The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-03
the SUNDAY soHooL.
International Lesson for JanuAry -, lS0l
-Feeding the Five Thousand - Mari

AA@Co10A~s
o:80-AA.
Especially Arranged from Peloubet's Notesl
GOLDEN TExE-He hath filled the hungry
With good things.-Luke lisa
TIME.-April, A. D. 20. Immediately follow
ing the last lesson. and Just before tho Pass
over (John go, which that year began April 10
PbAct.-The plain Of Butaiha, belonging to
Bethsaida (Luke 0:io), "desert;"i l. O., On un-
cultivated, uninhabitcd place, Q short distance
southeast Of Bethssida, on the northeast shore
Of the Sea OF Galilee. Bethsaida was o double
town, situated on either side of the Jordan at
its entrance into the sea- The plain Of Butai-
ha' forms q triangle, Of which the eastern
mountains make one side, and the river bank
and the lake shore tho other two. 1t was at
the southeastern angle Of this plain, where tho
hills come down closo to tho shore, that
Thomson places tho site Of the feeding Of the
five thousand. Andrews.
RULERS --Tibcrius Cesar, emperor Of Rome
(sixtcenth year,; Pontius PLATE, governor Of
Judea (third year); Herod Antipas. Of Galilee
and Pcrea tthirty-third year,; Hcrod Philip. Of
rrachonitis, etc. (thirty-third year,.
LESSON NOTES.
The Missionaries Report 80. A
few weeks before the martyrdom of
John the Baptist, Jesus had sent out
His disciples among the villages of
Galilce, He Himself going also Mark
where, preaching the Gospel and heal
ing the sick, apparently with great
success. BUT when the news of the
death of John reached them, they seem
to have been overwhelmed, and gath
cred themselves together unto Jesus"
probably ut His usual center of work,
Capernaum.
Jesus and His Disciples Retire from
Herod's Doninion.-Vs. 81, 32. ". 81.
Come ye yourselves apart into des-
ert places" not barren, sandy place,
but one uninhnbited, wild pasture or
woodland. There were two chief rea-
sons for this course. The first, given
by Matthew U4:l3). was on account of
the news of Johns death. In the ex-
citement Herod might seek to imprison
or murder Jesus and His disciples, who
were equally with John opposed to
Herod's crimes. And there was danger
Of a political revolt, which was entirely
contrary to the plans and purposes of
Jesus, but which might center around
His person. The second reason is here
given. "And rest awhile" after their
severe labors and excited interest on
account of John. They could not rest
at Capernaum, for in these exciting
times there were many coming and
going" perhaps anxious to know what
course Jesus would take.
Great Multitudes Follow Him.-V. SO.
1.-The people saw them departing" and
knew by the direction the boat took
toward what part Of the lake they
were going. Some recognized them
and reported to others. Ran afoot,"
that is by land, in contrast with the
disciples in the boat. This was doubt
less early in the morning. "Out of all
Cities" such as Capernaum, Cho-
rain and Bethsaida. They ran round
by the head Of the lake, taking one of
the fords Of the river, SO as to meet
Jesus, who was crossing with the,
twelve by ship.
Jesus Teaches the Multitude and
Heals the Sick.-34. "Jesus :.
was moved with compassion toward
them" The crowds were ignorant,
restless, sinful. They had brought
also their sick, who were but a living
parable of their spiritual state. Weary
and troubled as Jesus was, His heart
could not let the multitudes go with
out help, for ''they were as sheep not
having a shepherd" They were desti-
tute of teachers to feed, to guide, to
protect, in word, to shepherd them.
Jesus Communes with His Disciples.
From John (6:3), we learn that Jesus
did not spend all His time with the
multitudes, but went up on the noun
tain side, and sat with His disciples,
the usual posture of teaching. Here
they could rest, and talk over their
evangelizing tour, their plans, their
successes, their mistakes, and receive
the instruction they would soon need
as to the true way of preaching tho
Gospel to the world, and as to the Cos
pei they should preach.
The Hungering Multitudes. = IS.
"When the day was now far spent:"
The first evening Matt. 14:15) had
come, which began at three o'clock.
1.-THE disciples came unto Him." The
fuller conversation is given in John. SO.
"Send them away :. buy themselves"
Many of these were Passover pilgrims
and had no homes, but must buy their
food. They must go soon, or it would
be too late. 81. "Give ye them to eat:"
This Jesus said to prove them (John),
whether they had SO much faith in Him
as the Messiah as to believe that He
could supply the multitude with food.
They found small boy Gohn), who
had Ave, and two fishes" The
Greek apsarion is a diminutive;
it properly means what was eat
en- along with the bread, and
specially refers tc the small and gen.
orally dried or picked fish eaten with
bread. 80. "And He commanded them
to make all sit down." or recline, as in
the Greek, the customary posture for
eating. There were five thousand men,
besides women and children. Al. "Gave
them to His disciples to set before
them" gave is in tense which
describes continuous repeated ac-
ton. The pieces grew under His