The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-01-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for January
8-"Feeding tho Multi
tude."

The lesson for the above date may be found
In the fourteenth chapter Of Matthew, from
tho thirteenth TO the twenty nrst verses
HOME READINGS
NJ. The multitude fed. Matt IA: 23-SL
j. Fed with mama Exod. 10: ll-l6
w. Elijah miraculously fed Kings IL:
4. Gods providence. Psa 107: Lib
r. Enough and to spare. John q: 5-l3
y Jesus the bread of life. John d: 4-S4
s. Jesus the bread OF hfe John o: 1888.
BREAKFAST VERSES.
M Living bread" John u: 81.
i. Hidden mama" Rev. 2: IL
W. @Do good" Luke q: 81
i. shade by him." John La
Il. Grace and truth. John /: IL
8. Broken for you" l Cor IL: "a.
B. ~Abundantiy satisfied" Psa 50: &
INTRODUCTORY.
1t Is the afternoon of Palestnian spring
day, A. ID. 20 the scene il q retired spot on
the northeast coast of the Sea of Galllee, sud-
denly made populous by the presence of the
thronging multitude They have fastened
around the narrow neck of the sea, and an
tcipated our Lords coming; and he, though
wear cd, his eyes taking in the outlines of the
struggling throng, like flock of shepherd
less sheep, stralghtway puts forth words OF
instruction and hands of healing. Then in
due time, from the same compassion, come
the feeding Of the multitude, aud unbroken
streams Of refreshing flow forth to all. The
event IL marvellous one Christ
blesses and breaks, the disciples
take and pass on to the people, who in turn
pass along from neighbor TO neighbor, and
there is still no dimlnution of supply Pres
emily, here they come bearing twelve BASKETS,
lying empty before, filled now to the brim
with yet more bread and fishes. 1t IL the
crown Of all the miracles. Some" they say,
3iet us make MIN kingw But there is a con-
straining presence before them, and mo-
ment later they find themselves in groups
quietly dispensing and whispering in awed
restraint: 1Of q truth this that prophet
which should come into the world" And
when they look back to the hill it Is empty,
but in the recesses Of a noighboring mountain
lone, yet kingly figure is bowed in the
passion OF prayer.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
When Jesus heard Of it, How IKE the be-
ginning of the last lesson! There we read
that Herod @heard OF the fame of Jesus"
and heard to shrink and tremble Here Jesus
hears of the sayings and doings OF Herod,
and at once goes apart with his disciples for
meditation and prayer. 1t Is the state of
heart that determines the effect upon Us Of
the moving events of the day.
desert place. Two thoughts are sug-
gested There is no place too obscure or in
significant for Christ to visit and sanctify.
Here was solitary, out-of- the way spot;
Christ chose it for the scene OF the mightlest
work he had yet been prompted to perform.
God can and viii work anywhere. What are
great Provider? The other lesson is this:
No place where Christ is can roman desert
He needs but enter and the place becomes
populous. His presence glorites 1t Verify,
"the wilderness and the solitary place shall
be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice
and blossom as the rose.
Aoc ed NTH compassion IL is the same heart
that afterward moved well-nigh to breaking
as the divine eyes rested on devoted Jerusa-
lem. The same that throbbed with pity and
for frn ha NAL Of "a
cross 1t was the truth, indeed, when they
said: @He saved others, himself he can not
save" He helped and pitled all but himself.
In such wilderness az this one time he him
self was an hungered, novel with desire
for refreshment How easily he could have
used his creative energy, and made the stones
into breadl But no; he suffered for himself.
that he might work perfect redemption for
his brethren.
Healed the sick A new physician for the
worlds sick. Wherever was the Christ there
was tho multitude. With Christ went COM
passion, with the multitude need 1t was
Gods will that this need and this compassion
should be brought together 1t ia his blessed
will still. In every company are to be found
to-day the comfortless and needy, in every
congregation, in every Sunday-schooL SEv-
cry multitude of people have their sick.
Not always physically lnfrm, though that
may be; sick in body, mind, and soul II is
the mission Of Christs church to seek them
out, in city, in hamlet, in country place.
Wherever is the afflicted multitude there is
the helping, healing hand of the church to
fluid it's way.
Send the multitude array The word was
altogether too tree upon the lips of the disci-
pes. They would also have sent the blind
man away, and the children, troubling, for
sooth the Master Possibly the disciples may
be found to-day sending the multitude away
to buy their own victuals. Certainly we seem
to be doing 80 with such pestilent classes as
the anarchists of the cities and Migrants OF
the country-places- They seem TO Us to
trouble the Master. They are careless, hate
full vindictive. Let them alone Send them
away! Not So There should be found
some way Of reaching these people with
the Bible, If that Face of Nazareth
were here to-day, would 1T be turned askance
at the multitude of the nineteenth century?
Ihey need not depart; giUe pc them TO eat.
| Fathers house. Yet Is there room in the
| Lords house OF feasting. God has given to
his church ample supplies to meet the spirit
ual demands of every generation Food for
| the children, food for the Older-grown. Store
for the learned and unlearned, the rich and
| the poor, the favored few and the great null
| titude "Christ for ali and all for Christi"
| This should be the motto of every church
| and Sunday-school in the land This pupil
| has hunger in his heart not yet supplied.
Listen to this word: Do not go away to have
| it satisfied, you need not depart THIS teach
or has found hungry SOU. Send him not
away, Do not send nm, even, TO the pastor
or deacon., or defer him to another day.
There right in your hand 10 the food he re-
| quires. 1t Is not yours to withhold You are
the Lords steward ~Give ye them to eat"
Bring them hithey to me- Christ is the great
multipl err @Fve loaves and two fishes" of
endowment are a plenty if his hand sanctifes
and gives increase There are q great many
people going through tins world with feeble
hearts and fruItless hand-, simply because
they have not brought their talents, whatever
they be, to Jesus Hear Jesus saying TO men
to-day, "HoN many loaves have your" Look
and see.
Blessed, brake, gaze. 1t must have been
familiar image III the disciples m nd. So the
Emmaus traveiers remembered him, 30 the
twelve after the last supper IN the upper room,
30 the multitude here and elsewhere Christ
was ever blessing aud distributing. We saw
gold medallion the other day which Chris
tian Chinawoman had gwen to CHI Ill she
loved. 1t read, brief aud simple God bless :"
Enough indeed, If God bless
BRIEF HINTS.
Notice as suggested by this lesson: The
tineracies of our Lord The sources Of
Chrisrs information. The sollt ry places
in tho life of Jesus. The multitude aad
Christ Tho modes OF travel in Palestine.
The lakeside ministry OF our Lord
The unfalling compassion of Christ The
Lord our healer The evenings of the dis
ciples. Desert places IN Galilee. --Ciies