name was Simon, and
his home was in Cyrene in North Africa. This man was
compelled to bear the cross of Jesus who was physically un¬
able to bear it Himself.
It was about nine o'clock A. M. when the procession reached
Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. No time is wasted, and
the awful tragedy begins. They offer Jesus a stupefying
drink, wine mingled with myrrh, to deaden the pain, but He
refuses to take it. And now the whole crowd revile and ridi¬
cule Jesus. Chief priests, scribes and elders, the cruel sol¬
diers, even the two thieves who also were being crucified,
taunt and mock Jesus. About 12 o'clock, after Jesus has
been hanging on the cross for three hours, a dreadful dark¬
ness settled over the land which continued until 3 o'clock
when Jesus died. This darkness was supernatural, and was
67
«n appropriate symbol of the Savior's mental suffering. Just
before He died .Tesus uttered the awful cry, "My God, My
God, "why hast thou forsaken me?" We cannot understand
the meaning of these heart-rending words. But in whatever
sense the Son of God was forsaken, it must have been as our
substitute, "made sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:21), "wounded for
our transgressions" (Isa. 53:5). And now the end has
come. Jesus uttered a loud cry, and died.
Sin has now done its worst, and the Jewish leaders rejoice
in the idea that they actually slew Jesus; but they did noth¬
ing of the kind. Jesus died voluntarily. The Jews and
Romans meant to kill Him, but were not permitted to do so;
for Jesus had absolute control over His own life. In John
5:26 we have these words: "For as the Father hath life in
himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself."
In John 10:17, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because
I lay down my life, that I might take it again." And in the
following verse (18), "No man taketh it from me, but I lay
it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again." See also John 19:28-30. As Jesus
hung on the cross and realized that He had actually done all
that He had planned to do, He realized that the end had
oome. So by act of His own will He surrendered His life.
Following the death of Jesus, and as one result, the veil
of the Temple was rent in twain. This was a heavy curtain
that separated the holy place from the most holy place. The
torn veil was the symbol of the effect of Christ's atonement
in opening to all men the way of access to God. This chapter
closes with a beautiful act of loving kindness. Joseph of
Arimathea, spoken of. here as ^n "honourable counsellor,"
who was doubtless a member of the Sanhedrin, came boldly to
Pilate and begged the body of J esus. For a long time he had
been a secret disciple, and did not openly stand for Jesus.
Now he is determined to show his colors, though late in doing
so. Remembering that Jesus was crucified as a common
felon, this was a very brave act. Joseph buys fine linen in
which to wrap the body, and John (19:39) tells us that Nico-
demus who was another secret disciple brought one hundred
pounds of embalming spices. These two men hastily pre-
68
pared the body for burial; and by six o'clock it was safely
laid away in Joseph's tomb.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Sanhedbin.—The highest Jewish assembly for gov¬
ernment in the time of our Lord. It was composed of seventy-
one members, and only Israelites whose descent was beyond
question were eligible to membership. The high priest was
president of the body. Its powers were great, but in the
time of Jesus it could not inflict the death penalty.
2. Pilate.—He was the fifth Roman governor in Judea
after the deposition of Archelaus in A. D. 6. He was not a
man of inflexible moral purpose. He was willing enough to
do justly provided he suffered no ill consequences. He was
convinced of the innocence of Jesus, but did not have suf¬
ficient moral strength to stand for Him and against the Jews.
3. Crucifixion.—The act or operation of fixing a criminal
to a cross for the purpose of capital punishment. Among the
Romans crucifixion was a penalty inflicted only on slaves, or
on freemen who had committed the most heinous crimes.
The ordinary Roman citizen was by law exempted from it.
4. Women at the Cross.—Among those who witnessed
the death of Jesus were some devoted women. Their names
are given in Mark 15:40, 41. The mother of Jesus was
present at the beginning of the crucifixion, but when Jesus
commended her to the care of John he led her away to his
home.
5. Secret Disciples.—We know of two of them—Joseph
and Nicodemus. There may have been others. It is diffi¬
cult for us to understand how much a member of the San-
hedrin would have had to endure if he openly avowed himself
a disciple of Jesus.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. The condemnation of Jesus by the Sanhedrin was the
first step to the cross. We are saved through the cross, but
that was not the intention of those who condemned Jesus.
69
2. All things work together in the interest of Jesus* work
in saving men.
3. Judas, Caiaphas and Pilate all worked against Jesus,
but God has made the wrath of man to praise Him through
the triumphs of the cross.
4. The awful cry of "forsaken" on the cross was caused by
your sins and mine.
5. Jesus died not in behalf of us, but for us, in our stead.
He actually took our placa
QUESTIONS.
1. Why was the Sanhedrin convened in the morning ?
Where did they carry Jesus ?
2. Why did Pilate desire to release Jesus?
3. Can you explain the trial before Pilate ?
4. What was his final decision ? What is your opinion
of it?
5. How did the Roman soldiers treat Jesus ?
6. Who was compelled to bear the cross for Jeeus ?
Why?
7. When did the crucifixion begin? What occurred
at noon ? What at 3 P. M. ?
8. Who reviled Jesus on the cross ?
9. Was Jesus actually put to death, or did He die
voluntarily? Explain.
10. What results followed the death of Jeeus? What
secret disciples now come forward ?
CHAPTER XVL
(Bead this chapter in Mark before doing anything else.)
ANALYSIS.
1. Devout Women Visit the Savior's Tomb, 1-4.
2. An Angel Announces the Resurrection, 5, 6.
3. The Angel Sends a Message to the Disciples, 7, 8.
4. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene, 9-11.
5. He Appears to Two Men, 12, 13.
70
6. He Appears to the Eleven, 14.
7. A Great Commission Given, 15-18.
8. The Ascension of Jesus, 19, 20.
THE COURSE OF THOUGHT AND ACTION.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental fact in
Christian history. Jesus might have lived and suffered and
even died, but unless He arose from the dead we could not be
saved. Paul tells us (1 Cor. 15:17) "And if Christ be not
raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." The
resurrection of Jesus is one of the most fully attested fact#
in history. The proof amounts almost to a demonstration.
When Jesus was crucified, a number of His women friends
were present, and doubtless many of them attended His
burial. We know from Mark 15:47 that Mary Magdalene
and Mary the mother of Joses were present. But they were
apparently not present when the body was taken down from
the cross, and so did not know of the elaborate preparations
which Nicodemus had made for embalming it. "Or, the
intense affections of the woman may have made them wish to
honor still further by gifts of their own the precious remains.
This anointing recalls that made by another loving woman
some days beforehand (Mark 14:8)." Jesus died on Friday
and was immediately buried. Early on Sunday morning the
women went to the sepulchre to complete the embalming.
One concern only troubled them, the stone at the door. But
when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away.
Looking into the open sepulchre they became affrighted, be¬
cause they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed
in a long white garment. The young man, who was an angel,
seeks to quiet the women by telling them not to be frightened,
since they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth. And then he
makes the glad announcement: "He is risen; he is not here:
behold the place where they laid him." Then the angel gives
the women a message to the disciples and particularly to
Peter. Knowing doubtless that Peter had denied his Lord,
the women might not tell him of the resurrection and so they
are charged to be careful to do this very thing. They trem-
71
bled, because they were amazed and afraid, and fled from the
sepulchre These women, whc are the first heralds of the
risen Jesus, at once find Peter and John and tell them the
news of the empty tomb. As soon as they hear the story
they run with all speed to the place to learn the facts. John
being a younger man outruns Peter and comes first to the
sepulchre; but he stops at the entrance and contents himself
with looking in. When Peter comes up he boldly enters the
tomb and makes an examination. The women evidently fol¬
lowed these two men to the tomb and were standing outside
not knowing what to think or what to do. They thought that
the body had been removed. At this point Jesus shows Him¬
self to Mary Magdalene, and later to the other women. Mary
goes off and seeks the disciples. She finds them mourning
and weeping; and when she tells them that Jesus is alive,
and that she has seen Him, they positively refuse to believe
the story.
If we combine Mark's account with those of the other
evangelists, we shall have the following record of the appear¬
ances. The third one was to two disciples who were going
out from Jerusalem to Emmaus later in the day. The fourth
was to Peter. The fifth was in the evening when the dis¬
ciples, except Thomas, had gathered for a conference. All
these five appearances occurred on the resurrection day. The
sixth appearance was one week later when the entire eleven
apostles were together. The seventh was at the Sea of Gali¬
lee, a little later, when seven of the apostles were fishing. The
eighth was at a great Galilee mountain meeting when more
than five hundred brethren, besides women disciples, met Him
(1 Cor. 15:6). The ninth was to James (1 Cor. 15:7).
The tenth was to the apostles, and possibly others, on the day
He ascended to heaven. There may have been other appear¬
ances, but we have no record of them.
Mark now mentions the giving of a worldwide commission
to preach the gospel. As Prophet, Jesus has been revealing
the Father's love to sinners. With His ascension, His pro¬
phetic work on earth ends. He puts it on the hearts of His
people. He expects them to tell men everywhere that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sinners. All who profess
72
to be Christians are under obligation to do prophetic work
by supporting home and foreign missions and engaging in
what is known as personal work in soul-saving. And the
churches which would soon be organized were intended to be
prophetic institutions, whose main work is to send the gospel
to the uttermost parts of the earth. An organization calling
itself a church that does not grasp this fact, and live up to
the obligations imposed by Jesus, is practically worthless,
and of but very little service to the kingdom of God.
The Son of God became incarnate at Bethlehem, lived
privately at Nazareth for thirty years and spent three years
in teaching and preaching and in blessing men. He suffered
under Pilate, was dead and buried, and arose from the dead.
He has finished a part of His priestly work, that of offering
Hiself a sacrifice for us. He has ascended to heaven to a
place at the right hand of the Father to continue His priestly
work of intercession. Hence He is able to save to the utter¬
most all who come unto God through Him.
WORD STUDIES.
1. Sepulchre.—The Jews as a rule buried their dead in
caverns, natural or artificial. Natural caves were often ex¬
tended by excavation. The entrance was closed by a large
stone, in order to keep wild animals from destroying the
dead body.
2. Embalming.—An act to attempt to preserve a dead
body from decay by the use of spices. The Hebrews seldom
embalmed their dead. It was an Egyptian art, which was
brought to a high degree of perfection. Some bodies that
were embalmed four thousand years ago can now be seen in
the British Museum. They are called mummies.
3. Resurrection of Jesus.—Enemies of Christianity
have done their utmost to discredit the resurrection of our
Lord, and have utterly failed to do so. There is no fact in
all history that is more clearly proven than this fact. The
proof amounts almost to a mathematical demonstration.
4. "And Peteb."—It showed the tender thoughtfulness of
the angel in sending the message of the resurrection to the
73
disciples to specify Peter. He may have felt that the women
would regard Peter as so utterly discredited as not to men¬
tion the fact to him. But Jesus had forgiven Peter, and he
was the first of the apostles to see Him after the resurrection.
5. The Great Commission.—This Commission given in
Mark is usually regarded as the same as the one in Matt.
28:19, 20. It was not intended for preachers only. All be¬
lievers are under obligation to tell the good news of the king¬
dom at all times and everywhere.
SALVATION POINTS.
1. How gladly the women tell the news of the risen
Jesus. Christian, are you as happy in that work ?
2. Peter's fall was terrible, but Jesus granted him for¬
giveness on repenting. The same forgiving J esus is near to
all who come unto Him through repentance and faith.
3. Christian women of today should be as zealous in
speaking for Christ as were the women who personally knew
Him.
4. How can a sinner keep his heart closed against Jesus
when he realizes that if it were not for the suffering, death
and resurrection of Jesus he would be eternally lost ?
5. Let us hasten to bring sinners to Jesus before it is
too late.
QUESTIONS,
1. What women went to the sepulchre to embalm the
body of Jesus?
2. What can you tell of the previous history of these
women? Luke 8:1-3.
3. What surprise awaited these women ?
4. What message did the angel send ?
5. What men first reached the tomb? How did they
act?
6. How did the disciples generally receive the news of
the resurrection ?
7. To whom did Jesus first appear? To whom next?
74
8. Name the ten recorded appearances.
9. What is the meaning of the commission Jesus gavef
10. Tell the story of the ascension. Compare Acts
1:1-11.
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