The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 277

Jesus withdraws them" apart into a desert place, to res't a while." "But they could no, be hid. The people saw them departing, and gathered, '.' from all the cities, a grea, multitude." To the eye of the Merciful they were II as sheep not bavinV, a shepherd," and his deepest sympathies were touched. 11 He bad compassion on them,• and he "healed. their sick," and he became the Shepherd of their souls, and II began to teaoh them many things." So the day passes and the evening draws nigh, and the disciples in their fear desire him to send the people away to" buy themsell'es something to eat," little know- mg that the source of all was near at hand. Jesus' demand to .the disciples to II give them to eat" quickly evoked the demand, 11 Shall we go and buy?" for little reeked they that " five loaves" and "two fishes" could feed so great a multitude. But he, "looking up to heaven, blessed," and that for which he blessed was blessed; and he brake, and still he hra~;' for pro~bly th:e increase was in his hands. "And they did all eat, and were filled. So the msuffic1ency of our poor human resources is shown to be no hindrance to the accomplishment of the great Divine purposes; and the folly of having regard to our means alone is strikingly shown. Five loaves, with his blessing who gives bread daily, a.re ample:to meet the wants of a multitude, In those five loaves were the apostles-so small a band-represented. How could they meet the needs of the world? But he would meet that need, and with but a little Church, a few apostles, and a few writings; and this he foreshadowed. The ground of the world's hope lies in his compassion and his means of help. Rut the miracle stands for ever to condemn the fear of those who think that the time must come when the fields will be insufficient to feed the nations of men. The II compassion" which then saw the multitudes will still be awake, and the power which could feed that multitude on a few cakes will in all time give daily bread for the asking. To fear in the presence of Goel for our life, what we shall eat, is as grave a fault as to fear him is a lofty virtue. The miracle is a doing in an unusual way what at all other times is done by well-known and ordinary methods-methods that are so regular in their orderly succession we are led to depend upon them as unfailing; and we call them "laws of nature." I. It teaches us (if we did not otherwise know it) that all feeding is from the Divine hand. II. It declares that God feeds men in tenderness and compassion. The bread comes to the thoughtful, made savoury with the Divine goodne;;s. III. It points us to those many processes of nature which are (like the disciples in this account) the hands of the servants of his will to bear to us God's gifts. IV. It shows to us tha.t, in all God's good gifts to us, the littleness of the human means and of natural resources is no hindrance to the fullest satisfaction of our wants. V. It illustrates to us that in God's house economy reigns, and that with all plentifulness there is to be no wast-nothing lost. His gifts are precious in his own sight at least. VL And it quietly teaches the duty of a thankful reception of all he bestows-a blessing God for his gifts, which speedily returns as a blessing upon the gift. But though this miracle met the bodily wants, and though it teaches its good lessons concerning the care that in compassion gives daily bread to the needy, yet it haB its lofty spiritual aspect. It leads our wondering and admiring thoughts up to him who is the Bread of life to the world, and the very Life itself. And it demands from disciples that they catch the spirit of their Master, and in compassion care for every multitude in every place that" is desert.n-G. Vere. 1-6.-0lirist at home. I. THE WONDROUS IN EVERY-DAY LIFE, When they heard him in the synagogue they were " much struck," Mark says. Where did an this wisdom come from ? So does the parent wonder at the sayings of the child. "Where did he get such thoughts?" The boy goes from the village, and soon comes back to astonish the gossip, with his broad views of life and his easy and confideni manners. Experience is full of these surprises. Nothing is more astonishing now than the empire which the Child of Nazareth sways in the world of thought and conduct. IL THE JEALOUSY OF H0ME-GBOWN GREATNESS. The people of Nazareth stumbled at Jesus, So are our thoughts under the tyranny of custom, If one should tell m, that our little son or brother was great, we should find it hard to believe. 'Tis want OH, VJ, 1-V.:.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 275