The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-05-24
FEEDING THE FIVE
THOUSAND
Sunday SehOOi Lessen for Maya. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


GOLDEN rExT.-'My Father giveth
you tho true bread from heaven John
6:s2
TIME-Aprn. A. d. y, Just before tho
Passover.
PLAcE.-"Bethsaida Fisher-iIome, was
the name OF village ON the east bank OF
Jordan. which the tetrnrch philip rebuilt
ana named Julias. in honor Of the daughter
OF Augustus. George Adam smith, who
believes there was but one Bathsaida
others. however (Roblnson. Stanley, Re-
land. Tristram). believe that there was "A
second Bethsalda In Oaillee. west OF the
Jordan John l2.2l). The miracle took
place In the rich plain OF Butaiha, southeast
OF Bethsaida Julias.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. other
accounts OF tho miracle Matt t.is-1s;
ft.ks s;i0-l7: John Glib. Compare the
feeding OF the 1000. Mart. i5.S2-5>, Mark
SIZE. Compare this with other miracles
Of feeding. The mama. Ex. leli-Soi Elijah
Kings 17.6: the widow. I Kings 1871.
Elisha. Kings t.t2-H. Other Instances OF
helpful children. Samuel. l Sam. ans 80,
s. rs. Josiah. Z Chron. si.i-3. the captive
maid. : Kings 5.2-3 Chrisrs sermon on the
bread OF life John sail Compare u with
Deut. So; Nch. 9ib. PsA 1Si2ii Matt 30.
6.ll; Cor. II 23-26
Comment and Suggestive Thought
v. 80. The apostles together
Some weeks earlier Jesus had sent the
twelve forth. two by two. TO preach.
teach aud heal In the villages OF CALI
lee, while lie Himself wen; 10 Its cities.
What they had done" Without doubt
they had faithfully executed the com
mission given them. (See Matt lo;5-Sl
V. 81. Come ye yourselves apart
The original emphasizes the thought
that privacy was greatly desired. into
a desert place" Any appropriated dis
trio. is termed. by Orientais. desert.
or wilderness. Were many coming
aud going" and Jesus and the twelve
found no opportunity for conversation.
nor leisure 80 much as TO cat
v. %. Departed by ship pri-
vately" Embarked In boat upon the
Sea OF Galilee. and By rowing. or sail
ing, reached tho place Jesus had
chosen. They tried to ~, out with
out attracting attention.
" 49, Saw knew Him. OF
them" Saw them set out. and knew.
from the direction the boat took.
where they we're going. Ran afoot"
Walked quickly along the coast TO the
north shore OF the lake.
" "a When lie came out" When
He landed and saw the eager crowd.
Moved with compassion" lie pitied
them because they seemed like sheep
having no shepherd. 10 teach them.
Luke says. lie "spake unto them OF
the Kingdom OF God" lie also healed
the sick whom they had brought.
v 80. Day was now far spent"
IL was toward the close Of what the
Jews called the FIRST evening. which
lasted from three 10 six o'clock. All
began to think about something TO eat
This Is desert place" Il was I'M
inhabited. hence desert" and unable
10 supply food for the people. The
time Is far passed" The greater part
OF the day had been spent. or the time
for the evening meal was already past.
v Sc Send them away" n they
delayed longer. they might faint from
exhaustion before they could reach y
place where they could ind food.
V. 81 Give ye them 70 eat" This
astonishing command came from The
lips OF Jesus. Yet He well knew hey
had not enough for even their own
needs. shall we 20 and 0uy7" Was
Il the duty OF these already tired men
to make the long journey to the dls-
tant villages and roturnY Two hun
dred pennyworth." This amount. about
s3i IN our money. Philip mad estimated
would be needed for their great CON-
pany.
" 80. "wheh they knew" When
Andrew round IN the company a little
boy who nad Brought his supper with
him.
V. 80. Commanded them to make. .
etc. Like an able general. Jesus d.
recled the twelve. who directed the
movements Of the multitude ''sit down
by companies" The word translated
companies refers 10 banqueting com
panies. Green grass" II was spring
time. and the grass was plentiful and
fresh.
" 40. sat down IN ranks" Lit
orally. like garden beds" NJ r. vim
cent says: The former adverb. by
companies. describes the arrangement
v. Al. When He had taken" The
bread and fish we're given into Jesus
hands. This was the most important
thing. Looked up to Heaven" The
whole company was thus directed by
Jesus to recognize the supply as con-
ing from the Heavenly Father.
y Blessed" VI gave thanks.
V. AZ. did all eat" None refused.
Were fIled." Each one had as much
as he wanted Christ always salts
mes.
V. 40. Took up fragments "
Jesus directed them 10 do 50. lie would
teach them not to be wasteful. The bas-
kets mentioned we're the common wicker
baskets used by the Jews when
travelling. to carry food. % that they
might not be forced 20 eat food which
was polluted In any way
Practical Points.
v. 33. God often tries our faith by
permitting our cherished plans 10 be
overthrown.-Jns. 1:3.
v. 80. Jesus never sends a seeking