0513. CHRIST AND THE COMMON PEOPLE

CHRIST AND THE COMMON PEOPLE

Mar_12:37

Three times over in this chapter the enemies of Christ try to "catch Him in His words" (Mar_12:14, Mar_12:23, Mar_12:28). The result in each case is, as it always has been, utter defeat. "The common people heard Him gladly." This is Mark’s interjection, right between the "Sayings of Jesus" (Mar_12:37-38), and there is a world of revelation in it.

I.-THE COMMON PEOPLE. Who are they? They were in Christ’s day, as they are largely now, "Sheep without a Shepherd." Society is composed of three classes. The intellectual, the monied, and the labouring poor-Wit, Wealth, and Work. The heart of humanity is somewhere near the centre of the "common people" who take things at their surface value.

II.-THEY HEARD HIM GLADLY. Why? There is no specific reason given, but much is implied. To the poor the Gospel is preached. The Gospel of Christ, like the Sabbath, was made for man, and is specially suitable for the masses. It was the learned who sought to entangle Him in His talk (Mar_12:13). Some of our modern scholars are very active in the same vain business. They heard Him gladly-

1. BECAUSE HE TREATED THEM FAIRLY. He shewed no respect of persons. He did not talk of them as the "dregs" or "scum" of Society, or as those belonging to the "vulgar throng," or as members of the "many headed beast." He dealt with them as "men" because in His eyes "All souls are precious."

2. BECAUSE HE SPOKE TO THEM PLAINLY. He talked like one of themselves. The philosophers of Greece and Rome kept the common people in brutish ignorance. Jesus Christ had the "tongue of the learned," not that He might speak great swelling words of man’s wisdom, far beyond the reach of the ignorant multitude, but that He might "know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" (Isa_50:4). He was wiser than the wisest, yet His language was childlike in its simplicity.

3. BECAUSE OF HIS SYMPATHY. He could not look upon the hungry multitude without having "compassion on them" (chap. Mar_8:2). His heart was in all that He said. Love is ever more powerful than logic.

4. BECAUSE OF HIS TEACHING. He knew what was in man, and His words were abundantly fitted to meet man’s need. He knew that there was sin in man, and also much weary restlessness, and inexpressible thirst. So He said, "If any man thirst let him come unto Me" (Joh_7:37). The burdened and heavy laden were lovingly offered His rest (Mat_11:28). Our poet Burns once told a friend that "the gift of grace in Christ was far too good news to be true." But this Gospel of Christ is absolutely true.

5. BECAUSE HE SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY. There was no note of uncertainty in His teaching. He did not speculate. He declared the truth. He had a message from God to men, and He knew it, and fearlessly delivered it. So must His servants speak, if they would honour Him and win men for God. "We know in whom we have believed."

But note that "hearing Him gladly" is not enough. It is possible to hear Him gladly, and ultimately treat Him madly. "The glow of a warm impression is one thing, the sturdiness of an enduring principle is another." The "common people" can cry "Hosanna" to-day and "Crucify" to-morrow. The stony-ground hearers receive the Word with gladness, yet bring forth no fruit (Mar_4:16-17). It is not He that heareth gladly shall be saved, but "He that heareth and believeth" (Joh_5:24).

Autor: James Smith