389. MAR 6:56. CHRIST’S JOURNEYS OF MERCY

Mar_6:56. Christ’s Journeys of Mercy

"And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment, and as many as touched him were made whole."’97Mar_6:56.

Of Jesus, it is emphatically said, that he went about doing good; the great end of his mission into our world, was to banish sin and misery, and to introduce grace, holiness, and felicity. Sin had converted our world into a desert, a howling wilderness, he came to make it bud and blossom as the rose. What a contrast between the first Adam and the second; the first brought a train of evils on body, soul, and estate; the latter, a train of blessings, &c.

I. Observe the Characters referred to.

"The sick." Now, sickness is the result of sin, the precursor of death; but there is soul-sickness, blindness of mind, deafness of soul, moral impotency, leprosy of pollution. Soul-sickness is the worst disease by far; it weakens, deforms, and, if not healed, destroys the soul.

II. The favorable Circumstances in which their sick were placed.

Jesus visited their cities, &c. Now, these visits,

1. Were designed, not accidental.

Christ had a work to effect, &c.; he came to work the work of his Father; he went forth purposely, &c.

2. They were gracious.

He went not to see the works of nature or the displays of art; he went to bless the wretched sons and daughters of man: he went not to inspect the records of their guilt; he went not as a destroying angel, &c., but as the Angel of God’s presence the Messenger of mercy, to pity, to pardon, to love; good Shepherd. "The Son of man came to seek and to save," &c.

3. His visits were impartial.

Cities, villages, country, &c., rich and poor, Pharisees and publicans; only one qualification necessary, viz., misery.

III. Observe the Course which they adopted.

1. They brought their sick into Christ’s way.

"Streets," &c.; means of grace are the ways where Christ passes.

2. They supplicated his healing power.

"Might touch," &c. What earnestness and faith!

IV. The Results which followed.

Connection between the sick and Christ, produced a cure. "Made whole." "As many." Not a failure; none but those who touched; there must be saving, vital connection.

Application

What a glorious Redeemer! What provision for sinsick souls! Let us feel for those around us, and labor to bring them to Jesus.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS