The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 340

to the generous and considerate kindness of the Saviour, and to the instructive nature -of the sign. We discern in this narrative an illustration of- I. CamsT's ATTBACTIVE IIINIBTBY. A great multitude followed him to listen to his teaching, and were so absorbed in his words as to neglect attention to their bodily ,wants. Far from home, and without a supply of food, they hungered. Eatin"' of the .spiritual bread, they were satisfied in their souls. Dut they had bodiiy wants ,also. II. CsmsT's CONSIDERATE COMPASSION, A man himself, Jesus was touched with a feeling of human infirmities. He had k □ own hunger. 'l'he people had come frcm far; they had remained in the neighbourhood where he was for three days; their little stock of provisions was exhausted, and, should he send them away fasting, many might faint upon the road. All this Jesus thonght of, and his sympathy was aroused. He had ,compassion, not only upon their souls, but upon their bodies. III. CHRIST'S USE OF ORDINARY BUMAN RESOURCES AN"D MEANS. Jesus might doubtless ·have created bread of stones, as the tempter had once challenged him to do. But he chose :to use what provisions were at hand, and to make the few loaves and fishes which the ,disciples held as a reserve of food, the basis, so to speak, of his miraculous action. The Lord does not despise, or dispense with, human means or human agencies. As. on this occasion he directed his disciples to distribute the bread they had, so ever does he use his people and their powers and possessions as means of good to their fellow-men. IV. CmtrsT's DEVOUTNESS IN THANKSGIVING. Being himself the Son of the Father, ibe yet, in the name of the dependent children, acknowledged the bounty and bencfi- .cence of the Giver of all. V. Cnn1sT's MIRACULOUS POWER. "\Ve are not told how it came to pass, but it is ,recorded that the four thousand found the slender provision sufficient for all their wants. When the Saviour provides, there is always enough and more than enough for all. VI. CBRJBT'B FRUGALITY AND ECONOMY, The Lord was liberal, but not lavish. There was no waste in his arrangements. The broken pieces that remained were gathered, and doubtless saved and used. Because he miraculously supplied what was needed, it did not follow that he would suffer anything to be wasted and lost. Ver. 4.-Whence shall man's soul befcd1 God's creatures are altogether and for ever <lependent upon him. It is not now and then only that our Creator and Lord interposes upon our behalf, to supply our wants and to relieve our distresses. There are times when we specially recognize, and occasions when we specially feel, his care. But his l>ounty and watchfulness are, in fact, unceasing. "In him we live, and move, and have .our being;" "He openeth his hand, and satisfieth the desires of every living thing." Bread for the body, and bread for the soul, alilce are from, him. Our daily bread is his daily gift, nnd our daily remembrancer of him the Giver. In most cases the pro- vision is so regular, by reason of fruitful seasons, by which he fills us with joy and gladness, that men take the gifts of his providence as a matter of course, and are (in .instances) only now and then reminded of their dependence when he withholds his bounties. Our souls equally wait upon him, and to them be also giveth "their portion in due season." The sinless beings above doubtless receive from him abundant spiritual good, in an unceasi □ g stream. If our human spirits are not constantly and of course enriched by his Spirit, it is not that his loving-kindness is little or intermittent; it i~ because our sin prevents us from receiving what is, to believing, lowly, l\nd obedient natures, ever accessible. There is, accordingly, something altogether specin.l in the -supply provided for the deep and everlasting needs of human spirits. '!'he unfallen angels, by reason of their purity, have constant fellowship with God, and doubtless are .daily fed from his presence, and drink of the stream of his life. But we-poor, sinful children of men-need to be dealt with in a way Divine wisdom alone can devise, tc auit the emergency of our position. The plenty of the Divine granary must be Jrought to our perishing souls by a heavenly interposition and grace. It is in Christ Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Fatlur, that the bread of God becomes the bread of man. Needy, .And therefore longing for spiritual food; sinful, and therefore unable to obtain and par- .take of such food, except in the way Infinite wisdom and grace may open up to us,-we .aro in a pitiable case until the beneficent Father sc!l(_ls unto us a heavenly and e.11- ·BT. IIARK, Z 333 TllE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK, [oH, vnL 1-38,