The Green Forest tribune., 1917-03-02
INTERNATIONAL, SUNnAS0lOOL
 LESSON (By D. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of Sunday School Course of Moody Bible Institute)
 Copyright, 1917 Western Newspaper Union.l
LESSON FOR MARCH 4
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND.

l4EOSON 1EAI-JOnn b.l-li
 GOLDEN TEXT-Give us this day our daily bread.-Matt Gill
 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. 11:1) 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 fiocked to this retreat in the desert. They followed that they might listen to his gracious words, and perhaps behold some new wonder (v. ?. Carlisle said lie saw in England forty millions, mostly fools" Jesus saw the multitude, and was moved, not with sarcasm, but with compassion which took tangible form of service. Mark tells us G i34) that Jesus was first of all teaching the mul- 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. It 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 Rethsaida near by, yet to feed this multitude was to him too great a task, even with his knowledge of the resources (vv. 5,6). We should not be surprised at Philips slowness of faith. Moses in like manner was once nonplussed as to how to feed the multitude in the wilder ness. (Num. Il :2f-23). It is not so much how great the need nor how lit tie we possess; rather,s is that little given over to God2 Andrew, who had revealed Jesus unto Peter, discovers as though in desperation a boy whose mother had thOughtfully provided him with lunch, consisting of five barley biscuits and two small herring (v. 9); at least that much remained. This IS a 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. It seems as though Jesus emphasizes the helplessness of the disciples in order that he may show his power. His com mand Give ye them" (Mk. 6:3O 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 multitude. The secret of success was when he took up the loaves, and, Hooking 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 uSCANlCo olllS' lhC lCouIl Ol llllo tematic procedure was that they were all satisfied, filled" (v 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 stinging 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 6:4S), 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 perpleXity 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 loayes 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 distribution 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 con- panies of men can control the fruits of the earth, and withhold them from the consumer for their own profit. Is there not a parable in this for the church in that it is so much concerned with it's own joys, pleasures and profits that it is withholding from the mass of mankind especially in the foreign field, the bread which alone can bring life and Immortality to light? The words of the late Dr. Maltbie Babcock are appropriate in this connection: Back of the loaf is the snowy flour, and back of the flour the mill, and back of the mill is the wheat and the shower, and the sun and the Fathers will"
 Summary: CD 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.
 CD If we bring no gift, how can God bless man? Compare this boys serv- ice with the service of the little maid in Naaman's household,