Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-29
IAQ x


that. One loaf of bread for a thousand
men! and Yet there was no lack. The
DIVINE host dealt out from His unfaiiing
store: and His servants supplied the need
of all.
GATHERED.-There must have
oeen constant and increasing surprise
In the minds of the apostles who witness
ed and even assisted with the distribution
of food on that occasion. How and where
the multiplication occurred no one knows
-Whetner In the hands OF Jesus or OF HIS
helpers does not matter. The last mans
munger was fully satisfied verse ID.
Jesus ordered the gathering up of the
fragments-the supplies had been dealt
out with lavish hand. How strange
that there should be surplus. 1t was, IL
poss.bie greater marvel than that there
went forth. each with a basket, and each
returned with his basket full verse 49,.
Two ends were gained by this COLLECTION.
mere was a lesson in economy when
Jesus sought to enforce in the order
given duke xv:13, and there was also
fuller confirmation of the miracle How
remarkable that what they brought in
was more than they carried out II Kings.
xvii:16),
CONFESSED.-It was a. company OF
plain men that followed Jesus from place
to place. Unlike the Jealous and scowling
priests, they were open-hearted and un-
prejudiced. They welcomed the WORDS of
truth spoken in their hearing mark,
power. not only with wonder, but with
conviction that was strengthened as the
days passed. Hence the feeding of 5000
men with few loaves and fishes, so un-
lke all former miracles, drew out a noble
confession {verse IA. They turned from
one to another and spoke with evident
satisfaction, agreeing in their testimony
OF a truth this is that prophet that
should come into the world" a repetition
In substance Of what Andrew said to his
brother (Jnhn FAN Whof haf
thought and said. they now firmly be-
lleved The long expected Messiah Oeut.,
xviii:1o), eagerly desired by the nation
Matt, xi:9, promised by the prophets.
great day In the life Of any man when
the truth is received and acknowledged
DEPARTED.-This miracle Of the
feeding awakened the highest enthusiasm
In those who witnessed. They felt that
superior being was among them, one
who ought to be recognized. In the
minds of leading spirits there was a strong
purpose to make Jesus king and SO to
obtain deliverance from the hated rule
of the Romans. There may have been
some utterances and acts to that end.
Jesus discovered this movement and
quickly withdrew to escape from the peo-
pie First He repaired entirely alone to
the mountains nearby. leaving His dis
ciples who took their little boat to cross
the sea. In the night He walked on the
water and joined the disciples, who re-
ceived Him gladly.
CONCLUSION-The human n1ino
seldom perceives the truth pure and sim
pie. Generally something of error Is
mixed with it, and that error Is not
easily eliminated. Revolutions In the
state and agitations and schfsms In the
church have been caused by this unfor-
tunate admixture Of truth and error. It
was SO on this occasion. One might
have thought a great advance In the
cause of Christ had been secured when
the confession was made. But not SO.
The men who admitted Him to be the
expected prophet or Messiah, had false
notions of the character of that Messiah.
They supposed that He would be a tenn
poral prince. and would set up q gov
eminent, restoring sovereignty to the
Jewish nation and casting OF the Roman
yoke. Hence they attempted to mako
Jesus king (verse 15) and had they been
encouraged they would have followed Him
with shouts to Jerusalem. But the Lord
withdrew and went alone into q mountain.
Alas, the blind had seen the deeds, but
their sight was depraved. and they saw
not the real spiritual King.