Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIVMaclaren, Alexander
Religion
Expositions of Holy Scripture: St. John Chapters I to XIV
Maclaren, Alexander
Bible. John -- Commentaries
And notice finally here, the result of this miracle as transferred to
the region of symbol. 'They did all eat and were filled'; men, women,
children, both sexes, all ages, all classes, found the food that they
needed in the bread that came from Christ's hands. If any man wants
dainties that will tickle the palates of Epicureans, let him go
somewhere else. But if he wants bread, to keep the life in and to stay
his hunger, let him go to this Christ who is 'human nature's daily
food.'
The world has scoffed for nineteen centuries at the barley bread that
the Gospel provides; coarse by the side of its confectionery, but it is
enough to give life to all who eat it. It goes straight to the primal
necessities of human nature. It does not coddle a class, or pander to
unwholesome, diseased, or fastidious appetites. It is the food of the
world, and not of a section. All men can relish it, all men need it. It
is offered to them all.
And more than that; notice the inexhaustible abundance. 'They did all
eat, and were filled.' And then they took up—not 'of the fragments,' as
our Bible gives it, conveying the idea of the crumbs that littered the
grass after the repast was over, but of the 'broken pieces'—the
portions that came from Christ's hands—twelve baskets full, an
immensely greater quantity than they had to start with. 'The gift doth
stretch itself as 'tis received.' Other goods and other possessions
perish with the using, but this increases with use. The more one eats,
the more there is for him to eat. And all the world may live upon it
for ever, and there will be more at the end than there was at the
beginning.
Brethren, why do ye 'spend your money for that which is not bread'?
There is no answer worthy of a rational soul, no answer that will stand
either the light of conscience or the clearer light of the Day of
Judgment. I come to you now, and although my poor words may be but like
the barley bread and the two fishes—nothing amongst all this gathered
audience—I come with Christ in my hands, and I say to you, 'Eat, and
your souls shall live.' He will spread a table for you in the
wilderness, and take you to sit at last at His table in His Kingdom.
'FRAGMENTS' OR 'BROKEN PIECES'
'When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the
fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.'—JOHN vi. 12.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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