Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-29
Sunday School Lesson for March ! Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
PAS y
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND. John. ,i.,.a,

tnat. One loaf of bread for a thousand
men! And Yet there was no lack. The
IRVINE Host dealt out from His unfailtng
store; and His servants supplied the need
GATHERED.-There must have
oeen constant and increasing surprise
IN the minds of the apostles who witness
eu and even assisted with the distribution
OF OF 1000 on that occasion. How and where
the multiplication occurred no one knows
whether In the hands OF Jesus or OF His
helpers does not matter. The last mans
munger was fully satisfied (verse ID.
Jesus ordered the gathering up Of the
lrasnents-the supplies had been dealt
OUT with lavish hand. How strange
that there should be q surplus 1t was. IL
poSSDie. greater marvel than that there
should have been enough. The apostles
went Iorth. each with a basket, and each
returned with his basket full Verse I'D.
Two ends were gained by this COLLECTION.
mere was a lesson In economy when
Jesus sought to enforce in the order
given duke xv:13), and there was also
ruler confirmation of the miracle. How
remarkable that what they brought In
was more than they carried out IL Kings,
xvii:16)!
CONFESSED.-It was q company of
plain men that followed Jesus from place
to place. Unlike the jealous and scowling
priests. they were open-hearted and un-
pre1udiced. They welcomed the woros of
truth spoken in their hearing mark.
xh:3O. and they witnessed the deeds of
power. not only with wonder. but with
CONVICTION that was strengthened as the
days passed. Hence the feeding of 5.OOO
men with few loaves and fishes so un.
IKE all former miracles, drew out q noble
confession {verse 49, They turned from
one 10 another and spoke with evident
satisfaction. agreeing in their testimony.
OF a truth this is that prophet that
should come into the world" q repetition
IN substance Of what Andrew said to his
brother (John, t:4D. What before they
thought and said. they now firmly be-
lieved. The long expected Messiah G,eut..
xviii:1o), eagerly desired by the nation
Matt. xi:3), promised by the prophets
had actually come John vii:4O). 1t is a
great day in the life of any man when
the truth is received and acknowledged.
DEPARTED.-This miracle Of the
feeding awakened the highest enthusiasm
In those who witnessed. They felt that
superior being was among them, one
who ought to be recognised. In the
minds of leading spirits there was q strong
purpose to make Jesus king, and SO to
obtain deliverance from the hated rule
of the Romans. There may have been
some utterances and acts to that end.
Jesus discovered. this movement and
quickly withdrew to escape from the peo-
pie. First He repaired entirely alone to
the mountains nearby, leaving His dis
ciples who took their little boat to cross
the sea. In the night He walked on the
WdIoT anu JOlneO the DISCIPLES, VINO re-.
ceived Him gladly.
CONCLUSION-The human mina
seldom perceives the truth pure and sim
pie. Generally something of error is
mixed with it. and that error Is not
easily eliminated. Revolutions in the
state and agitations and schisms in the
church have been caused by this unfor-
tunate admixture Of truth and error. It
was SO on this occasion. One might
have thought great advance In the
cause Of Christ had been secured when
the confession was made. But not SO.
The men who admitted Him to be the
expected prophet or Messiah. had false
notions of the character of that Messiah.
They supposed that He would be tenn
poral prince. and would set up Q gov
eminent, restoring sovereignty to the
Jewish nation and casting of the Roman
yoke. Hence they attempted to make
Jesus king (verse 49, and had they been
encouraged they would have followed Him
with shouts to Jerusalem. But the Lord
withdrew and went alone into mountain.
Alas, the blind had seen the deeds, but
their sight was depraved. and they saw
not the real spiritual King.