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

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would not suffice for that multitude. Doubt held
their feet. A sceptical wonder in their eyes asked
what does He mean There was just a touch of
derision on their lips as they said, whence shall we,
with our empty purse, buy food for all this crowd
And the Lord rebuked their unbelief in a way that
they would never forget. He gave them to understand
that whatever He commissioned them to do,
He would empower them to do. " Give ye them to
eat," He said, and trembling unbelief answered, " We
have nothing to give." " Nevertheless, give them
what ye have ;
" and lo, obedience brought omnipotence
to their help. Ever as they gave, they were
still able to give the more. Out of their very penury
they were made rich, and out of their weakness
strong. For where faith is there is divine power at
the back of it, and the thing which is impossible with
men becomes possible with God. And the whole
secret of a brave, and noble, and victorious life, is
told
there. Man's weakness of itself can do no great and
good thing ;
but man's weakness, waiting on God,
and obeying and believing, can do well-nigh anything.
And this is ever Christ's word to us when we
draw back and hesitate—when we murmur that this is
too difficult to do, and that too hard to bear, and the
work too heavy to undertake, and the sea too deep to
cross, and the height too steep to climb.
us again the story of those twelve reluctant
He just tells
men, and
how the bread grew in their hands when they took
Him at His word, and ventured. It would be well
with us if we could recall and apply every day of our
lives that particular lesson of the story. And yet
these are only side lights
and secondary suggestions.