The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-06-06
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE II.

John VII, 5-14-GoIden Text, Matt. vi
11-Memory Verses, 9-12-Comnentar
on the Days Lesson.
CONNECTING LINKs.-The twelve apostle
who had been sent out over Galilee wer
preaching and healing the sick, when, sud
denly, came the news that John the Baptis
had been beheaded. The disciples hast
ened to Jesus, probably at Capernaum
and all retired across the sea OF Galilee
to the lonely plain at the foot OF the hill!
near Bethsalda, just outside OF Herod!
domtnions. Multitudes followed them.
S. Lifted up His eyes," This was in the
afternoon, toward evening, "when the da,
! began to weGr away" Luke 9:12. The
Jews had two evenings; the first began at
three O'Clock, the second at six O'Clock
"a great company" He was moved with
compassion and walked among the people
their sick. His disciples called His atten-
tion to the fact that this was desert
place, and as the multitude had been there
since morning, 1t was time to dismiss the
congregation so that the people could 90
and buy victuals, lest they faint by the
way. Matt. l4:14, Is. "He saith unto
Philip" Philip lived at Bethsaida, a city
near Capernaum, and not the Bethsaidu
where this miracle was performed, as some
| have supposed. He was probably the pro-
WIDER for the disciples, as Judas was the
treasurer. whence are we to buy bread"
B. v. Christ had fed their souls, and healed
their bodies and now He proposes to feed
their bodies, and thus show that he Is able
to provide for all their necessities.
| 6. "To prove Him." Philip had Jesus
for more than two years, and 1t was now
time that he, and the rest OF the apostles,
should begin to have wide conceptions
OF Christ's ability, "Knew what he would
do" Our Lord Is never at loss In His
counsels, but In the most difficult case He
knows what course He will pursue.
Christ proposed the question to test
Philips faith. This gives US glimpse In
to the. educational method Of the great
Teacher. he knew how many people were
there, how much breadit would take, how
many fish he would want to feed that
crowd. - .,.
z. "Two hundred pennyworth." The
penny was n, silver coin and was wofth
about sixteen cents. + The value Of the
bread necessary would be, therefore, about
S32 THIS appears to have been all that
our Lord and all OF His disciples were
worth OF this worlds goods, This amount
at that time, with them, would probably
represent an actual value equal to ten
times the same amount now, with us.
Peloubet thinks that In this conference
between Jesus and His disciples as to ways
and MEANS" there was some discussion,
and that at this point the apostles advised
sending the multitude away, whereupon
Jesus said, 4Give ye them to eat" Luke};
the apostles then asked In dlsmay, Shall
we 20 and buy this great amount Of brsad2,
Jesus asked how much they had Mark,
and Andrew said, Five loaves and two,
small fishes. . ,.e - ii & ,sts j., '.4
9. "There is lad here."I The multitude
had not thought OF their tenn poral necessI-
ties, 80 anxious were they to see and hear
Jesus, and this Lac, ,ewho had charge OF
the provisions softhescompany OF TO which He
belonged" had all thnt, could be found.
"I.oaves :. fishes" The: losves = were
ley was their poorest food, The fish were
small, dried or picked, and were eaten
with bread, like our sardines. "But what
are they1" No sooner, did Andrew make
this little suggestion than he felt half,
ashamed and would have withdrawn II.
10. "Make the men Sit" In orderly
ranks for the convenient distribution OF
the food. Mark says they sat by hundreds
and lfties. They appear here as heads OF
families around whom, In many cases.
women and children were grouped, though
and numbered, while the women aud ohtl-
dren were served separately, as Oriental
custom required. e"Much grass, ~: The
grass was ready for moving at this time Of
the year. "About flve thousand" Be-
sides women and children. Matt, 14:21.
There must have been ten thousand per-
sons to feed. Jesus had arranged them 30
they could easily be counted. i@
II. "Jesus took the loaves.." Thus acting
like the master OF family among the Jews,
who took the bread into hfs hands to give
thanks to God, before any at the table
were permitted to eat. Jesus had one loaf
for thousand men, besides the women
and children. We may have but little, but
II We will give the little we have to Jesus,
He will multiply 1t thousand fold and
pass 1t back to US, and grant Us the prlvi.
lege OF passing 1t out to the starving, SIM
burdened multitudes. "Glven thanks"
Jesus thus sets US an example; we should
never eat without first thanking God for
our food, and asking His blessing upon It.
distributed to the disciples" There has
been much discussion as to just how the
miracle was performed. Did the bread
multiply in the hands OF Jesus, OF In the
hands OF the disciples, or, as some think.
did the disciples put piece of bread and
fsh In the hands OF those who sat at the
ends Of the ranks with orders to giye It to
their companions2 There isyno doubt In
my mind but that the food multiplied all
along the line. Jesus handed out to His
disciples; 1t increased in their hands as
they handed out to the multitude, and as
it was passed from one to another the
bread and fish continued to swell In their
hands until they all had enough and to
spare. 1.-THE fishes as much as they
would" This does not mean that there
was o scarcity OF fish, but that all ate as
much as they cared to-.
70. "When they were filled" Here is
one miracle OF our Lord attested byiat least
five thousand Cprobably ten thousand) per-
sons. No one need ever leave Christ's table
hungry. He is able to satisfy every de.
mand OF soul and body. He is the bread OF
life. Whether we demand "litt!e or much"
1t Is an easy matter for Christ to fill US.
"Gather up the fragments" The broken
nothing bs lost" The design Is to bring
out the preeiousness OF the food which
Jesus had given. ..
13. "Twelve baskets" The word trans
lated "baskets" means pockets or wallets.
The twelve baskets were probably the
twelve wallets OF the twelve apostles, which
they carried on their journeys. Jesus evil
IDENTIFY intended that He and the apostles
would eat the pieces as their needs de-
manded them.
IA. "Ttat prophet" All who had seen
this wonderful miracle were so profoundly
impressed with 1t that they said there Gun
be no doubt but this Ia the Messiah. The
Prophet that should come into the world,
according to the prediction of Moses.
Deut. 18:15.18. They at once tried to take
Him by force and make Him their king. V.
Is. Where else would they find king who
could feed his army without expense or
trouble, who could cure his wounded sol,
diers by word, who had wisdom and
power divine? Such king could easily
overcome the Roman power. But Jesus re-
sisted them and spent the night In prayer.