The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL LESSON For JAN. 13.
Miracle of the Feeding Of Five ThOu-
sand. ms Related In the sixth Chap
ter of Mark, Verses 3O-4f.
BY JAMES E. GILBERT. d.. d.
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.

BY JAMES E. GILBERT, D.. d.
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
ligious Education.
After the depression of Christmas, for
quarterly review, and for the sad episode,
the story of Johns death, the international
Sunday-school lessons return to the mar
rative of the life and work of Jesus. The
evangelists passed over in silence the time
during which the apostles were absent
from Jesus on their first missionary tour,
a period of several months. Their going
forth Uhe lesson for Dec. 16) is recorded
with minuteness, but where they went or
what they did is not related. 1t Is also
declared tina Jesus continued His labors
without them, but the places and circum-
stances are not given. except that His fame
increased until Herod heard CT Him and
thought the Baptist had risen from the
dead. Speculations concerning this silence
would be improbable. (Deut. xxx, 30 But
now, Jesus and the twelve being associated
again, the history begins anew. The pas
sage to be studied is found in all the four
gospels CMatt. xiv. 1921: Luke tx, 1917;
John vi, LID, with slight variations that
ought to be woven together.
The Return.-verse 3o) The home COM
ing of the twelve missionaries broke the
historians silence. 1t occurred shortly
before our Lords third Passover John vi,
A. The place of their meeting, probably
agreed on before parting. lis not known,
but supposed to be Capernium, the rally
ing center in all their movements. An
interview followed, each in his own way
repeating the story of what had been done
and taught in the seven different excur-
sions (Titus ii, ., giving account of their
stewardship. Subsequent reference luke
xxii, 35) to their labors shows that while
absent they had sustained no physical dis
comfort. They mus. therefore, have re-
garded their mission as successful, and
the experience of this first venture must
have been eminently satisfactory. One
may easily imagine the delight with which
they stood again in the presence of their
Master and of each other, possibly at
tended by some of their followers.
The Retreat.-Uerses 1888. This mission
airy convention stirred the community. Re-
membrance of former marvellous words and
works filled all with expectation. Many
came to see and hear, until rest and pri-
vate conversation were impossible. SO the
Master quietly drew the apostles away from
the crowd, as He had often done Mark iii,
D, and crossed the sea Of Galilee (John vi,
u, to a sparsely settled region, called a
desert place. near Bethsaida luke tx,
1O. BY that removal He was taken out of
Herod's territory, although but six miles
distant from Capernaum. In that retired
spot the long-separated ministers might
enjoy all that sweet fellowship implied in
the Savior's words. Come We apart" and
they might exchange ideas and be made
ready for further service. But the people
were there before them. Contrary winds,
SO common at that season of the year, may
have delayed the ships, so that, running
around the head of the sea, telling others as
they went, the crowd, increasing to thou
sands, coming out of all the cities (Matt.
xiv, 49,, awaited the arrival. And when
Jesus led His little band to the top of the
hill (John vi, 49, selected for their confer
ence, the multitude spread abroad in all
the valley below. THAI kind of ministerial
vacation and outing was quite different
from those enjoyedsby preachers in our time.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. was never dis
concerted. He was always ready for any
emergency. On this occasion He beheld the
great throng, not with displeasure because
His plans had been frustrated and because
His rest had been disturbed. but with COM
passion. The people seemed to Him like
sheep that had wandered about having no
shepherd. (Numb. xvii, II; Zecn. X, p. They
were without spiritual instructors and
guides. The opportunity was therefore fav-
orable for Him. Allowing them to gather
about Him, He laugh them many things
pertaining to the kingdom of Cod duke
tx, p, His ~favorite theme from the first
Mark i, I'D. After preaching He turned to
cure diseases, and healed them that had
need" duke i, So; Luke v, 81. And SO
with gracious words and a mighty hand
He ministered to the multitude. Love in
the wilderness that day showed forth both
wisdom and power. The details are not
given. They were not for after times, but
for that time. Uninspired penmen would
have amplified into a volume what is here
compressed into a sentence.
The observation-disclosures 80 to 49, The
day of service was wearing away. The
apostles, with genuine benevolence, became
concerned for the people,. Five thousand
men, beside women and children Matt. xiv,
2D, in the open air, distant from town, as
sembled hastily, is a great responsibility;
especially as, excited by marvellous minis
tries, they had forgotten. the passage of
time. Jesus was urged to send the people
away to buy food and find lodgings-a pru-
dent but meddlesome suggestion. 1t would
seem that He had previously conversed
with Philip on the subject John vi, 81
Now He assures the apostles that there is
no necessity for dismissing the people; that
rather they should be fed. Then comes the
suggestion to buy bread, even two hundred
pennyworth, equivalent to s5 dollars of our
money. The apostles in their poverty were
proposing liberal things; twice the amount
for which one seized another by the throat
Matt. xviii, 2) they proposed to give away.
But on inquiry 1t was found that a lad
present (John vi, 81 had five loaves and
two small fishes, and that was considered
sufficient with which to spread the table.
This conversation exhibits the human and
divine side of benevolence. Send them
away in time to care for themselves" is
them" is Gods counsel. So the little chill
dren were invited, when the apostles would
have repealed them Matt. xix, 1i)
The Miracle.-(Verses 80 to 42.) Now we
shall see the mode and measure of the
Savior's hospitality. hungry Israel was
| fed by Moses Numb. xi, 13-2SN and starving
Samaria by Elisha III kings, vii. y, but
Jesus will exceed both the prophets. He
will be the source OF supplies, and not
merely the agency for procuring them
| psalm evil, 81, IS. 36) The men were seat
ed on the grass John vi, lC) by companies,
that all might proceed in order q Cor. xiv,
| 40.) Then the provisions were brought-one
| loaf for a thousand hungry men, one fish
| for twenty-five hundred Then came a
| looking up to heaven for a blessing q Sam.
| tx, 10; Acts xvii, 80: Rom. xiv, 81, a break
ing of the loaves, a giving to the apostles
| Matt. xiv, 49,, a distribution to the guests.
All ate. and all We're satisfied. Like the
widows oil, the supplies did not fail Il
Kings. xvii, 12-16.) How and where was the
| the hands of the apostles? In the hands of
1 Tho nannio7 HnGht Wa do rot Ennur The