The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-02-16
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.
Sunday school Lesson IN the 1nterna-
tional series for February II.
l0OO-JOhn Os1.14.

Especially Arranged from PelouDet Notes.J
sUBJECT--Christ Feeding the Five
GOLD.iN TEXT am the bread of life.
John G:35.
THE SECTION includes the whole chap
ter, the miracle nj the ,Javes. and The dis
cussiors which grew out of 1t.
TIME. Just before the Passover. April.
A d. - The Passover began that year
April 10. about year after the last lesson.
EXPOSITION.
Scene |. Seeking Solitude and Rest.
". /. after these things:" Marking
an indefinite period For year since
our last lesson Jesus had been busy
with His disciples. working oLt His
great Galilean ministry. the year of de-
velopment. He was teaching AMI heal.
ing. laying down principles, che oosing
and training His disciples, and building
the foundation of His Kingdom.
Toward the last the apostles were sent
all over Galilee to preach and to heal.
Then suddenly, like flash from far
distant cloud, came the news that John
the Baptist had been beheaded by
Herod Antipas, in Macherus castle. The
disciples hastened to- Jesus (Mark),
probably at Capernaum, and all retired
across the "Sea of Galilee" to the lonely
plain al the foot of the hills near Beth.
saida, just outside of Herods do
minions.
Scene III. The Gathering of the Multi
tudes.-Vs. 2, 4. 2. And great multi
tude followed Him:" Probably early in
the morning. Some one had noticed the
direction in which Jesus went, and they
L Al
ly all the way.
Two reasons are given for the great
ness of the crowd. (1) In v. 4, that "the
passover, (the) feast of the Jews, was
righ:" The great roads to Jerusalem
passed near the head of the lake. These
were thronged with pilgrims from all
parts of the north, and thus many had
leisure to stop over day and see and
hear the great prophet. (2) Because
they saw His miracles:" But the at
traction was not merely curiosity and
wonder, but also a semi-consciousnes
that these showed that Jesus was the
prophet who could help them in many
needs of their souls.
Scene III. What Jesus Did on This
Busy Day.-V.3. From a comparison of
the four accounts we learn that Jesus
was busy in three directions. "There
He sat with His disciples:" In the usual
posture of teaching. Second. from
Mark (6:34) and Luke (s:11) we learn
that when Jesus saw the multitudes He
was allied with compassion for them.
and came forth" from His retreat, and
welcomed them" weary as He was. and
In search of much-needed rest. He
went among the crowds healing "them
that had need of healing" Third. His
miracles were texts for teaching the
people "many things pertaining to the
Kingdom of Gods" The miracles made
item listen to His words, and were OBJ
ject lessons and illustrations of His
teachings.
Scene ~. An Evening Scene-the
Multitudes Weary and Hungry. A Pic
ture of the Vorld.-V S. "When Jesus
tien:" Toward evening ''lifted up His
eyes:" From the hill overlooking the
plain. saw great company come unt to
HIM" He had been among the multi
tfde. but now from his afternoon rest
with His disciples He took the whole in
at one view.
Scene v. A Conference Between
Jesus and His Disciples as to Ways and
Means.-Vs. SO. "He saith unto
Philip" Much is omitted here that is
recorded in the other Gospels (Matt
1874. IS; Mark 6:34. 35; Luke 9:11. 12)
By combining all the accounts the con-
versation at this time would be about
MS follows:
Jesus (speaking to Philip. whose home
was at Bethsaida. and who therefore was
acquainted with the region and the people)
Whence shall We buy bread. that these
may eat? John.)
Phillp--Two hundred pennyworth OF
bread Is not sufficient for them that every
one of them may take a little (John).
The Apostles-Send the multitude away,
that they may go into the towns and coun-
try round about. and get lodge and victuals
Uauke).
Jesus-"Give We them to eat" Guke)
The Apostles-"ShaIl we go and buy 2A
pennyworth of bread. and give them to
eat?" Mark.
Jesus-"How many loaves have ye? Go
and see" (Mark).
Scene VII. The Miraculous Supply
VS.. 10, II. 10. "Make the men," the
people, including women and childre n
sit down." in orderly ranks for the
convenient distribution of the food
II. And Jesus took the loaves:
That il might be known whence the
supply came "And when He had
given thanks" looking up to Heaven
uuke). Thus recognizing the Giver OF
all good.
Scene VII. Gathering Up the Frag-
uents.-Vs IL, 13. l2. Gather up the
fragments" The pieces that were mul
tiplied and that remained unconsumet
because of the abundant supply. "Tha,
nothing be lost:" ~ This was for
these orientals most important lessor
in thrift. (2) 1t was an object lessor
CT precious truth. (3) 1t completed tn,
proof of the miracle. for more remainel
i5an there was TO begin with.
VIII. Later SceRes.-N. IA. The re
suit was that the people were so con
yinced that Jesus must be the Messiah