October 1929
475
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Seed Thoughts From St. Mark By R ev . W ilfred M. H opkins C hapter VIII.
T has been suggested that this account of the feeding of the four thousand is a different version of the feeding of the five thousand, arid the accuracy and inspiration of the Gospel have been impugned upon that ground; but Saint Matthew and Saint Mark alike record both mir acles, a fact which is unthinkable if the suggestion be
7— A FEW SMALL FISHES—In the case of the five thousand the number of fishes was definite, viz., two; here it is indefinite, but certainly more than two. 8— DID EAT AND WERE SATISFIED—A type of the satisfying nature of the Bread of Life when broken to us by the Lord. Note, also, that when He feeds He fills; there is no stint at His table. BROKEN MEAT—As in the case of the five thousand, not fragments or crumbs, but portions broken off for the multitude and not required. SEVEN BASKETS—Not the same kind of baskets as in chapter 6, but much larger, made of rope; the same kind of basket as that mentioned in Acts 9:25. These baskets probably belonged to the multitude and the frag ments were to serve them on their way home; evidently the dis- *ciples did not have them (see following verses). 11—BEGAN TO DISPUTE WITH HIM—This is the opening of the final contest between the authorities and Christ. Note that questioning and disputing with Him is not the way to come to a knowledge of the tru th ; we must be disciples (i.e., learners), not disputants. SEEKING . . . . A SIGN FROM HEAVEN—This was lack of faith, the root of most of their failure and their sin; they were not willing to accept His unsup ported word. We must remember that the present is a dispen sation of faith; we must not, therefore, ask for or desire out ward confirmation. Note, however, how their unbelief blinded them to the true '“signs,” the miracles which He wrought—the spiritual miracles of Christianity ought to assure us of its truth. TEMPTING HIM—i.e., testing, or trying Him; we are permitted to do this in faith, but not in unbelief (cf. Mai 3:10; Deut. 6:16). 12—HAVING GROANED DEEPLY—The hardened unbe lief of men grieved Him intensely; surely it does so Still, for He is "the same yesterday, and today, and for eruer.” We should see to it that we do not thus grieve our Lord. We must remem ber that unbelief really amounts to rejection. WHY DOTH THIS GENERATION, etc?—It was a wicked and adulterous generation (cf. Matt. 16:4): its purpose in seeking a sign was not that it might be convinced, but that it might entrap Him and prove Him to be an impostor. THERE SHALL NO SIGN, etc.—That is, no sign such as they asked; He gave them one (the prophet Jonah), not from heaven, but from earth. 13— HE LEFT THEM—He did not try to convince them, for He knew that they did not intend to be convinced. Those who will not see, shall be left to their chosen blindness; this is true, not only absolutely, but relatively, of all men and in all degrees. 14— HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE BREAD,’ . . . . EXCEPT ONE LOAF, etc.—So they evidently did not, in the case of the four thousand, have the remaining fragments; an undesigned proof of the truth of the narrative, for they would not be carrying the big baskets about with them. 15— THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND OF HEROD—Also of the Sadducees (cf. Matt. 16:6. S a i n t Matthew omits Herod; his Gospel was for the Jews, whose greatest dangers were hypocrisy and unbelief; Saint Mark wrote for Gentiles whose dangers were rather hypocrisy and worldli ness. Getting the Gospel direct, the. danger of unbelief wouldjnot be so great in their case). Leaven, in the Bible, is a symbol'of evil and of its penetrating influence and power. It is insidious in its action, and a very little corrupts a great mass (cf. Gal. 5 :9) ; hence it is to be carefully guarded against. The leaven of
true. Moreover! the number fed is different, the amount of bread available is different, the amount remaining is different, the size and the number of the baskets are different, and our Lord Himself refers later on to both miracles. Unless, there fore, we utterly reject the testimony of Matthew and Mark the evidence against the Modernist theory is overwhelming. 1— JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES—In the first mir acle they came voluntarily to Him. 2— 1 HAVE COMPASSION—Hé is the same God as the God of the Old Testament (cf. Psa. 86:15). Note that the word “compassion” means co-suffering and the Greek word in the text means a real feeling; His compassion is not a mere expression of unfelt pity; nor should ours, for our fellow men, be—we do not really sympathize unless we feel. WITH ME THREE DAYS—The fascination of His presence was such that their bodily wants were to a great extent forgotten. HAVING NOTHING TO EAT—His compassion was aroused by their physical need; He cares for the bodies of men; how much more will His compassion be aroused by their spiritual need, of which the physical need is here intended to be the type ! 3— BECOME FAINT—The Greek word suggests weariness and despondency of mind—how true that if He feeds us not we become weary and despondent by reason of the way (cf. 1 Kings 19:7, where the Angel of the LORD is the second Person in the Blessed Trinity Himself) ; but does He ever allow those who truly wait on Him to go away hungry? SOME OF THEM CAME FROM FAR—No doubt bringing a supply of food with them, which, however, had become exhausted. Note the drawing power of Christ’s personality (cf. Jno. 12:32, which does not refer to the moment of the Cross, of which it was not true, but to thè ultimate result of His uplifting both there and else where). Why are so few drawn to Him now? In what way do we fail to lift Him up? These are questions every Christian worker should seriously ask himself. 4— WHENCE CAN ANY ONE SATISFY, etc?—Note they do not say “we,” but “any one” ; had they forgotten that “One” was there who could do it? This question of theirs is advanced as a proof that there was no previous miracle, but do not we also too often forget His power to help, in spite of former deliverances? Then why should not they have done so, who had not had as many proofs of that power as we have? How patient Christ was with those dense, unbelieving men. This should be a comfort to some of us who are “slow of heart” ourselves ! 5— HOW MANY LOAVES HAVE YE?—.Instead of look- at the impossibilities, consider first of all what resources you actually posses. He does not ask us to do the impossible, but He does ask us to use what talents or resources we have; that at least we’can do. SEVEN—Not one each—did they' fear to offer them lelst'they therriselves should go supperless? We never need have such fear; no one ever lacked because he had ex pended even his all (which we seldom do) for Christ or for Christ’s sake. He who feeds hungry souls shall himself be fed.
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