The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 273

Too often we are unmindful of this teaching, and attribute our suocesses ~o our own skill and strength. Therefore God allows some disaster to come, so that in the recog• nition of human helplessness Divine goodness may begin to be considered. 11 Lord, we cannot satisfy this great necessity," said the disciples; and as they looked despon• dently on the handful, he looked hopefully and thankfully to heaven, leading them to think of him who satisfies the desire of every living thing. II. WE SHOULD ALWAYS CULTIVATE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERAjl'rON FOB OTHERS. These people, on their way to the Passover at Jerusalem, had turned •side to hear the Prophet of Nazareth. They did not profess to be his followers, although they were sufficiently interested in what they heard to remain till all their provisions were exhausted. Then the disciples thought it was time that they should depart, and were unprepared for the command," Give ye them to eat." Our Lord was not like those Christians who with• hold their sympathy from all but their fellow-believers, nor did he argue that the hungry people ought to have foreseen the difficulty, and made reasonable provision to meet it. He was the "express Image" of him who is kind to the unthankful and to the unworthy. God never withholds his beneficence till his creatures deserve it. He watches the supplanter leaving his father's house after a shameful sin, and even to him, in his merited loneliness, the heavens are opened. He hears the murmuring of the people of Israel, yet causes the manna to fall round about their camp. And when he sees no sign of the world turning to him, he sends for its redemption his only begotten Son; and "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly." The goodness of the Lord, as well his chastisement, should lead us to repentance. Through us that goodness should reveal itself to others. Jesus said of this undeserving crowd, "I have compassion on the multitude;" and so he sought to inspire his disciples with pitifulness towards all who are in need. Ill. WE OUGHT WILLINGLY TO 111.A.KE SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS EVEN WHEN Otra GIFTS SEEM INADEQUATE TO THEIR WANTS. The disciples themselves were hungry, and all that was to be had was this bread and &h which a boy in the crowd was carrying; but of it Jesus said, "Bring them hither to me." At once it was given up, though it was evident that what might have snfliced for the twelve disciples was ridiculously insuf- ficient if divided between five thousand men, besides women and children. Yet even this, which was very small as a gift, but very great as a sacrifice, was by the Lord's blessing made enough for all It is the sacrifice in it which constitutes the value of every offering presented to God. We might have supposed that one with infinite power would have despised so trivial a supply as this; but God always uses what man has, as far as it will go. Even under the wing of the cherubim the hand of a man must be. When man can do nothing, God does all; but when man can do anything, God requireo he should do it to the utmost. The manna will cease directly it is possible to revert to the old law of sowing and reaping. It is thus with Christian enterprise. The world shall be won for Christ-not independently of human effort, but as a result of God's work through it. Concerning all that we can offer of wealth and talent and work, though it is inadeqnate to the world's necessity, Christ says, "Bring it hither to me."-A. R. Vera. 45-51.-Christ walking on tM sea. Thie miracle was no unmeaning portent, but was full of spiritual significance. In Scripture the people are often spoken of under the figure of the sea and its waves (Dan. vii. 3; Rev. xiii. 1). Christ had just assuaged popular passion, and now he calmed the troubled sea, which was symbolic of it. Here, then, we may see a sign of the com.ing dominion of the spirit of Christianity over the sea. of nations. We content ourselves, however, now with learning a few truths res_pecting our Lord and his disciples which are exemplified here. L WE LEARN RESPECTING otra LoRD: 1. Ohrise's disciples would send away the peopl~ who were hungry, but Christ himself sends them away WMn they are too well satisfied. (Compare vers. 36, 45.) The reason for dismissing the crowd is given in John vi. 16. They were greatly excited by a miracle, repetitions of which would ensure the provi• sioning of armies, and the success of a revolution. Hence Christ sent them away. "He hath filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he h&th sent empty away." The prodigal is welcomed when he comes home starving and helpless, We must go to him acknowledging sin and weakness, and not confident in ourselves, 2. Christ withdrew 011. vi.1-66.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 271