"Back of the loaf is the snowy flour, Back of the flour the mill; And back of the mill is the wheat and the shower, And the sun and the Father's will." (8) "And He (the Lord of grace) gave," "to his disciples" (the stewards of grace, I Cor. 4 : 1 ); "and they" (the recipients of grace) did all eat, and were filled," and had left over "seven baskets" full. Thus the pity of Jesus, prompted, and His power accomplished the miracle. He is still all pity, and Almighty (Psa. 62:11, 12). He who formed all things can transform them! The process of multiplying wheat me- i diately is as miraculous as multiplying loaves immediately. The former is so common that men cease to wonder that it is so; the latter so uncommon t h at they dare to wonder if it was so; It is ¡ffl as easy to explain the one miracle as- the other. God wills and it is. V. Testing. 1, Of the people. (1) They took Him for the prophet like Moses who gave t he manna (Deut. 18:18). (2) Would force i Him to be King. The King can, and He who can should be King. (3) He re- fused, and they forsook Him (Jno. 6:66 The test showed that they sought Him for the loaves and fishes (Jno. 6 : 2 6 ). a rS A full stomach and a starved soul sat- isfied their ideal of life. Plenty of t he creature, empty of the Creator. But the kingdom of God is "righteousness» peace and joy in thé Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17), not loaves and fishes no matter ^ how many baskets of surplus there may be. Till men wish the Gift of God they have no claim on the gifts of God. They would have glory without grace, not . knowing that grace is the glory of Glory, and Glory the grace of grace. The Prodigal indeed returned because there was "bread enough and to spare," and he felt he could ask no more. But what he really wanted and got was his father's kiss. S. Of the Lord. Satan plied his old temptation (Mat. 4:9), the Crown with- out the cross. Again He thrust it aside. Neither loaves nor thrones could satisfy Him, but the Father. LESSON XIII. REVIEW. Mark 8 : 3 1 - 3 5 ; Mat. 1 1 : 2 8 - 3 0 ; 1 3 : 4 4 , 4 5 September 29. ; We have studied six miracles, and eight parables. 1. Have the class name; 1st- thé miracles; 2d the parables.
away" (Lk. 9:12). There Is no sad- ness in the wearing away of days spent in such good work and good company, with such a good supper to follow. IV. Feasting. 1. A table in the wilderness (Psa. 7 8 : 1 9 ) . (1) The people fainted (Mat. 15:32). Their supplies were exhausted. Men should seek the unfailing Source and Supply. (2) Jesus pitied them. He feels for the faint and hungry (Hb. 4:15; Mat. 3 : 2 ). Our daily bread is a demonstration of His daily pity and providence. If any one wants the fault is elsewhere,-not with Him. (3) The disciples said, "Send them away." The disciple should "be as his l o r d ," but he is not so always. Thank the Lord that He is not as His disciples. "He fllleth the hungry soul" (Psa. 107:9.) (4) "Give ye them to eat." He knew their poverty, and what "He would do" (Jno. 6:6). But would "prove them," that they might prove Him. When their ex- tremity appeared His opportunity came. They should recall the riches of His grace in many a future hour to thank Him in their abundance, and trust Him in their want. (5) "Five loaves and two small fishes." The loaves were like biscuit, the fish like sardines. Just a small boy's lunch (Jno. 6:9). Christ can do great things with a bit of a boy, or a biscuit. Put our little selves and little all into His hands and leave the rest to Him. (6) "By companies, (a) Though the Lord can do anything, with anything, anyway at any time, or place, He is prov- ident, order loving, and studies the con- venience of His servants and^ His peo- ple. He utilized the loaves, saved the fragments, seated the company that dis- tribution might be made with ease, with- out omission, or confusion. We cannot imitate the miracle, but can the rest. Though there were many companies all ate the same Christ-given food. Many denominations and churches may be for the more expeditious.and thorough edi- fication if only all eat "the same spirit- ual me a t" (I Cor. 10:3) which Christ gave at the first to His apostles. (7) "When He had taken the five loaves," for gifts come through His meditating grace. (8) He "looked up to heaven," for "every good gift Is from above" and w'e own its source. The Rabbis said "He who gives not thanks to God is a robber."
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