The Tupelo journal., 1906-05-25
FEEDING THE FIVE
THOUSAND
Sunday School Lesson for May27. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

i verse, Al.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"My Father giveth
| you the true bread from eayen."-John
6:32.
TIME-April, A. d. 20, just before the
| Passover.
PLACE.-'Bethsaida, Fisher-IIome. was
the name of a village on the east bank OF
Jordan. which the tetrarch Philip rebull'
and named Julias, in honor of the daughter
of Administrators Adam smith, VINO
believes there was but one Bethsalda'
| Others. however (Robinson, Stanley, Re-
land, Tristram), believe that there was a
second Bethsaida, in Galilee, west of the
Jordan John 12:21). The miracle TOOK
place in the rich plain of Butaiha, southeast
of Bethsaida Julias.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. Other
accounts of the miracle: Matt. l4:1S-2o;
Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15. Compare the
feeding of the 1900, Matt. ~15:S2-SS; Marx
S:1-9. Compare this with other miracles
of feeding: The mama, Elk. 16:l4-So; Elijah
l Kings 17:6; the widow, l Kings l7:s-l6;
| Elisha, 9 Kings 4:42-44. Other instances OF
helpful children: Samuel, l sam. 2:lS; 3:4.
5, Is; Josiah, 2 Chron. S4:1-S; the captive
maid, 2 Kings 1928. Christ's sermon on the
bread of life, JOIN 6:22-71. Compare 1T VIII
| Deut. S:3; Neh. 9:15; Pisa. 7S:24; Matt. 5:0'
Gil; l Cor. IL 1896.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
ops ~ dpoSNASS
| 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. 10:5-S.)
V. 81. Come we yourselves apart.
The original emphasizes the thought
! that privacy was greatly desired. into
a desert place" Any appropriated ais
| trio. 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. 80. Departed by ship pri-
vately." Embarked in a boat upon the
Sea of Galilee, and by rowing, or sail
ing, reached the place Jesus had
chosen. They tried to set out with
out attracting attention.
v. 80. Saw knew Him." OF
them" Saw them set out, and knew
from the direction the boat took
where they were going. Ran afoot.'
| Walked quickly along the coast to the
north shore of the lake.
V. "a. When He came out" When
He landed and saw the eager Gro sd
Moved with compassion" He pitled
them because they seemed like sheer
having no shepherd. ITO teach them
Luke says, He "spake unto them Ct
| the Kingdom of God" He also healed
the sick whom they had brought.
V. 80. 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 to think about something to eat
This is n desert place." 1t was 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. or the time
for the evening meal was already past
V. sc. Send them away" If they
delayed longer, they might faint from
exhaustion before they could reach a
place where they could find food.
". 81. IiNC yC tilCIl " eat. IHis
astonishing command came from the
lips of Jesus. Yet He we'll knew hey
had not enough for eve their own
needs. Shall we go and Duy?" Was
it the duty of these already tired meu
to make the long journey to the dts
tant villages and return? Two hun
dred pennyworth." This amount. about
$34 in our money, Philip had estimated
would be reeded for their great com
pany.
V. SO. when they knew" When
Andrew found in the company a LITTLE
boy who had brought his supper with
him.
V. SO. Commanded them to make
etc. Like an able general, Jesus di-
rected the twelve, who directed the
movements of the multitude. "Sit dow-
by companies" The word translated
companies refers to %banqueting com
panies. Green grass" It was spring
time, and the grass was plentiful and
fresh.
V. 40. Sat down in ranks" Lit
orally, like garden beds" M. R. Vim
cent says: "The former adverb, by
companies, describes the arrangement
V. Al. When He had taken" The
bread and fish were 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 com
ing from the Heavenly Father
Blessed or gave thanks.
v. AZ. did ali eat" None refused
Were filled" Each one had as much
as he wanted. Christ always salts
lies.
V. 43. Took up fragments. .
Jesus directed them to co SO. He would
teach them not to be wasteful. The bas-
kets mentionedw 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. SO. God often tries our faith by
permitting our cherished plans to be
oyerthrown.-Jas. 1:3.
v. SO. Jesus never sends a seeking
soul away empty.-Matt. SIS.
v. 81. God gives no command but
He gives power to obey it, Cor. 9:8
v. 40. 1t is we'll to use systematic
business methods in Christian work
II Cor. 14:40.
v. Al. God honors His Children in
permitting them to pass on His bounty
10 the world.-1 Pet. 4:10.