Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-05-25
FEEDING THE FIVE
THOUSAND

you the true bread from heaven. "-John
6:32.
TIME-April. A. d. 20. just before the
Passover.
PLACE.-"Bethsaida, Fisher-Home, was
the name of a village on the east bank OF
Jordan. which the tetrarch Philip rebuilt
and named Julias, in honor of the daughtei
of Augustus. George Adam smith, VIM
believes there was but one Betnsa.oa'
Others, however (R0binson, Stanley, re
land, Tristram), believe that there y" sha
second Bethsaida. in Galilee, west ot
Jordan John 12;21). The miracle ! a.
place in the rich plain of Butaiha'
of Bethsaida Judas.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. oansr
accounts of the miracle: MAJ. 49,
Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-1b. 49,
feeding of the 1000, Matt. lo'Sz-oei Md,H
S.1-9. Compare this with other
of feeding: The mama, Ex. le:if-oo' ..a ~.
1 Kings rs. the widow. 1 Kings I7;s-l6;
Elisha 2 Kings 4:42-44. Other instances OF
belnful children: Samuel, / Sam. 2:lS; S:4,
( *. Josiah. 2 Chron. 3A:l-S; the capuve
maid Kings 1928. Christ's sermon on the
bread of life, John 6:22-71. Compare u Win
Deut. s:s; Neh. 9;15; Psa- 1874; Matt S;o'
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 30. THE apostles together.
Some weeks earlier Jesus had sent the
twelve forth, two by two, to preach,
teach and heal in the villages of Cali
lee, while He Himself went to its cities.
What they had done" Without doubt
they had faithfully executed the com
mission given them. (See Matt. 10:6-S.)
V. 81. Come we yourselves apart.
The original emphasizes the thought
that privacy was greatly desired. Into
a desert place." Any u%npopulated dis
trict is termed, by Orientals, a desert,
or wilderness. Were many coming
and going" and Jesus and the twelve
found no opportunity for conversation,
nor leisure SO much as to eat"
v. 30. Departed by ship .pri-
vately." Embarked in Q boat upon the
Sea of Galilee. and by rowing, or sail
ing, reached the place Jesus had
chosen. They tried to set out with
u attracting attention.
V. 80. Saw knew Him." or
them" Saw them set out, and knew,
from the direction the boat took,
where they were going, Ran iafoQt.
Walked quickly along the coast to the
hOA IA AO va a. n III lIE4t ftm.al
v. "a. when He anne OutiR When
He landed and saw the eager crowd.
Moved with compassion.n be pitied
them because they seemed like sheep
having nc shepherd. ITO teach them"
Luke says, He "spake unto them Of
the Kingdom of God" He also healed
the sick whom they had brought. Da
v. 50. Day was now far spent"
1t was toward the close Of what the
Jews called the first evening, which
lasted from three to six o'clock. All
began t. think about something to eat.
This is a desert placenneuItwas un-
inhabited, hence desert" and unable
to supply food for the people. THE
time is far passed." The greater part
of the day had been spent, OF. the, time
for the evening meal was already past.
V. 36. "Send them away !. If they
delayed longer, they might faint from
exhaustion before they could reach a
place where they could find food. 81
v. 81. "Give we them to eat" This
astonishing command came from hhe
lips of Jesus. Yet He well knew they
had not enough for even their own
needs. Shall we go and bnH?"s Was
it the duty of these already tired men
to make the long journey to- the dis
tant villages and return? Two, hun
bred pennyworth." This amount, about
$34 in our money, Philip had estimated
would be needed for their great COM
pany.
v. 38. when they knew" When
Andrew found in the company a little
boy who had brought his supper with
him.
v. 80. Commanded them to make"
etc. Like an able general. Jesus di-
rected the twelve, who directed the
movements of the multitude. "Sit down
by companies" The word translated
companies refers to banqueting COM
panies. Green grass" 1t was spring
time, and the grass was plentifuL,a and
fresh. ,f,
v. 40. sat down in ranks" Lit
orally, like garden beds" M. r. Vim
cent says: THE former adyerb, by
companies. describes the arrangement.
v. Al. When He had taken" Ihe
bread and fish were given into Jesus
hands. This was the most important
thing. Looked up to Heaven The
whole company vas thus directed by
Jesus to recognize the supply as com
ing from the Heavenly Father.
Blessed" or gave thanks.
v. AZ. did all eat" None refused.
Were filed" Each one had as much
as he wanted. Christ always salts
fies.
v. 43. Took up fragments"
Jesus directed them to do so. He would
teach them not to be wasteful. The bas-
kets mentioned were the common wicker
baskets used by the Jews when
travelling, to carry food, SO that they
might not be forced to eat food which
was polluted in any way.
Practical Points.
V. 80. God often tries our faith by
permitting our cherished nlans To he