Gathering up fragments to avoid any waste.
III. The Result (14). Acceptance of Christ by the multitude as the expected Messiah.
Lessons. 1. Blessed is he who considereth the poor.
2. Give thanks unto the God of heaven.
Food Comes from God.
We are in want of food, and we buy a loaf at a baker's shop. Whence does a baker get the flour to make that loaf? You say at once—"From the miller"; but how does the miller get the corn to grind into flour? He buys it of the farmer. But how does the farmer get it? With infinite pains he prepares the ground with plough and harrow. Then he sows the seed and—leaves it. He can do no more. The soil in which it grows, the sunshine to warm it, the rain to moisten it, and the wind to blow upon it—all these are God's doing, not man's. So a wonder is seen in thousands of harvest fields every year. One grain has produced a hundred grains by the almighty power of God. Christ, the Son of God, passed over all the intermediate processes, and made one loaf to be multiplied into many. "He giveth food to all flesh, for His mercy endureth for ever."
February 26th.—Christ at the Feast.
To read—St. John vii. 14, 28-37. Golden Text—Ver. 37.
Scene again changes to Jerusalem. Spring Feast of Passover long over, autumn Feast of Tabernacles begun. Christ at first decided (ver. 8) not to attend, but (ver. 14) changed His mind and went up, in the middle of the eight days, quite privately (ver. 10), and began teaching in the Temple.
I. A Sermon (28, 29). Christ now preaches openly and proclaims His authority. They by this time know Him well. How? By His miracles, which proclaim Him as sent from God. Had healed the impotent man here at Jerusalem (ch. v. 8), also had been testified to by God at His baptism (St. Matt. iii. 17), and by John the Baptist afterwards as the Son of God (i. 33, 34). They knew not God, and therefore would not receive Him.
II. An Attempt at Arrest (30-36). Many believed on Him—mostly common people. Why? Because of His miracles, His loving words, His holy life. But chief priests and Pharisees hated Him. Why? For His increasing popularity, while theirs was becoming less. Also for His so openly rebuking sin. So they sought to take Him prisoner, but failed. Why? Because His time for being tried not yet come.