Mark 6:14-16 - Homilies By E. Johnson

Wonder and fancy.

Incidentally how much light on human nature do we gain from the Gospels!

I. PERSONAL FORCE ALWAYS ATTRACTS ATTENTION . The man cannot be hidden. Even the "lion" of the hour merely is an expression of spiritual force. Who is he? whence came he?

II. THE POPULAR CONSCIENCE RECOGNIZES THE FORCE OF CHARACTER . They felt that something new had come into the world of thought and feeling. It is always worth while taking note of the direction of popular interest. Herod learned much from the people. However wide of the mark their conjectures as to the personality of Jesus might be, their instinctive recognition of his greatness was unerring.

III. THE SUPERSTITION OF THE BAD MAN . It is often seen that unbelief and superstition, as in the expressive language of the Germans, Unglaube and Aberglaube , are generally found together, springing from One root. The truth is, that in an idle, voluptuous mind any sort of thought springs up, rife as weeds in warmth and rain. The only way to think truly is to feel purely and act rightly.—J.