COMPLETING MATTERS
[p. 67] COMPLETING MATTERS
I wish to speak at this time about the need for the completion of matters in the assembly. This thought has come to my mind in connection with the scriptures read, while in this meeting.
There are persons who question the authenticity of these verses, claiming that they have been added to the book by someone other than the writer of the gospel. But they really are necessary to bind up, or complete, the gospel, and there hardly can be any doubt but that they are a part of Mark’s writing. Mark has his own particular way of expressing himself. One thing that characterises him is that he is very brief — more so than the other gospel writers. But he is most careful to carry matters through to completion. And this is very important, and especially so in assembly matters. The Scriptures tell us that the creation was finished: “And the heavens and the earth and all their host were finished”, Genesis 2: 1. And we are also told how the matter was completed. The heavens were garnished, we are told. That suggests adornment — not only that they were finished, but that they were made beauteous. And Noah finished the ark — it was completed. The word is, “And Noah did it”, Genesis 6: 22. And so throughout the Scriptures we find incidents in which matters are brought to completion. God would have it so.
The hem of the priest’s garment is referred to in Psalm 133. That suggests a completed matter. The garment had a tidy and orderly conclusion. There were no loose ends flowing. The psalm has in mind Christ glorified and the Holy Spirit given. The garment, therefore, would suggest the assembly where matters are to be completed and orderly; “Let all things be done comelily and with order”, 1 Corinthians 14: 40. Tidiness should mark all assembly matters. The Lord’s garment had a hem. The Spirit of God tells us of it. How perfectly complete were all matters which Jesus did! “I have completed the work which thou gavest me that I should do it”, John 17: 4. And now the Spirit is here to help us that we may complete matters — and complete them well.
Now in considering the verses read we must take account of what precedes them. It says, earlier in the chapter, that Jesus had risen from the dead and that certain women had gone to the sepulchre where they had seen a man clothed in a white garment who had told them that Jesus was risen. They had received wonderful light, but they had run away terrified and had said nothing to anyone. Now that kind of thing will not help in a crisis. They were of no help at all. They are not presented by Mark in the same favourable light in which the other gospel writers picture them. Mark is concerned about unbelief in the saints. He tells us of the difficult conditions with which the Lord had to deal. This section tells us what Jesus did. He had power to overcome the unbelief that was in the hearts of the disciples. What skill He used! We might well wonder where matters would have ended had it not been for Him. And this is the point to which we must come when dealing with difficult issues. How much we need Him!
Mary of Magdala is referred to in verse 9. She is brought forward as a subject of the Lord’s work. It says that He had cast out seven demons from her: “out of whom he had cast seven demons”. Luke tells us that they went out, which means that the work of God in her was such that their abode was untenable. But Mark lets us know that it was a difficult matter, but the Lord had met it and had cast out the demons. But now she is available and the Lord speaks to her and she goes and tells the disciples that He had risen and that she had seen Him; but they disbelieved her. It is not only that they were unbelieving — it says that “they disbelieved”. It was not a question of their inability to take in what Mary said, but an attitude of resistance to the truth. They actively refused to believe her. This was the condition with which the Lord had to deal in view of making the disciples trustworthy persons.
Next we are told that the Lord was manifested in another form to two as they walked, going into the country. It was in another form. There was a different state of soul which had to be met in these. Why were they going to the country? Were they giving up? Were they finding the pathway of discipleship too difficult? Was discouragement turning them aside? These settings only serve to emphasize the skill which the Lord used to overcome unbelief in His own. The whole position seemed to be disintegrating. All was in jeopardy unless He came in and met the situation. But then, one sister is right. Mary of Magdala was available. She did not flee. She was not unbelieving. She brought the good news but she was disbelieved. And then the two who returned from the country came to the disciples, and they did not believe them. How serious is the matter! It says, “Neither did they believe them”. Sometimes conditions of unbelief amongst the saints seem to be just like that. It makes no difference what is said; there is resistance to the truth — they just will not believe! But, thank God, we can count upon the Lord coming in unless, of course, conditions become fixed. But that was not so here. Serious though conditions were the Lord still had in mind to bring about trustworthiness in them!
Well, the skill of the Lord is seen in the way in which He deals with the eleven. He manifested Himself to His unbelieving disciples as they lay at table. That was not an assembly setting. The Lord selected the time and the place and the conditions. And He will do just that. It was when they were restful and in a [p. 70] softened state — as they lay at table. He manifested Himself to them then and reproached them with their unbelief. He will not fail to administer a rebuke in cases where there is resistance to the truth. His words were no doubt severe, but how they must have affected their feelings! It says that He reproached them with their unbelief and hardness of heart. In chapter 8: 17 He had spoken sharply to them, “Have ye your heart yet hardened?”, He had said. And their hearts are still hard! But the Lord has in mind to make them trustworthy. He is using His skill to complete the matter!
The Spirit, through Mark, records for us that it was “the eleven”. One was missing. He had been dealt with, and rightly so. What an influence Judas must have been amongst the disciples! We are not told what he said in conversation with the eleven, but we can be sure that his influence had not been a good one. But he is not with them now. He is in no way responsible for their unbelief now. The fact that he is not here should help. But they are unbelieving and had resisted the truth brought to them by persons who were qualified to do so. And so the Lord rebuked them — He reproached them for their unbelief. Did they refuse His word? They received the rebuke and judged themselves and the unbelief in their hearts. How quickly it happened! How quickly matters were settled when they had to do with the Lord!
And then the Lord gave them a great commission. They were to preach the gospel to the whole creation. Was that commission given to unbelievers? Surely it was not. They were no longer unbelievers, but believers. How skilful was the Lord’s dealing with them! It had been severe, for He had reproached them, but it was effectual and it was complete. No question but that He had full confidence in them now. They are now trustworthy persons. How quickly it must have taken place! Immediate action characterises Mark’s [p. 71] writing. No doubt he felt that much time had been wasted by himself during the time that he was wrong. Time had become a precious commodity with Mark. It is not to be wasted. Mark frequently uses the word “immediately”. Indeed, it is a characteristic expression with him. And it is well that we take heed to the word and, if unbelieving, cease to continue in unbelief. Let us accept the rebuke and get right quickly. That would be Mark’s advice. And that is the way he records the adjustment of the eleven. It was an immediate matter. And so the Lord has confidence in them and commits this great service of the glad tidings to them as trustworthy persons.
Next we are told that He was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God, I am sure that He would be looking at the disciples as He was parted from them. How would He look at them? Would it be with doubts and misgivings? Would it be a look of rebuke? I am sure it would not be. It would be with dove’s eyes. How He loved them! and how they loved Him! He was leaving them as trustworthy witnesses. How well He knew that they were true to Him spite of their unbelief and hardness of heart! They were true lovers. And so it says, “And they, going forth, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs following upon it”.
And so, dear brethren, the Lord would show us how matters are carried through with skill and without delay. The time is short. May we be helped to complete matters in an orderly fashion!