9
January, 1944
that they had hope (faint though it may have been) that in this circum stance the Saviour might again per form the “impossible.” For it is to be noted that on this occasion, when He asked: “How many loaves have ye?” they did not need to inquire as they had before (6:38) but were ready with the answer: “Seven.” Seven loaves for so many? Our Lord had only five loaves when the numbers were greater, and He could have done with less, for to Him noth ing is impossible. The multitude had come to this place prepared, as we shall observe later, to remain some time, but by this hour all that could be found were the sever barley loaves (or cakes) and the few dried fishes, humble fare which could- be carried readily and did hot require cooking. When the disciples had reported what supplies were available—observe that we did not say, “When the Lord Jesus had learned what supplies were avail able,” for all things were known to Him—but when the disciples had re-
Life, the true Manna sent down from heaven. But in the second miracle the only evident need to be met was the physical hunger of the people who had come from far and whose sup plies had been exhausted during the time spent with our Lord. The fact that the disciples asked the question: “ From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?” need not astonish us. Of course they remembered the feeding of the five thousand, but they did not remember it to their own profit. How like the disciples we all are! We have a ll experienced the mighty hand of the Lord on our behalf—to save, to keep, and to satis-, fy. But with each new emergency comes the same question:'“What shall I do?” and we fail anew in the prac tical and experiential realization that i t is the Lord from whence our help cometh. Nor could the disciples pre sume to dictate to the Lord Jesus how the multitude should be fed. But it is not at all inconceivable or incredible
the second occasion He is said to have given thanks, first for the loaves, and later to have “blessed” the fish; (6) after the five thousand were fed twelve baskets of fragments remained, but when the four thousand were sat isfied there were seven baskets over; and (7) the number that were fed was different in each instance. There are other dissimilarities, but what we have written is evidence; if needed, that the two miraculous multiplica- tions of the loaves and fishes were quite diverse. Two other facts are significant as to the authenticity of both of these records. One, while the account of the feeding of the five thousand is found in all four Gospels, the feeding of the four thousand is found in only two. Had the record of five thousand fed been found in two Gospels only, and the account of the feeding of the four thousand in the other two, it might be supposed that here were simply diver- gènt reports of one and the same inci dent. That Matthew and Mark nar rated both miracles is evidence that both occurred. In answer to some who propose that the feeding of the five thousand was actual but that the sec ond miracle was written simply to en large upon the power of Christ and purely by invention, let us observe that any such imaginative addition would certainly have expanded the miraculous element. There would have been more people fed with fewer sup plies, whereas in fact the reverse was true. Meeting a Physical Need The feeding of the four thousand took place somewhere in the neigh borhood of Decapolis, in a mountain (Matt. 15:29, 32), and in thè wilder ness (v. 4), that is,- in this instance, in a barren waste, literally, on desert. A very great multitude had followed the Lord Jesus to this spot, and this was the third day that they had been with Him. Then He called His dis ciples, and said: “ I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their ' own houses, they w ill faint by thé way.” The physical need of the multitude was greater on this occasion than upon the previqus one. Here our Lord’s compassion was “ because they . . . have nothing to eat” ; there, He was compassionate for them, but “ be cause they were as sheep not having a shepherd” (Mk. 6:34). The particular purposes of the two miracles appear to have been differ ent. The feeding of the five thou sand was obviously preparatory to the teaching of deep spiritual truth, evi dent from the context in John 6, wherein the miracle is recorded as taking place just prior to the great discourse on Christ as the Bread of
T o rrey M em o r ia l B i b l e Conference
# God's Word studied # God’s Messengers heard
# God's Servants challenged # God’s Message proclaimed
These privileges await you January 23 to 30, 1944
Speakers:
Jack Mitchell —W idely recognized Bible teacher and conference speaker. Walter Lewis Wilson —Pastor, Central Bible Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, known to thousands through his w rit ings and radio ministry as the •“be-' loved physician;”
Archer Anderson —Pastor, First Presby terian Church, Duluth, Minnesota Herbert Lockyer— Internationally known Christian author and conference speaker. Harold Ockenga — Pastor, Park Street Congregational Church, Boston, Mas sachusetts.
Twelve meetings daily, Including afternoon and evening meetings at Lake Avenue Congregational Church, in Pasadena, and First Brethren Church, in Long Beach. THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 55t South Hop« Strict Lot Angeles 13, California
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker