Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26

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death, the international Sunday school
lessons return to the narrative OF the lie
and work of Jesus The evangelists passed
over in silence the time during which the
apostles were absent from Jesus on their
first missionary tour. a period of several
months Their going forth is recorded
with minuteness. but where they went or
what they did Is not related. 1t Is also
declared that Jesus continued his labors
without them. but the places and circum-
stances are not given. except that His fame
increased until Herod heard of Him and
thought the Baptist had risen from the
dead. Speculation concerning this silence
would be Improbable Deut. xxix:2O):
But now. Jesus and the twelve being asso-
ciated again. the history begins anew. The
passage to be studied is found in all the
four gospels Matt: xiv:13-21; Luke ix:10-
II; John vi:l-14). with slight variations
that ought to be woven together.
THE RETURN-(Verse 30)-The home
coming of the twelve missionaries broke
the historians silence. 1t occurred shortly
before our Lords third passover John Via.
The place of their meeting, probably agreed
on before parting, is not known, but sup
posed to be Caparnaum, the rallying center
in all their movements. An interview fol-
lowed, each in his own way, repeating the
story of what had been done and taught
in the different excursions, giving account
of their stewardship. Subsequent reference
duke xxii:35 to their labors shows that
while absent they had sustained no physi-
cal discomfort They must. therefore, have
regarded their mission as. successful, and
the experience of this first venture must
have been entirely satisfactory. One may
easily imagine the delight with which they
stood again in the presence of their Mas
ter and of each other, possibly attended by
some of their followers.
THE RETREAT (VerSeS S1-33-ThfS
missionary convention stirred the commun-
ity. Remembrance of former marvellous
words and works filled all with expectation.
Many came to see, rest and hear. until
private conversations were impossible. So
the Master quietly drew the apostles away
from the crowd, as He had often done
Mark iii:I) and crossed the sea OF Gal1lee
John vi:D to a sparsely-settled region
called desert place. near Bethsaida
duke ix:1O). By that removal He was
taken out of Herod's territory although
but six miles distant from Capernaum. In
that retired spot the long-separated minis
tiers might enjoy all that sweet fellowship
implied in the Saviors words. Come We
apart" and they might exchange ideas ana
be made ready for further service. But
the people were there before them. Con-
trary winds. so common at that season OF
the year, may have delayed the ships, SO
that running around the head OF the sea,
telling others as they went, the crowd. IN,
creasing to thousands. coming out OF all
the cities Matt. xiv:1S awaited the ar
rival And when Jesus led His little band TO
the top of the hill selected for their con-
ference the multitude spread abroad IN al,
the valley below. That kind of ministerial
vacation and outing was quite different
from those enjoyed by preachers In our DAY.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS Verse 34)-
Jesus was never disconnected. He was al
ways ready for any emergency: On this
occasion He beheld the great throng, not
with displeasure, because His plans had
been frustrated, and because His rest had
l.,,t x.,st mo
people seemed to Him like sheep wandering
about having no shepherd Numb. xviii;
Zech x:2). They were without spiritual
instructors and guides. The opportunity
was therefore favorable for Him. Allow
ing them to gather about Him, He taught
them many things pertaining to the king
dom of Cod duke kid, His faVorite
theme from the first Mark $40. After
preaching He turned to cure diseases and
''healed them that need duke v:3D. And
so, with gracious words and q mighty mana
He ministered to the multitude Love IN
the wilderness that day showed forth ooth
wisdom and power. The details are not
given They were not for after times, but
for that time. Uninspred penmen would
have ampEfied into volume what is mere
compressed into q sentence.
THE FORETHOUGHT Oversees So-80
The day of service was wearing away
The apostles. with genuine beneVolence, pc
came concerned for the people FIVE tnou-
sand men, besides women and children
Matt xiv:2D in the open air, distant from
town assembled hastily, is a great respon-
sibility. Especially, as excited by marvel
Gus ministries, they had forgotten the pas
sage of time. Jesus was urged to send the
people away to buy food and find lodgings
"a prudent but meddlesome suggestion IL
would seem that He had previously CON
yersed with Philip the subject tJohn
vi:5). New He assures the apostles that
there is no necessity for dismissng the peo-
pie: that rather they should be fed. Then
comes the suggestion to buy bread e even
money The apostles in their poverty, were
proposing liberal things-twice the amount
for which one seized another by the throat
Matt. xviii:2S) they proposed to give away.
But on inquiry 1t was found that a lad
present John vi:9) had five loaves and two
small fishes. and that was considered SUM-
cient with which to spread the table rms
conversation exhibits the human and divine
side of benevolence. Send them away In
time to care for themselves, is mans fore
thought Keep them and feed them" is
Gods counsel So the little children were
invited. when the apostles would have re-
PEELED them att. xix:14.
THE MIRACLE-(verses 1919. Now
we shall see the mode and measure of the
Savior's hospitality. Hungry Israel was fed
by Moses Numb. xi:13-23), and starving
Samaria by Elisha Oh Kings. vii:2), but Je-
sus will exceed both the prophets. He will
be the source of supplies, and not merely
the agency for procuring them (Psalm,
cyii:31 So 361. The men were seated on the
grass John, vi:10) by companies, that all
might proceed in order q Cor, xiv:40). Then
the provisions were brought-one loaf for
thousand hungry men, one fish for twenty
five hundred. Then came looking up to
heaven for a blessing (Acts, xxvi:35),
breaking of the loaves. a giving to the apos-
ties a distribution to the guests. All ate,
and all were satisfied. Like the widows oil.
the supply did not fail q Kings, xvii:2-16).
How and where was the multiplication? In
the hands of Jesus? In the hands of the
apostles? In the hands Of the people? Hushi
We do not know. The above facts, deliv
cred to us by twelve witnesses, are all that
we possess. enough for our purpose. That
miracle of Jesus was a short cut to the daily
miracle by which billion souls are now
fed psalm. lxv9). 1t was an acted par
able of the spiritual feeding of the race
the food from heaven John, vi:32), delivered
by human hands Il John, I'D. By this Jesus
fulfilled His own promise, made the
mount and emphasized old truths of Scrip
ture psalm. xxxiv:10).
THE SURPLUS-(verses 43-4D.-Sup-
per ended hunger satisfied, the fragments
were gathered at Christs command John,
VIII. Twelve baskets, each apostle
basket, were filed. This shows that the
supply was adequate, because no one would
have ceased while hungry. 1t proves also
that the miracle was genuine, for such
quantity of provisions could not have been
smuRaled in So each bearer of a basket