and love of excitement, which are the principles that gather nearly every crowd in the world.
St. Mark says that " the people saw them departing, and many knew him : and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him." (Mark vi. 33.) This they might easily do by going round the head of the lake, to the point where Bethsaida was.
3. — [Jesus went up into a mountain.'] The Greek here would be more correctly rendered " into the mountain." Whether there is any special reason for this we cannot tell. — It may be the one mountain which stood there, in contradistinction to the more level ground composing the district. Thomson, the American traveller, expressly says that there is a "bold headland" here, with "a smooth grassy spot " at the base, " capable of seating many thousand people." — It may possibly be " that particular hill " to which our Lord was in the habit of going when He visited the district near Bethsaida. — It may be the " hill country " generally, or mountainous district near Bethsaida.
[His disciples.] This expression includes not only the twelve who had been chosen and set apart by our Lord by this time, but many others who professed themselves His disciples. Many of them, it would appear from this very chapter (verse 66), were not really believers, and in course of time fell away. If Christ Himself had many such disciples and followers, ministers now- a-days (even the very best) must not be surprised to find the same state of things among their people.
L'—[The passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.] John's habit of explainmg Jewish customs for the benefit of Gentile readers, should here be noticed.
The approach of the passover feast is no doubt specially men- tioned in order to show the suitableness of our Lord's discourse in this chapter to the season of the year. The minds of His haarers would doubtless be thinking of the passover lamb, and its flesh about to be eaten and blood about to be sprinkled. Our Lord takes occasion to speak of that "flesh and blood" which must be eaten and drunk by all who would not perish in sin. It is an instance of that divine wisdom with which our Master spoke " words in season," and turned everything to account.
Let it be noted that our Lord did not keep this passover in Jerusalem to all appearance, but remained in Galilee. Yet He generally observed all the ordinances of the law of Moses most strictly, and "fulfilled all righteousness." The reason evidently is, as llollock remarks, that the enmity and persecution of the leading Jews at Jerusalem made it impossible for Him to go there. It would have cut short His ministry and brought on His death
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befcre the time. May we not also learn here that the use of outward orlinances and ceremonies is not so absolutely neces- sary that they can never be dispensed with ? Grace, and repen- tance, and faith are absolutely needful to salvation. Sacraments and ordinances are not.
The near approach of the passover may possibly account in part for the crowds who were assembled on this occasion. Not a few of the people perhaps were on their way to Jerusalem, to keep the passover feast, and were drawn out of their road by hearing of our Lord's miracles.
5. — [ TT'^en Jesus then lifted up His eyes and saw a great company!] "We must not conclude from these expressions, that our Lord was suddenly surprised by the appearance of a great crowd. On the contrary, Matthew and Mark both tell us that before He wrought the miracle which we are about to read of, He had felt com- passion for the multitude, because they were " as sheep not having a shepherd," and had " taught them m-any things." (Mark vi. 34.) — When this teaching was over, He seems to have taken a survey of the crowd before Him, and seeing how large it was, proceeded to show His tender concern for the wants of men's bodies as well as of their souls. A great crowd is always an impressive and solemn sight. It is an interesting thought that the same eyes which looked compassionately on the crowd here, are still look- ing at every crowd, and especially at every crowd of persons assembled in Grod's name.
\He saWi unto Philip, whence.... huy.... eat] Our Lord's reason for asking this question is given in the next verse. But it is worth notice that there was a certain propriety in asking Phihp this question, because Philip "was of Bethsaida," the very town near which they were all assembled. (John i. 44.) Our Lord tl \erefore might reasonably appeal to Philip, as one most likely and able to answer His question, whether it were possible to buy bread for such a multitude. He would of course know the capabilities of the neighbourhood. The idea, maintained by Chrysostom, Burgon, and others, that Philip was a disciple pecu- liarly slow to recognize Christ's Godhead, and therefore requiring special appeals, seems to me a far less satisfactory solution.
G. — [77iis He said to prove him.] "We find the s3me kind of pro- cedure on other occasions. When our Lord appeared to the two disciples at Emmaus, we read that after His discourse "with them, "He made as though He would have gone further." (Luke xxi. 28.) This was " to prove" whether they really wished for more of His company. — When on another occasion He came to the disciples walking on the sea, St. Mark says, " He would have passed by them." (Mark vi. 48.) When in this very chapter He would draw forth an expression of faith from His dii-