The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

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eager to part with them in that indiscriminate
charity. They expostulated before they consented.
It was like giving up a bit of their dear selves.
Why did the Master ask them for the sacrifice
He could just as easily have dispensed with that
foundation for His miracle. It would have required
no more power to create bread out of stones, or out
of nothing at all. It must have been to make them
understand that self-denial is the first condition of
spiritual power—that we cannot help men in a
saving way unless we give them a bit of ourselves
and that, if we would do the work of Christ, there
must always be the love which forgets its own need
in pity of others. There must always be something
of the spirit of the Cross. As Christ saved us by
giving us His very flesh to eat, so His Church must
save men by losing itself in their service.
II.
Secondly, our Lord taught the disciples here
to regard themselves as indispensable coworkers
with Him.
He linked and wedded them with Himself in this
miraculous work. The supernatural power was all
His own, but the glory of it was shared with them.
It was as their hands gave the bread out that the
magical increase took place. It was through their
ministry that the blessing was conferred. Of course
He could have done without their help, just as God
could do His work without our help, if His wisdom