Evening star., 1920-12-18
JESUS FEEDS THE MULTI
TUDE.
Matthew, 14.1-36.
Golden text. They have no
need to go away; give We them
to at."-Matthew. 14.16.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

Herod's beheading of John the
Baptist did not bring peace of mind
to the king, who. in his debauchery.
had ordered the prophets death to
comply with the unwise promise that
Herodias had entrapped him to give
to her daughter. He feared that
Jesus was none other than the Bap-
tist, for Herod believed that John
had come back to life and ascribed
the miraculous powers working In
Jesus to the Baptist's return to life.
The disciples of the forerunner
which was a prophecy of His own
end.
About this time the twelve returned
from their first missionary effort to
report to the Master their success.
Jesus recognized their need for
secluded place, where they might
make their reports of their cam
paigning for the kingdom. rest and
be refreshed in a comparatively quiet
place after their strenuous service.
His growing popularity had made
apostles almost impossible. They
started to a place upon the north
eastern shore of the Lake Of Galilee.
seeking a quiet retreat in secluded
spot near Bethsaida, planning to get
away from the crowds that kept COM
ing and going at the Capernum home
without giving them time to eat.
When they sailed for Bethsaida.
seeking a lonely place. the crowds
recognized them and, running along
in arriving there before the boat
reached the landing place. with multi
tudes, who were attracted from the
neighboring towns. The crowds kept
coming during the day. The Lord
was moved with pity for them be-
have no shepherd. and He proceeded"
after welcoming them. Ito teach
them many things" and to cure their
sick. The presence OF the multitude
changed the program of Christ. whose
divine compassion took in all the
needs of humanity. Their presence
was an irresistible call for help that
He could not deny.
In all of His healing ministry Jesus
never forgot that His mission was a
close relation between social service
and the spiritual life. He saw to it
that in his healing ministry that the
supreme purpose OF His work should
not be lost in social service by max
ing His philanthropic work a means
to aid His spiritual service. 1t was
proba bly, due to the fact that the
multitude. numbering 5000, whom he
fed in a lonely place near Bethsaida.
upon the grassy carpet. missed His
spiritual message that He brought
His ministry in Galilee to a close by
meeting their needs.
Jesus did not wait until the emer-
gency arrived. for He started the dis
ciples to solving the problem Of hos
pitality which was presented by the
presence of 5000 men, besides the
women and children, who probably
were not so n0nerous, by asking
Philip, who was q native of that sec
tion where food could be purchased
The Master knew how He would solve
the problem. but He was testing His
disciples. just as the present call to
relieve the starving and orphan chill
dren of Europe and the near east
tests our faith today. We can solve
our problem IL we respond to hurAsn-
ity's needs. for we have the food.
finance and organization. but the
twelve disciples in their investigation
OF the needs Of the multitude and
their limited resources came to the
Lord about o'clock with the sugges-
tion that the Master dismiss the con-
gregation so that they may 60 into
the villages and buy themselves
food
When Jesus told them to feed the