The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Mar. 4, 1917.
Jesus Feed the Five Thousand
John, 6:1-21.
(By J. M. McLean)
The occasion of the miracle de-
scribed in today's lesson arose in a
very simple way. Jesus had retired
to . spot on the east side Of the sea
Of Liberals to take rest. The peo-
pie eager to see more miracles, fol-
lowed him. Men in a crowd are more
plastic than when alone. They are
like q ball of snow being rolled
down a hill. It gathers more snow as
its dimensions increase. So the men
following Christ grew as they came
in contact with others along the
way.
When Jesus had reached the hill
side and observed the immense COM
pany of men and women and child
rem, the sight Of them did not Of
fend him, but awakened his sympa-
thy. They had no food and nothing
to buy with. Jesus said unto Philip,
whence are we to buy bread that
these may eat?" This question was
asked to test the faith of Phillip.
He was quick to calculate how much
it would cost, but they had no
money. Then Andrew pointed out a
boy in the crowd who had five loa-
yes and two fishes and added, what
are they among so many. Philip did
not conceive the idea Of Jesus per-
forming miracle. Andrew, on the
other hand, had vague idea that
something may happen to provide
bread for the hungry. The out
. standing fact was that no one in the
crowd was able to provide for the
immediate needs.
With calm purpose and modest
air Of authority Jesus asked that the
crowd sit down. They were told to
cit in groups back on the hillside.
This instruction was given to avoid
confusion and to teach them gentle
manners lesson that every one
attending public picnic should OBJ
serve. The five loaves and two fishes
were not too insignificant and COM
monplace to thank Providence for.
Many are ungrateful for the scant
necessities Of life. Having an abund-
ance tends to make such people
naughty. Having prepared every
thing for the supreme task, the
small contents Of the lads basket
was now the object of attention.
When they began distributing the
five loayes and two fishes among
the five thousand people, this small
quantity Of food, instead Of LESSEN
ing multiplied faster than it was
consumed. The two fishes did the
work Of more than two thousand
and the olaves increased in q like
proportion.
In this mir. Gle we see our Savior
using supern., tural power to prevent
. great calsmity. The crowd was
there and 'ipless they could be fed,
starvation and sickness would have
claimed Aost of them. Jesus was the
greatest the world has known in
supplying the essentials Of life. It
Il great to heal those whose unfor-
tuna ,e circumstances have brought
sickness upon them. It is greater to
supply the requisites of life which
VII prevent sickness. Lowered Wit
thy and improper nourishment gives
disease It's opportunity.
In the realm Of character and
spiritual life the same principle may
be observed. Give . man strong and
wholesome moral and spiritual food.
both in teaching and IN personal -
sociation, and the character 4 not
sasily fatigued in duty and not cas-
~ overcome in temptation. The
gospel Of Christ is not only reme-
dial medicine for the sin-strieken
souls; b in larger sense the means
naintainirg moral and spiritual
health. It il the true Christian that
- the appetite and feels the need
81 the Savior, daily. He wants to be
kept Immune from sin. The sinner
loves his life and seldom desires to
quit It until his conscience begins to
peotest or until he % caught and Is
4ssling the pain Of punishment chat
IN inflicts.
Il u worthy Of notice that il
feeding the five thousand. the same
6ood Va given to III. There we're
Dirssent men and, women and child=
Een, following several WSilES Of HE:
IT the simple fare was acceptable
. oil. There are few necessities Of