Love and Sorrow
J. P. Barnett. Mark 7:31-37 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the coasts of Decapolis.… I. THAT SIGH, THEN, WAS A PRAYER. Probably Jesus, when on earth, never did any great work without prayer. And how much of the real force of prayer was concentrated in this one sigh? Let us not measure the power of prayer by the time it occupies, or by the noise it makes. II. But while the sigh was a prayer, THE PRAYER WAS A SIGH. But what does the sigh suggest to us? 1. Not that He felt Himself incompetent to perform the task sought at His hands. 2. Not that He felt any reluctance to bestow the requested boon. Jesus was no miser in mercy. 3. Not that He felt that the performance of this miracle would be in any respect inconsistent with the principles and purposes of His mission to our world. I. IT REVEALS TO US THE REALITY AND INTENSITY OF THE SAVIOUR'S LOVE TO INDIVIDUAL SUFFERERS. II. IT SHOWS THE KEENNESS WITH WHICH THE SAVIOUR FELT THE EVIL OF SIN. III. MAY NOT THAT SIGH SUGGEST THAT THE SAVIOUR FELT THAT THE BOON HE WAS ABOUT TO BESTOW WAS A COMPARATIVELY TRIVIAL ONE? He is only one of millions of men, all of whom are victims of some misery, and all of whose miseries spring from the one cause — sin. What have I done towards the accomplishment of My work when I have cured this man? IV. THAT SIGH REMINDS US OF THE ESSENTIAL CENTRAL PRINCIPLE OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF SALVATION. Christ never relieves a man of any curse the misery of which He does not appropriate to Himself. In all our afflictions He is afflicted. This sigh was the price He paid for an opened ear and a loosened tongue. What spiritual blessing have you and I which He has not paid for in the sorrow of His own experience? V. THAT SIGH MAY WELL SUGGEST TO US THE HOLY SADNESS OF DOING GOOD. (J. P. Barnett.) Parallel Verses KJV: And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. WEB: Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.