The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-02-26
March Jesus FEEDS THE

March Jesus FEEDS The
FIVE THOUSAND. John 6: 5-l4.
The lesson Of to-day tells of one of
the great miracles performed by Jesus
during His earthly career. He and
his disciples we're near the Sea of
Galilee. when the people came out
in large numbers to hear Him.
Knowing that they had come from a
long distance and had no adequate
provision for food and preparing of it.
He decided to fed them. His heart
was also touched for them as they
seemed like sheep without shepherd.
Jesus asked the disciples as to what
food they had with them. and this
turned out to be little bread and
two small fish. The multitude esti-
mated at five thousand were told to be
seated and to them was distributed
the food the supply being miraculous
ly increased. so that after all were fed
twelve basket fulls of the frag
ments were gathered up.
In discussing the miracle spoken of
last week when the invalid at the
pool was healed. many called to mind
wonderful cures made by doctors and
alleged faith healers. and so the
power of Jesus was put on the same
basis as many of simply human
powers. There is nothing in the
range of human knowledge of food be-
ing created ready for use. Of
course it is miracle when the grain
is is brought forth after the planting
of the seed in the spring time. This
should not be forgotten. 1t is the
action of nature. but this action was
determined by the mighty God. The
engine follows the track and the I'M
thinking might say that it simply fol-
lows out what it had to do. The
thoughtful. know that the skilled
knowledge of man has been put forth.
the rails laid certain distance part.
and the way leveled so that the en-
Igine with its load can pass safely and
quickly. Nothing comes by chance.
the God who created the world made
natures laws and the world il not
going on by chance.
1t was not by chance that Jesus. sat
by the we'll and the woman came to
draw water. and the great truth told
that Jesus could and would give the
water of His spirit which would be
to the person receiving it like natural
water to parched lips. 1t was not by
chance that the people came about
Jesus on the sea shore and He fed
them. The miraculous feeding gave
Jesus the opportunity to explain the
following day to many of the same
people and to all future generations.
that He was the bread of life. The great
truths brought forth then. will be
considered in the lesson next Sunday.
We therefore pass to the beautiful
and instructive thought that the
bread that day was given the people
through the disciples. We learn
from this that the people who now
call themselves the disciples of Jesus.
should be the means of distributing
the gospel to those about them. who
are not. Pastors. teachers. mission
aries. class leaders. elders. deacons.
christians. big and little can be the
means of giving to their friends and
acquaintance and strangers the spirit
nal hroaI of Chriet'e rospol Jasus sovs
that only those who eat of the bread
He give will inherit eternal life. AND
this being so. how great is the re-
sponsibility of christian people. Let
every christian boy and girl. man and
woman strive to be worthy of spread
ing the gospel message and distribut-
ing the "'Bread of Life of which Jesus
tells.