The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 342

the cose of our epirituolly dependent and hungering race I The world is the scene of our triol ond proving, the occasion of our manifold temptations. Of what use is it to look to it for sympathy, succour, strength, and salvation? It ca!l.not satisfy you, search and prove it how you may. Is thot rich and luscious fruit that han"'s from yonder bough? Alas I it is the apple of the Dead Sea, dust and ashes betwee~ the teeth. Is that a lake of sweet, pellucid waters which gleams in the glowing sun in yonder hollow? Alas! it is the mirage of the desert, which mocks the thirsty travellers, offering them sand for water. So wit,h the pretences of the world to satisfy the hungering soul. These 1)fetences are vanity and delusion. Equally vain to help, though more honest, is the world, when its response is otherwise. It sometimes acknowledges its utter powerless- ness: none to help, none to pity, none to deliver and to save I Whilst some who reject and despise the message of religion abandon themselves to selfish and worldly aims, and seek to still the voice of conscience and to repress the aspirations of the soul in the pursuits of pleasure, pelf, or power, there are others in whose breasts is no peace and no hope. They cry aloud in the wilderness; but no answer comes to them, save the mocking echoes from the hard, dead rock. No truth, no law, no grace, no hope, no heaven, no God l Such is their interpretation of the echoes of the desert. And we cannot wonder that, incredulous of every higher, better message, they abandon them- selves to doubt, despondency, despair. From this cheerless and desolate prospect, let us turn to facts fitted to gladden every depressed and anxious heart. III. The language suggests to us THE DIVINE PROVISION OF THE BREAD OF LIFE. When the disciples of Jesus asked him this question, "Whence shall one be able to satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" they must have been thinking of their own inability. For they could not have forgotten how, not far from this very spot and not long since, their Mo,ter bad fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. If they had been there without him, they might h'lve been as helpless as they were when the father of the lunatic boy brought his son into their presence, and entreated their compassion and aid. But the Lord Jesus was himself the answer to this inquiry. He had but to bless the bread, and distribute it by the hands of the disciples, and, for even so vast a multitude, tLere was "bread enough and to spare." Thousands were fed when Jesus was the Master of the feast. No mirac]eg were more evidently and decisively than these of feeding the thousands, parables concerning. Christ himself. St. John has recorded the discourse which our Saviour uttered in Capernaum, in which Jesus asserted his own mission and ollice and power. "My Father,'' said he, "giveth you the true Bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. , .. I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." In this language our Divine Lord evidently referred to that marvellous incident in the history of Israel when the wants of the people were supplied by daily provision of manna in the wilderness. More especially he brought before the minds of his bearers the great fact that the supply of human wants is due to the grace and inter- position of God himself. Bread does not come to us from the wilderness, but it comes to us in the wil<lemess; and it is the Father above who sends it-none but bet Obviously, the figurative language in which Christ describes himself appeals to our best, purest, most sacred feelings. God is the Father, who will not leave his children without bread. He cares for his spiritual family, considers their wants, hears their cry, and in his wisdom and love secures for them all that he sees to be for their good. Our Lord Jesus Christ is himself the Divine provision for the needs of men. "He that eateth the flesh, and drinketh the blood of Christ, has life eternal." For it must be borne in mind that the heavenly Father who has given us bis Son, has in him virtually gi"en us oll the resources of his boundless compassion and grace. "He who spared not bis own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him olso freely give us all things?" Do our hearts cry aloud for spiritual truth? God gives us this in Christ, who is him- self the Truth-the revelation of the Father's mind ond will. '!'he heart that finds "Immo.nuel-Gotl with us," finds God himself-for Christ is "the brightness of the Father's glory "-reads the writing of God's own hand, hears the utterances of Truth Divine. "He that hath seen me,'' says Christ, "bath seen the Father." Is our heart restless until assured of the forgiveness and the favour of our God? Hvngry for the amile of Heaven, does it tum heavenward a wistful gaze? God in Christ _aive~ us this 340 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [err, vw. 1--38.