The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-19
LESSON FOR SEPT. ~.
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

rEEDtNG TIE FIVE THOUSAND
| LESSON TExT-Mark s:so-A
GOLDEN TExT-.'Jesus said unto
them, am the bread of life. John SIS.
This parable marks the high level
Of the year Of popularity in the life OF
our Lord. 1t is such an important
miracle as to be the only one recorded
lby all four gospel writer's.
The returning disciples ". 800 are
urged by the Master to come with him
into 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 fiocked
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 also 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 "a that the
compassion of Jesus led him first of
all to teach. It is better to teach a
man how to help himself than to help
the man. We also infer from this
verse that the soul of a man Is Of
more value than his body. 1t is not
enough, however, to say, God bless
you. be fed and warm" when man
is hungry So 1t is that Jesus listened
to his diciples when they saw the
physical need Of the multitude.
A Great Task.
st. John tells us In this connection
Of the conversation with Philip, Phil
ip lived In Bethsaida near by, yet to
feed this multitude was for him too
great a task, even with his knowledge
OF the resources at hand, John 6:5-7.
Yet we need not be surprised at Phil
bps slowness Of faith. Moses In like
manner was once nonplussed how to
feed six thousand In the wilderness.
see Mum. 1I:21-23. 1t is not SO much
az to how great the need nor how IT.
tie we possess. but rather is the little
given to God
Another disciple, Andrew, who had
discovered the Saviour unto Peter, dis.
covers as though in desperation boy
whose mother had thoughtfully pro-
vided him with a lunch consisting OF
five barley biscuits and two small
dried herring John 500, at least that
much remained. It is great COM
mentary upon the tide OF interest at
this time that this boy should not
have eaten his lunch. for q 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. 11:24, rs.
4 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 it to the
supplying of the needs of the multi
tude. The secret4of success was when
he took the loaves and looking up
for God also saw on that day. and
blessed 1t.
We need to observe the systematic
procedure. The people seated or re-
clining upon the ground. In ranks or
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. AZ. Not
alone, however, was there Divine or
der and lavishness, but there was
economy and thrift as well, for Jesus
gave careful directions as to the frag-
ments. Tho 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
stinging rebuke to the improvident
and to the present day, prodi-
gals Of that wonderful bounty with
which God has blessed our land.
God gives to us that we may use.
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,
power, etc, 80 he would feed
the hungry souls Of mankind. We
have at hand the Word: It il for lack
OF 1t that men die in the deepest sense
Of that word.
The poverty and perplexity OF the
disciples in his presence and the pres
ence Of this great need Is being re-
peated over and over today and yet II |
Is absurd. We have not enough to
feed the multitude. Our few loaves OF
mental activities, etc.
will not feed them. but when we break |
unto them the Living Bread they have
enough and to spare. When our Lord |
has the handling of our loaves then
they are charged with new power and
are for the satisfying Of the nations.
Jesus welcomed the multitude
though the disciples would send them
sway. Jegus saw their need spiritual
" though the disciples saw only the |
physical need. Jesus saw the abun-
1ant resources of the Father (Phil.