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218
From Heaven With Love
hundred pennywort
of bread would not be nearly enough, so that
each of them might have a little.
Jesus inquired how much food could be found among the com-
pany. “There is a lad here,” said Andrew, “which hath five barley
loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”
Jesus directed that these be brought to Him and that the disciples seat
the people on the grass in parties of fifty or a hundred, that all might
witness what He was about to do. When this was accomplished,
Jesus “looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and
gave them to the disciples ato set before the people; and He divided
the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied.
And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the
fish.” RSV. He who taught the people the way to secure peace and
happiness was just as thoughtful of their temporal necessities as of
their spiritual need.
Christ never worked a miracle except to supply a genuine ne-
cessity, and every miracle was to lead the people to the tree of life.
The simple food passed round by the disciples contained a whole
treasure of lessons. Humble fare had been provided; the fishes and
barley loaves were the daily food of the fisherfolk. Christ could have
spread a rich repast, but food prepared merely for the gratification
of appetite would have conveyed no lesson for their good. Never
did people enjoy luxurious feasts as this people enjoyed the rest and
simple food which Christ provided so far from human habitations.
If men today were simple in their habits, living in harmony with
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nature’s laws, there would be an abundant supply for the human fam-
ily. There would be fewer imaginary wants, and more opportunities
to work in God’s ways. But selfishness and indulgence of unnatural
taste have brought sin and misery into the world.
To that great throng, weary and hungry, the simple fare was an
assurance not only of Jesus’ power, but of His tender care for them
in the common needs of life. The Saviour has not promised His
followers luxuries. Their fare may be plain, even scanty; their lot
may be shut in by poverty. But His word is pledged that their need
1
The “penny,” or denarius, was equivalent to the daily wage of a common laborer.
See
Matthew 20:1, 2
.