The Tupelo journal., 1905-02-24
Miracle of the
L0aveS and Fishes
Sunday SchoolLesson for Feb. rs. 1905.
Prepared by the Highway and
Byway" Preacher.
Copyright, 1904, by J. NJ. Edson.l

TIME.-Nearly a year has elapsed since
our last lesson. 1t was just before the
passover, April, A. d. 20.
PLACE.-A Region on the northeast
shore Of the Sea Of Galilee, not very far
from Bethsaida.
A REMINDER.-Had this miracle and
the discourse following been left out by
John. how much would have been missed
or evidence that Jesus Is the Christ, the
Son OF God. 1t were impossible to 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
2O:3l specially before you in considering
this lesson.
The Lesson Outline.
THEME.-The Hungry Fed.
Into the Wilderness with Jesus. VS.. Ia
1.-The Hungry Multitudes, VS.. SO.
~ Jesus Plans. VS.. 5, 6.
CD The Disciples Troubled, VS.. 10.
IlL-The Multitude Fed, VS.. 10-13.
"a Orderly Procedure, '. 10.
CD Loaves and Fishes Blessed. v. IL.
90 Loaves and Fishes Distributed, v. II.
az The Fragments Gathered, VS.. II. IL.
-V.-The Multitude Impressed, v. IA.
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
l. Into the Wilderness With Jesus, VS..
Ia. The disciples went there with Jesus
Tor rest and quiet conference. The
multitude followed through curiosity.
But whatever the motive which brought
them they all received a blessing. Jesus
V turns a soul empty away. The
desert is often the place of peculiar
olesslng. Human need is more apparent
there. Divine power is more manifest.
ii. The Hungry Multitude. "a Jesus
Plans, VS.. ., 6.-Jesus was the first to
sight the on-coming multitude, Jesus
sees US when a 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.
CD The Disciples Troubled, v. T.
Matthew Q4:15) tells us that the dis.
clples wanted to send the m~ultitudes
away and let them shift for themselves.
An, at best, how limited is our vision:
how small u faith. In our Christian
work, how many blessings we lose &c
the multitude because we do not realize
Jesus power and His willingness TO SIM
ply the need. Matt. 1913. The little lad
ready to yield his small supply to Jesus
Is a text and a sermon all by himself
He counted little in the eyes of the dis.
clples, but he vent into partnership
with Jesus and his little became a feast
to satisfy the multitude. So it NAV be
WIN 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.
tltudes 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 it has performed its most
blessed ministry to all about. Our little
in Jesus hands is always sufficient.
III. The Multitude Fed. % Orderly
Procedure, V. lott has been said tina;
order is Gods first law That motley
multitude must be subdued and ar.
ranged in orderly manner Paul's adj
monition q Cor. 14:40) has striking
illustration here.
CD LOaves and Fishes Blessed, '. IL
Jesus took the ~loaves; and when He had
given thanks" Took and blessed-a
tWOfold act on the part of Jesus tina;
brings amazing results. Just common
barley crackers and small salt fish, and
yet they fed the multitude as they passed
through Jesus hands. Just a life given
in conservation into Jesus hands to re-
ceive His blessing and behold the re-
suits. A Peter, a Paul, a Luther, a John
Knox, a Finney, a Moody. He will take
you and me and use us to the blessing
of the multitude. John 14:12.
CD Loaves and Fishes Distributed. v.
11.-"He distributed to the disciples
and the disciples to them hat 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 I'M
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.. IL,
13.-"They were filled" Did ever soul
sit down at table which Jesus spread
without being filed? Ps. 23:1; Phil.
4:19. But that Jesus bounty might not
teach wastefulness He commands:
Gather up the fragments" This is an
example in economy which we all have
need to remember. Twelve baskets full
remaining gave each of the disciples
a supply to carry away. What a strik-
ing illustration of Prov. 11:24; and
Luke 6:3S.
w. The Multitude Impressed, V. IA
WI. J,o L,+ CoI GOULD oroo+a fo@J e.
the body? The multitude was willing
to admit Jesus claims of Divinity. And
the following verses show how they
planned to make Him their king.
But with what motives! They desired
Him because they had eaten of the
loaves and were filled, v. 26. He
wanted them to desire the bread OF
life. v. 81. How sad that men should be
satisfied with the bread which perishes
when Jesus would feed them on the liv-
Ing bread.
The Golden Text.
81 am the Living Bread which came
down from Heaven" This declaration
of Jesus commands our attention, be-
cause God has said that Man shall not
live by bread alone" When Jesus called
Himself the Living Bread" it was to
the relations which He was
to sustain to the soul. AS a body was
fed by bread, so He, the Living Bread,
was to feed the soul, Living Bread to
satisfy soul hunger, therefore. BLESSED
are they which do hunger and thirst aft
err righteousness, for they shall be
filed" Lord, evermore give us this