The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY ~.
Subject, Feeding the Five Thousand
Mark VI, 3o-A4-0olden Text. Johr
vi, az - Memory Verse. Al - Topic
The Great Gospel Feast.


l. Jesus and His disciples retire tt
n desert place Tvs. 30-32). 80 "Ths
apostles--told Him." A few weeks be
fore this Jesus had sent the apostles
out among the villages of Galllee Matt
1876; Mark GLIB, He Himself going
also Matt. lid. 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 8
sandy. barren desert, but an uninhab
tied place. REST while" There were
two chief reasons for taking thi.
course. Herod might attempt to slay
Jesus and His disciples. The second
reason is here given. They needed rest
and communion with God. mo leis
ure." The door stood always open, as
in Eastern houses generally, for al
who chose to come in or leave at theii
pleasure. No one can do his best worh
without periods of rest from work. 30
"Ry ship" They took a boat and
sailed from Capernaum across the
northern end of the lake.
IL. Jesus teaches a great multitude
Tvs. 33, 34). 33. The people" From
John GA we see that the Passover was
Just at hand, and there were thrcngs
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 afoot." The
people, watching the sailing of Jesus
across the northern end of the lake.
ran around the northern shore so rap
idly that they "ogtwent" the boat and
met Him as He landed. "All cities"
At this time the western and northern
shores were populous with cities aud
villages.
81. Compassion Although weary
yet Jesus was moved with pity for this
people. He walked among them teach
ing them and healing their sick. Not
having a shepherd" They were desti
tute of teachers to feed, to guide. tc
protect, in word, to shepherd them.
III. The disciples confer with Jesus
Tvs. 35-3S).
30. 'Day-far spent" Matthew
says when 1t was evening" The
Jews had two evenings. The first be
gan at 9 o'clock, the second at G
o'clock. This was in the afternoon
80. Send them away" The dlsciples
called Christ'S attention to the fact
that this was desert place, and as
the multitude had been there since
morning, it was time to dismiss the
congregation so the people could go and
buy victuals, lest they faint by the
way. Many Of those present were on
their way to tht Passove- and had NO
homes near.
81. Give yc them to eat Jesus
was testing dis disciples. Just before
this He said 20 Philip, whence shall
we buy bread that these may eat?"
John 6:5l. But He said this Ito prove
him. for HE Himself knew what lie
would do" John 6:6). 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. 1.-TWO hundred
pennyworth." The penny was a 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 rnwise tc
take our last penny and spend for this
purpose?
3S. How many" Jesus knew Just
the amount OIL food there was, but He
desired to have them find out and tell
Him so thar the miracle would make a
greater impression. Five. and two
tshes." There were five barley loaves,
Barley was their poorest food. Tho
loaves were round, fiat biscuits or
crackers. The fish were small and were
dried or picked and eaten with bread
like cur sardines.
~. The multitude fed Tvs. 39-40.
30. He commanded" Christ had fed
their souls, and healed their bodies,
and now He purposes to feed their bod.
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 hither unto Me-" All must centre
in Him. We may have but little, but il
we will give the little we have to Jesus
He will multiply 1t thousandfold and
pass 1t back to us, and grant us the
privilege of passing it out to the starv.
ing, sin-burdened multitudes. BLESS.
ed" Jesus thus sets us an example
we should never eat without first
thanking God for our food and asking
His blessing upon it. 40. 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.
43, Az.
43. twelve baskets" The word
translated baskets" means pockets OF
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
Why were they required to gather up
the fragments? l. 1t would teach
them lesson in thrift and economy
2. 1t 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 gos-
pei than to carry 1t 30 some hungry
soul. Al. "Five thousand" Here is
one miracle wrought by our Lord at.
tested by 5000 men, probably 10000