Evening star., 1924-11-08

| nave passed since the WOrld w ar
was brought to a close by an armi-
stice, which men hoped marked the
| end of all wars. They have been con-
tinued and iare still being carried on
| because men and nations have not
| yet learned the message Jesus sought
to teach in connection with the feed
| ing of the 5000. When His gospel
is carried out international good
| will" and permanent peace will be
established among men.
A combination of events forced
Jesus TO consider the political leader
ship of His countrymen. His refusal
| marked the decisive hour in our
Lords ministry and the history Of
| the world. The murder of John the
| Baptist, whom Herod had recently
| beheaded, aroused the spirit of revo-
luton among the masses. Pilgrims
pouring into Capernaum, en- route to
! Jerusalem to attend the Passover,
| were filled with the spirit of patriot
| off the yoke of Roman authority.
| Their presence increased the num-
ber who desired national freedom.
| Herods inquiry concerning Jesus In
| creased the tendency of Johns dis
! ciples to attach themselves to Christ
as his successor. The apostles had
just returned from a missionary tour
that had increased the popularity of
| Jesus.
1t was "after these things" that
| Jesus took His disciples to Sc
| cluded place near Bethsaida, SO that
| they might secure a needed rest. The
| place selected was outside of Herod' s
| territory. This insured them freedom
from state interference during their
| period of rest and review of the
| apostles service. 1t was located
/
near where it e ers the Sea of Gal
| lice. Jesus was at the height of His
popularity. His preaching power and
personality had attracted attention
and won recognition from all classes.
His departure was observed A great
| crowd followed Him on foot. They
| were moved by idle curiosity, love of
| excitement and in some cases a de-
! sire to be healed. 1t is not surpris-
| ing to read that they came because
| they beheld the signs which He did
| on them that were sick Watching
| His boat from the shore, some of the
/! crowd had reached the place before
the Master arrived with His apostles.
Chrixt's Compassion.
Christ felt no resentment at their
! presence. The needs of humanity
always appealed to Him. His heart
| beat in sympathy with the crowd,
whom He considered to be like sheep,
| tired. torn by thorns, tornented by
| beasts without a shepherds protec-
| ton. We learn from Matthew that
throughout the day He preached to
| the crowd that kept coming in in
creasing numbers and ministered un-
| to their needs until the shadows of
| evening brought a suggestion from
| the disciples that He dismiss the
| multitude. SO that they could be fed.
Emergencies are opportunities that
| test men and reveal their spiritual
vision and dependence upon God.
Jesus took advantage of the needs
of the crowd to test the faith of
some of His disciples and develop
their spiritual power. He put the
problem up to Philip. who was a
| native of that locality. by asking
him where are we to buy bread that
these may eat?' Philips answer,
which probably was the result of
conference with the other apostles,
proves that they had not grasped
Christ's Question, much less His pro-
gram The Lord had not asked
how" but where" could they buy
bread. In considering their resources
before thinking of the source of
supply, they failed to meet their op-
portunity Of service. Men are failing
today to do what ought to be done
because they consider their limited
resources before considering Gods
unlimited supply.
Every member of that crowd was
expected to take care of his own
personal needs The proposition to
spend 200 denari, which would be
equivalent to average daily wages of
200 men, would have bankrupted
their treasury. Andrew had discov-
cred a in
five small barley crackers and two
small dried or picked fishes that
he expected to eat with his bread
The lad had enough for his needs
but Andrew considered it an impos-
sibility to supply the enormous de-
mands of the multitude with such a.
limited quantity.
Miraculous Provision.
Jesus had another plan. True to
His generosity, He started to feed
the 5000 men. not counting the wom-
en- and children, by securing the bows
supply. Christ recognized it's hidden
potential powers All of our posses
sions would become greater if we
dedicated them to the service of men
by bringing them to Jesus Another
element in connection with the mir
acle, that impresses one, is the use of
system and of helpers. They could
not be fed, as mob, so he directed
His apostles to divide them into
groups and to let them sit down in
rows of so and 100 upon the grass.
Their variegated costumes gave them
the appearance of flower garden.
when His commands were observed.
Standing before them with the
scant supply Of the lad in His hands,
Jesus offered a prayer Of thanks
giving. 1t was customary for the
heads of Jewish households to give
thanks preceding every meal, but
there was something about the
Masters methods that was unique.
The multitude could see the food
literally increase in His hands as He
broke up the fish and bread and
directed the apostles to distribute it
among the crowd. Christ cared for
the needs of all. just as God today in
His loving care provides for the needs
of every living soul. He, however,
uses now, as then, the assistance of
men. Our Lord has a place for all
of His followers. He needs the help
of all in meeting the problems of
the hour.
Crown Refused.
The miracle revealed the Masters
executive ability. He showed His
thoughtfulness and care for the weak
and needy. His action in saving the
fragments, which when gathered up
filled IL baskets. was noted. Each
disciple probably filled the wicker
basket that all travelling Jews car
ried with them. The crowd was i'm
pressed with the idea that Jesus was
the prophet concerning whom Moses,
who had fed their fathers in the wilder
ness, had spoken; Johns disciples saw
in the feeding a sign that the Master
was the Messiah. The people went
wild with excitement and determine