Ryle on Mark 6:30-34

Imported boundary: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Mark from the Internet Archive DjVu OCR for the 1858 Robert Carter St. Mark volume. Title pages, preface, contents, running heads, page numbers, OCR boilerplate, and indexes are not mirrored. The source includes Ryle's printed Scripture text and exposition; this scan-derived text remains needs-verification.

Primary passage: Mark 6:30-34.

Source Text

30 And the apostles gathered them- selves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile : for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33 And the people sawthem depart- ing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and out- went them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd : and he began to teach them many things.

Let us mark in this passage, the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers.

We read that they "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." These words are deeply instructive. They are a bright example to all ministers of the Gospel, and to all laborers in the great work of doing good to souls. All such should daily do as the apostles did on this occasion. They should tell all their proceedings to the great Head of the Church. They should spread all their work before Christ, and ask of Him counsel, guidance, strength, and help. Prayer is the main secret . of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move heaven and earth. It brings down the promised aid of the Holy Ghost, without whom the finest sermons, the clearest teaching, and the most diligent working, are all alike in vain. It is not always those who have the most eminent gifts who are most successful laborers for God. It is generally those who keep up closest communion with Christ and are most instant in prayer. It is those who cry with the prophet Ezekiel, " Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live/' (Ezek. xxxvii. 9.) It is those who follow most exactly the apostolic model, and " give themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the word." (Acts vi. 4.) Happy is that church which has a praying as well as a preaching ministry ! The question we should ask about a new minister, is not merely " Can he preach well " but u Does he pray much for his people and his work "

Let us mark, in the second place, the words of our Lord to the apostles, when they returned from their first public ministry. " He said unto them, come - ye apart your- selves into a desert place, and rest a while." These words are full of tender consideration. Gur "x 124 EXPOSITOKY THOUGHTS. Lord knows well that His servants are flesh as well as spirit, and have bodies as well as souls. He knows that at best they have a treasure in earthen vessels, and are themselves compassed with many infirmities. He shows them that He does not expect from them more than their bodily strength can do. He asks for what we can do, and not for what we cannot do. " Come ye apart," He says, " and rest a while." These words are full of deep wisdom. Our Lord knows well that His servants must attend to their own souls as well as the souls of others. He knows that a constant attention to public work is apt to make us forget our own private soul-business, and that while we are keeping the vineyards of others, we are in danger of neglecting our own. (Cant. i. 6.) He reminds us that it is good for ministers to withdraw occasionally from public work, and look within. " Come ye apart," He says, " into a desert place." There are few unhappily in the church of Christ, who need these admonitions. There are but few in danger of overworking themselves, and injuring their own bodies, and souls by excessive attention to others. The vast majority of professing Christians are indolent and sloth- ful, and do nothing for the world around them. There are few comparatively who need the bridle nearly so much as the spur. Yet these few ought to lay to heart the lessons of this passage. They should economize their health as a talent, and not squander it away like gamblers. They should be content with spending their daily income of strength, and should not draw recklessly on their principal. They should remember that to do a little, and do it well, is often the way to do most in the long run. Above all they should never forget to watch their own hearts jealously, and to make time for regular self-examination, and calm meditation. The prosperity of a man's ministry and public work is intimately bound up with the prosperity of his own soul. Occasional re- tirement is one of the most useful ordinances.

Finally, let us mark the feelings of our Lord Jesus Christ towards the people who came together to Him.

We read that He " was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd." They were destitute of teachers. They had no guides but the blind Scribes and Pharisees. They had no spiritual food but man-made traditions. Thousands of immortal souls stood before our Lord, ignorant, helpless, and on the high- road to ruin. It touched the gracious heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was " moved with compassion toward them. He began to teach them many things." Let us never forget that our Lord is the same yester- day, to-day, and for ever. He never changes. High in heaven, at God's right hand, He still looks with com- passion on the children of men. He still pities the ignorant, and them that are out of the way. He is still willing to " teach them many things." Special as His love is towards His own sheep who hear His voice, He still has a mighty general love towards all mankind - a love of real pity, a love of compassion.

We must not overlook this. It is a poor theology which teaches that Christ cares for none except believers. There is war- rant in Scripture for telling the chief of sinners, that Jesus pities them, and cares for their souls, that Jesus is willing to save them, and invites them to believe and be saved.

Let us ask ourselves, as we leave the passage, whether we know anything of the mind of Christ ? Are we, like Him, tenderly concerned about the souls of the uncon- verted ? Do we, like Him, feel deep compassion for all who are yet as sheep without a shepherd ? Do we care about the impenitent and ungodly near our own doors ? Do we care about the Heathen, the Jew, the Mahomet- an, and the Roman Catholic in foreign lands ? Do we use every means, and give our money willingly, to spread the Gospel in the world ? These are serious questions, and demand a serious reply. The man who cares nothing for the souls of other people is not like Jesus Christ. It may well be doubted whether he is converted himself, and knows the value of his own soul.