The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY rs.


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, and the
report that Herod was inqniring for him.
The twelve apostles who had been sent out
over Galilee We're preaching and healing
the sick. when, suddenly. like fash from
a far distant cloud, came the news that
John the Baptist mad been beheaded BY
Herod, Antipas in Macherus castle. The
disciples hastened 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
foot of the hills near Bethsaida. just out
side of the dominions of Herod Antipas:
They needed this retirement ~ for physl-
munion God. 2. Multitude fot
lowed" The -".,le came from all diree;;
tions, for at time the western and
northern shores were populous with cities
and villages. The preaching of the apostles
had stirred the whole country. -, :.
g.. "A mountain" The high. ground
near Bethsaida, which :here closely ap-
proacnes the lake. Sat with His disci.
ples." Read Mark 6:30-32. Here they
could rest and report. 4. "The passover"
But because Of the reason mentioned IN
chapter 7: Jesus did not attend. This
was His third Passover, a year before His
death. Feast of the Jews. This was
stated Tor the benefit Of Johns Gantile
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 concourse OF such multi.
tudes. -.
II. Jesns confers with His disciples Tvs.
SOY. S. Lifted up His eyes" This was
in the afternoon, toward evening, when
the day began to wear away" Luke 9:2).
The Jews had two. evenings; the hrst be-
gan at o'clock, the second at 6 o'clock.
"A great company" He was moved with
compassion and walked among the people,
teaching them many things and heahng
tion to the, fact that this was desert
place, and as the multitude had been there
since morning, it was time to dismiss the
congregation 80 the people could 60 and
buy victuals, lest they faint by the way
(Alatt. l4:l4, l5l. He saith unto Philip"
He was probably the provider for the disci-
PIES, as Judas was the treasurer. Whence
are we to buy bread" (R. 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. e. TO prove
Him." Philip had known Jesus for more
than two years, and it was time that ne,
and the rest Of the apostles, should begin
4n bo,,. ,,,,Ia onpnontiono of (yhrlet'S ahll.
ity. knew what. he would do" Christ
proposed the question to test Philips faith.
I. 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. Two hundred pennyworth.
The penny was a silver coin and was worth
about sixteen cents. Tie. value of the
bread necessary would be, therefore, about
$32. Jesus said, Give We them to eat"
Luke); the apostles then asked in dis
may, Shall we GO and buy this great
amount of bread? Jesus asked how much
they had Clark and Andrew said, Five
loaves and two small fishes.
g. "A lad here" The multitude had not
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-6shes" The loaves were round,
fiat cakes like large crackers. Barley was
their poorest food. The fish were small,
dried or picked, and were eaten with
bread, like our sardines.
III The multitude fed Tvs. 10, ~. 10.
"Make the men Sit" In orderly ranks, for
the convenient distribution of the food:
Mark says they sat by hundreds: and
6fties. The men alone were arranged II
companies and numbered, while the WON.
en- and children were served separately, as
Oriental custom required. Much grass:
time OF the year. About five thousand"
Besides women and children (Matt. l4:2l).
There must have been 10000 persons, to
feed. Jesus had arranged them go they
con,d easily be counted.
II. "Jesus took the loaves:' Thus act
ing like the master OF family among the
Jews. VINO 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, besir= IS the
women. and children. We may have but
little, but if we will give the little We have
TO Jesus He will multiply it thonsanc'
fold and pass it bac k to US, and grant US
the privilege of passing it out to the starr-
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.F There has been much discussion
"a to just how the miracle was performed.
There is no doubt but that the food multi.
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 n
their hands until they all had enough and
20 spare. "a
". The fragments gathered up (vs' y.
lei. -. "Whep-flied." Here is ore
miracIe OF our Lord attested by at least
5000 tprobab.y l0,00cl persons. NO one
need ever leave Christ's table hungry: He
is able to satisfy every demand OF soul and
tcdy. He il the bread OF life. Whether
we demand ''ii:.le or much it is ar easy
matter for Christ to fill U.s. There is a
fulness in His mercy and love that only
those who eat can understand. 'Frag-
ments." The broken pieces which remain
over r. Y. That nothing be lost"
The design is to bring ont the preclousness
Of the food which Jesus had gwen. l3;
Twelve baskets The word translated
baskets" means pockets or wallets.
@yben those mem "The people" r. V.
The miracle About which there could
be no dodbt. Truth" Al expression lie.
noting certainty. That prophet All
who Fad seen this wonderful miracle we're
s., profoundly impressed with it that they
sd there can be DO doubt but this is the
Messiah--the Prophet that should come
into the world. according 20 the prediction.
Musical Watch Eetrays Thief.
A Bordeaux jewe,er has added 10 the
eayety OF ParisianS. u: meta pretty
woman on the boulevard later dnetl with
Ian nttor, ,,.l;oh Ln rrnissal hic ,uatrn and