Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-02-23
The SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY rs.

subject: The Miracle of the Loaves and
! Fishes, John vi, 1-f4-GOden Text
/ John VII, 51-Memory Verses, II, r.
Commentary on the Days Lesson.
l. The gathering multitude Tvs. l-4). /.
after these things" The events OF the
second year, but particularly the report of
| the twelve, the murder of Johr, and the
report that Herod was inqulrinG tor hm.
The twelve apostles who had been sent out
over Galilee were preaching and healing
the sick, when, suddenly, like a flash from
far distant cloud, came the news that
John the Baptist had been heheaded by
| Herod Antipas in Macherus castle The
disciples fastened to Jesus, probably at
! Capernaum, as chickens hasten to their
! mother when the hawk hovers near. Over
the sea-" From Capernaum, where the
| apostles met Jesus on their return, by
boat privately, to escape the crowds
! Mark '6:3l, 32). They all retired across
| the sea of Galilec to the lonely PLAIN at the
foot of the hills near Bethsalda: Just out
side of the dominons of Herod Antlpas.
| They needed this retirement I tor phys'-
cal rest, (2) ior instruction.. (3) Tor com
| lowed" The people came from all dlrec.
tions, for at this time the western and
northern shores were popuous with ciues
and villages. The preaching OF the apostles
had stirred the whole country.
3. "a mountain The hgh ground
near Bethsaida,, which there, closely ar-
proacchcs, the, lake, "Sat wIth l1ls Glsc, .,
could rest and report. 4. The passover
| But because of the reason mentioned IN
! CHAPTER 7: Jesus did not attend. JhlS
! was His third Passover, a year before Ills
death. Feast of the Jews This was
stated for the benefit of Johns Gent'lc
readers. This gospel was written in Asa
Minor. among Roman G customs. n'c,,on W. Vas as
/ nigh at hand, so that many must have been
starting on their journey to Jerusalem
around the lake and through Pcrea, partly
accounts for the concoursc OF such multi
! tudes.
ii. Jesus confcrs with His discip,es Tvs.
| 59. 5. Lifted up His eyes. This was
! in the afternoon, toward evening, when
| the day began to wear away Luke 9:l2,.
! The Jews had two evenings; the first be-
! can at 8 O'Clock the second at clock.
"A great company" He was moved with
compassion and walked among the people,
teaching them many things and heallng
! their sick. His disciples called lis atten'
! ton TO the fact that this was desert
place and as the multitude had been there
| since morning, ii was time to dismiss the
congregation 50 the people could go and
! buy yictuals, lest they faint by the way
| Matt. l4l4, l5). He saith unto Pnilip.'
He was probably the provldcr for the disc.
pies, as Judas was the treasurer. Whence
! are we to buy bread Or. W Christ had
( fed their souls and healed Their BODIES
and now He proposes 10 feed their bodies.
! and thus show that He is able 70 provide
| for all their necessities. 6, 10 prove
| Him" Philip had known Jesus for more
| than two years, and 1t was time that ne
and the rest of the apostles, should begin
! 80 have wide conceptions OF Christ anu
! ity. "knew what he would do. Chr'St
/ proposed the question to test Philip taith.
:. philip answered. Our LORD saw
that His apostles needed lessons in faith,
! and this miracle was as much tor th"r
benefit as for the benefit of the hungry
multitude. 1.-TWO hundred pennyworth.
! The penny was a silver coin and was worth
! about sixteen cents. The Nalne OF the
bread necessary would be, therefore, about
S32. Jesus said, Give yc them to eat
! Iule); the apostles then asked IN DIS
! may. Shall we 90 and buy this great
! amount of bread? Jesus asked no" much
I they had (Markl, and Andrew SAID. FIVE
| loaves and two small fishes.
| 0. "A lad here The multitude had not
thought OF their temporal necessities 50
anxious were they TO see and hear ',e"uH
and this lad. "who had charge Of the pro-
| visions of the company to which he h,-
! longed" had all that could be tount.
| "Loaycs-fshes." The loaveS were round,
! fat cakes like large crackers. Barey was
| their poorest food. The fish were small,
! dried or picliled. and were eaten with
| bread, like our sardines
III The multitude fed Tvs. 10, IL. 10.
"Nlake the men sit" In orderly ranks for
the convenient distribution of the food.
! Mark saws they sat by hundreds and
tifties. The men alone were arranged III
companies and numbered, while the ,wom'
en- and children we're served separately. as
| Oriental custom required. Much grass
| The grass was ready for moving at this
time Of the wear. About five thousand
BESIDES women and children Matt. l4;2n.
There must have been 10000 persons to
! feed. Jesus had arranged them so they
| could easily be counted
IL Jesus took the loaves." Thus act.
ing like the master of family among the
Jews, who took the bread INTO his 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 If we will give the little we have
to Jesus He will multiply it thousand
| fold aud pass it back to us, and grant us
the privilege of passing it out to the sthrv-
ing, sin.burdencd mutitudes. Given
thanks" Jesus thus sets us an example;
we should never eat without first thank
inr God for our food, and asking His
Messing upon it. "Distributed to the dis.
c;rles /" There has been much discussion
~ to lust how the miracle was performed.
There Is no doubt but that the food multi