May 7.

SUFFERERS BROUGHT TO CHRIST. Mark vii. 24-37.

GOLDEN TEXT.

Verse 37. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, he hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. PREFATORY REMARKS.-The affairs of Jesus were now rapidly growing to a crisis. The people had shown a strong desire to make Him king. Herod had expressed a wish to find Him. The Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem had openly accused Him of encouraging men to disregard their cherished traditions, and having found Him incorrigible, had probably made up their minds to accuse Him of heresy, and have Him punished as a false teacher. But His time was not yet come, and so He decided to retire into privacy for a while. Accordingly, He went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, countries adjoining Palestine; but whether He actually crossed the boundary, or only came near to it, is a debated point. Arrived at His destination, He entered into a house, and would have no one know it. But He could not be hid. The light of the sun goes before him, and the rose carries its fragrance with it.

EXPOSITORY NOTES.-Here we have two miracles.

I. Healing the daughter of the Canaanitish woman.-Parallel: Matt. xv. 21-28. 25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, &c. Cases of demoniacal possession were not confined to the Jewish nation. How the evil spirit afflicted this young woman, this history does not tell; but the deep feeling of the mother shows that the case was a serious one. She knew what was the matter with her child. She fell at the feet of Jesus, an action common among those who sought favours from their superiors. 26. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation, &c. By Greek is meant Gentile, or heathen, as in Rom. ii. 9. Soon after the Jews took possession of Canaan, some tribes of the original inhabitants moved northwards; and from them the Phoenicians sprang; while, further, Phoenicia was a province of Syria; hence this person is called by Matthew a woman of Canaan,' and by Mark a 'Syrophoenician.' Though belonging to a heathen nation, she sought Christ, and prayed Him to show mercy to her and her suffering daughter. Very likely she anticipated difficulties, but concluded if she gained nothing she would not lose anything. According to Matthew's account, the Saviour made no reply to her appeal until the disciples desired Him to send her away, when, doubtless in answer to both, He said He was sent to none but the lost sheep of Israel. Then she renewed her request, apparently determined not to cease unless met by an absolute refusal. 27. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled, &c. The Jews are said to have regarded the Gentiles as dogs; and Jesus here speaks in the style of his countrymen, signifying that this heathen woman did not belong to the family of the covenant, and could not claim the blessing she sought, as a Jew might do ; and yet He addresses her in a way that encourages her to press her suit, rather than otherwise; for He does not liken her to one of the great dogs that ran wild about eastern towns, but to one of the little ones usually attached to the household. With a woman's quick wit she took hold of this

distinction, and used it with singular effect. 28. And she answered and said unto him, Yea, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. In addition to what were literally the 'children's crumbs,' there were other morsels of bread that fell to the dog's share. The Jews at their meals used soft pieces of bread instead of napkins, for wiping their fingers, and these they threw under the table for the dogs. With avidity this woman seized the idea of the dog among the children. She was quite willing to accept the dog's inferior position, if she might have its place and privileges in the family. Here we see her humility, earnestness, perseverance, and faith. 29. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way, the devil is gone out of thy daughter. There is a striking resemblance between this woman and Jacob wrestling with the angel. Gen. xxxii. 24-30. The patriarch would have the blessing, and got it. She would not take a refusal; and her resolute, believing soul conquered the Lord. Her faith proved her one of Abraham's true children, and for that she obtained her boon. 30. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, &c. By the invisible but effectual working of the Saviour's power the victim had been freed from her tormentor, and was laid upon the bed.' This latter statement may signify that all agitation and disturbance had ceased, but that she was still weak. The daughter of Jairus needed food when raised from the dead, and this one might require rest.

II. Curing the deaf and dumb man. We are not told how long Jesus remained in the borders of Tyre and Sidon; but passing thence through the district of Decapolis, He came to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 32. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, &c. Some think that in consequence of being unable to hear anyone speak, this man could not articulate properly; while others suppose that he was a stammerer. The latter seems probable; for there was something the matter with the string of his tongue. Those who brought him wished Christ to put His hand upon him. He, however, took another course. 33, 34. And he took him aside from the multitude, &c. Several reasons might lead Jesus to remove the man away from the crowd. He probably wished to avoid exciting the people. Many of the inhabitants of that district were Gentiles; and among such His method of curing this man might foster superstition. Many of His miracles were intimately associated with faith, either in the subjects of them, or their friends. Putting His fingers in the ears of the deaf man, wetting His tongue with moisture from His mouth, and looking up to heaven, were, no doubt, symbolical acts designed to awaken or strengthen faith within his heart. As his sense of hearing was closed, it would have been of no use attempting to quicken his faith by speaking to him. But the soul could be touched by signs. The uplifted eye showed that help was to come from God. The sigh might show the Saviour's sorrow for human suffering and sin. Ephphatha was His command to the ears to be opened, and carried with it all the requisite power to heal. 35. And straightway his ears were opened, &c. All hindrances to hearing and speech were removed in a moment. Whether the ailments were organic or functional, they ceased at once by the Saviour's life-giving word. 36, 37. And he charged them that they should tell no man, &c. He had given a similar charge in

other cases. This was not because He did not want men to know the good He was doing, but probably to prevent a wrong use being made of these miracles by ignorant and wicked men. It seems that the very strictness of the charge led some to make haste to publish the deed done. This may be said as some excuse for them--they were full of amazement, and doubtless meant to honour Jesus. They were blameworthy, however. We are under no such restriction in regard to what Christ does for us or our friends. We should praise Him, and send His name to the end of the earth. HOMILETICAL HINTS.-Here are two prime subjects:

I. Human Suffering. We have the forms of this. 1. Demoniacal possession. There seems to be something typical in these cases. They were permitted, probably, to show the nature of Satan's working, and the dreadful influence of sin. The author of evil has entered man's heart, with sin as a disturbing force, inflicting fearful miseries on the soul, and making life a blank. 2. Bodily disease. This rests on sin as its basis. Sin produces both moral and physical derangement, thus robbing life of many of its enjoyments. This disease does not end with mere physical suffering. It shuts up the gates by which knowledge of God might and would enter the soul. The blind cannot see the beauty of His works, the deaf cannot hear the music of His words, the dumb cannot enjoy the luxury of singing His praises.

II. The all-sufficient Saviour. 1. Jesus can repair all the mischief wrought in us by Satan and sin. He casts out the devil and his works. He will give us a new body, fitted in all things for the perfect future life. 2. This work of Christ is based on mediation. He brings men to God. Men bring their fellow men to Jesus. The mother comes on behalf of her child. The deaf and dumb man is brought to Christ by his friends. 3. There must be fitness in those who thus minister to others. They must have sympathy. The mother had made the child's case her own. They must have faith in the power of Jesus to save. They must persevere in the face of all discouragements and hindrances.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Devotion of Mothers.-The music of the silver-toned voice we hear again from the spirit-land, singing some soothing melody, or telling in simple language that sweet story of old,' till forgotten were all our childish sorrows. And now, in the strife and tumult of life, when the cold world frowns darkly upon us, her gentle words come back, bidding us 'look above.' Who can fathom the depth of a mother's love? No friendship so pure, so devoted. The wild storm of adversity and the bright sunshine of prosperity are all alike to her: however unworthy we may be of that affection, a mother never ceases to love her erring child. Often, when alone, as we gaze up to the starry heaven, can we in imagination catch a glimpse of the angels around the Great White Throne,' and among the brightest and fairest of them all is our sweet mother, ever beckoning us onward and upwards to her celestial home.

The submission of faith.-A lad stood on the roof of a very high building, when his foot slipped, and he fell. In falling, he caught by a rope, and hung suspended in mid-air, where he could sustain himself but a short time. At his moment a powerful man rushed out of the house, and, standing beneath

him with extended arms, called out, 'Let go of the rope! I will receive you.' 'I can't do it.' 'Let go of the rope, and I promise you shall escape unharmed.' The boy hesitated for a moment, and then, quitting his hold, dropped easily and safely into the arms of his deliverer.

TALK WITH THE LITTLE ONES.

Jesus had gone out of the Jew's country to a village near Tyre and Sidon, where He sought to be alone with His disciples. But a woman who was not of the Jewish race had heard of Him; and she came to Him and asked Him to cure her daughter who was possessed with an evil spirit. He said 'Because you are so earnest and have shown such faith you shall have your wish. The evil spirit has left your daughter.' The mother went home and found her daughter cured. Then Jesus went to a country called Decapolis, and there was brought unto Him a man who was deaf and could not speak well. Jesus opened the man's ears and cured the impediment in his speech. The people told the miracle everywhere and all wondered saying 'Jesus does all things well' Learn how your prayers to God may find an answer. 1. By praying for all that you need. 2. By praying earnestly. 3. By praying perseveringly. 4. By praying with faith in Christ.

CATECHISM ON THE LESSON.

Into what foreign regions did Jesus and His disciples go? To the borders of Tyre and Sidon. What did a woman of that country ask Jesus to do? To heal her daughter. In what spirit did she come? With humility and perseverance. What was the result of her prayer? Her daughter was healed. Where did Jesus next lead His disciples? To Decapolis. What did the people there say of His miracles? He hath done all things well.

May 14.

A MIRACLE AND ITS LESSONS. Mark viii. 1–21.
GOLDEN TEXT.

Luke xii. 1. In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy.

PREFATORY REMARKS.-It is probable that this second miracle of feeding thousands of people with a few loaves and fishes took place in the same district where the first occurred, namely, the desert belonging to that Bethsaida which stood near the north eastern shore of the sea of Galilee. Ch. vi. 30-44. Jesus had become well known in that region, and multitudes flocked from all parts of the country to hear Him. Some of the crowd had come from a great distance, and as they had been in the place three days, their stock of provisions must have been quite exhausted, so that sending them away to their homes in the mountains, in that state, meant serious suffering for many, and perhaps loss of life for some.

EXPOSITORY NOTES.-The lesson is in three parts:

I. The miracle. Parallel: Matt. xv. 32-39. 1-3. In those days the

multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, &c. It is evident that there was need for something to be done for the special benefit of the far-comers. Such was their wish to hear and see Jesus, that they had travelled great distances for the purpose. They had spent three days in His company. It was natural for Him to feel deeply interested in them. Human suffering and want always touched His heart. If He had not had compassion on these needy ones, He would have acted unlike Himself. He sought to enlist the sympathy of His disciples on behalf of the hungry people. In doing that, He might wish to instruct and prove the former by teaching them that it would ever be part of their work to care for the temporal well-being of men, and by ascertaining the impression made on their minds by His first miracle of feeding. He Himself knew how the latter question stood, but He might want to bring out the truth by their own conduct. 4. And his disciples answered, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? If this question had been put before the first miracle of loaves, or by persons ignorant of that event, there might have been some allowance made for the speakers; but coming from men who had seen how Jesus could make abundance out of a very little, it was certainly no credit to them. Like many others they were more apt at starting difficulties, than remembering facts, interpreting their meaning, and following the lessons they teach. 5-9. And he asked them, How many loaves have ye; And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground, &c. Two acts of benediction are mentioned; one over the loaves, and the other over the fishes. These acts are described by different words, though the words are closely related in meaning. The blessing is the thanksgiving carried to its higher pitch.-Lange. It would be great presumption on the part of any one to pretend to explain this miracle, by way of showing how the few loaves and fishes grew in a very short time to food sufficient for thousands of souls. The increase came to pass by the power of Christ, the Creater of all things; and He might cause that power to work through the medium of the thanksgiving and the blessing spoken of. It may be worth while to compare this miracle with the corresponding one by which five thousand were fed. In that case fewer loaves were made to supply more people, while a larger number of basketfuls of fragments remained. Little or much, many or few, are conditions which make no difference with Christ.

II. The visit to Dalmanutha. 10–12. And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, &c. In Matt. xv. 39, it is said He came into the coasts of Magdala, a town on the western shore of the lake; and Dalmanutha was probably a small village not far from it, and a place of no note, seeing it is not mentioned in any other part of Scripture. The Pharisees of the district soon made their appearance. Throughout the whole land these bitter sectaries had become thoroughly roused against Jesus. They were watching His movements very narrowly. Every encounter with Him ended in their utter discomfiture, and the intensifying of their hatred towards Him. On the occasion in question, He was asked to give them a sign whereby they might know that He was from heaven. In this they showed blindness and probably presumption too. He had given numerous and striking signs in