In that which follows, the history (properly so called) of His service is
resumed (chap. 6). Only we see Him already rejected by a blinded people, in
spite of the power which He had manifested, and which bore testimony to the
glory of His Person. Nevertheless He pursues His service, and sends forth
His disciples in order that no effort might be wanting; but with the
testimony of the judgment that awaited those who should be guilty of the
rejection of His mission-a rejection that was already taking place. The
Lord however continues to give proof in mercy and in goodness that Jehovah,
who had compassion on His people, was there; until at length He had to
prepare His disciples for the certain result of His work, namely, His death
by the hand of the Gentiles, to whom the chief priests would deliver Him.
To the Jews He was the carpenter, the son of Mary. Their unbelief stopped
the beneficent hand of God with regard to themselves. Jesus carries on His
work elsewhere, and sends forth His disciples-an act which implied the
possession of divine power. It was still to Israel that the mission they
received from Him directed them, and they were to pronounce judgment upon
the land of Emmanuel, the land of Israel, as a polluted land, wherever
their testimony should be rejected. They were to go forth resting on the
mighty protection of Him who sent them, and they should lack nothing. He
was sovereign Lord: all things were at His disposal. Christ can not only
communicate blessings as the channel of blessing Himself, but can also
confer on His disciples the power of casting out devils. The disciples
fulfil their task. This passage shews forth in a remarkable manner the
position and glory of Christ. He is the servant-for men, the carpenter's
son. In His new service, He takes no place but the filling up of that which
God had given Him to do. He could do no mighty works there, because of
their unbelief-ever ready to serve, but shut up, straitened in the exercise
of His love, where no door opened to receive its influence; and nature
judging according to sight never does. Only where a need was, His love,
never tired, works-must work. The few sick folk profit by a love that
despises none, because it never seeks itself.
But, in the following verse, He who could not work mighty works (because
His service was dependent on divine conditions, on which God could found
and carry on His intercourse with men, in order to reveal Himself) now
gives power to others over all unclean spirits, a power which is divine.
Any can work miracles, if God gives the power; but God alone can give it.
They are to lack nothing, for Emmanuel was there; and to announce judgment
if their message was rejected. Divine love had made Him entirely a
dependent Servant; but the dependent Servant was God present in grace and
righteousness.
But the effect of all these manifestations of power is, that the conscience
of the king who then reigned in Israel is awakened; and the evangelist
opens to us the history of the murderous opposition of the authorities in
Israel to the witnesses for the truth. Herod had put John to death, in
order to gratify the iniquity of a woman who pleased him-iniquity that he
shared with her. A dance was worth the life of the prophet of God. Such was
the ruler of Israel.
The apostles return. Jesus withdraws them from the inquisitive and needy
crowd, by going into a desert place; but the multitude follow Him. Jesus,
rejected as He is by the land He loved, has compassion on the poor of the
flock, and manifests in their behalf the power of Jehovah to bless them
according to Psalm 132. He satisfies the poor with bread. Having sent the
people away, He crosses the sea on foot; and, rejoining His disciples, the
wind ceases-a figure, of which we have spoken when meditating on Matthew.
Their work was finished. As to themselves, in spite of all His miracles,
their hearts at that time were still hard, and forgot the miracles, one
after the other. The Lord pursues His work of blessing. It was but to touch
Him and be healed.
