The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-03-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON XII, FIRST QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MARCH 20
Text of the Lesson. Matt. xiv. 1928.
Memory Verses. 20. 2I-Golden Text.
John vi, 35-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. N. stearns.


Memory Verses, 20, 2I-Golden Text,
John vi, 35-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. N. stenrns.
copyright, 1904, by Amerieau Press Association.
The miracle of today's lesson is also
recorded by Mark and Luke and John
and is the only miracle, apart from His
resurrection. which is recorded by the
four evangelists. Most helpful heart
words for Us are found in verses 10, Is,
concerning the multitude, representing
all multitudes. Give We them to eat, T"
and concerning the material on hand
10 be used. Bring them hither to me"
We who have received the Lord Jesus,
the True Bread, are expected TO tell
others of Him that they also may re-
ceive Him. but the hungry multitudes
are SO great and it is SO much easier to
our self indulgent. INDECENT natures 10
let them alone or send them away. and
we have SO little time or strength or
money TO do anything with, that in our
eyes the case is altogether hopeless
But if we will only surrender our little
all TO Him who can make much out of
little and great things out of nothing
He is the same miracle worker still
The apostles told Jesus all that they
had done and taught. The disciples Of
John also told Jesus after they had
buried the body of John (Matt xiv,
-; Mark iv, 30). 1t is an excellent
habit TO tell Him everything Phil. iv.
q, y.
Jesus and His disciples had no leisure
so much as TO eat, there were so many
coming and going, SO He took them
apart into n desert place to rest. but
the multitude followed Him, and He
received them and spake unto them of
the kingdom of God and healed them
that had need of healing for He was
moved with compassion toward them
mark vi. 3l-34; Luke tx. ID. He had
no pity for Himself, but He was full of
pity for these sheep without shep-
herd even though, or because, He knew
their motives in following Him John
vi. y. How unlike we are TO our Mas
ter When the kingdom comes, both
body and soul shall be perfectly healed,
for His great atonement covers our
whole being: but for the body just like
His we must wait till the resurrection
of the just ut His coming Phil. Iii. 20,
2l: John iii. .. -.
Not all the glorious things Of the
kingdom. of which Jesus had been
speaking. nor the mighty works which
they had seen Him do could make even
the twelve forget that they were
weary. hungry men in mortal bodies,
and so. as the evening was coming OH.
they ventured TO suggest TO our Lord
that lie should send the multitude
away that they might buy themselves
victualS 1t must have been to their
very great surprise that the Lord said
"Thcy need not depart; give We them to
eat Oversees 10, I'D. Then we have the
strangest possible Philip and Andrew
brotherhood. an unbelicving pair, after
whom it is to be hoped that the So
called brotherhood of today does not
pattern. our Lord knew just what He
would do; He always does. and if we
had anonted ears we would often hear
Him say, Nov shalt thou see what |
will do" John vi, 6; EX vi u.
When in our daily life He allows us
to come into a strait place. a difficulty,
perpleXity. it is simply TO prove us as
He proved Philip, to see whether we
will attempt TO work our way out, as
Philip did. or turn to Him with conf
dence in His ability, as Philip might
have done. Andrew speaks Of that
which is i'm sight. five loaves and two
small fishes. but adds. What are they
among so many?" Both of them seem
to have utterly forgotten who Jesus
was and what they had seen Him do.
How very like them we are apt to be.
for, no matter how many times we have
been delivered, when a new trial comes
we are apt to act and talk like the ten
spies rather than like Caleb and josh
ua. We all need to profit by Zech. iv.
Il. I. TO- and learn TO fear no mountain
and not TO despise little things
Having received from the lad his lit
tie all and the multitude being seated
en- the green grass by fifties in a com
pany, He looked up to heaven and gave