The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-29
International Su1daySchooL
 Lesson
kaEllaa6 lala qI G1 EhIllEl lHI1l lla
First Quarter. Less0n IX.. March
 l90s. John VI, 1-21.

First Quarter. Less0n IX.. March l 10Os. John VI, 1-21.
 Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand. Crucial times had come. John Sap tist was martyred. Prudence sug '. ed retirement Weariness demanded it The retreat would also afford the apostles an opportunity to report more minuteIy to the Master the experiences of their trial-trip. two and two, through Galilee, from which they had just re- turned. So the boat which had been chartered for Jesus and waited upon Him was employed to put tne weary toilers beyond the reach or tne muititudes that pressed upon them even at meal.ttmes.
 Headwinds probably drove the Iittle bark near shore and retarded US progress. Olandestine as the departure had been, it failed of its purpose. An eve. .auRmenting throng hurried arounu the head of the lake, and probably apprised some pilgrim caravans TO Ine Passover of the coming of the great Naxarene So when Jesus boat ran lts keel upon the pebbly shore, there stood five thousand men, not to mentioh tne women and children.
 So far from being irritated by the failing of His plans, Jesus heart was touched to pity at sight Of the shep- herdless flock, and He began at once to instruct them in many phases Of the doctrine of grace. In the absorbing interest of the theme neither IeaeIeI nor taught observed how the sun was dipping to the western horizon.
 But the commissary of the apostles suddenly awoke to the situation. Five regiments, and no stores on hand or any country to forage upon! After some questions on Jesus part, calcu- lated to test His disciples faith, put 10 which they responded with phenome- nal obtuseness, He proposes to Work what, in some respects, was Ills re- markable anr slgnificient miracle.
 The material basis of the mlracis was paltry in the extreme. But one poor fishers rude and scantS
 store
 Is all He asks (and more than needs), Who men and angels daily feeds.
 There is a vivid, descriptive touch in the Greek which does not appear m our version. Under Jesus direction fine confused throng was resolved into the order of a French parterre. He had them sit platwise, so that they looked in their high colored garments, like veritable flower-beds with green turi intervening.
 After the cheerful grace, which Jesus never omits, He puts a morsel of bread and fish in the hand ot each apostle and sends him forth to serve. Whal each breaks off Is larger far than what remains. But that which remains IS undiminished. And all are fed and fill ed. As a lesson in frugality, the un' used fragments are ordered to De gathered up. Each hesitating apostle holds in his hands the tanglbie evidence of the reality and magnitude of the miracle wrought.
 Even a casual reader of the Rioi' will hardly fail to note that St. Johi has a philosophy of his own, in ac' cordance with which he arranges tn' facts. miracles. and discourses ol Jesus. He does not do violence C l ehronology. but he is not hampered bl ! 1t. His purpose Is to show the evolu tion of Jesus character and work II | the most effective way possible. Tn ! material is vast and bewildering. II 1. fine hxnnsboIe John exclaime that |