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THE FIVE THOUSAND FED
WITH all our active services for the Lord it is proper to blend devotion and retirement; that so we may not neglect our own vineyard, whilst we are cultivating that of others. But there are calls which may properly supersede for a time our private duties; as God has told us by the prophet, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.”
Our blessed Lord, wearied with his continual labours, had retired to a desert place for meditation and prayer. But the people still following him in great numbers, he denied himself those necessary enjoyments, and not only renewed his exertions with all his wonted earnestness, but supplied by miracle the wants of all who waited on him. This event being replete with instruction, I shall set before you,
I. The Miracle he wrought—
The multitudes who followed him were reduced to the greatest straits—
[The evening was closing in upon them, and they had no provision for the support of their bodies after their great fatigues. What their motives were for such a protracted attendance upon him we do not exactly know. It is possible that some loved to hear his instructions; whilst others sought to obtain either for themselves or their friends a miraculous cure of their disorders: and some possibly were actuated by no better motive than that of gratifying an idle curiosity. But, however this might be, our Lord “had compassion on them,”and determined to avert from them the evils to which their inconsiderate zeal had exposed them. He proposed indeed to Philip, in the first instance, to purchase bread for them. But this proposal was made solely to try the faith of Philip; Philip knew that no funds which they possessed would suffice to feed so many. Two hundred pence, which is about six guineas of our money, would scarcely suffice to give to every one of them a little piece of bread, and much less to satisfy their hunger: and therefore the Apostles proposed that the multitude should be dispersed.]
But our Lord wrought a stupendous miracle for their relief—
[He ordered the multitude to be arranged in rows of fifty in depth and a hundred in breadth: and, that being done, he told his Disciples to dispense to them all the food which they had, consisting of five loaves and two small fishes. This was done: and every Apostle, whilst distributing the food, found the pieces in his hand still undiminished. And, after all were satisfied, he commanded the remnants to be gathered, to no less an amount than twelve baskets full; so ample was the supply, and so indisputable the miracle that had been wrought for them.]
Without dwelling on any of the smaller incidents of the miracle, we may proceed to consider,
II. The instruction to be derived from it—
Truly, it will be found very instructive—
1. In a moral view—
[Many valuable lessons does it suggest to us. We may here learn contentment: for, when our blessed Lord would feast this whole multitude, he did it not by spreading before them a luxurious entertainment, but by giving them only such provisions as were suited to a laborious fisherman, some barley bread and some cold dried fish. Shall it then be a matter of any concern to us, if we are constrained to subsist on coarser fare, whilst people in higher life are fed with dainties? I am persuaded that this meal was to their taste far sweeter, yes, and in their eyes, more splendid too, than the feast of King Ahasuerus to the heads of his one hundred and twenty-seven provinces. In fact, it is a small matter whether our tables be strewed with delicacies, or we have merely the food that is convenient and necessary for us. “Having food and raiment, though of the coarsest kind, we may well therewith be content;” and may say, as Paul, when his necessities were thus supplied, “I have all, and abound [Note: Php_4:18.].”
And surely we may well learn from hence liberality also: for when our Lord proposed to his Disciples to give to the distressed multitude all the food which they had, the answer made, was not, ‘Lord, what then shall we have left for ourselves?’ but simply, ‘Lord, for so great a multitude our little store will be of no use whatever:’ and when our Lord gave the order to distribute it all, the order was obeyed without the smallest hesitation or delay. This kind of liberality would be but little approved by the Christian world in general. But it is highly approved in the Holy Scriptures; and the poor widow, who gave her whole substance for the use of the temple, was commended for it. In truth, there is no luxury under heaven that can be purchased with money, that is equal to the luxury of doing good. If only we give as unto the Lord, we shall never repent of having given too much: for “what we so give to the poor, we lend unto the Lord;” and at no distant period “he will repay us again.”
Methinks, too, we may here learn affiance also. Our Lord suffered these his followers to come into great straits, and then supplied their wants. And us also he may permit to be encompassed with difficulties for a season: but he will only make them an occasion of manifesting his own watchful care over us, and of magnifying his mercy towards us. True, we are not to expect miracles to be wrought in our behalf: but he has ten thousand ways of providing for his people; and he will do it in the time and manner that he shall see to be best for us: for he has said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all needful things shall be added unto you [Note: Mat_6:33.].” Let him give us ever so much, we are to suffer no waste, but to preserve our very remnants for future use: on the other hand, let our wants be ever so great, we should never doubt but he will supply us in the time of need.]
2. In a religious view—
[Who does not see in the conduct of this multitude how we should seek the Lard? Did they press upon him thus for the sake of obtaining healing for their bodies, and shall not we for the healing of our souls? Did they forget the very necessities of nature that they might reap the benefit of his instructions, and shall we account any self-denial too great for the obtaining of grace and peace at his hands? I do not indeed think it necessary, or even right, for us to neglect our worldly callings as they did. They could not otherwise have gained access to our blessed Lord, whose august character fully authorized and called for those extraordinary attentions: whereas we have access to him at all times in his ordinances, and may therefore easily make our attendance on him consistent with the discharge of all our relative and social duties. But in heart and affection we may well “leave all to follow him:” nor should our own carnal ease or worldly interests ever be suffered to detain us from him, or to interfere with the concerns of our souls.
Here, too, we see what we may expect at his hands. See how richly he fed that whole multitude: and will he withhold “the bread of life” from you? Will he not abundantly supply all of you out of his own inexhaustible fulness? Methinks you are here waiting upon him, and seated, as it were, before him to receive at his hands the communications of his grace: and here am I dispensing to you the bread of life according to his command. True, it is but barley bread that you receive: yet shall you find it sufficient for all your necessities, if only you receive it as from Him, and feed upon it as the food of your souls. You are told that, when “Jesus took the loaves and fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them, and then brake and gave them to the disciples, and through the disciples to the multitude. Now, if you will beg of him to bless your provision also that is now dispensed by me, what may you not hope for? Truly your souls shall be fed, yea, and nourished too, unto life eternal. And see that multitude when dismissed to their homes: was there one amongst them that did not adore and magnify their glorious Benefactor? O that it may be so with you at this time! that not one soul may be sent empty away, but every one of you depart refreshed and strengthened for all your future labours! Even so, Amen and Amen.]