The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 279

Vers. 35-44.-The multitude fed. I. THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST. It is for the body as well as the soul. The foundation of work upon the soul is cure for the body. It is contrasted with the disciples' carelessness. Their spirit is that which leads men to get rid of irksome duty. "Send them away l" Let them shift for themselves. Christ's example teaches that where a want is seen, those who see it should be the first to seek to supply it. II. LoVE IS RIOH IN RESOURCES. It seemed a physical impossibility to feed those thousands without bread, without money. 'l'his beautiful story, like that of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in the old time, teaches that "a little may go a long way." If the best use is made of existing means, they will be found insensibly to multiply; not always by what we term a" miracle," i.e. some process out of the ordinary opera- tion of law, but in accordance with law, which may be better. III. METHOD IN BENEFICENCE. The multitude is broken up and distributed in parties, as if in preparation for a grand banquet. The spirit of love and goodness works by method. \Vhen we introduce order into our works, we reflect the law of Heaven and imitate the thought of God. Waste of material and waste of labour is generally for want of this. IV. IN GoD's FEASTS THERE IS EVER ENOUGH AND TO SPA.BE. The people were not only satisfied, but there was enough left to furnish forth a future repast. 'l'he whole is a parable of the troths and laws of the Spirit. Love is the deepest root of social and political economy. It teaches the value of means, in view of the greatness of the ends. It stimulates prudence and calculation, For the individual, the complaint is generally not sound, that he has "not enough to live on." 'l'o reduce wants is the same as to increase means, and is a sure secret of wealth. For the community, the far-reaching and benevolent wisdom of the legislature may avail more than mere abundance of harvests. With order, religious principle, liberality and frugality, the tables of the people will be furnished with bread. 'l'o cheapen the means of living and oppose war is the duty of the Christian politician.--,J, Vere. 45--52.-The vision on the lake. I. THE FRAILTY OF FAITH, 1. In loneliness. Jesus had gone away. The disciples were in the middle of the lake, amidst a stormy i;ea. It is a picture of a life-experience. In loneliness we sink into weakness and cowardice, having been brave in the fellowship and under the contagious influence of superiors. 2. In the withdrawal of its Object from the field of vision. They could not see Christ. We want to see, when the whole need is that we should trust. We want to unite incaxr.patible things; willing to trust so soon as we see a good prospect of safety; cast down with apprehension when the inner s_ight, kept clear, would open im vista of cheering hope. '!'hose men were yet to learn, 1D the language of one of them, to "believe in the Saviour, though now we see him not." II. TEBB.OB AT THE SUPERNATURAL. The.y saw Jesus passing, and were terrified, for they thought it waa a ghost. Involuntary fear in the presence of the supernatural is the symptom of our weak 11.Ild dependent nature. When Jesus appeared as Jesus, he drove all fear away; when he passed into the chiaro-oscuro of perception, standing as h were in a reofon intermediate between earth and heaven, as here on the lake, as on the )fount of T~ansfiguration, tmor fell upoJ>. their souls. Fear in the mind reflect& the cu. v1. 1-5G.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 277