THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS
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Introduction: There are two instance's recorded in :he Gospels that are sometimes con fused. One is that of our lesson today —the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and the other, the LESSON Feeding of the Four EXPOSITION Thousand, in Matt. 15: T. C. Horton .38 and in Mark 8:9. But note the differ ences: In the first instance the amount of food was five loaves and two fishes; in the second, seven loaves and a few small fishes. In the first, twelve bas kets of fragmsnts were gathered; in the second, seven baskets,—two different Greek words being used. The first was the wallet slung from the shoulder in which the Jew carried his food for tra veling; the second, the hamper used on a journey. (1) MINISTERING TO THE MULTI TUDE, vs. 13, 14. The scene of the lesson is on the shore of the lake, across from Caper naum, where Jesus resorted with His disciples when He heard of the death of John the Baptist who had been slain by Herod. The multitude followed Him. Their motives were as varied as those which move the mafcses today. There was something so strangely new in this Man’s teachings sent from God;—so different from the teachers in Israel! His message was so kingly and kind! He spoke so tenderly and yet so truly! He spoke as One having authority. He unfolded the Scriptures and illuminated them. He had a doctrine concerning the kingdom which was unique. He mingldd with His subjects, having a heart bowed with the consciousness or their burden, and having a great long ing for their welfare. They brought their lame, blind, maimed and He healed them. The mul titudes wondered and glorified the God of Israel. This pleased the Lord. He
asks no more than that we praise the God of all grace for His goodness. What better can we do than to bring to the Lord Jesus Christ our needy friends? (2) MULTIPLYING THE BREAD AND FISHES, vs. 15-19. Fasting and Fainting: The food was exhausted and the people were in need. The source of supply was distant. To send them away hungry was to subject them to suffering. They were not all worthy. Many followed Him for the loaves and fishes (John 6:26, 27) but all were needy and appealed to Him who loved the weary and heavy laden. The Faithless' Disciples: “From whence can we secure so much bread?” (John 6:5, 6). The disciples’ solution to the problem was “Send them away.” The easiest way to get rid of a respon sibility is to evade it—so we think. “Send them away!” We shut our eyes to the field. We close our ears to the cry. We lock the door of our hearts against the lost. “Send them away!” They annoy us; they trouble us,—rthese countless numbers of needy people; the millions who have never had a mouth ful of Gospel grain,—Jews, 'Gentiles, Indians (the heritage left us by our fathers who were too busy to feed them), multiplied by thousands of im migrants from other shores sent to us by God’s Providence because we arq so slow in going to them; those mil lions beyond the sea with sad hearts and hungry souls,—- “send them away!” Why should we be tormented with the everlasting cry'for money for the spread of the Gospel? We want time to eat and drink; to buy and sell; to make merry with our friends; to lay up treas ures for our children! Where is our compassion? Have we been so long with Him, yet have im bibed so little of Himself ? So little of His tenderness. His mercy, His compas sion (John 14:9)? Where is their faith? Have they forgotten His won drous works? His matchless power in
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