The Clio messenger., 1921-06-02

geSteQ III nlults
~ 4:23-25. Consider
the superlatives
here: "All Galilee;" "All manner OF
Sickness" "All manner of disease.
What clinicl His fame Went
throughout all Syria. They brought
unto Him all sick people and he
healed them. Had ever physician or
surgeon such success? "And there fol-
lowed Him great multitudes OF peo-
ple." What renown! The whole
country was stirred to wild enthusi-
asm. Over the hills and valleys or
Galilee-far away to the south to Jeru-
salem-across the Jordan into Syria.
the news was carried Of the strange
and unaccountable deeds of this new
prophet.
One day the situation became so In
tense that popularity spelled peril.
Jesus, to prevent riOtous demonstra-
tion, had to disentangle Himself from
the crowd by taking ship across the
Sea Of Galilee to His prayer retreat In
the mountain. But the people were
not so easily dispersed. This only
served to inflame their ambitions. They
determined to press their demands.
Around the head of the lake vast
procession pursues, as the boat carries
Him away from them. They will find
Him on the other side, but when they
arrive He is gone. Whittier they know
not. They are aroused from their In
tent, to realize a gnawing hunger at
the close of day In waste and barren
desert.
Boys Lunch Feeds Multitude.
The watchful eye of Jesus was upon
the surging seething throng. He
knew their need. His compassion was
touched. He came to their relief. But
what could He do? No money-no
bread, no shops-nothing Of human re-
source to meet this tremendous need.
Oh! gleam of hope! Andrew has
found boy with few bites for q
lunch-not loaves-not fishes, but five
slices and two sardines. But what are
these? Nothing to q man-less to q
crowd Of thousands-but to Jesus suf-
ficient for every need. He used what
boy gave Him and fed full every
member of that host and they took up
twelve baskets Of fragments. The res
idue far exceeded the original invest
ment. 1t always does In His hands.
Far more passionate than before be-
came the multitude, now hunger ap-
peased, until turned into wild tumul-
tuous throng that clamored to make
Jesus king. Why not? A king who
could feed them with miracle bread
when hungry, who could command
their diseases and conquer their dev-
lis, who could meet every crisis with
such poise and serenity! The cry was
lifted, Lead on, o King from five
thousand voices. But behold, he re-
spends not He Is unmoved by this
uprising. He again eludes the crowd.
But nothing save kingship thrust upon
Him would calm their emotional tenn
pest. They take up the trail again.
until they find Him in Capernaum the
next day.
His opportunity has now come. They
must have the mists Of delusion dis
PEELED. They must know His terms Of
kingship. He knows their hearts. He
dares to tear off the mask: "Ye seek
me for the loaves and fishes"
Turn Away Offended.
What a rebukel Their selflshness
was unclothed. They began to mur-
muir. They challenged Him with ques-
tions. Slowly He dropped the veil Of
prophet and miracle worker and dis
closed His real Identity as Messiah
Son of God, Eternal Bread Of Heaven.
They looked In skeptical wonder.
What can he mean? How can he give
us his flesh to eat? Why, he's crazy.
His head Is turned. We know his
mother. We know the carpenter shop
where he worked with his father. We
know the town he came from. He is
beside himself. Think Of what he is
saying He will give eternal life
Why, this is blasphemyl "And from
that time many Of His disciples walked
no more with Him."
How largely this pictures the atti-
tude Of the world to Jesus ever since
turning the back on Him. Oh, the
crowds fed by Him, protected by Him,
who have turned their backs, His only
reward for compassion and provision.
Oh, why are men offended in Jesus?
In almost every crowd, when the gos-
pei has been preached, some have mur-
INJURED. disbelieved, rebelled, turned
away--never to come back. Why?
"Men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil."--
John 3:19. And their darkened minds
fail to understand His message.
They stumble at the cross--"Christ
crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling
block, and unto the Greeks (Gentiles)
foolishness."--I Cor. :23.
"They could not enter In because OF
unbelief. 3:19.
20, taste and see tnat the Lord IA
good; blessed is the man that trusteth
In Him Psalms 34:S.