Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-27
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Sunday May 20, NJ att. IA, 1921; IS, 29-39.
By DR.. Marion MCH. Hull.

of life +"

Upon hearing Of the death of John,
Jesus and His disciples withdrew across
the Sea OF Galiee to a quiet place on the
northeastern coast. Here He was out of
the territory of Herod move that SEEM
ed to be wise under the circumstances.
In addition to this His disciples had just
returned from their preaching tour AMI
needed the rest and refreshment which
His presence in quiet place would give
them. 1t was about the time of the
Passover and a great number of people
were on their way to Jerusalem to cele-
brate the feast. This accounts for the
great crowd Of people who happened to
be in Capernaum at this time, and also
for the complexion of the crowd, which
was almost entirely Jewish.
Realizing that Jesus had gone from
their presence in the boat, they went by
land around the northern end of the Sea
of Galilee, and such was their haste that
they outwent Gesus and His disciples,
who found the people already there upon
their arrival. This vast crowd, which
was composed of 5000 men, besides wom-
en- and children-a total of not less than
II, OO0-completeiy frustrated the plan of
Jesus as far as the rest which He and
His disciples needed was concerned. He
might have withdrawn, but when He
looked out over this vast company Of
people, who were like sheep without
shepherd His great heart of compassion
went ort to them, and, forgetting Him
self in His love for them, He spent the
rest of the day in preaching, teaching
and healing their sicknesses.
Early In the afternoon when He saw
how vast the company was, He asked
Philip, in order to test him, where could
they get food sufficient to feed so vast
crowd. He Himself knew what He was
going TO do, but He wanted to set His
disciples thinking out plan. As the DAY
wore on Philip had undoubtedly discussed
the matter with the other disciples, for
they came and asked Him the very ques-
ton that He had asked Philip. They re-
allied that if they should buy all the
bread in the surrounding villages 1t would
not =. be sufficient to give even smal
bit to each one 1t was out of the ques-
ton. anyway, for them to do this, for
they were too poor to buy this. Ihey
were in a perplexity, when practical An
drew had faith enough to solve the PROB
lem, He found a lad with lunch. There
were five butter thins and two saIolhes-
hardly enough to satisfy hungry boy
hut Andrew induced him to give what
little he had to the Lord; ana so ne
brought it to Jesus, half believing ana
half doubling Jesus commanded the dis
ciples to make the people sit down In
comnanies Of so in regular order; ne
asked His Fathers blessing upon the
bread: and breaking it, commanded tneh
to give 1t to the people to eat
lust how the multiplication took place
no one can say. Various conjectures' more
or less plausible, have been given TO stats
the manner of the miracle; but that Is I'M
material Suffice 1t to say that under
the blessing of Jesus the lads lunch De
came sufficient to feed about 1900 people
SO that each one had enough; and In ODE
dience to the command of Christ II mana
baskets were gathered OF the rag
ments. one basket for each OF the olsci-
ples for the next days provision.
The effect of this miracle on the peo-
pie was mervelous. They appreciated
that any one who had such power as he
had then manifested would be just the
man to take the kingdom. and free tnen
from the bondage of the Roman yoke'
They lost sight entirely, it seems. of the
spiritual significance of the miracle. 1hey
were SO earthbound that they did not
grasn the truth that He was the Son of
Cod. and none other, to have accomplish
al such a miracle. They were only look
ing at the temporal and with shout OF
enthusiasm tried to make Him king by
force. In order to escape the temptation
which this brought Him to take short
.c,,t 10 the crowd He Himself withdrew
into the mountain to spend the night in
Fellowship. in communion, with His Fa-
tber while He sent on His disciples to
the other shore in a boat in order to get