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The withered hand healed; the Lord's service to God's goodness and rights
Such was the question raised in the synagogue (Mark 3) on the
occasion of the man with the withered hand. The Lord sets it
publicly before their conscience; but neither heart nor conscience
answered Him; and He acts in His service according to the goodness
and rights of God, and heals the man.* The Pharisees and their
enemies, the Herodians — for all were against God and united in
this — consult together how they might destroy Christ. Jesus
departs to the sea-coast of the sea of Tiberias. There the
multitude follow Him, because of all that He had done; so that He
is obliged to have a boat, that He may be outside the
crowd. Spirits are subject to Him, compelled to own that He is the
Son of God; but He forbids them to make Him known. Self-effacing service not circumscribed by JudaismService in preaching, and in seeking souls, in devoting Himself to all, showing Himself by His acts to be the possessor of divine power, hiding Himself from the notice of men, in order to fulfil, apart from their applause, the service He had undertaken — such was His human life on earth. Love and divine power were disclosed in the service which that love impelled Him to accomplish, and in the accomplishment of which that power was exercised. But this could not be circumscribed by Judaism, however subject the Lord was to the ordinances of God given to the Jews. Man's carnal opposition; wilful deliberate unbelief brings hopeless condemnation
But, God being thus manifested, the carnal opposition of man
soon shows itself.* Here, then, the description of Christ's
service ends, and its effect is manifested. This effect is
developed in that which soon follows, with respect both to the
iniquity of man and to the counsels of God. Meanwhile the Lord
appoints twelve of His disciples to accompany Him, and to go forth
preaching in His name. He could, not merely work miracles but,
communicate to others the power to work them, and that by way of
authority. He goes back into the house, and the multitude
re-assemble. And here the thoughts of man display themselves at
the same time as those of God. His friends search for Him as one
who was beside Himself. The scribes, possessing influence as
learned men, attribute to Satan a power which they could not deny.
The Lord answers them by showing that in general all sin could be
pardoned; but that to acknowledge the power, and attribute it to
the enemy, rather than own Him who wielded it, was taking the
place not of ignorant unbelief but of adversaries, thus
blaspheming against the Holy Ghost — was a sin that could never
be pardoned. The "strong man" was there; but Jesus was stronger
than he, for He cast out the devils. Would Satan endeavour to
overthrow his own house? The fact that the power of Jesus
manifested itself in this manner left them without excuse. God's
"strong man" was then come: Israel rejected Him; and, as regards
their leaders, by blaspheming against the Holy Ghost, they brought
themselves under hopeless condemnation. The Lord therefore
immediately distinguishes the remnant who received His word from
all natural connection He had with Israel. His mother or His
"brethren" are the disciples who stand around Him, and those who
do the will of God. This really sets aside Israel at that time. |
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