is work with fervor and zeal. There were over five
thousand people gathered together around Him, and toward evening the
cry went up that there was not sufficient food in the camp to begin to
feed the multitude. A great tumult arose among the crowd, and
complaints and even curses began to be heard. The spiritual wants were
forgotten, and the physical began to manifest itself in a most
insistent manner. What was to be done?

He called together those of His company who had been entrusted with
the care of the food which the little company carried with it. And, to
His sorrow, He learned that the entire stock of food consisted of five
loaves of bread and two fishes. And the little band carried
practically no money with it, for they depended upon the hospitality
of the country and the offerings by the faithful. The disciples
advised that the Master order the crowd to disperse and return to
Bethseda for food. But Jesus felt loath to do this, particularly when
there were so many invalids in the gathering who had traveled so many
miles to see Him, and who had not yet been healed. And so He decided
to give the company its food by means of His power.

He bade His people divide the multitude into little groups of fifty
people, who were then instructed to be seated for a meal. Then He
ordered the scanty supply of available food to be brought before Him,
and, placing His hands over it, He offered a blessing, then ordered
His people to serve the throng. They began to serve out the food with
looks of wonder and amazement. Had the Master lost His senses? But in
some way the food seemed miraculously to increase and multiply, until
at last all of the five thousand had been fully supplied and their
hunger appeased. And then, after all had been served and had eaten,
the scraps and fragments which were gathered up filled many wicker
baskets and were distributed to the poorer people in the company for
tomorrow's use.

But trouble arose. The people, with well filled stomachs, feeling that
here indeed was royal bounty and the power with which to feed them
forever free of charge, began to wax enthusiastic and shouts ascended.
"The Messiah! King of the Jews! Provider of the People! Son of David!
Ruler over Israel!" were the words which soon swept the crowd off of
its feet. And then some of the bolder ones, or else the hired spies
who wished to place Him in a compromising position, began to suggest
that the crowd form itself into an army and mar