the desire of ages-第62章

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the　powers　of　mind　and　soul　and　body　are　overtaxed。　Self…denial　is　required　of　the　disciples　of　Christ；　and　sacrifices　must　be　made；　but　care　must　also　be　exercised　lest　through　their　overzeal　Satan　take　advantage　of　the　weakness　of　humanity；　and　the　work　of　God　be　marred。

In　the　estimation　of　the　rabbis　it　was　the　sum　of　religion　to　be　always　in　a　bustle　of　activity。　They　depended　upon　some　outward　performance　to　show　their　superior　piety。　Thus　they　separated　their　souls　from　God；　and　built　themselves　up　in　self…sufficiency。　The　same　dangers　still　exist。　As　activity　increases　and　men　become　successful　in　doing　any　work　for　God；　there　is　danger　of　trusting　to　human　plans　and　methods。　There　is　a　tendency　to　pray　less；　and　to　have　less　faith。　Like　the　disciples；　we　are　in　danger　of　losing　sight　of　our　dependence　on　God；　and　seeking　to　make　a　savior　of　our　activity。　We　need　to　look　constantly　to　Jesus；　realizing　that　it　is　His　power　which　does　the　work。　While　we　are　to　labor　earnestly　for　the　salvation　of　the　lost；　we　must　also　take　time　for　meditation；　for　prayer；　and　for　the　study　of　the　word　of　God。　Only　the　work　accomplished　with　much　prayer；　and　sanctified　by　the　merit　of　Christ；　will　in　the　end　prove　to　have　been　efficient　for　good。

No　other　life　was　ever　so　crowded　with　labor　and　responsibility　as　was　that　of　Jesus；　yet　how　often　He　was　found　in　prayer！　How　constant　was　His　communion　with　God！　Again　and　again　in　the　history　of　His　earthly　life　are　found　records　such　as　these：　〃Rising　up　a　great　while　before　day；　He　went　out；　and　departed　into　a　solitary　place；　and　there　prayed。〃　〃Great　multitudes　came　together　to　hear；　and　to　be　healed　by　Him　of　their　infirmities。　And　He　withdrew　Himself　into　the　wilderness；　and　prayed。〃　〃And　it　came　to　pass　in　those　days；　that　He　went　out　into　a　mountain　to　pray；　and　continued　all　night　in　prayer　to　God。〃　Mark　1：35；　Luke　5：15；　16；　6：12。

In　a　life　wholly　devoted　to　the　good　of　others；　the　Saviour　found

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it　necessary　to　withdraw　from　the　thoroughfares　of　travel　and　from　the　throng　that　followed　Him　day　after　day。　He　must　turn　aside　from　a　life　of　ceaseless　activity　and　contact　with　human　needs；　to　seek　retirement　and　unbroken　communion　with　His　Father。　As　one　with　us；　a　sharer　in　our　needs　and　weaknesses；　He　was　wholly　dependent　upon　God；　and　in　the　secret　place　of　prayer　He　sought　divine　strength；　that　He　might　go　forth　braced　for　duty　and　trial。　In　a　world　of　sin　Jesus　endured　struggles　and　torture　of　soul。　In　communion　with　God　He　could　unburden　the　sorrows　that　were　crushing　Him。　Here　He　found　comfort　and　joy。

In　Christ　the　cry　of　humanity　reached　the　Father　of　infinite　pity。　As　a　man　He　supplicated　the　throne　of　God　till　His　humanity　was　charged　with　a　heavenly　current　that　should　connect　humanity　with　divinity。　Through　continual　communion　He　received　life　from　God；　that　He　might　impart　life　to　the　world。　His　experience　is　to　be　ours。

〃Come　ye　yourselves　apart；〃　He　bids　us。　If　we　would　give　heed　to　His　word；　we　should　be　stronger　and　more　useful。　The　disciples　sought　Jesus；　and　told　Him　all　things；　and　He　encouraged　and　instructed　them。　If　today　we　would　take　time　to　go　to　Jesus　and　tell　Him　our　needs；　we　should　not　be　disappointed；　He　would　be　at　our　right　hand　to　help　us。　We　need　more　simplicity；　more　trust　and　confidence　in　our　Saviour。　He　whose　name　is　called　〃The　mighty　God；　The　everlasting　Father；　The　Prince　of　Peace；〃　He　of　whom　it　is　written；　〃The　government　shall　be　upon　His　shoulder；〃　is　the　Wonderful　Counselor。　We　are　invited　to　ask　wisdom　of　Him。　He　〃giveth　to　all　men　liberally；　and　upbraideth　not。〃　Isa。　9：6；　James　1：5。

In　all　who　are　under　the　training　of　God　is　to　be　revealed　a　life　that　is　not　in　harmony　with　the　world；　its　customs；　or　its　practices；　and　everyone　needs　to　have　a　personal　experience　in　obtaining　a　knowledge　of　the　will　of　God。　We　must　individually　hear　Him　speaking　to　the　heart。　When　every　other　voice　is　hushed；　and　in　quietness　we　wait　before　Him；　the　silence　of　the　soul　makes　more　distinct　the　voice　of　God。　He　bids　us；　〃Be　still；　and　know　that　I　am　God。〃　Ps。　46：10。　Here　alone　can　true　rest　be　found。　And　this　is　the　effectual　preparation　for　all　who　labor　for　God。　Amid　the　hurrying　throng；　and　the　strain　of　life's　intense　activities；　the　soul　that　is　thus　refreshed　will　be　surrounded　with　an　atmosphere　of　light　and　peace。　The　life　will　breathe　out　fragrance；　and　will　reveal　a　divine　power　that　will　reach　men's　hearts。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　39

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Give　Ye　Them　to　Eat〃


Christ　had　retired　to　a　secluded　place　with　His　disciples；　but　this　rare　season　of　peaceful　quietude　was　soon　broken。　The　disciples　thought　they　had　retired　where　they　would　not　be　disturbed；　but　as　soon　as　the　multitude　missed　the　divine　Teacher；　they　inquired；　〃Where　is　He？〃　Some　among　them　had　noticed　the　direction　in　which　Christ　and　His　disciples　had　gone。　Many　went　by　land　to　meet　them；　while　others　followed　in　their　boats　across　the　water。　The　Passover　was　at　hand；　and；　from　far　and　near；　bands　of　pilgrims　on　their　way　to　Jerusalem　gathered　to　see　Jesus。　Additions　were　made　to　their　number；　until　there　were　assembled　five　thousand　men　besides　women　and　children。　Before　Christ　reached　the　shore；　a　multitude　were　waiting　for　Him。　But　He　landed　unobserved　by　them；　and　spent　a　little　time　apart　with　the　disciples。

From　the　hillside　He　looked　upon　the　moving　multitude；　and　His　heart　was　stirred　with　sympathy。　Interrupted　as　He　was；　and　robbed　of　His　rest；　He　was　not　impatient。　He　saw　a　greater　necessity　demanding　His　attention　as　He　watched　the　people　coming　and　still　coming。　He　〃was　moved　with　compassion　toward　them；　because　they　were　as　sheep　not　having　a　shepherd。〃　Leaving　His　retreat；　He　found　a　convenient　place　where　He　could　minister　to　them。　They　received　no　help　from

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the　priests　and　rulers；　but　the　healing　waters　of　life　flowed　from　Christ　as　He　taught　the　multitude　the　way　of　salvation。

The　people　listened　to　the　words　of　mercy　flowing　so　freely　from　the　lips　of　the　Son　of　God。　They　heard　the　gracious　words；　so　simple　and　so　plain　that　they　were　as　the　balm　of　Gilead　to　their　souls。　The　healing　of　His　divine　hand　brought　gladness　and　life　to　the　dying；　and　ease　and　health　to　those　suffering　with　disease。　The　day　seemed　to　them　like　heaven　upon　earth；　and　they　were　utterly　unconscious　of　how　long　it　had　been　since　they　had　eaten　anything。

At　length　the　day　was　far　spent。　The　sun　was　sinking　in　the　west；　and　yet　the　people　lingered。　Jesus　had　labored　all　day　without　food　or　rest。　He　was　pale　from　weariness　and　hunger；　and　the　disciples　besought　Him　to　cease　from　His　toil。　But　He　could　not　withdraw　Himself　from　the　multitude　that　pressed　upon　Him。

The　disciples　finally　came　to　Him；　urging　that　for　their　own　sake　the　people　should　be　sent　away。　Many　had　come　from　far；　and　had　eaten　nothing　since　morning。　In　the　surrounding　towns　and　villages　they　might　be　able　to　buy　food。　But　Jesus　said；　〃Give　ye　them　to　eat；〃　and　then；　turning　to　Philip；　questioned；　〃Whence　shall　we　buy　bread；　that　these　may　eat？〃　This　He　said　to　test　the　faith　of　the　disciple。　Philip　looked　over　the　sea　of　heads；　and　thought　how　impossible　it　would　be　to　provide　food　to　satisfy　the　wants　of　such　a　crowd。　He　answered　that　two　hundred　pennyworth　of　bread　would　not　be　nearly　enough　to　divide　among　them；　so　that　each　might　have　a　little。　Jesus　inquired　how　much　food　could　be　found　among　the　company。　〃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。　Then　He　bade　the　disciples　seat　the　people　on　the　grass　in　parties　of　fifty　or　a　hundred；　to　preserve　order；　and　that　all　might　witness　what　He　was　about　to　do。　When　this　was　accomplished；　Jesus　took　the　food；　〃and　looking　up　to　heaven；　He　blessed；　and　brake；　and　gave　the　loaves　to　His　disciples；　and　the　disciples　to　the　multitude。〃　〃And　they　did　all　eat；　and　were　filled。　And　they　took　up　twelve　baskets　full　of　the　fragments；　and　of　the　fishes。〃

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。　The　people　were　weary　and　faint。　There　were　mothers　with　babes　in　their　arms；　and　little　children　clinging　to　their　skirts。　Many　had　been　standing　for　hours。　They　had　been　so　intensely　interested

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in　Christ's　words　that　they　had　not　once　thought　of　sitting　down；　and　the　crowd　was　so　great　that　there　was　danger　of　their　trampling　on　one　another。　Jesus　would　give　them　a　chance　to　rest；　and　He　bade　them　sit　down。　There　was　much　grass　in　the　place；　and　all　could　rest　in　comfort。

Christ　never　worked　a　miracle　except　to　supply　a　genuine　necessity；　and　every　miracle　was　of　a　character　to　lead　the　people　to　the　tree　of　life；　whose　leaves　are　for　the　healing　of　the　nations。　The　simple　food

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passed　round　by　the　hands　of　the　disciples　contained　a　whole　treasure　of　lessons。　It　was　humble　fare　that　had　been　provided；　the　fishes　and　barley　loaves　were　the　daily　food　of　the　fisher　folk　about　the　Sea　of　Galilee。　Christ　could　have　spread　before　the　people　a　rich　repast；　but　food　prepared　merely　for　the　gratification　of　appetite　would　have　conveyed　no　lesson　for　their　good。　Christ　taught　them　in　this　lesson　that　the　natural　provisions　of　God　for　man　had　been　perverted。　And　never　did　people　enjoy　the　luxurious　feasts　prepared　for　the　gratification　of　perverted　taste　as　this　people　enjoyed　the　rest　and　the　simple　food　which　Christ　provided　so　far　from　human　habitations。

If　men　today　were　simple　in　their　habits；　living　in　harmony　with　nature's　laws；　as　did　Adam　and　Eve　in　the　beginning；　there　would　be　an　abundant　supply　for　the　needs　of　the　human　family。　There　would　be　fewer　imaginary　wants；　and　more　opportunities　to　work　in　God's　ways。　But　selfishness　and　the　indulgence　of　unnatural　taste　have　brought　sin　and　misery　into　the　world；　from　excess　on　the　one　hand；　and　from　want　on　the　other。

Jesus　did　not　seek　to　attract　the　people　to　Him　by　gratifying　the　desire　for　luxury。　To　that　great　throng；　weary　and　hungry　after　the　long；　exciting　day；　the　simple　fare　was　an　assurance　not　only　of　His　power；　but　of　His　tender　care　for　them　in　the　common　needs　of　life。　The　Saviour　has　not　promised　His　followers　the　luxuries　of　the　world；　their　fare　may　be　plain；　and　even　scanty；　their　lot　may　be　shut　in　by　poverty；　but　His　word　is　pledged　that　their　need　shall　be　supplied；　and　He　has　promised　that　which　is　far　better　than　worldly　good；the　abiding　comfort　of　His　own　presence。

In　feeding　the　five　thousand；　Jesus　lifts　the　veil　from　the　world　of　nature；　and　reveals　the　power　that　is　constantly　exercised　for　our　good。　In　the　production　of　earth's　harvests　God　is　working　a　miracle　every　day。　Through　natural　agencies　the　same　work　is　accomplished　that　was　wrought　in　the　feeding　of　the　multitude。　Men　prepare　the　soil　and　sow　the　seed；　but　it　is　the　life　from　God　that　causes　the　seed