Twelve Baskets Full

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1859

“Twelve Baskets Full.”

As many baskets as there were apostles. Perhaps one was assigned to each of them, a sufficient provision for their sustenance for several days to come. The public miracle had made its impression on their minds. They had officiated as servitors at the miraculous supper, first seating the multitude in orderly ranks, and then conveying to them, from their Master's hands, the marvelously multiplying food, as he blessed and broke and delivered it. What amazement must have filled their minds, while they made this distribution! What awe of their Master's power!

But he will have them reflect more calmly upon it, after the excitement of the public occasion is over. So he causes each to carry away a basket full of the fragments. Could one of them carry his basket full of that miraculous product, and take his food from it for successive days, without having the impression of the miracle deepened, and the recollection of it fixed more firmly? The quiet, private meals of those following days had none of the excitement of that public scene at the working of the miracle; but they may have been no less profitable. The apostles may have felt as solemn impressions of the miraculous power which provided the food, and as they ate it, and silently meditated, the great lessons of the miracle may have sunk more and more deeply into their minds.

The Saviour had taken care, had required them to take care, that the fragments should not be lost. He seasonably checked the tendency to remit the ordinary care for ordinary provision, which might naturally arise from so extraordinary experience. He taught them that special divine bestowments were to be thankfully received as gifts of sovereign bounty, but not presumptuously relied upon. Labor and diligence and care are not at all to be remitted by reason of them.

Such was the economy of our Saviour's miracles, and similar is the economy of his grace. He sometimes lets his people, sitting together in his house—perhaps at his table—witness, and experience a marvelous display of his divine excellence. Vividly, thrillingly, is he made known to them, in the breaking of bread. Beautiously, graciously, lovingly, does his countenance beam upon them. Each ravished soul beholds the King in his beauty, the Lord in the glorious fullness of his grace and truth; and each receives a portion in season of the divinely dispensed provision.

Let each favored disciple, as he goes away, take heed that he go not to lose the sweet memory of his Master's manifested grace. Let each one take his basket full of fragments—the privilege is not restricted to the twelve—and let him, on the following days, by studious reflection, by prayerful meditation, feed upon the excellent, sweet food, and "go in the strength of it" to the faithful discharge of duty, the cheerful daily service of the Master. Let there be no thriftlessness, no extravagance, no waste of the provisions of grace. Gather up the fragments; let nothing be lost.—Sel.