Middletown transcript., 1917-03-03
LESSON FOR MARCH q
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND

JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND.
LESSON TEXT-John 6:1-14.
GOLDEN TEXT-Give US this day our
daily bread.-Matt Gil.
This parable marks the high level
Of the year of our Lords popularity.
It is such an important miracle as to
be the only one recorded in all four
gospels. Be sure to use a good har-
mony. The returning twelve Matt.
~ are taken by their master to
desert place that they might find rest
(Mk. 6:3D and that he might comfort
their hearts over the death of John the
Baptist (Matt. 14:1-12). The multi
tude would not grant them the right
use Of their leisure, but flOcked to this
retreat in the desert. They followed
that they might listen to his gracious
words, and perhaps behold some new
wonder (v. y. Carlisle said he saw in
England 'forty millions, mostly FOOLS"
Jesus saw the multitude, and was
moved, not with sarcasm, but with
compassion which took q tangible form
Of service. Mark tells us (6:34) that
Jesus was first of all teaching the null
titude. It is better to teach a man how
to help himself than to help the man.
We also infer from this that the soul
of a man is of more value than his
body. 1t is not enough, however, to
say, "God bless you, be warm and fed''
when a man is hungry. st. John Is the
only one to tell us Of the conversation
with Philip. Philip lived in Bethsaida
near by, yet to feed this multitude was
to him too great task, even with his
knowledge Of the resources (vv. 5,6).
We should not be surprised at Philips
slowness of faith. Moses in a like
manner was once nOnplussed as TO how
to feed the multitude in the wilder
ness. (Num. II :21-23). 1t is not so
much how great the need nor how lit
tie we possess; rather is that little
given over to God? Andrew, who had
revealed Jesus unto Peter, discovers as
though in desperation boy whose
with lunch, consisting Of five barley
biscuits and two small herring ". 81 f;
at least that much remained. This is
great commentary upon the tide of
interest at this time, that the boy
should not have eaten his entire lunch,
for the boys hunger is proverbial. 1t
seems as though Jesus emphasizes the
helplessness Of the disciples in order
that he may show his power. His COM
mand "Give ye them" (AIk. 6:37)
teaches us that we are to give such
as we have, and not look to others nor
to do our charity by proxy prov.
IL :24-25). Again the Savior asks his
disciples as though he would teach
them the resources of his kingdom. |
Give what you have, and he will bless |
and increase it to the supplying of the
needs of a multitude. The secret Of |
success was when he took up the |
loaves, and, Cooking up," God also saw !
that day and blessed it. We need to |
observe the systematic procedure. The !
people are seated or reclining upon the |
ground in ranks or in companies, the |
master blessing and breaking the boys |
cakes, giving first to the disciples. God
works miracles through human
agencies only. The result of this sys-
tematic procedure was that they were
all satisfied, filled" (y. 12). luke !
adds that "all did eat" ok. 9:17). Not
alone, however, was there divine order
and lavishness, but there were economy
and thrift as well, for Jesus gave care
full direction as to the fragments. The
lavishness is shown by the fact that
the baskets into which the fragments
were gathered were each probably
large enough in which to sleep. This
conservation process was a singing
rebuke to the improvident orientals
and to present-day prodigals of that
wonderful bounty with which God has
blessed our land. God gives to us that
we may use for other. Joy dies unless
1t is shared. Jesus is the living bread
(John 6:49), and will satisfy hunger
and life even as bread generates in
the human body heat, vitality and
power; so he would still feed the
hungry soul of mankind. We have at
hand the word, and it is for lack of it
that men die in the deepest, truest
sense of that word. The poverty and
of the disciples in his pres
ence and in the presence of this great
need are being repeatd over and over
today, and yet 1t is absurd. We have
not enough to feed the multitude. Our
few loaves of amusements, mental ac-
tivitieS and social service will not feed
them, but when we break unto them
the Living Bread, they have enough
and to spare. The difficulty with the
Of material bread for the
needs OF mankind is not that there is |
not enough grain, but rather that in
the process of distribution certain COM
panles OF men can control the fruits of
the earth, and withhold them from the
consumer for their own profit. Is there
not parable in this for the church in
that it is so much concerned with its
own joys, pleasures and profits that
t Is Withholding from the mass of
mankind, especially in the foreign field.
The bread which alone can bring life
md Immortality to light? The words
IF the late DR.. Maltbie Babcock are
appropriate in this connection: Back
If the loaf is the snowy flour, and back
If the flour the mill, and back of the
mill is the wheat and the shower, and
he sun and the Fathers will"
Summary: () The hope of the
worlds salvation Is in the wonderful
power of God in multiplying the little
We give to him In the way of service.
(2) If we bring no gift, how can God
,less man? Compare this boys serv.
ca with the spruica of tho HttIo xoa4a |