Old Treasures Made New

Mark 12:18-27 We learn how much unfairness may often be detected in the arguments of infidels. We learn how much of religious error may be traced to ignorance of the Bible. We learn how different will be the state of things after the resurrection, from the state in which we live now. "For one thing, let us remember that an infidel will always try to press us with the difficulties and abstruse thin...

Mark 12:13-17 Let us observe how men of different religious opinions can unite in opposing Christ. Let us observe the exceeding subtlety of the question propounded to our Lord. Let us observe the marvelous wisdom which our Lord showed in His answer to His enemies. "Worldly men and formalists have little real sympathy with one another. They dislike one another's principles, and despise one anther's...

Mark 12:1-12 Let us observe God's special kindness to the Jewish Church and nation. Let us observe God's patience and patience towards the Jewish nation. Let us observe the hardness and wickedness of human nature, as exemplified in the history of the Jewish people. Let us observe that men's consciences may be pierced, and yet they may continue impenitent. "Let us dismiss from our minds the idea th...

Mark 11:27-33 Let us observe how much spiritual blindness may be in the hearts of those who hold high ecclesiastical office. Let us observe how envy and unbelief make men throw discredit on the commission of those who work for God. Let us observe what dishonesty and equivocation unbelievers may be led into by prejudice against the truth. "Their acts and teaching must always be tested by the word o...

Mark 11:22-26 Let us learn from these words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the immense importance of faith. Let us learn the absolute necessity of a forgiving spirit towards others. "According to our faith will be the degree of our peace, our hope, our joy, our decision in Christ's service, our boldness in confession, our strength in work, our patience in trial, our resignation in trouble, our sensible...

Mark 11:12-21 We see one of the many proofs that our Lord Jesus Christ was really man. We learn the great danger of unfruitfulness and formality in religion. We learn how reverently we ought to use places which are set apart for public worship. "He has allowed Himself the severe sufferings that the body of man is liable to. He has tasted pain, and weakness, and weariness, and hunger, and thirst. W...

Mark 11:1-11 Let us observe how public our Lord purposely made the last act of His life. Let us observe the voluntary poverty which our Lord underwent, when He was upon earth. Let us see in the simple fact, that our Lord rode on a borrowed donkey, one more proof that poverty is in itself no sin. "But never let us forget that the crowning fact in all we know of Jesus Christ, is His death upon the c...

Mark 10:46-52 We have here an example of strong faith. We have here an example of determined perseverance in the face of difficulties. We have an example of the constraining influence which gratitude to Christ ought to have upon our souls. "What is the beginning of all saving faith, but a soul's venture on Christ? What is the life of saving faith, when once begun, but a continual leaning on an uns...

Mark 10:35-45 Let us mark the ignorance of our Lord's disciples. Let us mark what praise our Lord bestows on lowliness, and devotion to the good of others. Let us mark the language which our Lord uses in speaking of His own death. "But let us not, like them, forget that there is a cross to be borne by every Christian, and that "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts...

Mark 10:28-34 The first thing which demands our attention is the glorious promise which they contain. The second thing which demands our attention is the solemn warning which they contain. The last thing that demands our attention is our Lord's clear foreknowledge of His own suffering and death. "Where is the saint who will dare to say in the face of these glorious promises, that there is no encou...

Mark 10:17-27 Let us learn the self-ignorance of man. Let us learn the love of Christ towards sinners. Let us learn the immense danger of the love of money. "So long as we think that we can keep the law of God, Christ profits us nothing. Let us pray for self-knowledge. Let us ask for the Holy Spirit to convince us of sin, to show us our own hearts, to show us God's holiness, and so to show us our...

Mark 10:13-16 Let us learn how much attention the souls of children should receive from the Church of Christ. Let us learn how much encouragement there is to bring young children to be baptized. "They are never too young to receive religious impressions. They think in their childish way about God, and their souls, and a world to come, far sooner and far more deeply than most people are aware." "No...

Mark 10:1-12 The opening verse of this passage shows us the patient perseverance of our Lord Jesus Christ as a teacher. The greater portion of this passage is meant to show us the dignity and importance of marriage. "He knows that success is not in their hands. He knows that they cannot change hearts. He will reward them according to their labor, and not according to the fruits which have resulted...

Mark 9:38-50 We see the mind of Christ on the great subject of TOLERATION in religion. We see the need of giving up anything that stands between us and the salvation of our souls. We see the reality, awfulness, and eternity of future punishment. "Is our neighbor warring against Satan? Is he really trying to labor for Christ? This is the grand question. Better a thousand times that the work should...

Mark 9:30-37 Let us mark our Lord's renewed announcement of His own coming, death, and resurrection. Let us mark the ambition and love of pre-eminence which the apostles exhibited. Let us mark the peculiar standard of true greatness which our Lord sets before His disciples. Let us mark what encouragement our Lord gives us to show kindness to the least and lowest who believe in His name. "Never are...

*There is a reference to Cranmer, you will find a short telling of that story HERE . Mark 9:14-29 Let us learn how dependent Christ's disciples are on the company and help of their Master. Let us learn how early in life we are liable to be injured by Satan. Let us learn how faith and unbelief can be mixed together in the same heart. Let us mark the complete dominion which our Lord exercises over S...

Mark 9:1-13 The first thing which demands our notice in these verses, is the marvelous vision they contain of the glory which Christ and His people shall have at His second coming. The second thing which demands our notice in this passage, is the strong expression of the apostle Peter, when he saw his Lord transfigured. The last thing which demands our notice in this passage is the distinct testim...

Mark 8:34-38 We learn the absolute necessity of self-denial, if we would be Christ's disciples, and be saved. We learn the unspeakable value of the soul. We learn the great danger of being ashamed of Christ. "No good thing on earth was ever attained without trouble. We cannot surely expect that without trouble we can enter the kingdom of God. Let us go forward boldly, and allow no difficulty to ke...

Mark 8:27-33 Let us observe the variety of opinions about Christ which prevailed among the Jews. Let us observe the good confession of faith which the apostle Peter witnessed. Let us observe the full declaration which our Lord makes of His own coming death and resurrection. Finally, let us observe in this passage the strange mixture of grace and infirmity which may be found in the heart of a true...

Mark 8:22-26 But it is well to remember that the Lord is not tied to the use of any one means. Notice the gradual nature of the cure which our Lord performed on this blind man. Let us see then in this gradual restoration to sight, a vivid illustration of the manner in which the Spirit frequently works in the conversion of souls. Finally, let us see in the gradual cure of this blind man, a striking...

Mark 8:14-21 Let us notice the solemn warning which our Lord gives to His disciples at the beginning of this passage. Let us notice the dull understanding of the disciples, when our Lord gave the warning of this passage. "The sword of the foe has never done such damage to the cause of truth as the tongue and the pen." "Let us no more trifle with a little false doctrine, than we would trifle with a...

Mark 8:1-13 Let us observe how great is the kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us observe that with Christ nothing is impossible. Let us observe how much sorrow unbelief occasions to our Lord Jesus Christ. "Let us strive to make Jesus our pattern in this, as well as in everything else. Let us be kind, and compassionate, and piteous, and courteous to all men. Let us be ready to d...

Mark 7:31-37 The first thing that demands our notice in these verses, is the mighty miracle that is here recorded. The second thing which demands our notice in these verses, is the peculiar manner in which our Lord thought good to work the miracle here recorded. The last thing which demands our notice in these verses, is the remarkable testimony which was borne by those who saw the miracle here re...

Mark 7:24-30 This passage is meant to encourage us to pray for others. This passage is meant to teach us to persevere in praying for others. "Fathers and mothers cannot give their children new hearts. They can give them Christian education, and show them the way of life; but they cannot give them a will to choose Christ's service, and a heart to love God. Yet there is one thing they can always do-...

Mark 7:14-23 We see how slow of understanding men are in spiritual things. We see that the heart is the chief source of defilement and impurity in God's sight. We see what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains. "In reading the Bible and hearing sermons, everything depends on the spirit in which we read and hear. A humble, teachable, child-like frame of mind is the grand secret of suc...