The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY rs.
Subject: The Miracle Of the Loaves and
Fishes, John vi, 1-14-Golden Text
John vi, 51-Memory Verses, IL, H.
Commentary on the Days Lesson. "a.

Commentary OF the Days Lesson.
I. The gathering multitude (vs. 1-4). !.
"IAfter these things The events OF the
second year, but particularly the report OF
the twelve, the murder of John, n the
report that Herod was inqujring for him.
The twelve apostles who had been sent out
over Gahlee were preaching and heallng
the sick. when, suddenly, like a fash from
q far distant cloud, came the news that
John the Baptist bad been beheaded by
Hendd Antipas in Maeherus castle: The
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 6:3I, SCI. 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 physi-
cal rest, ~ for instruction, ~ for COM
munion with God. 2. Multitude fol-
lowed" The people came from all direc.
tions, for at this time the western and
and villages. The preaching of the apostles
had stirred the whole country. :,
s. "A mountain" The higa ground
near Bethsaida, which there closely, ap-
proaches the lake. "Sat with His disci-
Pies" Read Mark 6:30-32. Here they
could rest and report. 4. The Passover"
But because of the reason mentioned in
chapter :: ] Jesus did not attend. This
was His third Passover, a 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 eoncourse OF such multi
tudes.
II. Jesus eonfers with His disciples Tvs.
SOY. 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-
gan at 3 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 healing
ton to the fact that this was a desert
place, and %asAthe multitude had been there
since morning, it was time to dismiss the
congregation so the people could 60 and
buy v~ictuals, lest they faint by the way
Matt. l4:l4. Isl. 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: 8. 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 Christ's abil-
ity. Knew what he would do" Christ
proposed the question to test Philips faith.
7. 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. The. value of the
bread necessary would be, therefore, about
1872. Jesus said, Give We them to eat"
Luke; the apostles then asked IN dis
amount of bread? Jesus asked how much
they had Mark. and Andrew said, Five
loaves and two small fishes.
9. "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-
lonced," had all that could be found.
"Loaves-fshes." The loaves were round,
fat 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, III. 10.
make the men Sit" In orderly ranks for
the convenient distribution of the food;
Mark says they sat by hundreds. and
sfk,as The mon o1ppp ,Uorn arranged IN
companies and numbered, while the WON.
en- and children were served separately, as
Oriental custom required. Much grass"
The grass was ready for moving at this
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 so they
could easily be counted.
II. ",Jesus took the loaves.' Thus act
ing like the master of a family among the
Jews. VINO took the bread into his hands
to give thanks 10 God before any at the
table were permitted to eat. Jesus had
women and children. We may have but
little. but if we will give the little We have
10 Jesus He will multiply it a thousand
fold and pass it back to US, and grant US
the privilege Of passing it out to the starv-
ing, cir .bnrdened mnltitudes. 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
c~iples." There has been much discussion
as 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,
AID as it was passed from one to another'
the bread and fish continued to swell IN
their hands until they all had enough and
20 spare
". The fragments gathered up Tvs. y.
t3). p. "When-6lled." Here is one
miracle of our Lord attested by at least
5000 tprobab.y. 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" it is ar easy
matter for Christ. to fill US. There is q.
iulness in His mercy and love that only
those who, eat can understand. "Frag-
ments." The broken pieces which remain
over R. v, That nothing be lost"
The design is to bring out the ,preeiousness
of the food which Jesus had given, b;
baskets means pockets or wallets. - q
Then those men fine people" r. V.
The miracle" About which there could
be no doubt. Truth An expression de:
noting certainty. That prophet" All
who had seen this wonderful miracle were
So profoundly impressed with it that they
s;;d there can be no doubt but this is the
Messiah-the Prophet that should come
uito the world. according to the prediction.