The Red Cloud chief., 1912-09-19
LESSON FOR SEPT. 22.
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.
LESSON TExT-Mark e:3o-M
GOLDEN TEXT-"Jcsus said unto
them. am tho bread of life."--John 6:3A
This parable marks the high level
Of the year of popularity in the life OF
our Lord. II Is such an important
miracle as to be the only one recorded
by all four gospel writer's.
The returning disciples ". 30) are
urged by the Master to come with him
into n desert place that they might
rest, and also that he might comfort
their hearts over the death Of John
the Baptist. "They had no leisure"
Jesus knew the need and also the
proper use OF leisure. But the multi.
tude would not grant this and flocked
to his retreat In the desert They saw
and followed that they might listen
TO his gracious words or behold some
new wonder. but Jesus alsb saw and
ministered, v. "a. Carlisle said he saw
In England "forty millions. mostly
FOOLS" Not SO with Jesus. He saw
and was moved, not with sarcasm, but
with compassion, which compassion
took tangable form of service. It is
interesting to note in verse 81 that tho
compassion of Jesus led him first OF
all to teach. II Is better to teach .
man how to help himself than to help
the man. We also infer from this
verse that the soul Of man is OF
more value than his body. It Is not
enough, however. to say. God bless
you, be fed and warm" when man
Is hungry. So 1t Is that Jesus listened
to bis diciples when they saw the
physical need Of the multitude.
A Great Task.
81. John tells US In this connection
Of tho conversation with Philip. Phil
ip lived in Bethsaida near by, yet to
feed this multitude was for him too
great O task, even with his knowledge
of the resources at hand. John 6:5.7.
Yet We need not be surprised ut Phil
lp's slowness Of faith. Moses In like
manner was once nonplussed how to
feed six thousand in the wilderness.
see Mum. 11:21.23. It is not so much
as to how great the need nor how lit
tie We possess, but rather is the little
given to God.
Another disciple, Andrew. who had
discovered the Saviour unto Peter, dis.
covers az though in desperation boy
, whose mother had thoughtfully pro
vided him with lunch consisting OF
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dried herring John 6:9), at least that
much remained. 1t is q great com.
mentary upon the tide Of interest at
this time that this boy should not
have eaten his lunch, for boys hun.
ger is proverbial. It seems as though
Jesus emphasizes the helplessness OF
the diciples in order that he may show
his power. His command. "give ye
them." ". 37) teaches us that we are
to give such as we have. not look to
others, nor do our charity by proxy.
Prov. 1924. 25.
Again the Saviour asks his disciples
to see ". 3S) as though he would
teach them the boundless resources OF
his kingdom. Give what you have and
he will bless and increase 1t to the
supplying of the needs OF the multi.
tude. The secret of success was when
he took the loaves and looking up
for God also saw on that day, and
blessed It.
We need to observe the systematic
procedure. The people seated or re
clining upon the ground in ranks OF
by companies. The Master blessing
and breaking the boys cakes and CIV
Ing first to the disciples. for God only
works such miracles through human
agencies, and then giving to the peo
pie. The result OF this systematic pro
cedure was that "all did eat" and
further. they were satisfied, v. ~. Not
alone, however, was there Divine or
der and lavishness, but there waf
economy and thrift as well, for Jesus
gave careful directions as to the frag
ments. The lavishness Is shown by
the fact that the baskets into which
.. the fragments were gathered were
. each large enough In which to sleep.
Living Bread.
The conversation process was
q singing rebuke to the improvident
q prientals, and to tho present day prodi
!. gals OF that wonderful bounty with
|. which God has blessed our land.
a God gives to us that we may use
I Joy dies unless 1t is shared. Jesus
. the living bread (John 6:4S) will salts
, fy hunger. and life. as bread. gener
. ates in the human body heat. energy
Q vitality. power. ETC.. SO he would feet
}, the hungry souls Of mankind. W.
!. have at hand the Word: It Is for lacl
/ OF It that men die In the deepest sense
|. OF that word.
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