The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY II.

Subjects: Feeding the Five Thousand,
Mark vi, 3O~.44-Golden Text, John
W., SO Memory Verse, IL --Topic:
The Great Gospel Feast.
/. Jesus and His disciples retire to
O desert place Tvs. 3032). so. THE
apostles-told Him." A few weeks be-
fore this Jesus had sent the apostles
out among the villages of Galilee Matt
1915; Mark GLIB, He Himself going
also Matt. I'LL. When the news Of
the death OF John the Baptist reached
them they fastened to Jesus. They
made a full report Of their missionary
tour. 81. "a desert place." Not a
sandy. barren desert, but an uninhab-
tied place. REST g. while" There were
two chief reasons for taking this
course. Herod might attempt to Stay
Jesus and His disciples. The second
reason is here given. They needed rest
and communion with God. mo leis-
ure." The door stood always open, as
in Eastern houses generally, for all
who chose to come in or leave at their
pleasure. No one can do his best work
without periods of rest from work. 80.
by ship" They took a boat and
sailed from Capernaum across the
northern end Of the lake.
H. Jesus teaches a great multitude
Tvs. 33, 34). 80. 1.-THE people" From
John Ga we see that the Passover was
Just at hand, and there were throngs
Of people going up to Jerusalem.
MANY knew Him." Because Of the
many miracles which He had wrought
John 6:2). The whole country was in
an agitated state. Ran afoot." The
people, watching the sailing Of Jesus
across the northern end Of the lake,
ran around the northern shore so rap
idly that they "outwent" the boat and
met Him as He landed. cali cities"
At this time the western and northern
shores were populous with cities and
villages.
"a. Compassion" Although weary
yet Jesus was moved with pity for this
people. He walked among them teach
ing them and healing their sick. mot
having a shepherd" They were desti-
tute Of teachers to feed, to guide, to
protect, in q word, to shepherd them.
III. The disciples confer with Jesus
Tvs. 1888.
So. "Day-far spent" Matthew
says "when. it was evening"" The
Jews had two evenings. The first be-
gan at 8 o'clock, the second at =
o'clock. This was in the afternoon.
sc. "Send them away" The disciples
called Christ's attention to the fact
that this was a desert place, and as
the multitude had been there since
morning, it was time to dismiss the
congregation so the people could go and
buy victuals, lest they faint by the
way. Many Of those present were on
their way to thu Passoye::: and had no
homes nea
81. "Give ye them to eat" Jesus
was testing His disciples. Just before
this He said to Philip, whence shall
we buy bread that these may eat?"
John 6:5). But He said this Ito prove
him." for "He Himself knew what He
would do" John 6:6). 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 a silver
coin, and was worth about sixteen
cents. The value of the bread neces-
sary would be, therefore, about $32.
And give them" The import Of the
question is, Would it not be unwise to
take our last penny and spend for this
purpose?
SO. How many" Jesus%new just
the amount or food there was, but He
desired to have them find out and tell
Him so that the miracle would make a
greater impression. Five. and two
tishes.". There were five barley loaves.
Barley was their poorest food. The
loaves were round, fat biscuits or
crackers. The fish were small and were
+ dried CT picked and eaten with bread
like III sardines.
Nv. The multitude fed Tvs. 39-42).
80. "He commanded" Christ had fed
their souls, and healed their bodies,
and now He purposes to feed their bod.
les, end thus show that He is able to
provide for all their necessities. "Sit
down." They sat in orderly ranks for
the convenient distribution Of the food
and so they could be easily numbered.
al. "When He had taken" Accord
ing to Matthew Jesus said, Bring
them hither unto Me-" All must centre
in Him. We may have but little, but II
we will give the little We have to Jesus
He will multiply it a thousandfold and
pass it back to us, and grant US the
privilege of passing it out to the starry
ing, s~in-burdened m%ultitudes. BLESS
ed." Jesus thus sets us an example:
we should eat without first
thanking God for our food and asking
His blessing upon it. AZ. Were
filed" No one ever need leave ChristS
table hungry. He is able to. satisfy
every need of soul and body.
V. The fragments gathered up Tvs
43, AZ.
43. Twelve baskets" The word
translated baskets" means pockets OF
wallets. The twelve baskets were
probably the twelve wallets Of the
apostles, which they carried on theil
journeys. "FrSgments." Broken pieces
which remained over. According t
John, Jesus directed them to gather VI
the fragments, that nothing be lost
Why were they required to gather uI
the fragments? l. 1t would teach
them q lesson in thrift and economy
2. 1t would show them that the more
they gave the more they would have
3. 1t would teach them that nothing
was to be wasted that God had given
There is no surer way to receive the
full sweetness and blessing of the Cos
pei than to carry it to some hungry
soul. A. Five thousand" Here is
one miracle wrought by Il Lord at
tested by 5000 men, probably 10000
PERSONS.
Champion Typewritists.