This introduces the true character and result of His own service, and all
the history of the service that should be accomplished unto a far distant
future; as well as the responsibility of His disciples, with regard to the
share they would have in it, and the quietness of one who trusted in God
while thus labouring; the storms also that should occur, that should
exercise faith while Jesus apparently took no notice of them; and the just
confidence of faith, as well as the power that sustained it.
The whole character of the work at that moment, and until the Lord's
return, is described in this fourth chapter.
The Lord resumes in it His habitual work of instruction, but in connection
with the development that had just taken place of His relationship with the
Jews. He sows. Fruit He no longer sought in His vineyard. In verse 11 we
see that the distinction between the Jews and His disciples is marked. To
the latter it was given to know the mystery of the kingdom, but to those
that were without all these things were done in parables. I do not repeat
the remarks I made in speaking of the contents of this parable in Matthew.
But that which follows in verse 21 belongs essentially to the Gospel by
Mark. We have seen that the Lord was occupied in preaching the gospel of
the kingdom, and He committed the preaching of this gospel to others also.
He was a sower, and He sowed the word. That was His service, and it was
theirs likewise. But is a candle lit to be hidden? Moreover nothing should
be hidden. If man did not manifest the truth he had received, God would
manifest all things. Let every one take heed to it.
In verse 24 He applies this principle to His disciples. They must take heed
to what they heard, for God would act towards them according to their
fidelity in the administration of the word committed to them. The love of
God sent the word of grace and of the kingdom unto men. That it should
reach their conscience was the object of the service committed to the
disciples. Christ communicated it to them; they were to make it known to
others in all its fulness. According to the measure with which they gave
free course to this testimony of love (conformably to the gift they had
received), so should it be measured unto them in the government of God. If
they hearkened unto that which He communicated to them, they should receive
more; for, as a general principle, he who made that which reached him his
own should have yet more, and from him who did not truly make it his own it
should be taken away.
The Lord then shews them how it should be with regard to Himself. He had
sown, and, even as the seed springs up and grows without any act on the
sower's part, so would Christ allow the gospel to spread in the world
without interposing in any apparent way, it being the peculiar character of
the kingdom that the King was not there. But, when harvest time comes, the
sower has again to-do with it. So should it be with Jesus: He would return
to look after the harvest. He was personally engaged in the sowing and in
the harvest. In the interval, all went on apparently as if left to itself,
really without the interference of the Lord in Person.
The Lord makes use of another similitude to describe the character of the
kingdom. The small seed that He sowed should become a great system, highly
exalted in the earth, capable of affording temporal protection to those
that took shelter in it. Thus we have the work of preaching the word; the
responsibility of the labourers to whom the Lord would entrust it during
His absence; His own action at the beginning and at the end, at seed-time
and at harvest, Himself remaining at a distance during the interval; and
the formation of a great earthly power as the result of the truth which He
preached, and which created a little nucleus around Himself. One part of
the history of His followers was yet to be shewn. They should find most
serious difficulties in their way. The enemy would raise up a storm against
them. Apparently Christ took no notice of their situation. They call upon
Him, and awake Him by cries, which He answers in grace. He speaks to the
wind and the sea, and there is a great calm. At the same time He rebukes
their unbelief. They should have counted on Him and on His divine power,
and not have thought that He was going to be swallowed up by the waves.
They should have remembered their own connection with Him-that, by grace,
they were associated with Him. What tranquillity was His! the storm does
not disturb Him. Devoted to His work, He took His rest at the moment when
service did not require His activity. He rested during the passage. His
service only afforded Him those moments snatched by circumstances from
labour. His divine tranquillity, which knew no distrust, allowed Him to
sleep during the storm. It was not so with the disciples; and, forgetful of
His power, unaware of the glory of Him who was with them, they think only
of themselves, as though Jesus had forgotten them. One word on His part
displays in Him the Lord of creation. This is the real state of the
disciples when Israel is set aside. The storm arises. Jesus appears to take
no heed. Now faith would have recognised that they were in the same ship
with Him. That is to say, if Jesus leaves the seed He has sown to grow
until the harvest, He is, none the less, in the same vessel; He shares, not
the less truly, the lot of His followers, or rather they share His. The
dangers are the danger He and His work are in. That is, there is really
none. And how great is the foolishness of unbelief. Think of their
supposing, when the Son of God is come into the world to accomplish
redemption and the settled purposes of God, that by, to man's eye, an
accidental storm, He and all His work should be unexpectedly sunk in the
lake! We are, blessed be His name, in the same boat with Him. If the Son of
God does not sink, neither shall we.
