Interpretation of the Gospel of Mark Chapter 9. The Gospel of Mark. Introduction to the Books of the New Testament

The transfiguration, witnessed by the chosen disciples of Jesus, is a prerequisite for the great changes that were to happen by the almighty power of God, although this amazing scene was only a fleeting vision of enduring glory. The elect had a chance to see with their own eyes the image of the kingdom of God, coming in power, the main reason for the onset of which was the renunciation of man from Christ and the swift exercise of Jesus' power, rejected by man, but glorified by God. Of course, the ministry of our Lord had a double meaning. As with everything in the Scriptures, man had to be held accountable for him before his results were to be manifested by God. An answer and a proof were given to any question to a man: God's mercy was revealed in everything, but man did not heed this. The only thing that man did in response to the testimony of God was that he rejected Christ and God himself, morally manifested on earth. What did God have to do?

Undoubtedly, He will fulfill his intentions with his own power, for nothing emanating from him will pass, and all his testimony will reach its goal. But He suffers for a long time; and before laying the foundation upon which He will establish his authority and his kingdom, God sends the elect a vision of that kingdom. Consequently, the transformation was a kind of bridge connecting the present and the future; it represents God's thoughts to people. This is really a warning, and also a testimony, and even an image of what believers can see in that kingdom, which will be established and manifested in due time. And here it’s not that after this the rejection of Christ will stop, on the contrary, it will last until the crucifixion. But in the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see in faith the outcome of the matter: on the one hand, Christ was rejected by people, and on the other, God laid the foundation for a new relationship with man. On holy mountain, witnesses of the transfiguration were chosen by the Lord himself.

He was transformed only before a few of the chosen twelve, only a few became witnesses of his glory. But this transformation plays a very important role in the synoptic gospels, revealing to us the successful work of Christ in the Galilee, especially from the point of view of his ministry, which is mentioned in our gospel.

The Lord, taking with him James, John and Peter, is transformed before these disciples. The disciples see the illustrious men, Elijah and Moses, talking with Jesus. Peter expresses a lack of understanding of the glory of Christ. This is all the more remarkable because, shortly before, in the previous scene, Peter energetically gave his testimony to Jesus. But God had to show that there is only one credible witness; and that very soul, brightly speaking for a moment in the scene preceding the transfiguration, in this transfiguration scene manifests itself more than anyone else, an earthly vessel of evidence. He (Peter) tells Jesus: “It is good for us to be here; we will do three things: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ” Obviously, although Peter could put the Savior first of three, he considered the other two worthy to be on a par with him. We see that immediately a cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and we hear a voice coming from this cloud, confirming the highest and inseparable glory of the Son of man: “This,” says the Father, for it is he who says this, is my beloved Son; Listen to him. ”

You can see that Mark is missing something here. We do not find expressions of satisfaction here. Matthew singles out exactly that; there in chapter 17 it says: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him. ” I believe the reason here is to emphasize this satisfaction amid the rejection of Christ by the Jewish people. And again, in the Gospel according to Luke, Christ is testified as the Son of God on the basis that he should be listened to more than Moses or Elijah. God says, "This is My Beloved Son." He says: “Listen to him,” skipping the expression of having found favor in him. Surely, Jesus has always been the object of the good will of the Father, but the reason for confirming this is not always the same. Comparing the evidence given in 2 Peter. 1, we find that Peter misses the phrase “Listen to him,” which we find in the first three gospels. He quotes the expression: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Obviously, Peter did not set out to show the superiority of the Lord Jesus Christ over the law and the prophets. The reason, I think, is clear. This issue has already been resolved: Christianity has entered into the being of people. The point now was not to achieve the superiority of Christ over the law and the prophets, but to simply show the glory of the Son in the eyes of his Father, joy and his love and grace for him; and after that, Peter explains that in the whole Word of God the Holy Spirit pursues one goal - the glory of Christ, for the ancient saints said that they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Scripture was not written by the will of man; God in his glory pursued a great goal, which would not correspond to the superficial application of individual parts of this Word to isolated facts, to one or another person. There was one very important thread that bound all the prophecies of Scripture. The subject of all these prophecies was the glory of Christ. Separate the prophecies from Christ and you will divert aside from his person the flow of testimonies that are given to him according to his deserts. This stream contains not just warnings against peoples, languages \u200b\u200bor countries, regarding predefined events or, in other words, against kings, empires or world systems; Christ is the object of the Spirit. Therefore, on the Mount of Transfiguration, we hear the voice of the Father, testifying of Christ, who is the object of his good will. Here was an example of the kingdom of God; Moses and Elijah were also present there, but the Father primarily saw one in front of him, and this one was Jesus. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The point was not to listen to Christ, but to listen to what the Father was saying about him. This is precisely what is emphasized here, and therefore, it seems to me, the words “Listen to him” are missing. At Matthew we find the most complete expression reinforcing the call to listen to him. Luke uses the expression “Listen to Him” in his gospel, but both Luke and Mark do not have an expression that conveys the Father’s personal satisfaction with the Son, as this was not their main purpose. Of course, the use of these expressions is common, but at the moment I wanted to note and show the difference in their expression.

Then we discover, without going into details, that our Lord does not order his disciples to talk about what he saw until He rises from the dead. His resurrection would have to bring something completely new to the testimony of him. Then the disciples of Christ would be able to freely witness this great truth. In this way, the Lord explains to them why they are not able to testify until the great event that precedes the new act of God, which is the basis for a new and free witness, is completed, when the old departs and everything is renewed for the believer.

I find this very important if we look at the disciples of Christ as those called to serve him. It is not within the power of man himself to begin to serve Christ or to testify of him when he wants to. Therefore, such an important place in Scripture is the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Outside of Christ, sin reigns in death. There was no sin in him; but until his resurrection it was impossible to fully testify to his glory or his ministry. And that was really so. After that, as if in passing, attention is drawn to those difficulties that indicate how our Lord determined the true failure of the disciples, because at that time they were actually under the influence of the scribes themselves.

A new scene unfolds at the foot of the mountain. At the top, we saw not only the kingdom of God, but also the glory of Christ, and, most importantly, Christ as the Son, whom the Father commands to listen more than the law or the prophets. The disciples would never have understood this before the resurrection, and the reason for this is clear, because before that the law retains its place, and the prophets come to confirm the law and maintain its authority, justifying it. The resurrection in no way weakens the law and does not belittle the prophets, but makes it possible to reveal the highest glory. However, at the foot of the mountain we find a clear confirmation of the events taking place just after the appearance of the prototype of the coming kingdom. And while the kingdom of God has not yet been established in power, who is the sovereign who influences people and rules in this world? This is Satan. In this case, a power appeared before us, which even the disciples of Christ could not expel from this world because of their unbelief. And here again we see how clearly through this gospel the great thought of service passes.

The father is desperate, for he suffered for a very long time; it is not the first time Satan has dominion over the people in this world. From childhood, the boy was obsessed with evil spirits, which had long tormented man. In vain did the boy's father appeal to those who bore the name of the Lord in this world, for they could not do anything. This prompted the Lord Jesus to seriously condemn their unbelief, and especially because they were his servants. The predicament in which they found themselves was not due to an urgent need for him or his strength. It was explained by their unbelief. Therefore, the only thing He could say at the sight of the powerlessness of his disciples revealed before him was the following: “Oh, unfaithful generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to Me. ” And “brought him to him. As soon as the possessed saw Him, the spirit shook him; he fell to the ground and wallowed, emitting foam. ” The Lord did not hide the power of the devil in its entirety, but allowed him to shake the child in front of those present. There is no doubt that the obsession has still not been eliminated. The disciples could not tame, nip or crush the devil’s power over the boy. “And Jesus asked his father: how long has this been done to him? He said: from childhood. ” This scene is truly characteristic of our world. And what contrast does it represent in relation to the new creation - the creation of the world, or rather, the kingdom of God, the prototype of which was just revealed on the mountain of transformation.

So, this chapter first of all proclaims the death of Christ, completely rejected, and the assurance that God will establish his kingdom of glory for Christ, rejected by people. Secondly, it speaks of the futility and impossibility of witnessing the transformation until the resurrection of Christ from the dead is confirmed. Only then will the right moment come for this testimony. And finally, proof is given that until the kingdom of God has fully entered into power, the devil will rule wherever even the evidence of him is invisible. The point is how this is said here, that it is hidden under the outer shell of this world, where the eyes of the disciples penetrated, and the presence of our Lord Jesus highlighted the fact that it completely subjugated man from the first days of his existence. The power of the devil over man is obvious, and the servants of the Lord only proved their powerlessness before her. This was not due to the fact that Christ did not have enough strength, but to the fact that his disciples did not have enough faith to persecute the devil. The Savior immediately begins to act, letting the person suffering from the devil make sure that everything depends on faith. Meanwhile, Christ proves the evidence of the devilish forces acting until the kingdom of God. Such is the testimony at the foot of the mountain. The kingdom of God will undoubtedly come in due time, but so far only faith in Christ can defeat the power of the enemy. She, without any doubt, is the only necessary means to defeat. Only faith in him could provide a blessing, and therefore the father of the lad with trepidation addresses the Lord with his grief: “I believe,” he exclaims, “Lord! help my unbelief. ” At the same time, “Jesus, seeing that the people were fleeing, forbade the unclean spirit, saying to him: the spirit is dumb and deaf! "I command you to step out of it and continue not to enter it." The thing was done. It seemed that the child was dead, but the Lord, “taking his hand, lifted him; and he stood up. ” Upon entering the house, Jesus gives his disciples another useful lesson regarding service.

It is easy to understand the essence of what is being said here. The Lord shows that, along with faith, they also lack recognition of dependence on God. It also affects human strength. “And he said unto them, This race cannot go out except by prayer and fasting.” As long as there is power in Jesus, only faith draws it, but this faith is accompanied by the death sentence over human nature, just as turning to God is the only source of strength.

Next, we are given another lesson related to the ministry of the Lord in a world where the devil rules before the establishment of the kingdom of God. We must understand the state of mind of the servants of Christ. They longed for a special position. However, it corrupts. “Coming out of there, passed through Galilee; and He didn’t want anyone to know. For he taught His disciples and told them that the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men and will kill Him, and, upon killing, will rise on the third day. But they did not understand these words. ” At first glance, it seems strange and at the same time common this lack of ability to penetrate into what was said by Jesus. What does this oblige to? - To self-condemnation. They were ashamed to confess to the Lord the true reason. But the Lord guesses it himself. He came to Capernaum and, when he was in the house, he asked his disciples: “What did you talk about among you along the way?” “They were silent; because they reasoned among themselves on the road, who is larger. ” No wonder they showed powerlessness before the devil. No wonder they did not understand the words of Jesus. Behind was a dead load: thoughts about ourselves, a desire to somehow stand out among people and become famous. They really did not believe in what God felt and what He was about to reveal in his kingdom. For God asked with one thought - to exalt Jesus. They, therefore, were completely out of fellowship with God on this subject. And not only those of the disciples who were not on the Mount of Transfiguration, but even James, Peter and John - all of them failed. How little has a special position or privilege in obedience to faith! This was the true reason for their powerlessness, manifested both in the struggle with the devil and before Jesus. Further, I believe, the connection of all this with the ministry of the Lord should be revealed.

But right thereafter, another case typical of Mark was presented. The Lord rebukes the disciples in obstinacy and, taking the child, through his example explains to them what it means to be humble. What a murderous condemnation of their self-aggrandizement! Even John proves with his deed that the glory of Christ, which makes a person confess to his worthlessness, is now of little concern to his soul. The day will come when this glory will take deep roots in their souls, when they really realize its enduring benefits, but at the moment it is painful to see that they need something else more than a word, even if spoken by Jesus. Therefore, John immediately after this turns to our Lord with a complaint against a man who cast out demons in His name, that is, he did what they could not do: “Teacher! we have seen a man who casts out demons in thy name. ” Was this then an act of the soul, grateful to God? Not at all! The very essence of John lit this fire and became the focus of that strong feeling that gripped them all. “We saw a man who casts out demons in thy name, and does not follow us; and they forbade him, because he does not follow us. ” Obviously, no previous rebuke cleared their soul of self-exaltation, for this feeling flashed in them with renewed vigor. But Jesus told them: “Do not forbid him.” This is another very important lesson of service given by Christ, because this is not about insulting Christ - nothing in this case implies or allows that would contradict his name. On the contrary, it was a servant who opposed the devil, who believed in the efficacy of the name of the Lord. If we were talking about the enemies or false friends of Christ, who overthrew or undermined his glory, then this person would be the one about whom it is said: “He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me is wasting. ” Wherever it comes to the true Christ or to the false Christ, his glory cannot be compromised one iota. Here, on the contrary, we are talking about a man who, perhaps, was ignorant and did not enjoy the privileged position in which the disciples were, but he understood the full value and effectiveness of the name of the Lord, and Jesus graciously protects him.

“Do not forbid him, for no one who has performed a miracle in My name can soon slander Me. For he who is not against you is for you. ” That man truly believed in the name of the Lord, and through this faith he had the power to accomplish what - alas! - the students were not able to do! Instead of humbly admitting their own deed and their own unbelief (even prompting John to find means and an excuse to interfere with the person whose actions God approved), the disciples of Christ were filled with a feeling of envy for the one in whom this effective force and who seemed never to have the privileges they had. Therefore, our Lord gives them instructions here, which, of course, are at variance with those that we found in Matt. 12, 30. In no way do I want to say that Matthew’s instructions are not important — they are useful at other times and under different circumstances. However, Mark in his gospel tells of service, and it is here that the issue of service is considered. So, the power of God in service does not depend on his position. No matter how correct (that is, corresponding to the will of God) the position may be, it will not give strength in the service to those individuals who occupy the most faithful position. Following Christ, his disciples occupied an impeccable position: there could be no more correct position than the one they occupied, for Jesus himself called them together, gathered them around him and sent them to serve, endowing with his own strength and authority. Despite this, it was obvious that in practice they showed weakness. They showed a clear lack of faith, so that they could draw strength from the origins of Christ in the fight against the devil. Remaining faithful to Christ and not following anyone else, they were absolutely right. They were right that they preferred Jesus to John, but they were not right, not fully recognizing the power of God, which acted in another person who did not possess such happy privileges as they did. Therefore, our Lord strictly condemns this spiritual limitation and puts forward a principle that seems at first glance contradictory, but is actually harmonious. So, there is no contradiction in the Word of God here or in any other place. Faith may fully agree with that in Matt. 12, 30 there is nothing that would contradict what was said in the gospel according to Mark (chap. 9). At first glance, it may undoubtedly seem that there is such a contradiction, but look, read it again and you will easily understand everything.

In Matt. 12, 30 we are talking about something completely different when it says: “He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me is wasting. ” It is about Christ himself, about the glory and power of God in Jesus on earth. As soon as it comes to his personality, which is being attacked by enemies, then the one who is not with Christ is against Christ. Is there now no people who commit misconduct, discrediting his personality? Everything else is secondary in comparison with this, and anyone who is not perfect in this sided with the enemies of Christ. And the one who contributes to the dishonor of Jesus proves, no matter how he pretends that he does not collect, but still lavishes it. However, the idea expressed by the Lord in the gospel according to Mark is completely different. Here we are talking about a man who exalts Christ as he believes in him, but, of course, not with the force that it could be. Therefore, the disciples in this case should have recognized the testimony of the name of Christ and rejoiced in him. Of course, that person did not occupy the privileged position that they occupied, but he clearly exalted the name of Christ. If they could understand this, they would agree with this and thank God for it. Therefore, the Lord here inspires them with a completely different thought: “He who is not against you is for you.” Therefore, wherever it comes to the power of the Spirit used in the name of Christ, it is obvious that the one who so turned to God for help could not be against Christ. And if God gives us such power in return and uses it for the good of man to defeat the devil, then we should be happy about it.

Should I say how useful these two lessons are? We know, on the one hand, that this world has rejected and despised Christ. This is mainly stated in the Gospel according to Matthew. To prove this, in chapter 12 we see that He was not just an object of hatred, but even those who at that time seemed outwardly pious and worshiped God hated him. And, therefore, no matter how good fame a person enjoys, no matter how much he is revered and respected by people, if he highly appreciated and loved Christ, so despised and humiliated, in this case he did not find support in society. On the other hand, if we consider the ministry of Christ, then among those who were tolerant of the name of Christ, there might be people whom God used for this or for an important mission. Can I deny the fact that God uses such people in his work? In no case. I admit God's authority over them and thank him. However, this is not a reason to refuse the blessed ministry of following Jesus. It is not said to “follow them,” but to “follow him.” Obviously, his students were preoccupied with themselves and forgot about him. They sought to make this service their monopoly, rather than testifying in the name of Christ. But the Lord puts everything in its place. And that same Lord, who insists on a sentence for himself, in which his enemies have testified of their hatred and contempt for his glory, he recognizes in Mark that power which is shown by serving him, his nameless servant. “Do not forbid him,” He says. “For he who is not against you is for you.” Did the one who, according to the testimony of John himself, use his name in the fight against the devil, act against Christ? In any case, the Lord highly values \u200b\u200bthat faith that knows how to use his name to defeat the devil. Thus, if God gives power to some person in order, say, to turn sinners to Christ, or to free believers from some harmful doctrine prevailing over them, or to pull them out of some other trap, then Christ recognizes him, and therefore we must also recognize him. It pleases God and does the honor of the name of Christ, although it is not a reason for that - and I will repeat it again - to take the issue of following Christ seriously if we are graciously granted such a privilege. This is undoubtedly a legitimate reason to humble ourselves with the idea that, being endowed with power from God, we give too little. So, on the one hand, we must defend and uphold the personal glory of Christ without giving up anything, and on the other, we must recognize any power that God, by his own choice, empowers anyone to serve him. And no truth should in the slightest degree interfere with another.

Next, let me draw your attention to the appropriateness of this event in this passage of the gospel. It is impossible to transfer this event to another place, as well as the harsh word from the Gospel according to Matthew. In either case, the beauty of truth would be violated. On the one hand, the day of Christ's contempt and renunciation of him is a day of faith that affirms his glory, on the other hand, wherever the power of God is manifested, I must acknowledge it. I myself can be blamed for my own powerlessness, but at least give me the right to acknowledge the power of God, wherever it appears.

Our Lord concludes this thought with strict instruction, and his sermon tells us that it is not just a matter of temporarily following him or something like that. Undoubtedly, his students will follow him around the world, where there are so many stumbling blocks and where danger awaits him at every turn. But, moreover, in this world, where there are traps and traps around, He deigned to shed the light of eternity. Therefore, it was not just a matter of the moment, for it was a question of something more than a struggle of parties. Therefore, our Lord protests against the fact that in fact led the actions of the erring disciples. He announces to them that anyone who gives them a cup of water in his name will serve the needy at least a small but effective service, and he, "because you Christ truly tell you, will not lose your reward." Although it was still not just a reward, on the one hand, and an eternal damnation, on the other. They (the students) should have turned their eyes to themselves while it was still possible. The flesh is a nasty and destructive thing. Whatever the person, no matter who he is, he cannot be sure of himself, especially, I dare to add when he serves Christ. There is no reason to doubt where exactly the souls of people are most susceptible to sin. And it's not just a matter of moral decline. There are people who, although resorting to such seduction, are not dangerous. But it’s a completely different and very dangerous thing when, under the pretext of serving the Lord, they cherish what is offensive to Christ and the Holy Spirit. This lesson is instructive not only for saints, but also for those still in the grip of sin. "And if your hand seduces you, cut it off ... And if your eye seduces you, tear it out." Fight mercilessly with every obstacle, and do it on the simplest moral basis with all the perseverance, personally, for these obstacles are fraught with terrible danger. This struggle tests a person; it reveals in him everything that is of God.

The end of the ninth chapter of the gospel according to Mark recalls the end of the ninth chapter of the first Epistle of the Corinthians, where the apostle Paul also undoubtedly speaks of service, turning to a warning tone and hinting that service can often become a means of detecting not only a real state, but something imaginary. In the first case, this may not be a manifestation of open immorality, but where the soul does not abide before the Lord in constant self-condemnation - there the ministry quickly grows into evil, as the case with the Corinthians proved, because they thought much more about reward and power, rather than about Christ. And what moral consequences did this lead to? The apostle begins by looking at this case in a very direct relation to himself. He believes that his preaching of the gospel is suitable for other cases, but without any concern for holiness. Preoccupied with the thought of reward and other things, such a person, without remorse, yields to what the flesh strives for, and, as a result, a complete fall occurs. If it were Paul, then he would have to become an outcast or wicked (that is, receive a rebuke from God). This word was never used in the meaning of “loss of reward”, but meant complete rejection of the person himself. Then in chapter 10 he speaks of the fall of the Israelites, warning the Corinthians themselves of a similar danger.

Our Lord in this very passage of the gospel according to Mark warns about the same. He opposes the neglect that John shows towards a man who openly uses the name of Christ to save the souls of people and fight the devil. But John involuntarily passed his ears, if not rejected, the true secret of this power. It was John who needed care, no matter how holy and virtuous a person he was. He made a clear mistake, a very serious one, and the Lord goes on to the most serious warning He ever made in his sermons. Nowhere else in other passages of this gospel does it expressly speak of eternal destruction. Here, like nowhere else, we have the opportunity to hear the requiem constantly sounding in our ears over lost souls: “Where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out” and, in addition: “Every sacrifice will be salted with salt,” although these are two different things.

Not a single human child can escape the judgment of God, for "men are destined to die once, and then judgment." Judgment in one form or another - this is the fate of life. No matter how you look at what is a universal law, a person who is a sinner is subject to divine judgment. Although this is not the whole truth. On earth there are people who are not subject to the judgment of God, who even now have access to his good pleasure and rely on his glory in joy. Who are they? These are those who hear the word of Christ and believe in the one who sent the Savior — they have eternal life and are not subject to judgment. But shouldn't they pass the test? Of course they should. But this is on a completely different basis - "every sacrifice will be salted with salt." It is clear that here we are talking not just about a sinful person, but about what is pleasing to God and therefore salted not by fire, but by salt. Of course, this tests and proves the spirituality of those who belong to God; and if this is so, then they mean their special proximity to him.

Thus, whether it is simply a judgment on a person, on every soul as such, or a special relationship with those who belong to God (that is, every offering pleasing to God is considered to be brought by Christ on the basis of his own great sacrifice), this rule Undoubtedly, it concerns everyone and is true for everyone - not only for every sinner, but also for the believer. Nevertheless, those who truly please God are determined by Jesus Christ, our Lord. As for the saints crowned with glory, although they, of course, are not subject to the judgment of God, one should not hide the truth that God in his mercy makes long-lived. This may not be entirely pleasant, but the preserving power of divine mercy with its cleansing effect is evident. This, I think, is what it says: “Salt with salt.” The image of this famous remedy leaves no room for things pleasant to the flesh with all their fragility. The Lord says that “salt is a good thing.” It does not belong to those things that act only a moment, and then disappear without a trace; salt tastes of God's covenant. “Salt is a good thing; but if salt is not salt, how will you correct it? ” What a fatal loss! How dangerous it is to break the covenant! “Have salt in yourself, and have peace among you.” That is, firstly, be a blameless soul and, secondly, keep peace among yourself, which the apostle James calls for in his epistle. Purity is related to the flesh, it resists everything rotten, it is kept by the almighty power of God's mercy. Observe it, because without it, nothing is valuable, and "have peace among you." May we take this world up, but at the price of inner purity, if we value the glory of God!

This concludes the Lord’s ministry in connection with, as it seems to me, transformation. This manifestation of God's authority cannot but introduce a new and appropriate character in those in question.

Mark 10

In the next chapter (10), our Lord moves on to another topic, which is very surprising, because if you hastily conclude that everything is based on death and resurrection, and also taking into account the coming glory, it turns out that such a ministry like this, should not attach importance to the relationships that develop between people in the flesh. In this case, the opposite is true. Namely, when the highest principles affirmed by God on earth are presented to you, they find their rightful place. For example, the sanctity of marriage was not established when God gave the law. Everyone is obliged to know that for a person there is no more important relationship on earth - there is nothing that would form social ties so truly as the institution of marriage. What else is so important in this world for family happiness and personal integrity, not to mention other important points on which all human relationships depend? Nevertheless, it is surprising that during the rule of the law, what was constantly allowed to weaken the marriage bond. For example, divorce was permitted for non-essential reasons, and this could lead to anything other than strengthening the good reputation of the marriage. On the contrary, in Christ in all its fullness mercy was revealed and, moreover, when this mercy was rejected, when the Lord Jesus Christ announced what should have been based on his imminent humiliation and death, and when He taught that this new system cannot and should not be proclaimed until He rises from the dead, He also insisted that people appreciate the various relationships established between them according to the flesh. I believe that the connection with the resurrection is spoken only in the Gospel according to Mark. And this is really important, because Mark, of course, points to the significance of that period and that glorious event, for the ministry of Christ and his testimony reveal the truth to others.

Here, however, the Lord, having rejected everything that was fleeting from the point of view of eternity, analyzing it to the end of the scene mentioned, showing the results of it to those who have nothing to do with it, as well as those who use the mercy of God in its preserving power, especially those who belong to Christ, are now considering the relationship of these new principles to nature, to what God himself recognizes as the outside world.

Here the Lord primarily acts as the protector of marriage. He says that in the law, no matter how important it is, Moses does not impose excessive requirements on the marriage bonds in the world. On the contrary, Moses permits to break the bonds of marriage, given the condition of the Israelites. “By your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. At the beginning of creation, God created them male and female. Therefore, a man will leave his father and mother. ” That is, other, even the closest, relationships, so to speak, are inferior to these relationships. “Therefore, a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall be two with one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. So, what God combined, that man does not separate. ” Everything went to this, but with this simple and at the same time detailed interpretation of God's plan, we owe it to the Lord Jesus, the great witness of God's mercy and eternity, with whom his own rejection and the kingdom of God, which is to come in power, as well as the removal of the devil’s long charms, are now associated . This same Jesus is now clearing the dust of the ruins of the laws established by God on earth.

A similar principle is considered in the subsequent events described here. “They brought to him children to touch them; the disciples did not allow the bringers. ” If his followers absorbed all the mercy that He was fully endowed with, then they would have allowed babies to their teacher with a completely different feeling. The fact is that the spirit of egoism was still strong in them. After all, what could be even more petty and near-minded? Their minds were so saturated with Judaism that they despised even infants. But the almighty God does not despise anyone, and mercy, understanding the thoughts of God, imitates his actions. And the Lord Jesus rebuked them, as follows from what was said: "Jesus was disappointed and said to them: Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for such is the Kingdom of God." Both of these details, which are so important for this world, testify to such mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, which in no way deprives the nature of his position, but is his only defender, according to the thoughts of God.

What follows is another lesson, in a sense even more expressive, since it is even more complex. It can be assumed that God's mercy extends especially to children. But let's imagine an unconverted person acting in his life according to the established law and highly satisfied that he is fulfilling his duties. What would the Lord say about this? What feelings would he have with such a person?

“When He went out on the road, someone ran up, knelt before Him and asked Him: Good teacher! What should I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus told him: what do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ” This man was in deep ignorance, he was not armed with the knowledge of God, he truly knew nothing about man. He did not know the feeling of the true glory of Christ: he worshiped Christ, but only as a person who was very different from himself. He recognized him as a good mentor; he wanted, like a good student, to carefully take everything he could from him. Therefore, he so far puts himself on a par with Jesus, assuming that he is able to speak and do the same as Jesus. Therefore, it is obvious that the soul of this young man was not aware that sin was punishable; he also did not know anything about God. However, the Lord fully guesses his condition. He tells him: “You know the commandments,” emphasizing those responsibilities that relate to human relationships. “He answered him, Teacher! I kept all this from my youth. ” The Lord does not reject his statement - he does not ask how accurately he fulfills the commandments of the second tablet. On the contrary, it is said that “Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” Many are in serious difficulty trying to understand what the Spirit of God affirms here. It seems to me that this passage is as beautiful as instructive.

Of course, this young man was not converted, for it is obvious; of course, he did not know the truth, for his problem came from ignorance of the truth; and, of course, this man did not follow Jesus, on the contrary, we learn that he departed from Jesus, and his heart certainly did not feel happiness from the mercy of God, because, as it seemed, he departed with sorrow. Therefore, judging this person from the point of view of eternity, you can find every reason to look at him with pain and anxiety. Nevertheless, it is clear that Jesus looked at him and looked with love.

Is there really nothing to do with perfect evangelism? I have no doubt that we can draw useful conclusions for ourselves. The Lord Jesus, possessing the perfect concept of God and his mercy and being able to infinitely appreciate eternal life before his Spirit, felt free enough to be higher than the condemnation of this whole human crowd, and could understand and appreciate the nature and behavior of man, weigh everything that is a manifestation conscientiousness, to love everything that deserves love in a person from the point of view of human nature. Not going to belittle mercy, I am convinced that it always strengthens such feelings. For many, of course, this may seem strange, but they themselves prove that they are a hindrance. Let them check and judge whether the Word is silent about what is revealed here from what has been said. Let it be known that we, too, have expressive confirmation of this in the gospel, which tells of Christ as a perfect servant; and this confirmation teaches us how we should serve following him. In no other gospel do we see our Lord expressing this so clearly as here. He clearly speaks of the same event in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But only Mark mentions that He “loved him.” Neither Matthew nor Luke say a word about why the Lord loved this young man. And only Mark tells us that, “looking at him,” Christ fell in love with him. Of course, this is the main essence of this event. The Lord really admired what naturally aroused admiration in man, that, on a happy occasion, was saved from worldly evil and diligently nurtured in the law of God, which he impeccably followed, feeling an irresistible desire to learn from Jesus, but at the same time he could not realize their sinfulness. However, the Lord does not touch upon the narrow-mindedness or callousness that we manifest so often. Alas! we are bad servants of his grace! The Lord knew us much better and felt deeper than us the dangerous position of this young man. Nevertheless, we must appreciate the fact that Jesus, looking at the young man, fell in love with him.

But then He “said unto him, One is lacking for you.” So what was missing from him? “One thing is missing for you.” The Lord does not deny anything that, for one reason or another, deserves praise: He acknowledges everything that was really good. Who, for example, can blame the obedient child for something? or a life lived honestly and dedicated to charity? Should I therefore ascribe all this to divine mercy? or deny the need for this? Not! I recognize these virtues as a gift that belongs to a person in this world that should be judged properly. Anyone who believes that they do not matter, in my opinion, simply neglects the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. And at the same time, one who makes from this or from something similar a means of achieving eternal life, clearly does not know what he should know. One way or another, this question undoubtedly requires a careful attitude to oneself, but it can find true recognition in Jesus and in the blessed Word of God, and nowhere else. Therefore, our Lord says: "One thing is missing for you: go, sell and give all that you have to the poor." Isn't that the same thing Jesus did, although in fact He did infinitely more? Of course, He refused everything so that God would be glorified by the salvation of a lost person. But if He deprived himself of his glory, then how great are the consequences of that humiliation up to death?

The young man wanted to learn something from Jesus. But was he ready to follow even the earthly path crucified? Did he not want to find what he lacked? Did he want to witness divine self-denial in mercy to the destitute? or abandon earthly treasures in order to find treasures in heaven? If he did this, Christ would certainly ask him for more, because even here He adds: “And come, follow Me, having taken the cross.” The Savior, as we see, is not ahead of the light of God; It does not hasten the arrival of what will be revealed soon. He is not in a hurry to announce the amazing change that this gospel will tell in due time, but He is fully testing the soul of a young man. A man in his best intentions turned out to be rather frivolous, rather than conceited in comparison with those who were only good; and this was revealed in Christ, in his worthy image and manifestation. And yet, He, this man unsurpassed by anyone (not to mention the incomprehensible secret of his crucifixion), could look at that young man with love, despite all his obvious shortcomings. And yet, no matter who he is, he should in no way be singled out in this world. His soul lived in the flesh and was influenced by mammon. He loved his property, and therefore himself; and the Lord, testing him, discovered the root of evil and confirmed it. For it is said: "But he, embarrassed by this word, departed with sorrow, because he had a large estate." So, it seems to me that the Lord is setting the perfect example of fellowship; and this is manifested primarily in the fact that He does not refer to what is still hidden by God. He does not speak of the shedding of his own blood, death, or resurrection. After all, this was still to come, and this would not have been understood. Even none of his disciples actually knew about it, although the Lord repeatedly spoke about it to those of the twelve. But how could a young man understand this? Our Lord did what was most important: He tried to awaken that person’s conscience. He revealed to him the moral value of what He accomplished himself, urging him to give up everything that he had. But this was what the young man least thought of. He wanted to be a donor, a generous patron; but in order to abandon everything and, condemning himself to ridicule and dishonor, to follow Christ - he was completely unprepared for this. And this led to the fact that the young man, through his own fault, had no choice but to admit that he could not do the good that the good mentor told him to whom he had addressed. What the Lord could do for him then - only the Lord could say this. But since the Word of God is silent about this, we were not given to know this, and it would be in vain and unworthy to invent anything on this score. God here proves that no matter how highly moral a person manifests himself, following the letter of the law, no matter how surprisingly immaculate he may seem externally and no matter how openly he obeys the requirements of God, all this does not save his soul, does not make a person happy, but leaves deep unhappy and far from Christ. A rich young aristocrat received such a lesson, and I must say, it was a very serious lesson.

Further, our Lord uses the same principle in communication with disciples, for now He draws attention to the external side of the issue. We saw a man who was very decent by nature, in a certain sense seeking Christ, but this all led to this: in the end, the man remained unhappy and walked away from Jesus, who looks at his disciples, who are obviously confused, explaining to them that wealth is an obstacle to the divine. Alas! This was not taken as evidence of the blessings of God. And if only they were rich, how much good they could not have done! “How difficult,” says Christ, “to have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Then He tells them, horrified by his words: “Children! how difficult it is for those who hope for wealth to enter the kingdom of God! It’s more convenient for a camel to go through the needle’s ears than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. ” The Lord is persistently and even more seriously explaining this lesson, so poorly understood even by his disciples. They, in utter amazement, say among themselves: “Who can be saved?” And this gives the Lord the opportunity to clarify what is the essence of the whole thing: salvation depends on God, and not on man at all. Law, nature, wealth, poverty, everything that a person loves or fears has nothing to do with saving the soul, and in this you must completely rely on the power of God's mercy, and nothing else, because what is impossible for people, maybe God. Therefore, everything depends on his mercy: salvation in our Lord. May his name be blessed! Everything is possible for God: otherwise how can we or who else can be saved?

Peter, in a somewhat boastful tone, says that the disciples left everything for him, after which the Lord delivers a very expressive speech characteristic of the Gospel according to Mark: “There is no one who left the house, or brothers, sisters, or father, or mother , or a wife, or children, or land, for Me and the Gospel, and would not have received ... a hundred times more. " It should be noted that only Mark says “And the Gospels”. And this emphasizes service here. Others might say, “For his sake,” but it says, “For my sake and the gospel.” Thus, the value of the person of Christ is considered inalienable from his ministry in this world. Whoever follows a faithful follower of Christ, everyone, as He speaks, will receive “amidst persecutions, one hundred times more than houses, and brothers, and sisters, and fathers, and mothers, and children, and lands, and in the age to come forever " This is not only a beautiful, but also a deeply true connection, for it is said by the Lord and is the hope of faith.

All that Christ is rich in belongs to us who believe in him. Undoubtedly, such wealth will not satisfy the greedy soul, but the believer will find deep and great satisfaction in him, since he does not strive to stand out somehow, but finds reassurance in the realization that everything that the congregation of God has on earth belongs to every saint of God in this world. Faith does not seek to possess something; she rejoices in what is common among the faithful. The unbeliever considers his property only that which one selfishly owns. On the contrary, if love drives me, then the situation is completely different. But the accompaniment to this will be “among the persecutions”. You cannot avoid this if you are faithful to Christ. Those who live in piety cannot escape this. Should I experience it just because they experience it? It would be better for me to experience this myself, relentlessly following Christ. But what honor can be earned in his struggle? This honor is especially evident in the ministry of Christ. And here we again see how fully characterizes this Mark: "Many will be the first last, and the last first." The same is said in the Gospel according to Matthew. Not the beginning of a life journey, but its end is decisive. On this path of life, much can change: there will be falls and mistakes, setbacks and vicissitudes of fate.

Then the Lord goes to Jerusalem, a city that has become fatal to a true prophet. People were wrong in asserting that the prophet never appeared in Galilee, for God did not leave himself without a testimony even there. But the Lord was undoubtedly right that no prophet should perish outside Jerusalem. The center of religious traditions is precisely the place where the true witnesses of God's grace must die. Therefore, the disciples had a poor understanding of Jesus going to Jerusalem, and they followed him in surprise. They were little prepared for the impending persecution, which should have been the subject of their pride in the coming day and for which they, of course, should have been strengthened by the Holy Spirit. But so far this has not been felt in them. “Jesus walked in front of them, and they were terrified and, following Him, were in fear. Having called the twelve, He again began to tell them what would happen to Him: now, we are ascending [how condescending! not only “I”, but “we” ascend] to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the high priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and they will deliver him to the Gentiles. ” Then we learn about suffering, right up to death (and what death!), So vividly described to us. And at this critical moment, James and John show how few people, even though they are servants of God, delve into his thoughts.

“Born to the flesh is flesh” - no matter in whom. And this was manifested not in some vicious people, but in those who seemed to be something; and therefore their lesson should serve us as a warning. "Teacher! we want you to do what we ask. ” Mother asks for them in another gospel - in where we can expect the manifestation of a similar relationship in the flesh. But here - alas! - the servants themselves ask, who should know better about it. Yet their eyes were closed on it. They turned the fact that they were servants of God into a means of obtaining material gain, even in the kingdom of God. They strive to give pleasure to their flesh here, comforting themselves with the thought that they will occupy a high position there. But the Lord guesses the thoughts of their hearts and answers them with his inherent dignity: “You do not know what you ask. Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They answered: we can. Jesus said to them: You will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized; and letting Me sit on the right and on the left does not depend on Me, but [it will be given] to whom it is prepared. ” He is a servant; and even on the threshold of glory, He remains so. A high position in the kingdom of God will be occupied only by the one to whom it is destined.

Not only did these two disciples reveal themselves, but also the other ten completely revealed what they cherished in their heart. And not only this or that person is guilty of the fact that the carnal manifested itself in them; it is also important how we behave in the face of the misconduct that others commit. The indignation that the other ten could not hold back testified to their own guilt as much as the two longed for a better place. If selfless love would dwell in them, their ambition would undoubtedly become the subject of shame and regret. I will not say that they did not resist this from a lack of faith, but I will say that their indignation proved that they were thinking of themselves and not of Christ. Therefore, our Lord reproaches them all and proves that it was the spirit of paganism that prompted them to oppose the sons of Zebedee. He could not help but seek in them that which contradicted everything that was in him. Understanding what the kingdom is, leads the believer to satisfaction even with a small position. The true greatness of the disciples of Christ lies in their ability to be his highly moral servants, ready to give up everything in the name of serving others. It is not strength at all that guarantees this greatness in the eyes of Christ, but the ability to be satisfied with the position of a servant - the slave in the lowest position. As for Christ himself, He did not just come to earth to help or be a servant, He had what He could have only: the right, like love, to give his life for the sake of redeeming many.

Mark 11

Starting from verse 48, the last scene opens - the Lord goes to Jerusalem. He comes there, as we already know, from Jericho. His progress to Jerusalem, as we see, begins with the healing of the blind. I do not need to dwell in detail on individual details, for example, at the entrance of Christ to the capital on horseback on a young donkey, like a king (chap. 11); I will not speak again about the fig tree (which Christ cursed and which completely withered the next day) or the call of Christ to believe in God and how to pray with faith. There is also no need to dwell on the question of the authority given to Christ, which was raised by religious leaders.

Mark 12

In the parable of the vineyard, with which the 12th chapter begins, a great deal is said about the responsibility of servants to God. Then we learn about the stone rejected by the builders, which later became the head of the corner. And again we see representatives from different parties of the Jews who turn to the Lord with questions. Of course, each of the scenes that pass before our eyes has its own important points, but time does not allow me to dwell on each of them in detail. Therefore, I deliberately ignore these details. We see the Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees caught in the hypocrisy, whose allegations have been refuted; we see a scribe proving the essence of the law, answering the question of which, our Lord shed God's light on the law and at the same time gave a wonderful assessment to the legalist himself. "Jesus, seeing that he reasonably answered, said to him: you are not far from the kingdom of God." A great feature that characterizes the service of our Lord is his willingness to acknowledge the truth wherever He finds it. After that, our Lord asks his own question regarding his personality according to the Scriptures. He then briefly warned the people about the scribes and singled out among the victims a poor blessed widow as an example of true devotion and genuine faith in this almost completely spiritual world of God's people on earth. How He disregards the money that was put into the treasury from excess, and how he singles out and forever sanctifies the action of faith where it was least expected!

This widow, who had no money but two mites, put all her food into the treasury of God, and at this time when everything was mired in selfishness and crumbling, as never before this widow thought that she had found even here on earth , an eye that is able to behold, and a language that can proclaim what God could have done for his own praise in the heart of the poorest woman of Israel and her hand!

Mark 13

Then our Lord gives instructions to his disciples in a prophecy strictly corresponding to the manner of Mark (chap. 13). For this very reason, only here, in this sermon, it is said about the ministry of the Lord, about the strength with which they will be able to survive in difficult times. Therefore, our Lord ignores all the characteristic references to the end of the world, and this expression is not even found here. The fact is that, although this is the very prophecy in which Matthew refers to the end of the world, the Holy Spirit does not specifically mention this here for the simple reason that the prophecy that prepared them for the upcoming service explains that it was missed, and what is added here compared to the gospel according to Matthew. I can also notice that only in this prophecy does He say that not only angels, but even the Son do not know when that day will come. The reason here is special and, at first glance, stunning. Although this expression, it seems to me, is due to the fact that Christ carefully fulfills the position of one who is limited to what God entrusts him with, He is a perfect servant, not a ruler, and from this point of view remains so even in relation to the future. He knows and passes on to others only what God commands him. And since God does not say anything about that day and that hour, He does not mention them. Notice how in a special way our Lord describes himself here, his servants and their work. This description is not of a preaching character, as in the parable of talents given by Matthew. It simply says: "It is as if someone, leaving the way and leaving his house, gave his servants authority and each his own work, and ordered the gatekeeper to stay awake." The distinctive features of the gospel according to Matthew are clear. There is much more grandeur. There, going on a long journey involves a long absence. Here, of course, he also sets off on a journey, but gives "his servants power." Who will not notice that what is written corresponds to the purpose of the gospel according to Mark? He gives “to each his own business.” Can't we ask why we find these expressions here? Yes, because they reveal the content of the whole gospel, because even in prophecy the Lord never refuses the great idea of \u200b\u200bservice. This is mainly not about rewarding gifts or benefits at the end of the work. Power has been given to his servants. They wanted her. They did not arbitrarily take her. Here we are talking more about the fulfillment of his will, rather than about benefiting from his gifts. The latter is spoken of more in the Gospel according to Matthew, because the purpose of the previous gospel was to show that unusual change that occurred after the Lord left the earth, as well as the hopes placed on the Messiah by the Jews, for with the ascension to heaven He was going to take a new position . There He is represented by the distributor of gifts, which in itself is very different in nature from the institutions adopted by Judaism; and people sell these gifts, and the righteous and faithful finally enter the joy of their master. Here, Christ's ministry is simply narrated; here He is shown as a faithful servant.

Mark 14

The 14th chapter shows extremely interesting and instructive scenes where our Lord alone with his disciples no longer prophesies, but honors them with the last vow of his love. Frantic, the high priests and scribes conspire to put him to death. In the house of leper Simon in Bethany, a certain woman anoints the body of the Lord for burial, she recognizes him among the disciples and selects among them a mentor, whom we see further not accepting the sacrifice of love, but giving a great and unchanging sign of our love - in the evening. The state of Judah’s soul manifests itself in two cases when he is planning his plan and when he is going to implement it. Since that time, our Lord has come forward: not only in order to endure the wrath of God, but also to receive him throughout the gospel in the spirit before God. We had the opportunity to make sure that He had a habit of turning to God, which I want to draw attention to now in passing. Since crucifixion was the most difficult thing and caused the deepest suffering, the Lord could not go to Calvary without praying before in Gethsemane. And in due time he appears before the high priest and Pilate, who judge him.

Mark 15

About how our Lord was crucified, we read in the 15th chapter. From it we learn about how this affected those who followed him: the mercy of women and the despicable cowardice of men in the face of death, while weak women were strong.

Mark 16

And finally, in the 16th chapter, the resurrection of Christ is narrated, and narrated strictly in accordance with the nature of the gospel. Accordingly, when we learn that the Lord has risen from the dead, we read about how the angel says to the women who entered the tomb: “Do not be horrified. Look for Jesus the Nazarene, crucified; He is risen, He is not here. This is the place where He was laid. But go tell his disciples and Peter. ” Separately, Peter is mentioned only in the Gospel according to Mark. And that is understandable. This is an important lesson for the soul. After all, in fact, Peter despised the word of the Lord, although not intentionally; Peter did not take this word with faith in his soul, but, on the contrary, hoped for himself and faced a difficulty that he could not overcome, because he had never before experienced temptation before God. And it so happened that Peter shamefully fell. By the way the Lord looked at him, he acutely felt his transgression. But so he continued to lament, he needed support, and therefore our Lord singles out the name of Peter in his message and gives only one name. He encourages the weak soul of his stumbling student. This was a manifestation of the same mercy that prayed for him before his fall.

The Lord acted on Peter in order to completely revive him spiritually, and with the help of the word he acted not only on his conscience, but also showed love for him. A man would consider Peter the last who deserved to be mentioned, but Peter needed it most of all, and this was enough to show Christ's mercy. The gospel of Mark is the gospel of the ministry of love.

I do not need to speak now about the crucifixion and resurrection, as they are depicted here. The peculiarity of this gospel is that some events are narrated here, while others are not mentioned, which shows the difference in the coverage of the events described in this gospel from what we learn from other sources. So, here we read that one the young man during the arrest of Jesus, leaving the veil naked, ran away from the atrocious crowd that had seized him, which grabbed the Savior, and that on the way to Calvary, the soldiers in their senseless cruelty “forced a certain Cyrenean Simon, father Alexandro, who was passing by wa and Rufov ... bear His cross. " But God did not forget about the difficult day for Jesus, which Alexander and Rufus could testify later. Here not a word is said about the earthquake at the time of Christ's death or when He was resurrected: it is not said that the tombs were opened and that many bodies of the saints of the deceased were resurrected and appeared in the holy city. Although it is said about women who, as we know, wanted to serve him when He died, his resurrection prevented this and brought a better and incorrupt light to their ministry, and the angel who served the Lord dispelled their fear by declaring that he was crucified Jesus has resurrected. There is hardly any need to talk about how wonderful this scene fits this gospel.

I also make a definite difference between this passage. (Editor's note: the author refers to verses 9–20 of chapter 16, which were not found in the two most ancient manuscripts, the Sinai and Vatican, and in others were partially omitted)   and the previous part of the 16th chapter. But I believe that the Spirit intentionally presented them in a different light. Here, as you saw, we are talking about the education of students. Corresponding to this is the resurrection from the dead, for which He prepared them. If this gospel did not mention this, then we would find a clear gap that cannot be felt. The Lord himself, before his resurrection, determined the importance of this. If the servants and ministry of Christ had not been mentioned in the description of this event, then this would indeed have led to an unbearable loss, and this wonderful gospel would have the most unconvincing conclusion imaginable. Chapter 16 would end with the silence of women and an indication of the reason for this - “because they were afraid” (v. 8). Is such a conclusion worthy of the servant whom the Son of God was?

What would be the impression if it raised doubts among educated people for whom it was of some value? Could someone who knew the character of the Lord and his ministry imagine that we should be satisfied only with the message that women would conceal because of fear? Of course, I admit that external evidence is predominant. But internally, it seems impossible to me that someone who compares the earlier completion of the gospel with the purpose that is set before him, as well as with his character, could agree with this end after he appreciates the words in verses 9-20. Undoubtedly, these verses, it seems to me, are best suited to complete what would otherwise be a weak and hopeless evidence of what happened. And besides, the very free style of presentation, the use of expressions not found anywhere except Mark's, and the difficulties associated with certain circumstances, which are described here, all this tells my mind the authenticity of authorship, since if it were a fake , the forger would strictly adhere to the letter if he could not easily comprehend the spirit of what Mark said.

Of course, I admit that earlier verses, as they are now located, have a special purpose; I admit the influence of God's providence upon them; but, undoubtedly, the ministry of Jesus pursued a higher purpose than God's predetermined ways. On the other hand, if we accept the widespread ending of the gospel according to Mark, then how to reconcile all this? Here we see a woman, and not some, but Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus, now dead and risen, once cast out seven demons; Was she not a worthy witness to the resurrection power of the Son of God?

The Lord appeared to put an end to the actions of the devil, and she knew this even before He died and rose again. Who then, I ask, if not Mary Magdalene, would have been a suitable messenger? There is a divine reason that is consistent with this gospel. This woman actually proved the efficacy of the blessed ministry of Jesus, having been delivered from the power of the devil. And she was ready to tell the world about his even more glorious deed, because now with his death Jesus destroyed the power of the devil in death. “She went and proclaimed to those who were with him, weeping and weeping.” For them it was premature sadness; what trembling joy this news should have brought them! But alas! Their unbelief left them in grief and sorrow. “After this he appeared in a different image to two of them on the road, when they went to the village. And they, returning, proclaimed to the others; but they didn’t believe them either. ” There is one important detail regarding the ministry of the Lord that should be remembered. We are talking about the callousness of human souls (hearts) and the ensuing from this enmity and resistance to everything true. Where truth does not greatly affect people, they neglect it without fear, hatred, or hostility. Thus, the very resistance to the truth, if it is a manifestation of a kind of unbelief in a person, proves at the same time that this unbelief leads to resistance.

Suppose you tell a person that some boss owns a huge fortune in Tatarstan, and he might think that this is all true truth - at least he is not going to deny it in this case. But tell him that he himself has such a state there: will he believe you? At that moment, how something affects a person, it is in his interests to stubbornly counteract this. Of great importance was the fact that students should be taught to feel with their hearts and recognize an event from their own experience. We have the same thing in the case of our Lord. He clearly told them everything in his Word; He spoke of the resurrection again, again and again, but how slow were these chosen servants of the Lord! No one else would have the patience to serve with those in relation to whom the Lord showed so much kindness and mercy! And here again we find everything of any importance from the point of view of the ministry of the Lord.

After that, the Lord personally appeared to the eleven, reclining at the meal, and "reproached them for their unbelief and hard-heartedness, that they who did not believe they saw Him risen". And yet He proved himself to be the most merciful teacher, who knew well how to make good servants from bad; and therefore, the Lord tells them immediately after He reproached them with unbelief: “Go around the world and preach the gospel to all creatures. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. ” It is important not only the truth, but also the fact that it is openly and publicly confessed before God and man, for it is clear that baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ.

This is its value: "Who will believe and be baptized." Do not imagine that if you have accepted Christ, you have evaded all the difficulties and dangers of confessing him. Not at all like that. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ” The last sentence does not say a word about baptism. A person may be baptized, but not believe, and therefore will not be saved. “But he who does not believe will be condemned.” So the point is to believe. However, if a person pretends to be a believer and shies away from publicly recognizing who he believes in, such a religion is worthless; it will not be recognized as true. This is the basis of the important principle that the servants of Christ must adhere to.

What follows can be attributed to the external manifestations of power: “These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons”. And soon the power of the devil will have to be significantly shaken. It was only evidence, but how powerful it was! In this case, the Lord does not say how long these signs should last. He says: "Go around the world and preach the gospel to all creatures." And He continues, adding to what has been said: “These signs will accompany those who believe: My name will be ...” That is, He continues to be near his signs, baptizing and teaching all the Gentiles whatever he wants. This business should, as we see, last until the end of the century. As for the signs mentioned by Mark in the 16th chapter, speaking of them, he wisely omits the mention of time. He does not say how long these signs should accompany those who believe. He only says that these signs should accompany them - that was it. He did not promise that the signs would last five, fifty, one hundred, or five hundred years. He simply said that they should accompany them, and signs were given and accompanied not only the apostles, but all believers. They reinforced what the believers said, wherever they spoke. This was nothing more than a testimony, and I have no doubt that the granting of these signs that accompanied the Word showed the highest wisdom, but the cessation of their action was no less wise. I am sure that in the present disastrous state of Christianity, these external signs, in which there is no such need, would be harmful. Undoubtedly, their cessation testifies to our sinfulness and low moral condition. At the same time, his refusal to give these signs to his people at a time when they would have done him nothing but harm, and could have discredited his moral glory, was a manifestation of mercy.

But do not go into the reasons for such a verdict now - suffice it to say that these signs have indeed been given. “They will cast out demons; will speak new languages; they will take snakes; and if they drink something deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will be healthy. ” Thus, a blow was struck to the abundant source of evil in this world (now the generous mercy of God has been revealed to the world), effective evidence was given of the good deeds of divine mercy, which saved those who were awake throughout the earth. And that, I think, characterizes service. In addition, there remains an expressive part of this conclusion, which, I dare to state, could not be written by anyone except Mark. Surely the Holy Spirit was the true author of all that Mark wrote; and, undoubtedly, the final part of the gospel is suitable here, and nowhere else. If you remove these verses (Ed. Note: i.e. verses 9-20)then leave the gospel without the final part. By accepting these verses as God's creation, you will receive, I repeat, a conclusion that is consonant with the true divine gospel; and not only that - here you have a divine conclusion for the gospel according to Mark, and not for any other. This conclusion does not fit any gospel other than the gospel according to Mark, for notice what the Spirit of God says at the very end. “And so the Lord, after talking with them, ascended into heaven.” You might think that now Christ will rest in heaven, because He did his work on earth, and in such a perfect way, especially since it goes on to say: “And he sat down on the right hand of God.” If this is what the position of Christ is said here, all the more can we assume that now it is time for him to rest, for He has completed his work. But this is not so. Since the gospel according to Mark emphasizes Jesus as a servant of God, and resting in glory, He still remains a servant. Obviously, therefore, it is written here that when they set off on their mission, they should begin the work that the Lord commanded them to do: “They went and preached everywhere,” for such are the scale of the gospel according to Mark. “They went and preached everywhere, with the Lord's assistance and the reinforcement of the word with the following signs.” Thus, Mark, and no one else, gives us the most detailed description, all the details of which are agreed from beginning to end. Could a falsifier of the gospel adhere to that bold thought that the Lord had helped them if any other word hinted that he was then at least in a state of rest?

So, we briefly examined the gospel according to Mark and saw that it primarily refers to the introduction by the Lord into his ministry of those who were entrusted with an unusual work before his arrival — this is John the Baptist. And now, when He has sat down to the right of God, we find that the Lord, as it is said about him, assisted the apostles. The assumption that verses from the ninth to the end are reliable, but do not belong to Mark, seems to me the most unfortunate of all possible assumptions.

May He bless his own Word and provide us here with yet another confirmation that if there is any passage in which we feel the divine hand more clearly than in others, then this is precisely his passage and will not allow us to reject it expression of your disbelief! I don’t know where in the whole gospel one can find another passage that is characteristic of its author than that which a person with his usual recklessness is trying to uproot from the soil on which God raised him. But, dear friends, these words do not belong to man. Each plant not planted by a heavenly Father should be uprooted. This plant will never be uprooted - it will live forever, no matter what great or small human minds say about it.

1 And he said unto them:
"Amen, I tell you that among those standing here there are those who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God that has come in power."

2 And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, James and John, and separately from the others he leads them to a high mountain, being alone with them. And He was transfigured before their eyes,

3 And His garments became brilliant, so white that no whitewasher on earth could have whitened them like that.

4 And Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they talked with Jesus.

5 And Peter said to Jesus:
"Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! We will set up here three tents: one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah."

6 He himself did not know what he was saying, for fear seized them.

7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud:
"This is my beloved Son, listen to him!"

8 And when they looked up, they suddenly saw no one, except Jesus alone with them.

9 And when they came down from the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what they saw until the Son of Man was raised from the dead.

10 And they did this, but began to inquire in a conversation among themselves what it means to rise from the dead.

11 And they asked him a question:
"But what do the scribes say "Elijah must come first"?"

12 But He said to them:
"Yes, "Elijah will come and restore"   all. But as the Scripture says about the Son of Man? He must suffer a lot and be humiliated.

13 But I tell you, that Elijah also came and did over him what they wanted, as it is said about him in the Scripture. "

14 And when they returned to the disciples, they saw that there were many people around them and the scribes were arguing with them.

15 And immediately all the people, seeing Jesus, became greatly agitated, and they ran to him to greet him.

16 And He asked them:
"What are you arguing about with my disciples?"

17 And one of the crowd answered him:
"Teacher, I brought to you my son, obsessed with the dumb spirit.

18 No matter where this spirit attacks him, he falls to the ground, foam on his lips, he grinds his teeth, and makes his body cramp. I asked your disciples that they cast out the spirit, but they could not. "

19 And Jesus said unto them,
"O generation without faith! How much more can I be with you? How much more can you endure? Take him to me!"

20 And they brought him unto him; and when the demoniac saw Jesus, immediately the spirit grabbed him strongly, and he fell and rolled with foam on his lips.

21 And Jesus asked his father:
"How long has this happened to him?"
And he answered:
"From childhood!

22 And many times already the spirit threw him into fire and into water, to perish him. So help us, take pity on us if you can do anything! "

23 But Jesus said:
"If you can: everything is possible to the one who believes."

24 And immediately the father of the boy cried out:
"I believe [Lord]! Help my unbelief."

25 But Jesus, seeing that the people were fleeing, threatened the unclean spirit and said:
"The spirit is dumb and deaf! I command you to leave it and do not enter it anymore!"

26 With a cry and a strong concussion of the whole body, the spirit came out, and the boy became like a corpse, so many already said that he supposedly died.

27 But Jesus, taking his hand, lifted him up, and he stood up.

28 And when Jesus entered the house, his disciples asked him in private:
"But why couldn't we drive him out?"

29 And he said unto them:
"This breed cannot be driven out by anything except prayer [and fasting."

30 And having left these places, they walked through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know;

31 for he instructed his disciples and told them that the Son of man would be betrayed into the hands of men, and they would kill him, and he mortified would rise again in three days.

32 But they did not understand what it was about, but they were afraid to ask.

33 And they returned to Capernaum, and already in the house He asked them:
"What were you arguing about on the road?"

34 A they were silent, because they argued among themselves on the road, who is greater than whom.

35 And He sat down and told the Twelve to come and said to them:
“Whoever wants to be the first, let him be the last of all and all the servant.

36 And taking the little child, He set him in the midst of them and said to them, embracing him:

37 "Who will receive one such child in My name,
It takes me
and who accepts me
not accepting me
but the one who sent me. "

38 John said to him:
"Teacher! We saw a man who cast out demons using your name, and forbade him because he was not with us."

39 Ho Jesus said:
"Do not forbid him;
for no one can perform a miracle in My name,
and immediately afterwards blaspheme Me.

40 For he who is not against us is with us.

41 And who will give you a cup of water to drink
for my name’s sake
because you are Christ's, -
amen, I tell you
he will not lose his reward;

42 and who will give rise to the temptation
for one of these little ones who believe in Me, -
it would be better if
if they hung a millstone on his neck
and threw him into the sea.

43 And if your hand leads you into the temptation,
its compartments;
you’d better get one-armed in life,
than to go to hell with both hands
into the fire unquenchable.

44 (where their worm does not die
and the fire does not die out}

45 And if your foot leads you into the temptation,
its compartments;
you better cripple to enter Life,
than with both legs being thrown into hell.

46 (where their worm does not die
and the fire does not die out}

47 And if he puts you into the temptation of your eyes,
tear it out;
it’s better for you to curve into the kingdom of God,
than with both eyes to be thrown into hell,

48 where their worm does not die
and the fire does not die out.

49 For everyone will be filled with fire.

50 A good thing is salt;
but if the salt has become fresh,
how to salt it?
So have salt in yourself
and keep peace among you. "

1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death, as they already see the kingdom of God, which has come in power.

2 And, after six days passed, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and elevated them especially to the high mountain alone, and was transformed before them.

3 His garments became brilliant, quite white as snow, as a day-care worker cannot bleach on earth.

Transfiguration Artist Rafael Santi 1516-1520

4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and talked with Jesus.

5 And Peter said to Jesus: Rabbi! it’s good for us to be here; we will do three things: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

6 For he did not know what to say; because they were in awe.

7 And a cloud appeared that overshadowed them, and a voice came forth from the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son; Listen to him.

8 And, suddenly looking around, they saw no one else with them, save Jesus alone.

9 When they went down the mountain, He did not tell anyone to tell what they saw until the Son of Man was raised from the dead.

10 And they kept this word, asking each other what it means to rise from the dead.

11 And they asked him, How then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?

12 He answered them: True, Elijah must come first and arrange everything; and to the Son of Man, as it is written about Him, it is necessary to suffer a lot and be humbled.

13 But I tell you that Elijah also came, and did to him as they wished, as it was written about him.

  Transfiguration Artist G. Dore

14 When I came to the disciples, I saw a lot of people around them and the scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were amazed, and, running up, they saluted Him.

16 He asked the scribes: What are you arguing with them about?

17 One of the people answered and said: Teacher! I brought to you my son, possessed by a dumb spirit:

18 Wherever he seizes him, he throws him to the ground, and he emits foam, and grinds his teeth, and he stiffens. I told thy disciples to drive him out, and they could not.

19 Answering him, Jesus said: Oh, an unfaithful generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to Me.

20 And they brought him to him. As soon as the possessed saw Him, the spirit shook him; he fell to the ground and wallowed, emitting foam.

21 And Jesus asked his father, How long has this been done to him? He said: since childhood;

22 and many times the spirit threw him into fire and into water to destroy him; but if you can, take pity on us and help us.

23 Jesus said to him: if you can believe at all, everything is possible for the believer.

24 And immediately the father of the lad exclaimed with tears: I believe, Lord! help my unbelief.

25 Jesus, seeing that the people were fleeing, forbade the unclean spirit, saying to him: the spirit is dumb and deaf! I command you to step out of it and continue not to enter it.

26 And screaming and shaking him greatly, he went out; and he became like dead, so many said that he was dead.

27 But Jesus, taking his hand, lifted him up; and he got up.

28 And as Jesus entered the house, his disciples asked him in private: why could we not cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This race cannot go out except by prayer and fasting.

30 And having gone out of there, they passed through Galilee; and He didn’t want anyone to know.

31 For he taught his disciples and told them that the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men and will kill him, and, when he is killed, the third day he will be resurrected.

32 But they did not understand these words, but were afraid to ask Him.

33 He came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house, he asked them: what was your reasoning between you?

34 They were silent; because on the road they reasoned among themselves, who is larger.

35 And he sat down, called upon the twelve, and said unto them, Whoever wants to be the first, be the last of all and the whole servant.

36 And taking the child, he set him in the midst of them, and embracing him, said to them:

37 Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives Me; but whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but He who sent Me.

38 And John said: Master! we saw a man who casts out demons in thy name, and does not follow us; and they forbade him, because he does not follow us.

39 Jesus said: Do not forbid him, for no one who has performed a miracle in My name can soon slander Me.

40 For he who is not against you is for you.

41 And whoever gives you a cup of water in my name, because you of Christ, verily I say unto you, will not lose his reward.

42 But he who seduces one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better if they would hang a millstone on his neck and throw him into the sea.

43 And if your hand seduces you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life for the maimed, than to go to hell with two hands, into the unquenchable fire,

44 where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out.

45 And if your foot seduces you, cut it off: it’s better for you to enter the life of a lame man than to be cast into hell with two legs, an unquenchable fire,

46 where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out.

47 And if your eye seduces you, tear it out: it’s better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than to be cast into fiery hell with two eyes,

48 where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out.

49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

50 Salt is a good thing; but if salt is not salt, how will you correct it? Have salt in you, and have peace among yourselves.

And he said to them: verily I say unto you, there are some who stand here who will not taste death, as they already see the kingdom of God, which has come in power.

And, after about six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John, and raised them especially to the high mountain alone, and was transformed before them.His garments became brilliant, quite white as snow, as a whitewasher on earth could not whiten.And Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and talked with Jesus.At this, Peter said to Jesus: Rabbi! it’s good for us to be here; we will do three things: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.For he did not know what to say; because they were in awe.

And a cloud appeared that overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son; Listen to him.And, suddenly looking around, they saw no one else with them except Jesus alone.

When they went down the mountain, He did not tell anyone to tell what they saw until the Son of Man was raised from the dead.And they kept this word, asking each other what it means: to rise from the dead.

And they asked him: how then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?

He answered them: true, Elijah must come first and arrange everything; and to the Son of man, as it is written about him, should   suffer a lot and be humiliated.But I tell you that Elijah also came and did to him as they wanted, as it is written about him.

Having come to the disciples, I saw a lot of people around them and scribes arguing with them.Immediately, upon seeing Him, all the people were amazed, and, running up, they saluted Him.He asked the scribes: what are you arguing with?

One of the people answered: Teacher! I brought to you my son, possessed by a dumb spirit:wherever he grabs him, he throws him to the ground, and he emits foam, and grinds his teeth, and is numb. I told thy disciples to drive him out, and they could not.

Answering him, Jesus said: oh, an unfaithful generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to Me.And they brought him to him.

How soon possessed   saw him, the spirit shook him; he fell to the ground and wallowed, emitting foam.

And asked Jesus   his father: how long has this been done to him?

He said: since childhood;and many times spirit   threw it into fire and water to destroy it; but if you can, take pity on us and help us.

Jesus said to him: if you can believe anything, everything is possible for the believer.

And immediately the father of the lad exclaimed with tears: I believe, Lord! help my unbelief.

Jesus, seeing that the people were fleeing, forbade the unclean spirit, saying to him: dumb and deaf spirit! I command you to step out of it and continue not to enter it.

And screaming and shaking him violently, he went out; and he became like a dead, so many said that he was dead.But Jesus, taking his hand, lifted him; and he got up.

And how he entered Jesus   to his house, his disciples asked him in private: why couldn’t we cast him out?And he said to them: this kind cannot come out except from prayer and fasting.

Coming out of there, passed through Galilee; and He didn’t want anyone to know.For he taught his disciples and told them that The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men and will kill Him, and, upon killing, will rise again on the third day.But they did not understand these words, but they were afraid to ask Him.

He came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house, he asked them: what did you talk about among you?They were silent; because on the road they reasoned among themselves, who is larger.And he sat down, called upon the Twelve, and said to them: who wants to be the first, be the last of all and the whole servant.And taking the child, he set him in the midst of them and, embracing him, said to them:he who receives one of these children in My name, receives Me; but whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but He who sent Me.

And John said: Teacher! we saw a man who casts out demons in thy name, and does not follow us; and they forbade him, because he does not follow us.

Jesus said: do not forbid him, for no one who has performed a miracle in My name can soon slander Me.For he who is not against you is for you.And whoever gives you a cup of water in my name, because you of Christ, verily I say unto you, will not lose his reward.

And whoever seduces one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better if they would hang a millstone on his neck and throw him into the sea.And if your hand seduces you, cut it off: it’s better for you to enter into life for the crippled than to go to hell with two hands, to the unquenchable fire,And if your foot seduces you, cut it off: it’s better for you to enter the life of a lame one than to be thrown into hell with two legs, an unquenchable fire,where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out.And if your eye seduces you, tear it out: it’s better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than to be cast into fiery hell with two eyes,where their worm does not die and the fire does not die out.

For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.Salt is good thing;   but if salt is not salt, how will you correct it? Have salt in you, and have peace among yourselves.