The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-18
The International Sunday School Lesson.
February 10, 1900. John VI: IA.
Christ Feeding the Five Thousand.

February 10, 1900. John VI: IA.
Christ Feeding the Five Thousand.
Crucial times had come. John Bap-
tist was martyred.
At n drunken monarchs call,
At dancing woman's beck.
They had severed the stubborn neck.
Prudence suggested retirement
WEAKNESS demanded 1t. The retreat
would also afford the apostles an op-
portunity to report more infinitely to
the Master the experiences of their trial
trip through Galilee, from which they
had just returned. So the boat which
had been chartered for Jesus and walt
ed upon him." was employed to put the
weary tollers beyond the reach OF the
multitudes that pressed upon them even
at meal times.
Head winds probably drove the little
bark near the shore and retarded its
progress. Clandestine as the departure
had been i. failed of its purpose An
ever auSmenting throng hurried
around the head OF the lake. and prob
| ably apprised some pilgrims caravans
| to the Passover of the coming of the
Great NaZarene. SO when Jesus boat
ran its keel upon the wobbly shore
there stood five thousand men. not to
| mention the women and children.
! So far from being irritated by the fail
| ing of His plans. Jesus heart was
touched TO pity at sight OF the shep-
herdless flock. and he began at once 10
instruct them in many phases of the
| ippf 81, IF IN hn oil. ~,
| interest OF the theme. neither Teacher
nor taught observed how the sun was
| dipping TO the western horizon.
But the commissary of the apostolic
college suddenly awoke to the situation.
| Five regiments. and no stores on hand
nor any country 10 forage upon. AZ
ter some questions on Jesus part. cal
| culateJ to test His apostles faith. but
TO which they responded with phcnom-
email obtuseness. He proposes to work
what in some respects was His most
remarkable and significant miracle.
The material basis OF the miracle
was paltry in the extreme.
But one poor fishers rude and scanty
store
Is all He asks (and more than needs,
| Who men and angels daily feeds.
There is vivid descriptive touch in
the Greek which does not appear in our
version. Under Jesus direction the
confused throng was resolved into
the order of French partcrrc. He had
them sit platwise. so that they looked
in their high-colored garments like YER
table flower-beds. with green turf in
terveninS.
After the cheering grace which Jesus
| never omits, He puts Il mOrsel Of bread
| and fish in the hand OF each apostle,
I 4 L., LII o. =. -.
He breaks off is larger far than what
remains. But that which remains is
undlminished. And all are fed and
filed.
AS lesson in frugality. the unused
fragments were ordered to be gathered
| up. Each .hesitating apostle holds in
| his hands the tangible evidence of the
| reality and magnitude Of the miracle
wrought.
The Tcnchcrs Lantern.
a Lovely evidence is here of the
implicit confidence which maintained
between Jesus and His apostles. They
came to Him. They told Him what
they had done and what they had
taught. They were sure Of His sympa-
thy. II they needed correction they
knew It would be done with love.
(2) These eldest disciples have no
monopoly, however. Of Jesus sympathy.
He Is touched with feeling for us.
too. We can come to Him. also: TO
tell Jesus" is still the disciples, blissful
recourse.
go The same consideratencss which
Jesus showed for health and comfort
J of His toilcrs. He stih feels for those
| who in this latter day are engaged in
| His service. 4 church initiates the
Master when it gives an industrious
| pastor Il vacation. 1t says: Go apart.
and rest while" Seasons o. respite
are indispensable for the highest effec-
| tivencss."
% But apostles nor preachers have
q monopoly OF Jesus sympathy.
There's n Wilderness in His mercy
Like the Wilderness OF the sea
1t sweeps out TO inclose all sorts and
conditions OF men. Jesus was rs COM
passionate toward five thousand rs to-
ward twelve. So His Saviorheart goes
| out toward the great unchurchcd
| masses to-day.
90 Five crackers and two dried her
ring--talk Of feeding five thousand with
| them, But add to the crackers and
| fish the almichtincSs of Christ and
| the proposition ceases to be ridiculous.
Inc resources OF the church for the
| spiritual sustcnancc of the church are
palpably inadequate until the Sa"iOr's
| power and blessing are added to this
equation. Then there is enough and
to spare.
(6) The hcavcniincss OF this miracle
IL evident In its ordcr!ness. There was
no unscemy scramble. Inequality or
waste. All was precision, method, or
der.
% Grace ut meals is one OF the
sweetest and most impressive services
OF family religion. We have Jesus cX-
ample for II. and II Paul could observe
II In the midst OF II shipwrcck, there
can scarcely be a domestic emergency
which would justify its omission.
tS) The spiritual Significance OF this
whole scene Is finely set forth In Mary
a. Lathbury's noble hymn:
Break thou the bread OF life. dear Lord,
to mo-
As thou didst break the loavcs beside the
sea.
SCALD head Is an eczema OF the scalp
very severe sometimes, but II can he
cured. Doan's Ointment, quick and
permanent in its results At any drug
store, so cents.
~ ~ STND q n