Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-03-02
LESSON FOR MARCH 4
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND


This parable marks the high level
of the year of our Lords popularity.
1t 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.
u:D are taken by their master to a
desert place that they might find rest
(Mk. 6 :31) and that he might comfort
their hearts over the death Of John the
Baptist (Matt. IA :1-12). The multi
tude would not grant them the right
use of their leisure, but f1ocked to this
retreat in the desert. They followed
that they might listen to his gracious
words, and perhaps behold some new
wonder ". p. 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 tangible form
of service. Mark tells us (6:34) that
Jesus was first of all teaching the null
titude. 1t is better to teach 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 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 wv. $50.
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. IL :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 a boy whose
mother had thoughtfully provided him
with lunch, consisting of five barley
biscuits and two small herring ". 81;
at least that much remained. This is
great commentary upon the tide Of
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'' (Mk. $50
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, looking 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" ". 12). Luke
adds that "all did eat' (Lk. 8 I'D. 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
laYiShneSS 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 6:48), and will satisfy hunger
and life even as bread generates in
the human body heat, vitality anG
power; so he would still feed the
| hungry soul of mankind. We have al
hand the word, and it is for lack of il
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 ovel
today, and yet it is absurd. We have
| lot enough to feed the multitude. Oul
| few lOaves Of amusements, mental ac
tivities and social service will not feeC
them, but when we break unto then
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 il
not enough grain, but rather that il
the process of distribution certain com
panies of men can control the fruits O.
consumer for their own profit. Is there
not parable in this for the church il
that it is so much concerned with it.
own joys, pleasures and profits tina
it is Withholding from the mass O
mankind, especially in the foreign field
the bread which alone can bring lif,
and Immortality to light? The word
of the late DR.. Maltbie Babcock ar
appropriate in this connection: "Bacl
of the loaf is the snowy flour, and bacl
Of the flour the mill, and back of tn
mill is the wheat and the shower, an,
the sun and the Fathers will"
Summary: Q) The hope of tn
worlds salvation is in the wonderful
power of God in multiplying the littl
we give to him in the way of service.
(2) If we bring no gift, how can Co
bless man? Compare this boys sery
ice with the service of the little mai
in Naaman's household.
(3) Conservation of the fragments
using well or wasting the fragments O
time, of opportunity, ETC., makes a
the difference between success and fai
ure.
(4) Let nothing be lost. The refus
of petroleum is today worth more tha
the oil product.
(5) The hungering multitude, nee(
ing eternal life; to have their soul
nourished and strengthened; and dyin
for the want of the Bread of Life.
(6) "Give ye them to eat" Out {
their penury after Pentecost the di
cipleS could give the world IFS nee,