The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-05-28
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.
Lesson TX. May 20, 1910.
THE MULTITUDES FED.
(Matt. IA; 1921; IS: 5000

lMatt. ~ ISL, - y oSl
Golden Text: Jesus said unto
Them am the Bread OF lie" John.o:
IS.
Jesus is reported by Matthew TO
have fed great company OF people BY
multiplying miraculously small por-
ton OF food found in the company.
These two reports are united i'll this
one lesson
The occasion OF the first miracle was
the retirement OF Jesus into seclusion,
in the uplsnds east OF the Sea OF Cali
lee after he had heard OF the death of
his cousin, John the Baptist He went
by boat across the sea. Crowds follow
ed him. The people went on loot
around the northern end of the sea,
probably. The twelve were with him.
The lesson tells the story oi how it all
happened,
The second miracle was performed
home in Capernaum. Scribes and
Pharisees from Jerusalem visited him
having journeyed from Jerusalem rs
usual, they began controversial ques-
tons with him, and as usual, he gave
them pointed reprooi in his answer,
and then harangued the whole multi
tude. The question was about eating
without first washing the hands. lie
spoke for the first time the law as to
personal defllement.
There was probably excitement
against him for these utterances, SO
radically opposed to all popular ideas,
and once more he left Capcrnaum. Ill
part, no doubt, for safety. tie went
into the coasts Of Phenicia. Here
he cured a girl OF dcmoniacSl posses
sion in answer to the prayer of her
mother. Her plea and persistence
made her immortal.
Then Jesus with his disciples return
ed toward home, and somewhere i'll the
mountain stopped for rest. Once
more the multitude followed. and Sc
came the occasion Tor the second mir
acle. The stories are practically the
same, We take the verses nl Chapt r
Is, vss 1890.
THE LESSON.
vs.. 20. The ever active, ceaselcssly
helpful Jesus. He was turning home
ward now Did he have a home?
Not where to lay his head is his own
answer. There were open doors Tor
him evcrywhe e, but he owned not one
spot.
vs.. go Crowds crowds, wher-
ever nc Journeycd He has never ha6
a peer. Crowds wanting something.
One brought lame, another a blind
one another. one deal or manned.
Troubles abundant. None was refused.
vs.. 81. They wondered
and giortied the God OF Israel There
is no hint that they accepted him as
the King OF TIL new Kingdom OF Hca-
ven Mon are still in that attitude.
"Munderiu man, says the world.
Christ: Son OF God? King oi ment
No! Oh, no.
vs.. 81. II will not send them away
What a verse this IS. 1t breathes the
spirit oi love. Three days" How
many miracles he must have wrought
Thought for himself: None. Il have
compassion on them" Did he ever
fail in compassion in the hour OF need!
None ever empty turned away who
truly sought his lace
vs.. 80. Here is picture OF lie to-
day We cannot feed this crowd,
they say. There are no shops n the
Wilderness.
They entirely forgot the feeding ot
FIVE thousand with the five loavcs and
two fishes which Andrew found. Me
mory OF Gods power and mercy does
not last long with the best "f US.
vs.. 81. Here is the same question
as before. The discipc S mist at once
have begun to think. is he gong to
repeat the miracle
vs. IS. Order. system. quiet. He
would have no confusion; no JuStllng;
no pushing to get the first bit he OF
tered. lit down ON the ground he
he said. The obedience was doubtless
instantaneous There was vast cNpec-
tat"n i'll the throng "ilc is going to
do it again maybe some one said.
WAS the bread he made the other
time good" Yes. had some, Best
you ever saw"
vs.. 80. Notice his method, First
thanks. then creative work. then the
bount;iul distribution. But he did not
carry the bread and fish around. His
disciples did that For what did he
give thanks: Perhaps inr his power.
w
er. Have none OF YOU forgotten IL
thank God ior a mercy since last sun
day:
IS. 81 "Al' Not onc passed
The "'dcs, man; the youngest boy;
every woman; every girl. They were
satisfied. too. No one complained.
Then. one gospel says, he orderr.
"Gathcr up the fragments tnat nothing
be lost. No waste i'll Christ's plan.
Seven baskets iujl 1t is not the
Quantity. but the Tact that something
had been done, and there was some
thing To- show tur it. Every person OF
that mu titude. ii ever Pharlsee or
enemy challenged the miracle, could
say. Il Was tlcre | ate all | wanted.
| saw WHIT he had when he began.
saw what was lett. You need not tel
me yuu don't believe. saw
vs.. 80 -Four thousand al men.
women and children besides. How
many; Have you ever seen four thous-
and people together? Think OF feeding
s,trt, auIinnra will fill the