The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-09-20

NH ~ ~ N'N way NN'N
by all four gospel writer's.
The returning disciples ", 30) are
urged by tho Master to come with him
into a desert place that they might
rest, and also that he might comfort
their hearts oyer the death OF John
the Baptist. They had no leisure"
Jesus knew the need and also the
proper use Of leisure. But the multi
tude would not grant this and locked
to his retreat In the desert. They saw
and followed that they might listen
to his gracious words or behold some
new wonder, but Jesus also saw and
ministered, v. "a. Carlisle said he saw
In England forty millions, mostly
fools" Not so with Jesus. He saw
and was moved, not with sarcasm, but
with compassion. which compassion
took a tangible form o. service, 1t Ia
Interesting to note in verse "a that tho
compassion Of Jesus led him first OF
all to teach. It Is better to teach a
man how to help himself than to help
the man. We also infer from this
verse that the soul of n man Is OF
more value than his body, II Is not
enough, however, to say, God bless
you, be fed and warm" when a man
Is hungry. So It Is that Jesus listened
to his diciples when they saw the
physical need of the multitude,
A Great Task.
Ct IZhn t,tIa a., L., fbin nnunnnAtpN
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,
sec Mum. 11:21.23. 1t Ia not go much
as TO how great the need nor how lit
tie We possess. but rather Is the little
given to God,
Another disciple, Andrew, VINO had
discovered the Saviour unto Peter, dis.
covers as though In desperation a boy
whose mother had thoughtfully pro.
vided him with a lunch consisting Of
Ave barley biscuits and two small
dried herring John 500, at least that
much remained, 1t Ia q great com
mentary upon the tide Of interest at
this time that this boy should not
have eaten his lunch, for a boys hun
ger is proVerbial. 1t seems as though
Jesus emphasizes the helplessness OF
the diciples In order that he may show
his power. His command, give ye
them" ". 37) teaches us that we are
to give such az we have, not look to
others, nor do our charity by proxy.
PROV. 11:24, 25. (
Again the Saviour asks HIS disciples
to see ". 38) as though he would
teach them the boundless resources Of
his kingdom. Give what you have and
he will bless and increase It TO the
supplying Of the needs OF the multi
tude. The secret Of success was when
he took the loavos 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 ranks or
by 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-
pie. 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 OF,
der and ~lavishness, but there was
economy and thrift as we'll, for Jesus
gave careful directions az to the frag'
ments. The l%ayishness 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 improyident
orlentals, 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 6:4S) viii salts.
fy hunger, and life, as bread, gener,
ates In the human body heat, energy,
vitality, power, etc, 30 he would feed
the hungry souls Of mankind. Wa
have at hand the Word; It Is for lack
OF II that men die In the deepest sense
Of that word.
The poverty and perploxity Of the
disciples In his presence and the pres.
ence Of this great need Is being re.
peated owe and over today and yet II
Is absurd. We have not enough to
feed the multitude. Our few loayes Of
amusements, mental activities, etc,
will not feed them. but when we break
unto them the Living Bread they havo
enough and TO spare, When our Lord
has the handling Of our loaYes then
they are charged with now power and
are for the satisfying Of the nations.
Jesus welcomed the multitude
though the disciples would send them
away. Jesus saw their need spiritual.
ly though the disciples saw only the
physical need. Jesus saw the abuE,
dant resources Of the Father (Phil.
4;19), whereas the disciples saw only
their poverty and helplessness
The disciples had, however, learned
to know Jesus well enough to obey.
and 30 though his commands seemed
out Of reason they at once segan 10
give to the people, and as they gave,
not before, the food was multiplied.
They drew not from an earthly. bnt
O heavenly, ~storehouse. The multituds
also obeyed. IT We be willing and obedi.
ant va eh,1l aat ~ the vnn1 ~ the