Loaves and Fishes
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of righteousness from the presence of Christ, and were charmed with
the simplicity of the truths he taught.
His discourse was often interrupted by the delirious ravings of
some fever-stricken sufferer, or the piercing shriek of the insane, whose
friends were trying to press through the crowd and bear the afflicted
to the Healer. The voice of wisdom was also often lost in shouts of
triumph as the victims of hopeless disease were instantly restored to
health and strength. The great Physician patiently submitted to these
interruptions, and spoke calmly and kindly to all. He came from the
other side of the sea because he was weary, but lo, he found more
pressing cases for his attention than at the place from which he had
secretly departed.
At length the day was spent, the sun was sinking out of sight in the
west, and yet the people lingered. Many had come miles to hear the
words of Jesus and had eaten nothing all day. The Master had labored
through all that time without food or repose, and the disciples, seeing
him pale with weariness and hunger, besought him to rest from his toil
and take some refreshment. Their entreaties being of no avail, they
consulted together as to the propriety of forcibly removing him from
the eager multitude, fearing that he would die of fatigue. Peter and
John each took an arm of their blessed Master and kindly endeavored
to draw him away. But he refused to be removed from the place. His
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work was imperative; every applicant for his mercy felt his own case
to be the most urgent. The crowd press about the Saviour; they sway
him hither and thither. In their efforts to more nearly approach him,
they trample upon each other.
Jesus, perceiving all this, beckons to Peter, who is in his boat on the
sea, to come nigh. The disciple obeys the signal, and comes to shore.
Jesus presses through the throng, and steps into the boat, bidding Peter
to thrust out a little from the land. He now sits in the rocking boat
of the fisherman, and, in full sight and hearing of the crowd, finishes
the long and toilsome day by speaking precious truths to them. The
Son of God, leaving the royal courts of Heaven, takes not his position
upon David’s throne; but from the swaying seat of a fisherman’s boat,
speaks the words of eternal wisdom which are to be immortalized in
the minds of his disciples and given to the world as the legacy of God.
As the sun was setting, Jesus saw before him five thousand people
besides women and children, who had been all day without food. He