Evening star., 1917-03-03
By Rev. Il. T. Stevenson.


Combination of events and circum-
stances has turned the thought of the
world toward the second Inauguration
Of President Wilson. Men recognize
that America has reached the parting
Of the ways. and under God in no small
way the destiny of the world and the
future of America are being determined
by the events that are now molding
history, the attitude of President
Wilson as he assumes the presidency
for the second term being one of the
most important factors In deciding
human destiny and the welfare of hu-
manity.
Jesus had reached the decisive hour
IN His ministry when the remarkable
events OF this lesson took place that
resulted in His refusing to accept the
political leadership of His nation. The
Importance of this incident was recog-
nized by each of the evangelists, for it
is the only event In the Masters min
istry that is recorded by all of them
Several events conspired to force upon
the Lord Jesus a decision concerning
the rulership that affected all subse-
quent history. 1t was about year
after the events Of last weeks study
when the drawing near of the Pass
over filled the people with the popular
feelings Of patriotism and religion
Herod had beheaded. filled the masses
with popular indignation and made
them ready to throw off their political
allegiance to Rome. The success of
the missionary tour OF the twelve, with
the attraction of the disciples of John
the Baptist to the Master. would have
made 1t easy for Jesus. with His mirac-
ulous power, to set up a kingdom that
might hold its own even against Rome.
The feeding of the 5000 at the psyche
logical moment crystalIized public
opinion in favor of making Christ
Jesus king, The course OF events COM
PEELED the Master to determine whether
or not he would yield to the pressure
of public opinion when he left the
crowded city of Capernaum for a period
Of rest and reflection in a secluded sec
tion of Bethsaida.
The presence Of visitors in the city
VINO were converging there to join in
pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Pass
over made it impossible for the COM
passionate Christ to leave without his
going being detected by the multitude
held the signs which He did on them
that were sick" When the Master and
His tlieciples reached the grassy plain
Of Butaiha on the northeastern shore
Of tho Jordan. near where it entered
the lake. also called the sea of Tiberias.
where He had planned to refresh the
weary and worn-out apostles. who are
30 called for the first time. upon their
return from the missionary tour. they
found the place was already crowded
with people who in their zeal to he
hear tho Master and to behold his
miracles had "outran Jesus"
His disciples would have gladly
turned them away. but the heart of the
Christ was full of compassion when He
saw their condition. like sheep-tired,
torn by thickets, tormented by beasts
without shepherds protection. The
1-~~ -. 1-I
the Master. At rush hour every day.
when the streets are crowded. the heart
OF the Christ beats in sympathy. with
every person whose face and form be-
tray the hidden tragedy or heavy bur-
den. The weary and heavy laden one
may not know that the Master is
watching over them and is anxious that
they should allow Him to bear their
burden and share their sorrow. Christ
demonstrated not only by word. but
also by works the practical message of
the gospel of the kingdom for men as
Matthew renorts. He ministered unto
them and healed their sick
The presence Of the multitude gave
faith Of some OF Hts disciples and de-
velop their spiritual vision by present.
ing to Philip the difficult problem to
solve Of where are-we to buy bread
that these may eat" They were in the
section where Philip was at home and
he naturally ought to know its re-
sources. Philip was a rather unrecep-
tive and slow man" and was not quick
enough to understand that the re-
sources of the Lord who knew what He
would do as host to supply the hungry
multitude Emergencies are opportuni-
ties that test men and reveal their
spiritual denendence. Philips answer,
which probably was a result of a con-
ference among the disciples proves
that he had not understood the Master.
who did not seek to know how" but
where' could they buy. In consider
Ing their resources before the source of
supply they failed to meet their on
portunity. Just as many today are fail