Mark 3:9

3:6-12 All our sicknesses and calamities spring from the anger of God against our sins. Their removal, or the making them blessings to us, was purchased to us by the blood of Christ. But the plagues and diseases of our souls, of our hearts, are chiefly to be dreaded; and He can heal them also by a word. May more and more press to Christ to be healed of these plagues, and to be delivered from the enemies of their souls.

And he spake unto his disciples,.... In an authoritative way; he ordered and commanded them, that a small ship should wait on him: that a boat should be got ready, be near at hand, and attend him, who was on shore; that he might go into it, should there be any occasion for it; and from thence preach to the people: because of the multitude; which came from the above parts, and all together made a very numerous body of people: lest they should throng him; crowd, press, afflict, and distress, and make him uneasy, that he could not be able to stand conveniently, and preach to them: so that should this be the case, as it was very likely it would, having a small vessel near the shore, he could go into it, and free himself from such an inconvenience.

Verse 9. - And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship ( πλοιάριον ) - literally, a little boat - should wait on him προσκαρτερῆ αὐτῷ ) - literally, should be in close attendance upon him - because of the multitude, lest they should throng him . This shows in a very graphic manner how assiduously and closely the crowd pressed upon him, so that he was obliged to have a little boat always in readiness, in which he might take refuge when the pressure became too great, and so address them with greater freedom from the boat. St. Luke ( Luke 5:3 ) says, "He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship," making the boat, so to speak, his pulpit. Mark 3:9

A small ship - Rather a "boat." There were properly speaking, no "ships" on the Sea of Tiberias. This was probably a small boat that belonged to the disciples, in which he could draw off from the shore, and teach the people without being pressed by them. Lest they should throng him - They pressed upon him in great numbers. He had healed many, and those who were still diseased pressed or crowded on him, so that his labors were interrupted and embarrassed. He therefore withdrew from the multitude, and sought a situation where he might address them to greater advantage.

bestowed by the H. Spirit, manifest themselves as διακονιαι of Christ and as ἐ νεργηματα of God the Father and serve the congregation mutually for edification, 1 Corinthians 12:4v. But nevertheless Christ attached to the offices which he instituted in his congregation a special power, ἐ ξουσια, consisting in the preaching of the gospel, Matthew 10:7, Mark 3:14, 16:15, Luke 9:2, etc., in the administration of the sacraments, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24-26, in the doing of all kinds of miracles, Matthew 10:1, 8, Mark 3:15, 16:18, Luke 9:1, 10:9, 19 etc., in the retaining or forgiving of sins, Matthew 16:19, 18:18, John 20:23, in the shepherding of the flock, John 21:15-17, Hd. 20:28, in the exercise of discipline, Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:4, in the serving of the tables, Hd. 6:2, in the right to live from the gospel, Matthew 10:10, 9:4v., 2 Thess. 3:9, 1 Timothy 5:18. This description, which Scripture gives of the power of the church, indicates not only its indubitable existence, but also its complete independence and distinctiveness over against all other power in the world. There is manifold power and authority on earth, in family, society, state, art, science, etc. But ecclesiastical power is in essence distinct from all these and over against them completely autonomous. For all that other power is derived from God as Creator of heaven and earth, Romans 13:1, but this ecclesiastical power has its origin directly in God as the