Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-01-07
THE MULTITUDE FED.
SECOND LESSON OF THE lNTERNA-
TloNAL s. S. SERIES. JAN. s,tsss.

Verses 1920.
from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by permission
OF n. S. Holman, Philadelphia, publisher.l
Notes Jesus heard, l. e., what Johns dis
ciples told him. Desert, or uninhabited
place. Luke tx, 10, says it was to a place
called Bethsaida, or house of fishing. Com
passion, or pity for their desolate condition.
Evening, i. e., the first evening, extending
from II o'clock to g.; while the second
evening, verse %, began at G. Time is
now passed, or the day is closing in; or the
time for buying food is passing away.
Loaves, or bread cakes in the form Of plate
To sit down, i. e., to recline, after the Jewish
manner. Fragments, or broken pieces, not
crumbs Baskets, round and plated, for
holding bread and fishes.
" Is. Viewed from one point, it seems a
strange thing that Jesus should have needed
this communication, For could Herod have
touched him before the times No But he
would avoid the danger to which he was not
called. The child Jesus must fee from the
power of this Herod's father, while the angel
that directed the fight could have screened
him from the tyrant's widest rage. Yet he
quietly departed into Egypt, and so was
placed beyond his reach. So in this case. 1t
might have been as the disciples of John sup
posed. l. O., that danger threatened Jesus
from tho same hand that slew their master.
They told him of it, and he at once quietly
withdrew. Yet when "his hour was come
with what perfect calmness he did go forth TO
meet the soldiers commissioned to take him.
Is the desire to avoid needless danger part
of the same spirit that holds us firm and
calm and true in the presence of that which
must be metz
Y. H. How long Jesus had been in this
desert place before he went forth we are not
told. But when he went forth, che saw
great multitude,n out of tho surrounding
cities and villages. The most intense desire
to see him and to hear him seems to have
possessed the people And among low and
unworthy motives, there were, beyond doubt,
many that were high and noble and true
They followed him ON foot. They ran, cir
cling the lake, in order to reach the point
where he was. They brought their sick.
They thirsted to hear his words. Is it any
wonder he was moved with compassionq
v. Is. Thus the day wore away, it was
now evening. Was there any provision for
the night? Could they pass it theres How
were these thousands to be feds And SO the
disciples-thoughtful, prudent souls, the
worlds wisdom would call then1-came and
asked Jesus to send the multitude away, that
and make some provision for their wants 1t
was in their minds a real difficulty. These
5000 souls must be fed, and the women ard
children cared for. And how could this be
done, if they remained in that desert placel
e. 16. No doubt they were, beyond meas
ure, surprised when he calmly replied:
''They need not depart. Give ye them to
eat" And Philip, doubtless, spoke the feel
ings of all the disciples when he spoke of the
impossibility Of their doing it. For this
5000 pennyworth of breadn-about $50 in
our currency--whence were they to obtain itf
Y. IL And their reply yecame from the same
side, l. g., from their belief in that which
they could see and handle. They had five
loaves and two fishes. And were they to
undertake the task of feeding these thousands
with such miserable supplys
v. 10 What picture this verse sets be-
fore us! Jesus in the midst of these
5000 men, with the lads scanty supply
in his hands, looking up to heaven in thanks
! giving ere he commenced the work of distri-
button to the hungry throng. He had di-
rected the order of their sitting down, l. e.,
by fifties, or in ranks, or bands of that num-
Der, probably extending in circles around
| him. for the sake of more convenient access.
| Seel He breaks and gives to the disciples,
and they distribute to the multitude. But
the supply in his hands is not diminished
! Still he breaks and gives to the disciples, and
they bear it to the waiting thousands before
them. There is nc ncise; no attempt to en-
| phasize the wondrous work 1t still goes on,
| and the bread is multiplied in his hands as
! quietly as the dew is formed upon the grass.
! And how long does this continued
v. 90 This verse tells Us, l. e., till all were
kkrri-- Il = 11<.If
Nor was this ALL Fol they had more at the
ending than at the beginning of their desert
meal ''They took up Of the fragments that re-
| mained, twelve baskets full"-or as John
| puts it, (which remained over and above, to
them that had eaten" Now, in view Of this
| narrative, it may be well to remark: 1st.
| These evangelists manifestly relate simple
| matter Of fact There is no room for theoriz-
ing or explaining it away. What they do as
sert is that 1000 hungry men, besides women
1 and children, were fed in q desert place from
| five loaves and two fishes, that all had abund-
| ance, and that twelve baskets full of frag-
n.onts were taken up when the meal was con-
| cluded This is what they do assert in the
| most simple and matter Of fact way. The
bread means bread, and nothing else. The
| 5000 hungry men, the feeding Of them, the
| satisfying Of their hunger, and the twelve
| baskets Of fragments that remaine1-all
mean exactly those very things. II is simply
unrnanly trifing with the gravest truths tc
affirm anything else.
GENERAL LESSONS.
/. Miracle as signs.-The works which
commonly we call miracles are in the Bible
known as mighty works, wonders, and IL the
New Testament-always in Johns gospel
/ rs girus. And the distinction may be vel
pondered; mighty works impress rs with the
power involved Ia them; wonders with 8
sense Of the marvellous: while signs concern
the purpose for which they were wrought, O
the end they are meant 70 serve. Even with
rs, Is individuals. CT. with hnmaa govern
menfs, Il the end in. view ke of sufficient in
porfance, any expenditure can Be justified
And IN that case the neglect to make the ex
ponditure would be criminal Nov thepuEToss
lying hack of theze miracles or signs u on
Lord was 10 nrOve che reality CT he claim q