The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1910-05-27
The Multitudes
Fed
Sunday School Lesson for May 20, 1910
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper

49, Memory verses. ~. 90
GOLDEN TEXT-"Jesus said unto
them. 1 am the bread of life John
| G:35.
TIME.-The feeding of the 5000 in the
| spring A. d. %. of the 1000 a 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 Multitudes.-Matt 14:13.
IA; 15:29-31 These two miracles.
though plainly separate, yet have so
many resemblances that they may best
be considered together, as if in parallel
columns; and we must combine the
accounts of all the evangelists
On what occasion were 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" (the place in which the news
reached him is not named) by ship
into desert place apart" He was
filled 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may have withdrawn to avoid them,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 Luke),
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 Gall
| % nd TIL
might rest and that he might give
them further instruction in quiet as
we'll as talk over their experiences
with them. All these motives conceded.
What miracles preceded the two
feelings 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 it should be whenever Christ
blesses men: The multitude won
dered, :. 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 five
thousand all day and the four thousand
for three days
The Hungry Multitudes.-Matt.1 IA:
Is; 1882 Our Lords compassion was
moved by more than the sicknesses OF
the multitudes; by what? BY their
hunger. In the first instance the crowd
were passover pilgrims, in large part
John 6: A.. 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 differ
ent tradition. But there are pointed
differences that rule out the idea.
The Challenge to Faith.-Matt IA:
1918: 15: SO. "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 14:S. 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.
getber with two of the little dried or
picked fishes caught by millions in
the lake and eaten along with the
bread In the second case seven
"loaves" could be mustered and a few
OF these little fishes.
The Hungry Fed.-Matt 14;19-21;
10: 1888. 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
| acre III edCu Cast tHIlSI dSheu
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 disci
plies, for them TO give to the multitude
This was the least ostentatious way OF
performing the wonder.
What was the third step III the mir
acle? The separate giving of the
fishes (see Mark. Some would give
the poor only the barest necessities,
bread only; our Lord adds fish,
Spurgeon.
What was the last step in the mira.
Gle? Preserving for future use, at
Christs command John 6:12) the
fragments of the feast
| he f,au of