The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-02-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 2e.
Subject; The Miracle of the Losyes aud
Fishes, John vi. 1-i4-Goiden Text
John vi. 5f-Memory Verses, II, t2-
Commentary on the Days Lesson.

| Subject: The Miracle of the Loaves aud
Fishes, John vi. t-I4-Goiden Text
John vi. 5f--Memory Verses, II, IT,
Commentary on the Days Lesson.
I. The gathering multitude Tvs. l-4). I.
| After these things" The events of the
| second year, but particularly the report OF
| the twelve, the murder OF John, aud the
report that Herod was inquiring for him.
| The twelve apostles who had been sent out
| over Galilee were preaching and healing
the sick, when, suddenly, like fash from
q far distant cloud, came the news that
| John the Baptist had been behcaded 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 Galilee to the lonely plain at the
| loot OF the hills near Bethsaida, just out.
side OF the dominions OF Herod Antipas.
They needed this retirement ~ Tor physl-
| cal rest. (2) for instruction. (3) tor com.
| munon with God. 2. Multitude fol.
lowed" The people came from all direc.
tions, for at this time the western and
northern shores were populous with cities
had stirred the whole country.
.. "A mountain" The high ground
oear Bethsaida, which there closely ap.
| proaches the lake. Sat with His disci.
pies" Read Mark o;9O-S2. Here they
| could rest and report L. The passover"
But because of the reason mentioned in
| chapter Z: 1 Jesus did not attend. This
was His third Passover, year before His
| death. Feast Of the Jews" This was
stated for the benefit OF Johns Gentle
| readers. This gospel was written in Asia
Minor, among Roman customs. "Was
nigh The fact that the Passover was
nigh at hand, so that many must have been
starting on their journey to Jerusalem
around the lake and through Perea, partly
accounts for the coucourse OF such multi.
| tudes
III. Jesus eonfers with His disciples Tvs
| 5-9). 8. Lifted up His eyes" This was
in the afternoon. toward evening, when
I the day began to wear away u,uke 9:l2).
| The Jews had two evenings; the first be.
gan at 3 o'clock. the second at o'clock
| IA great company" He was moved with
compassion and walked among the people,
teaching. them many things and healing
their sick. His disciples called His a.ten-
| lion TO the fact that this was desert
| place, and as the multitude had been there
since morning, it was time to dismiss the
congregation 20 the people could GO and
| buy victuals, lest they faint by the way
| Matt. l4;l4, l5). He saith unto Philip"
He was probably the provider for the disci
| piles. as Judas was che treasurer. Whence
| are we to buy bread OR. W 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 o.. "To prove
| Him" Philip had known Jesus for more
than two years. and it was time that he,
and the rest OF the apostles. should begin
| to have wide conceptions OF Christs abil-
| ty. "Knew what he would do" Christ
proposed the question to test Philips faith.
| Z. Philip answered. Our Lord saw
that His apostles needed lessons in faith.
and this miracle was as much for their
benefit as for the benefit OF the hungry
multitude. 1.-TWO hundred pennyworth." !"
The penny was silver coin aud was worth
about sixteen cents. The value OF the
bread necessary would be. therefore, about
S32. Jesus said, Give ye them to eat
| (Luke) the apostles then csked in dis
may. Shall we go and buy tais great
amount of bread? Jesus asked how much
they had MARK, and Andrew said, Five
loaves and two small fishes.
0. "a lad here" The multitude had rot
thought of their temporal necessities. so
anxious were they to see and hear Jesus,
and this lad. "who had charge OF the pro-
visions of the company to which he be-
longed," had all that could be found.
'Loaves-hshes" The losves were round,
fiat cakes like large crackers. Barley was
their poorest food. The fish were small,
dried or picked, and we're eaten with
bread, like our sardines.
III. The multitude fed Tvs. 10, IL. 10.
"AIake the men sis In orderly ranks for
4 the convenient distribution of the food.
| Mark says they sat by hundreds and
fifties. The men alone were arranged in
companies and numbered, while the wom-
en- and children were served separately. as
Oriental custom required. Much grass,
The grass was ready for moving at this
| nck fN-a nd
Besides women and children Matt. l+:2ll.
There must have been 10000 persons TO
feed. Jesus had arranged them they
could easily be counted.
IL. Jesus took the !oaves.' 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 st the
table were permitted to eat. Jesus had
one loaf for a thousand men, besides the
women and children. We may have but
little, but il we will give the little we have
TO Jesus lie will multiply it thousand
fold and pass it back to us, and grant us
the privilege of passing il out TO the starv'
ing sinburdened multitudes. Given
thanks" Jesus thus sets us an example;
we should never eat without first thank
ing God for our food, and asking His
blessing upon it. Distributed to the dis.
ciples." There has been much discussion
as to Just how the miracle was performed
There is no doubt but that the food multi
4 piled all along the line. Jesus handed out
to His disciples; it 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
~. The fragments gathered up Tvs. H.
49, Il. "When-Rlled." Here is one
miracle OF our Lord attested by at least
5000 lprobably 10000 persons. No one
need ever leave Christ's table hungry. He
is able to satisfy every demand OF soul and
body. He is the bread OF life. Whether
we demand little or much ii s an easy
matter for Christ TO I'LL us. There is a
fulness in His mercy and love Lhdt only
those who eat can understand. "Frag
ments." The broken pieces which renoin
over" II. Y. That nothing be lost" "
The design is 10 bring out the preciousDess
OF the food which Jesus had given. ID
Twelve baskets" The word translated
baskets means pockets OF wallets.
v. A testimony given (v la. IA
Then those men" THE people" 4. Y
''Ihe miracle About which there could
b. no doubt. Truth" An expression de
no,ing certainty. THAT prophet. AL
who had seen this wonderful miracle were
so profoundly, impressed With It that the,
said there can be no doubt butsthis'ia thu
Messiah--thc Prophet that should come
| intn tho world opcordinC IN fha prgdic4inn