The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-05-19
The Multitudes
Fed

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LESSON TExT-Matthew H:13-z1; 15:2s-
-. Memory verses. 10, 20
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Jesus said unto
them, I am the bread Of life John
TIME.-The feeding OF the 5000 in the
spring. A. ID. %: of the 1000 few weeks
later, in the summer.
PLAcE.-The first miracle at the north
ern end Of the Sea Of Galilee; the second
further down on the east side, opposite
Magdala Magadan. Dalanutha).
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
The Sick Mult;tudes.-Matt. 14:13.
IA; 15:29-31. These two miracles.
though plainly separate, yet have 80
many resemblances that they may best
be considered together, as IL In parallel
columns; and we must combine the
accounts of all the evangelists.
On what occasion we're the five thou
sand fed? Our Lord had just heard
OF the tragic death Of John the Baptist,
and when he heard of 1t. he departed
thence" 1.-THE place in which the news
reached him is not named) by ship
into desert place apart" He was
filed with sadness at this murder of
his cousin and herald. Moreover, the
event was an indication of the perils
amid which he himself walked. and he
may have withdrawn to avoid them,
for his hour had not yet come. Be
sides. Herod sought to see him Uuke),
and we may be sure that Christ had no
desire TO see Herod. Mark also tells
US that the disciples had Just returned
from their preaching tour through Cali
lee. and Jesus withdrew that they
might rest and that he might give
them further instruction In quiet as
well as talk over their experiences
with them. All these motives coincided.
What miracles preceded the two
-feedings Of the multitude? In each
case a great crowd gathered around
Jesus. In these cases those throng-
Ing faces were particularly eloquent.
for SO many of them were suffering
faces. There were the lame, blind.
dumb. MANNED. and many others. all
cast down at Jesus feet.
What was the result Of this healing?
What II should be whenever Christ
blesses men: The multitude won
dered. :. 4. and they glorified the God
Of Israel" They were ready to listen
with all their hearts to Christ's teach
ing. and remained persistently. the Eve
thousand all day and the four thousand
for three days.
The Hungry Multitudes.-Matt IA:
10; 1882. Our Lords compassion was
NJ ho cd -
the multitudes; by what? By their
hunger. In the first instance the crowd
were passover pilgrims, in large part
John 6;4). with no homes nearby to
which to go. In the second case the
multitude were in their own country,
but the villages were few in the De-
capolis.
The second miracle, with SO many
circumstances like the first, has been
considered by certain critics to be only
the first miracle disguised by a differ
ent tradition. But there are pointed
differences that rule out the idea.
The Challenge to Faith.--Matt. IA:
1918: 1888. "a. Who suggested feed
ing the multitudes? Jesus. in each case
John tells OF an earlier conversation
with Philip. In which our Lord asked
that disciple, whose faith seemingly
had special need of strengthening (see
John 1873, 81, Whence are we to buy
bread. that these may eat?" But John,
ever careful to guard his Master from
misunderstanding. adds that Jesus said
this merely to test Philip. since he
himself knew well what miracle was to
come.
What supplies were available for feed
irg these nine thousand and more? In
the first case. only lads simple lunch
con. consisting Of five loaves Tor
rather, round fiat cakes like large
crackers) or coarse barley bread. to-
gether with two OF the little dried or
picked fishes caught by millions In
bread. In the second case seven
''loaves" could be mustered and few
OF these little fishes.
The Hungry Fed.-Matt 1921;
is: 1859. How did the Saviour arrange
the multitude? In an orderly way on
the grass, in garden plots"
What was the first step in the mir.
acle? In each case Christ asked
blessing, in accordance with his Gus.
tom; thus ''instructing us not to touch
a meal until we had given thanks to
him who giveth us this food. "-Chrys.
ostom.
What was the second step In the
miracle? Christ broke off pieces of
the bread and gave them to the disei-
pies. for them to give to the multitude.
This was the least ostentatious way of
performing the wonder.
What was the third step ir the r.ir.
acle? The separate giving of the
fishes (see Mark. Some would give
the poor only the barest necessities,
bread only; cur Lord adds fish
Sturgeon.
What was the last step In The mira.
Gle? Preserving for future use. al
Christ's command John GID, the
fragments of the feast.
Gather up the fragments of opportu.
nity, as Uncle John Vassar" did One
day, waiting Tor friend in a IIoston
A.