The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-20
A Great Task.

physical need of the multitude.
A Great Task.
st. John tells us In this connection
of the conversation with Philip. Phil
ip lived in Bethsaida near by, yet to
feed this multitude was for him too
great a task, even with his knowledge
of the resources at hand, John 6:5-7.
Yet We need not be surprised at Phil
lp's slowness of faith. Moses in like
manner was once nonplussed how to
feed six thousand in the wilderness.
see Mum. 11:21-23. 1t is not so much
rs to how great the need o how lit
tie We possess, but rather is the little
given to God.
Another disciple, Andrew, who had
discovered the Saviour unto Peter, dis
covers as though in desperation a boy
whose mother had thoughtfully pro-
,ided him with a lunch consisting OF
I've barley biscuits and two small
cried herring John $50, at least that
much remained. 1t is a great COM
A2entary upon the tide of interest at
mis- time that this boy should not
ave eaten his lunch, for a boys hun
; er is proverbial. 1t seems as though
.esus emphasizes the helplessness of
the diciples in order that he may show
Lis power. His command, give We
tlem," ". 30 teaches us that We are
to give such as we have, not look to
tthers. nor do our charity by proxy.
Prov. 11:24, 25.
Again the Saviour asks his disciples
10 see ". 3S) as though he would
teach them the boundless resources Of
lis kingdom. Give what you have and
lie will bless and increase it to the
applying of the needs of the multi
tude. The secret of success was when
he took the loaves and looking up"
for God also saw on that day, and
blessed it.
We need to observe the systematic
procedure. The people seated or re-
clining upon the ground in rank or
Ly companies. The Master blessing
and breaking the boys cakes and CIV
ing first to the disciples, for God only
works such miracles through human
agencies, and then giving to the peo-
ple. The result of this systematic pro-
cedure was that "all did eat" and
further, they were satisfied, V. AZ. Not
alone, however, was there Divine Or
der and lavishness, but there was
ono and thrift as well, for Jesus
gave careful directions as to the frag-
ments. The lavishness is shown by
the fact that the baskets into which
the fragments were gathered were
each large enough in which to sleep.
Living Bread.
The conversation process was a
singing rebuke to the improvident
orientals, and to the present day prodi-
gals of that wonderful bounty with
which God has blessed our land.
God gives to us that we may use.
Joy dies unless it is shared. Jesus,
the living bread John 6:48) will salts
fy hunger, and life, as bread, gener-
ates in the human body heat, energy,
Vitality, power, etc, 80 he would feed
the hungry souls OF mankind. We
have at hand the Word; it is for lack
of 1t that men die in the deepest sense
of that word.
The poverty and perplexity OF the
disciples in his presence and the pres
ence of this great need Is being re-
peated over and over today and yet II
is absurd. We have not enough to
feed the multitude. Our few loaves OF
amusements, mental activities, ETC.,
will not feed them, but when we break
unto them the Living Bread they have
enough and to spare. The words OF
the late Maltbie Babcock are appro-
pirate in this connection:
Back Of the loaf Is the snowy nour,
And back Of the flour the mill,
And back of the mill IN the wheat and
the shower 7.
cA &ha nv and fha Fafhersa vii.