Spurgeon's notes on MARK
Mark 1:23-25Christ would not have praise from the devil, it has an ill savor about it.
Mark 1:26-30
Luke says it was "a great fever," so that she was too ill to speak for herself. We must tell Jesus of those who do not plead for themselves.
Mark 1:31
Usually a person healed of fever is long in recovering strength, but our Lord's cures are perfect as well as immediate. Those whom the Lord heals spiritually are sure to be grateful, they minister both to him and to his people. If he serves us, it is but meet that we should serve him.
Mark 1:35
The Sun of Righteousness was up before the sun. How much must our Lord have loved prayer to renounce his needed rest in sleep, in order to hold converse with his heavenly Father. He was sinless, and yet needed prayer: far be it from us to dream that we can do without it. In private we must, like our Lord, equip ourselves for the public battle of life.
He had much work before him, and therefore desired much communion with God. Press of business should not excuse us from prayer, but rather urge us to have more of it.
Mark 1:36, 37
Simon was always too forward. We shall often meet with interruptions in prayer, even from well-meaning men; therefore let us, like Jesus, get alone and choose early hours.
Mark 1:38, 39
Seclusion was not used as a luxury by him, nor did he plead his devotions as an excuse for escaping public duties. He was ready to preach or to pray, according to the demand of the hour. In such readiness for service should all his followers excel. He did not stay to receive honor for his wonderful miracles, but posted on to other fields of labor. Let us also press forward, for we have much to do, and but one short life to do it in.
Mark 1:39, 40
Probably this poor man in his eagerness to be healed had broken the rules which kept him in seclusion, and dared to enter the house where Jesus was, contrary to the law of leprosy. His was a venturesome faith. It was no small confidence which could believe the Lord Jesus to be able to heal a disease so loathsome and incurable. It will be well if we can have the same assurance with regard to our sin.
Mark 1:40-45
In the Evangelists we meet with the cure of a leper by our Lord, in which the Jewish rites and ceremonies are alluded to.
Mark 1:40
Here was faith enough to believe that Jesus could remove an incurable disease, but there lingered a sad "if" in his faith, like a dead fly in the pot of ointment. Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus accepted the imperfect faith, and gave in return a perfect cure.
Mark 1:41
That touch bespoke the sympathy of Jesus. Any one else would have been made unclean by contact with diseased flesh; with him it was otherwise, for his touch and word removed the cause of impurity.
What a blessed "I will." Christ's will is omnipotent. He can save us even with his wish. He can save us at this present moment.
Mark 1:42
Time is not wanted for divine cures. One word is enough to blot out all sin, and make the loathsomeness of lust depart. If we can but trust him, Jesus is able to heal.
Salvation is instantaneous. The moment we believe in Jesus we have eternal life.
Mark 1:43-45
The healed leper had better have obeyed his Lord and held his peace, for his grateful declarations hindered the Lord's work of mercy, and took him away from hundreds who needed him. However generous and natural the promptings of our grateful hearts may be, it is always wisest to do exactly as we are bidden. Lord, heal us, and make us your servants forever.
Mark 1:44
While the law stood our Lord observed it; how much more should we obey the gospel in every point of precept and ordinance.
Mark 1:45
Jesus was modest and retiring, and sought not honor of men. But the man's gratitude would not let him be silent. He told his story, and the news ran along like fire over a prairie—it blazed abroad, to the praise of the Good Physician.
Mark 2:1-3
That man is highly favored who has godly neighbors laboring for his salvation.
Mark 2:4
Feeling that all they had to do was to bring their sick friend under the eye of Jesus, they did not stick at difficulties. If we loved men's souls better, we should oftener seek out unusual methods of bringing them to the Savior.
Mark 2:5
He struck his disease at the root. When sin is forgiven, every other evil is a small matter.
Mark 2:13, 14
This was Matthew, the tax gatherer. The Master's voice said little, but effected much. Two words are enough to win a man to Jesus if they are attended by the power of the Spirit. As soon as he was converted, Matthew gave a feast, that his former friends might see Jesus.
Mark 2:15-22
Everything should be in harmony. To make babes in grace live in the same manner as aged veterans would be unnatural. Rigid forms no more suit the free spirit of Christianity, than an old skin bottle would suit new, fermenting wine.
Mark 2:23-28
We are not, however, to regard this law as forbidding the doing of works of piety, charity, or necessity, for our Lord Jesus has awarded us full liberty on these points. He corrected Jewish misconceptions, and taught us not to make a bondage of the day of rest.
Mark 4:35, 36
They hurried him off, weary as he was, for the crowd increased. He was quite worn out with toil.
Mark 4:37, 38
Jesus always cares for us. Even though he seems to sleep, and allows our troubles to multiply, all is well.
Mark 4:39
Who but God could speak thus? Where are the senses of those who cannot see his Godhead?
Mark 4:40, 41
Awe came over them, and well it might; they saw that no mere man could act as he had done. Jesus, Master, in all our troubles we will call upon you, and you will answer us!
Mark 5:1-4
The evil spirit had made him wildly insane, and given him supernatural strength, so that he was a terror to the district over which he roamed, making night and day hideous with his terrible outcries.
Mark 5:6
The evil spirit was compelled to crouch at the Redeemer's feet; this was a token of the casting of Satan beneath our feet which shall be accomplished shortly.
Mark 5:9
It would seem as if all the fallen angels were let loose upon men at that time, so that many crowded into one poor creature: but our Lord was more than a match for them. A legion of soldiers numbered six thousand men; how many devils there were within this poor man we cannot tell, but if there had been six millions Jesus could have conquered them.
Mark 5:10
They cling to this world and dread to return to their prison house.
Mark 5:12
They had sooner plague poor swine than have no ill work on hand.
Mark 5:13
A most just judgment upon their owners, who, as Jews, had no right to keep unclean animals.
No doubt their mothers rightly judged that the Savior's blessing would in the best sense enrich their children, and conduce to their future happiness, and so they led their boys and girls to him. The disciples thought that he would be annoyed with the little ones, but they did not know what a kind heart he had. No fathers or mothers should think their children too little to be converted. While they are boys and girls, Jesus can bless them.
Mark 5:14
We do not often find him much displeased, and therefore we may learn that to discourage a child from coming to Jesus is beyond all other things displeasing to him.
Mark 5:15
We must possess the simplicity, teachableness, and trustfulness of children, or else grace is not in us. Like them also we must be free from avarice and ambition.
Mark 5:16, 17
What folly! Yet many do this. They had rather not be impressed by the gospel, and therefore politely request it to go elsewhere. It will be an evil day for them if Jesus. grants their request, and leaves them forever to themselves.
Mark 5:18, 19
Here was happy, holy, useful work for him. Such a task as Jesus has allotted to each of us.
Mark 5:22, 23
She was his only daughter, and therefore very dear. Her father's faith was of the boldest kind, for he hoped to see her raised up even though at her last gasp; but it was not equal to that of the centurion who thought that Jesus could cure by a word without coming near.
Mark 5:25-28
Contact with Jesus is life, the touch of faith conveys healing virtue to the soul. Her disease rendered her timid, so that she came behind, and stole the cure; and yet her faith was unusually strong,—many believed that Jesus could heal with a word, she alone believed that the very hem of his garment had healing power in it.
Mark 5:29-33
This was for her benefit. She might else have gone away believing that there was a power resident in Christ's dress irrespective of his will; the Lord by showing that he knew what was done gave her clearer views of himself.
Mark 5:34-38
These were hired mourners who mimicked sorrow, and made loud lamentations.
Mark 5:40
Being quite sure that she was dead. Thus they became the best witnesses that there was no deception in her restoration to life.
Mark 5:42
Oh that Jesus in the power of his Spirit would go to the houses of his people, and raise all the spiritually dead. There are dear little maids whom we much love who have not the new life within them; we will pray for them, and hope that the word of the gospel will save them.
Mark 5:43
When we see young people converted, we should try to feed them with those truths which are intended to support and comfort their hearts.
Mark 6:14
Where there is an idle faith there is generally a busy imagination: Herod would not obey John's religion, and yet became the slave of superstition. His conscience was not powerful enough to prevent his murdering the good man, yet it was not so dead as to allow him to rest in peace after the cruel deed.
Mark 6:15-18
This was faithful preaching. What is the good of a minister if he does not tell us our faults?
Mark 6:19, 20
Herod is a warning to us. He was not a mere hearer of John. He was an attentive and delighted hearer, and up to a certain point a doer of the word. Surely he bade fair for good things; and yet he became the murderer of the very man to whom he had listened with so much respect. If hearing the gospel does not change our nature, it has done little or nothing for us.
Mark 6:23
Probably he had become drunken while feasting, and so uttered the rash promise and confirmed it with an oath. When vice dances in the presence of drunkenness no good can come of it. This young girl danced off the prophet's head: we have never read that any good at all proportionate to this evil ever came of dancing. For a child of God to join with the frivolous in their idle dances, would be as unfitting as for an angel to wallow in the mire.
Mark 6:25
I will that you give me by and by in a charger or a large dish
Mark 6:29
Or as another evangelist tells us, "they went and told Jesus," which was the very best thing they could do. Happy are they who have learned to take all their trials to Jesus. Let us speak with him now in our prayer.
Mark 6:30
Ministers are accountable to their Lord both for their doings and sayings, and they should neither do nor teach anything which they will be ashamed to relate to their Master.
Mark 6:31, 32
The most active servants of God cannot always have their minds upon the stretch; they must have relaxation. Their tender Master was careful to provide it for the apostles, and those who are of a kindred spirit should enable poor ministers at set times to enjoy a little needful retirement. Jesus took his apostles to a place where they could be alone, for rest in a crowd is not the rest ministers need.
Mark 6:33
No bell was wanted to call them together. The spirit of hearing was abroad, and the people flocked like doves to their windows, and this all the more eagerly because the preacher was going away. If we knew how soon good ministers will be called home to Heaven, we should be far more eager to profit by them while they are spared to us.
Mark 6:34
He was not angry at losing his rest, but ready to bless the people, for he saw their need.
Mark 6:35, 36
This is the disciples way out of the difficulty. No doubt they can take care of themselves:—"send them away." We hope something may be done for the masses, and there we leave it.
Mark 6:37
Meet their wants yourselves. Alas! the command sounds very hard when the treasury is low!
Mark 6:37
They calculate the need, but forget the omnipotence which is at hand to meet it.
Mark 6:38, 39
The Lord had thus provided a noble banqueting hall, splendidly carpeted, and of vast dimensions, and there his guests sat in order, as became a royal entertainment.
Mark 6:40
For it was not a scramble, but a royal feast.
Mark 6:41-44
When Jesus blesses our slender gifts, he makes them sufficient for the feeding of thousands. It is ours to do our best, and trust in the Lord to make it useful. Lord, help us so to do.
Mark 7:1-3
Some spiritual teachers think it beneath them to devise anything for the temporal good of their hearers, but our Lord was intensely human and humane. He could not look on hunger and faintness without pity.
Mark 7:4, 5
That is the question—How much ability have you? To calculate how much agency would be necessary to evangelize the thousands, may be mere speculation: to resolve each one of us to do our own share of the work is sound sense.
Mark 7:8
Those hands which multiplied the food were surely those of the world's Creator. Who can doubt the Godhead of Jesus? Lord, prove your Deity by making the labors of your poor church to be a rich blessing to millions.
Mark 7:35
This was an acted sermon suitable for a deaf and dumb man. He took him aside—for grace makes men feel their personality, and sets them as units before God; he put his fingers into his ears and touched his tongue to let him know where the evil lay, for we must know something of the disease, or we shall not value the remedy; he spit—for the means of grace are simple, and to some even disgusting; he looked up to Heaven, for thence our help must come; he sighed, for he heals us by bearing our sorrows in his own person. The whole gospel is set forth in this deaf and dumb mans alphabet.
Mark 7:37
When a beggar is relieved at any door he tells others, and so many more come; thus the crowds around our Lord increased daily, but he was able to meet all their needs. Blessed be his name, he is still quite as able and willing to supply all our necessities. Let us tell him at this time all our wants and woes, and we too shall soon be astonished by his wonders of grace.
Mark 8:22
Our Lord was never long without a case of sickness or infirmity to deal with, and if we are wise we shall each one keep him well employed by taking our own infirmities and sins to him. One touch of that dear hand will make us whole.
Mark 8:24
He saw indistinctly, as some of us do now in spiritual things; but when our Lord begins a cure he makes a perfect work of it. Meanwhile it is a great mercy to see at all.
Mark 8:30
Then he desired to avoid notoriety, and had wise reasons for commanding silence, but now we may publish his fame as much as we please; yes, the more we sound abroad his praises the better will he be pleased.
Mark 8:31, 32
In his great love he could not bear to hear his Lord talk of suffering even unto death; but still his affection did not excuse his gross presumption.
Mark 8:33
Satan or you adversary
Mark 8:33
It was great impudence on Peter's part to chide his Lord, nor could the Master endure that his servant should put a stumbling-block in his way by urging him to forego suffering and death. He counted even his best friend to be an adversary when he stood in the way of his work of love. Lord, you were angry with Peter because you were too fond of us to spare yourself
Mark 8:34, 35
Not only must Jesus make a sacrifice of himself, but the spirit of selfishness must be driven out of all who will be saved by him, and they also must be willing to die for the gospel's sake. Nor need they be ashamed to do so, for in the end he will prove to have acted wisely who gave up all earthly things to gain the heavenly treasure.
Mark 8:36-38
Solemn words. Let us not go forth from this room until we have asked for grace, never to be ashamed of the name, people, doctrine, ordinances, or commands of Jesus.
Mark 9:14
From glory upon the mountain to conflict in the valley is a very usual transition.
Mark 9:15
No doubt his face was resplendent with some relics of the glory which had beamed from him upon the holy mount: yet it is remarkable that the people were not terrified, but ran to him and not from him: the glories of Jesus are always attractive.
Mark 9:16-18
Without their Master they could do nothing; they were like soldiers assailed by the enemy in the absence of their commander. His coming
Mark 9:20
Matters often come to their worst before they mend. The devil had great wrath, and put forth all his power, because he perceived that his time was short.
Mark 9:21-23
The Savior returned the unbelieving "if you can" to its right place; the want of power never lies in Jesus, but in our faith.
Mark 9:24
A prayer most fitting for many struggling believers, in whom faith and unbelief are striving for the mastery.
Mark 9:25
Our Lord spoke divinely, charging demons as one having authority over them. Let us confide in him, for all power is given unto him in Heaven and in earth.
Mark 9:29
God reserves certain blessings, and determines to bestow them only upon those who offer importunate prayer and practice self-denial. Yet where disciples fail, their Master succeeds. We may take the most desperate case to him; we may take our own.
Mark 9:33, 34
This was the old evil, and it broke forth in many ways and at singular times. The Master spoke of his death, and the disciples spoke of pre-eminence. He was infinitely superior to the best of his followers, and in nothing more evidently so than in the unselfishness of his nature. Oh that we may have grace to keep clear of the apostles fault!
Mark 9:38
Surely this was a case of schism! John had in his bosom all the zeal of the high-churchman, and his fellow apostles shared the feeling. This unknown worker honored the name of Jesus and was clothed in his power, and one would have thought that the apostles would have recognized him as a brother: but no, "he follows not us" was enough to sour all their brotherly kindness, and they forbad the good man to cast out any more devils, or to do anything more in the name of Jesus. This was after the approved model of churchianity; we shall see in the next verse that it was not Christianity.
Mark 9:39, 40
Even if the man himself were not sincere, yet, for his own credit's sake, he could not become an open opposer of the Lord. His aid was secured, so far, at least, that he could not become a reviler of that name by which he had wrought wonders. If the proud professors who reject all who dissent from them would at least remember that those whom they despise are not enemies of Christ, they might treat them with a little more consideration than they now do.
Mark 9:41, 42
offend or cause to stumble
Mark 9:41, 42
Beware, then, lest by word or act we cause any child of God to sin.
Mark 9:44
There is a worm undying, and a fire unquenchable. Let men say what they will, the wrath of God abides forever upon those who die unsaved. It is worth while to make any sacrifice rather than fall forever into Hell.
Mark 9:49
Either we must be tried with fire here or hereafter. Self-denial and endurance of our Lord's will must be the salt and the fire of our sacrifice in this life, or else the endless woes of the wrath of God shall be both preserving salt and con-sinning fire to us in another world. Far better to accept the light afflictions of today, than to endure the fierce flames of perdition.
Mark 10:17
An inquiry which had been put to him before, but this time it came from one who thought that he had already done all that would entitle him to eternal bliss. The question was not "What is the way of salvation?" but, "How can I merit Heaven?"
Mark 10:18
The questioner did not know that Jesus was God, and therefore he ought not to have called him good.
Mark 10:19
If a man would win Heaven by works he must keep these commands and more.
Mark 10:20, 21
If he loved God supremely, as the law required, here was a test for him. We are not all called to relinquish our property; but if Jesus bade us do so, and we refused, it would prove that we loved the world better than God, and therefore were very far from keeping the commandments.
Mark 10:22
He could not stand the test. He thought that he loved God best, but soon discovered that he did not.
Mark 10:24
And the disciples were astonished at his words.
For the Rabbis gave the rick all the advantage, and thought the salvation of the poor almost hopeless.
Mark 10:24
Trusting in riches is the great evil rather than the having of them, though the two things of ten go together.
Mark 10:25-28
But it was a poor little all—an old ship and a few worn out nets. Peter's usual rashness led him to mention the sacrifice he and his friends had made; in after years he was more modest.
Mark 10:29, 30
Even here the Lord Jesus is to us a hundredfold more than houses or relatives could be, and when he is near we rejoice to suffer for his sake.
Mark 10:32-34
Like a brave captain the Lord led the way, and like brave followers his disciples, despite their fears, kept close to their leader. It is well if, when we experience any alarm, we have faith enough still to press forward where Jesus points out the road.
Mark 10:32-34
The Lord was very explicit, and gave more of the details of his sufferings and death than he had ever mentioned before. He was very familiar with his friends, and told them all things; he was very honest with them, and plainly warned them of the evils which would happen to him, lest they should follow him with mistaken expectations. Jesus familiarized his disciples with his death before it happened, and much more would he now have it before our minds, since its bitterness is past, and the fruits of it are surpassingly precious.
Mark 10:36
He would not grant them a request thus put to him in the dark. He wisely allowed them to go on with their suit, that, upon further consideration, they might be made ashamed of it.
Mark 10:37
When he should take his kingdom, they desired to be the first peers in his realm. Not, perhaps, because they wished to be above their brethren, but because they loved him so well that they desired to be very near and dear to him, and to enjoy the same distinguished position which he had in some measure given to them already, when with Peter they had formed a favored trio upon the mount of transfiguration.
Mark 10:38-40
Our ignorance of ten shows itself in our prayers. We ask for a crown when we ought to pray for grace to bear our cross.
Mark 10:41
This was very natural, but it did not last long. Partly through the influence of our Lord's words, and partly through the humble and loving conduct of these two gracious brethren, all jealousy subsided, and we do not detect even a trace of it in the after history of the apostles.
Mark 10:42-44
shall be your minister or servant
In the church of God, he is greatest who renders most service, and is willing to take the lowest place for the good of the rest. Those who are really eminent have to work harder and endure far more reproach than their less honored brethren, and so it should be, since thus it was with our Lord.
Mark 10:45
He gave up all and took the lowest service for our sakes; thus teaching his followers not to look for honor or service from their fellow Christians, but to stand ready to be the servants of all. Lord, teach us to serve, and save us from the pride which would expect others to pay us homage.
Mark 10:46, 47
Though he could not see, he could hear and speak, and he earnestly used what power he had. Some who are unsaved neglect the use of the means which are within their power, and do not ask for salvation.
Mark 10:48
When a soul is really anxious it cannot refrain from prayer. It must and will cry for mercy.
Mark 10:50
He cared no more for his old cloak, he expected to receive his sight. The hope of mercy makes all other things seem trivial.
Mark 10:51, 52
How quick the cure. The man believed and prayed, and Jesus spoke the healing word. Exercise such faith each one of you, and the like healing shall be yours.
Mark 11:14
Fig trees put forth their fruit before their leaves: it was not yet time for figs, and yet this pretentious tree was covered with leaves. It promised far more than other trees, and then deceived those who came to it for fruit. It was meet that a blight should fall upon this type of hypocrisy, this symbol of boastful falsehood. Proud professors of religion, whose actions are not right in the sight of God, should tremble lest the like curse should light on them.
Mark 11:15-18
Though purged so short a time before, the temple was foul again. Nothing is so hard to make clean and keep clean as a degenerate church. It should be the daily prayer of all who love the pure gospel that in these degenerate times the Lord Jesus would by his Holy Spirit, and the power of divine truth, cleanse out of our churches all false doctrines, Popish practices, and worldly fashions. May the Lord also purge the temple of our hearts and make our inmost nature the house of prayer, the palace of the living God.
Mark 11:19
Seeking again the quiet of Bethany, so refreshing to his devout and gentle spirit.
Mark 11:20-23
When faith concerning anything is given to us, by the Lord, it is the shadow of the coming event and its prayer is always heard; but faith is not in all cases bestowed, nor can we always pray in full assurance, and in such cases it would be base presumption to pretend to have unlimited power in supplication. The limit of prayer is the will of God, our guides as to that limit are the promise of God and the faith which we are enabled to exercise.
Mark 11:24
This of course is to be understood as taking for granted that we pray for right things, otherwise we shall ask and have not, because we ask amiss. What latitude is here given us in prayer! How slow we are to use the power thus entrusted to us!
Mark 11:25, 26
Remember this when anger tries to hold you in its evil power. Flee from it as from your mortal foe.
Mark 12:38-40
Mark the honesty of Jesus; he never flinched from declaring the truth concerning the highest in the land. No fear of man ever fettered his speech. The object of his rebuke was pride, pride of dress and rank, and the outward display of religion. Let us avoid these things, for the Lord abhors them. Shall pardoned sinners be proud? God forbid.
Mark 22:44
How often do we hear persons speak of "giving their mite," when they know that they are doing no such thing. This poor woman gave her all; where do we find such givers now-a-days? We must measure our generosity not by what we give, but by what remains. Jesus sat over against the treasury, and he is sitting there still. He knows what we bring to him, and he sees whether it is a fair proportion of our means. He measures our offerings not by their amount, but by the will of the giver.
Mark 13:1
They thought that he would be as much pleased with noble architecture as they were; but he looked on the temple with very different eyes. To him nothing was beautiful which was polluted with sin.
Mark 13:2
Our Lord sorrowfully foresaw the total overthrow of the rebellious city, and warned his disciples, so that when the evil day came, they were prepared for it, and were confirmed in their faith in him by the remembrance of his prophecy.
Mark 13:7, 8
And only the beginnings compared with the overwhelming destruction which would sweep over the city of Jerusalem and the nation of the Jews.
Mark 13:9
The various parties among the Jews, however much they warred against each other, would combine against the followers of Jesus, and seek to crush them with all their might.
Mark 13:10
Persecuted they would be, but they would conquer; the Gospel would be proclaimed all over the world, and neither men nor devils could hinder its course.
Mark 13:11
Those whom Jesus calls to be his advocates shall have full instructions from him, and divine help in pleading his cause. This promise has been most faithfully fulfilled, as all the books of martyrs most plainly show. Poor and illiterate men have baffled the learned in controversy, being helped to proclaim the truth without fear.
Mark 13:12
Saddest of all is the betrayal of good men by their own relatives, but this they have had to bear for Jesus' sake. Ought we not to be able to bear those petty persecutions which in these times are all that the enemy can do against us? Sneers, jests, and slanders are light crosses compared with those which the martyrs carried.
Mark 14:12
They knew that their Lord observed all the commands of the law, but as he had no house of his own, and it was usual for the inhabitants of Jerusalem to lend their rooms to strangers, they wished for his orders as to where he would keep the feast.
Mark 14:15
Among his friends he had a secret foe, but in the city of his foes he had also a secret friend: the time was come for both to be discovered, for the death of Jesus is that by which the thoughts of many hearts are revealed. The directions given to Peter and John, whom he sent, must have established in them the full conviction that he knew all things, and this would deepen their belief that his prophecy of his death would be fulfilled: thus they would be led to see how voluntarily he submitted himself to the death which awaited him.
Mark 14:16
The room in which Jesus was entertained is the emblem of a heart into which the Lord comes to sup; such a heart is enlarged by grace with love and joy and gratitude; it is an upper room lifted up from the world and sin, it is prepared and furnished by the Holy Spirit, and is freely opened to the great Master, who comes to feast with his beloved. Lord make our hearts such a room and we will receive both you and your disciples into our truest love.
Mark 14:33
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane or the olive-press
Mark 14:33
Company yields solace to a heavy heart; the disciples could not bear any part of our Lord's griefs, but they might have watched with him.
Mark 14:33, 34
He wished to have them near, but not too near: his woes were not to be seen of mortal man. The Man of Sorrows now began to enter the great deeps of woe.
Mark 14:36
Blessed prayer! Its sweet resignation to the Father's will should be an example to every tried child of God.
Mark 14:38
It is said by Luke that they were sleeping for sorrow. Their kind Master, knowing this, was ready with an excuse for them, and did not chide them for what looked unkind.
Mark 14:40
Luke tells us, "Being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops (or clots) of blood falling down to the ground." Oh, the amazing griefs which were laid upon Jesus when our sins became his burden. We bless him with all our hearts for agonizing thus for us.
Mark 14:42
His agony in the garden was over, and he went calmly on to meet death and finish the great work of our redemption.
Mark 15:16
That he might suffer the full chorus of their ridicule. Men were unanimous and hearty in mocking their Redeemer; when will his people be as zealous in his praises? Should not the "whole band" of believers adore him.
Mark 15:17-19
Here was Majesty in misery! Our Lord who is the angels king, was spit upon by rude fellows! How we ought to love him for enduring this shame.
Mark 15:20, 21
How honored was this Simon: but let us not envy him; we shall have a cross to carry too.
Mark 15:22, 23
He did not wish to be stupefied. He came to suffer in our stead, and he intended to go through with it, enduring to the uttermost.
Mark 15:25
Or nine o'clock of our time.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, the king of the jews.
"A king my title is, prefixed on high
Yet by my subjects I'm condemned to die
A servile death, in servile company.
Was ever grief like mine!"Mark 15:27, 28
He died a felons death with felons, and men wrote his guiltless name on the roll of transgressors.
Mark 15:29-32
O the patience, the omnipotent patience which bore all this!
Mark 15:33
From noon until three in the afternoon night brooded over all.
Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour or three o'clock
Mark 15:37
He died in full strength, laying down his life voluntarily for our sakes.
Mark 15:38
Thus were the inner mysteries laid bare, and the ceremonials of the law brought to an end. Glory to You, O Dear Redeemer of the souls of men.