The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-02-23
Miracle of the
LOaveS and Fishes
Sunday SchoolLesson for Feb. rs. 1905
Copyright, 1904, by J. M. Edison,
Prepared by the Highway and
Byway" Preacher.


LESSON TExT.-John 6:1-14; Memory
verses, II. 12. Read the entire chapter
GOLDEN TEXT am the Living
Bread which came down from Heaven"
John 6:5l.
T1ME.-Nearly n year has elapsed since
our last lesson. Ii was Just before the
passover. April A. d. %.
PLACE.-A Region on the northeast
shore of the Sea of Galllee. not very far
from Bethsaida.
A REMINDER.-Had this miracle and
the discourse following been left out by
John, how much would have been misss.
OF evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son OF God. II were impossible 10 study
prayerfully this portion of Johns Gospel
and not be led to believe In Jesus as the
Son of God For this reason. keep John
D:H specially before you in considering
this lesson.
The Lesson Outline.
THEME.-The Hungry Fed.
I.-1nto the Wilderness with Jesus VS., Ia
1.-THE Hungry Multitudes, VS.. SO.
% Jesus Plans, VS.. 5, g.
(2) The Disciples Troubled, VS.. 10.
IIl.-The Multitude Fed, vs. 1O-l3
O orderly Procedure " TO-
(2) Loaves and Fishes Blessed " II.
G) Loaves and Fishes Distributed, V. II.
O The Fragments Gathered, VS.. IL, Is.
lV.--The Multitude Impressed. v. a.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
l. Into the Wilderness With Jesus, vs.
Ia. The disciples went there with Jesus
for rest and quiet conference. The
multitude followed through curiosity.
But whatever the motive which brought
them they all received blessing. Jesus
never turns a soul empty away. The
desert is often the place of peculiar
blessing. Human need Is more apparent
there. Divine power is more manifest.
ii. The Hungry Multitude. Cd Jesus
Plans, va. 8. 6.-Jesus was the first to
sight the on-coming multitude. Jesus
sees US when great way off. He
knows the motive that brings us. But
He always has plans for us. He knows
just how to deal with each individual
case.
(2) The Disciples Troubled. v. T.
Matthew 14:15) tells us that the dis
ciples wanted to send the multitudes
away and let them shift for themselves.
All, at best, how limited is our vision:
how small our faith. In our Christian
work, how many blessings we lose to
the multitude because we do not realize
Jesus power and His willingness to SUP
ply the need. Matt. 1913. The little lad
ready to yield his small supply TO Jesus
is text and a sermon all by him self.
He counted little in the eyes Of the dis
ciples, but he went into partnerships
with Jesus and his little became a feast
to satisfy the multitude. So Il may be
with us. Our gifts, our abilities may
seem small, we may have grave misgiv-
ings as to their being equal to the task
OF ministering successfully to the null
titudes about us, but If we will but put
into the hands Of Jesus our little we will
have the JOY Of seeing It multiply under
His touch until II has performed its most
blessed ministry to all about. Our little
In Jesus hands is always sufficient.
Ill. The Multitude Fed. % Orderly
Procedure, v. 10.--It has been said ths,
order is Gods first law" That motley
multitude must be subdued and ar
ranged In orderly manner Paul's ad-
monition Il Cor. 14:40) has striking
illustration here.
(2) Loaves and Fishes Blessed, v. IL
Jesus took the loaves; and when He had
given thanks" Took and blessed-a
twofold act on the part Of Jesus tha;
brings amazing results. Just common
barley crackers and small salt fish. and
yet they fed the multitude as they passed
through Jesus hands. Just life given
in conservation into Jesus hands to re.
ceive His blessing and behold the re-
suits. A Peter, Paul, Luther, a John
Knox. Finney, Moody. He will take
you and me and use us to the blessing
Of the multitude. John 14:12.
(3) Loaves and Fishes Distributed. v
11.-"He distributed to the disciples
and the disciples to them that were
set down" The Divine order, always.
From the Masters hand to ours
and then to the multitude. We can
not give to the blessing Of others un-
til we have received from His hands
How the knowledge of this ought to
bring US to reconsecrate ourselves to
Him.
a. The Fragments Gathered, VS.. 12
13.-"They were filed" Did ever soul
sit down at table which Jesus spread
without being filled? Ps. 23:1; Phil
4:19. But that Jesus bounty might moi
teach wastefulness He commands:
Gather up the fragments" This is ar
example In economy which we all have
need to remember. Twelve baskets full
remaining gave each of the disciplei
supply to carry away. What strik.
ing illustration Of Prov. 11:24; ant
Luke 6:38.
w. The Multitude Impressed v. IA
Who else but God could create food fol
the body? The multitude was willing
to admit Jesus claims of Divinity. Ant
the following verses show how they
planned to make Him their king
But with what motives! They desired
Him because they had eaten of tn,
loaves and were filed, v. 26. H,
wanted them to desire the bread o
life, v. 27. How sad that men should bt
satisfied with the bread which perishe,
when Jesus would feed them on the liv
Ing bread.