The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-05-22

INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY ~.

Subject. Feeding the Five Thousands
Mark vi, 3O.44-Golden Text, John
VII, 80 : Memory Verse, ~ = Topic
The Great Gospel Feast.
I. Jesus and His disciples retire to
a desert place Tvs. 30-32). so. The
apOsties-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. IT'D. When the news Of
the death Of John the Baptist reached
them they hastened to Jesus They
made full report Of their missionary
tour 81 a desert place Not a
sandy, barren desert, but an uninhab-
tied place. Rest a while There were
two chief reasons for taking this
course. Herod might attempt to slay
Jesus and His disciples. The second
reason is here given. They needed rest
and communion with God. No 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.
II Jesus teaches a great multitude
Tvs. SO, 34). 33. 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 afooto 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. "All cities.'s
At this time the western and northern
shores were populous with cities and
villages.
81. Compassion" Although weary
yet Jesus was moved with pity for this
people He walked among them teachs
ing them and healing their sick. mot
having a shepherd" They were destis
tute of teachers to feed, to guide, to
protect, in a word, to shepherd them
III. The disciples confer with Jesus
Tvs. $3.50.
50. "Day--far spent" Matthew
says when it was evening" The
Jews had two evenings The first bes
gan at 3 O'clock, the second at
o'clock This was in the afternoon.
36. 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 60 and
buy victuals, lest they faint by the
way. Many of those present were on
their way to the Passover and had no
homes near
81. Give We them to eat Jesus
was testing His disciples. Just before
this He said to Philip, Whence shall
we buy bread that these may eat?'i
John Sol. But He said this ito prove
him" for "He Himself knew what He
would do" John $50. 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. Two hundred
pennyworth." The penny was 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
purpose2
/ Oe2s AAOW AA0oys JCSuS hnCW Juot
the amount OIL 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
fishes" There were five barley loaves.
Barley was their poorest food The
lOaves were round, fiat biscuits or
crackers. The fish were small and were
dried CT picked and eaten with bread
like ur sardines.
w The multitude fed Tvs. 39-42).
30. He commanded" Christ had fed
! their souls, and healed their bodies;
and now He purposes to feed their bodS
les, and 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 hitler unto Me-" All must centre
in Him. We may have but little, but If
we will give the little we have to Jesus
He will multiply it a thousandfold and
pass it back to MS, and grant us the
| privilege of passing it out to the starvs
! Ing, sin-burdened multitudes. Bless
ed" Jesus thus sets us an example;
we should never eat without first
| Inanklng Gou TOT our 1000 and asking
His blessing upon it. 49, Were
| filled" 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,
l4S, AZ.
4S. Twelve baskets The word
translated baskets means pockets or
wallets. The twelve baskets were
probably the twelve wallets of the
| apostles, which they carried on their
| journeys. Fragments Broken pieces
which remained over. According to
John, Jesus directed them to gather up
the fragments, that nothing be lost.'s
Why were they required to gather up
the fragments? l. 1t would teach
them a lesson in thrift and economy.
2. It 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 our Lord at
tested by 5000 men, probably 10000
persons.
49, -, rr-ne1s~..~ Ck4-x- l