The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-03-01
LESSON FOR MARCH 4
JESUS FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND.


II Is such an Important miracle as to
be the only one recorded In all four
gospels. De sure TO use n good har-
mony. The returning twelve Matt.
HID are taken by their master to a
desert place that they might find rest
(Mk. O :3l) and that he might comfort
their hearts over the death Of John the
Baptist (Matt. 14:i-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 ". ~. 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 % :34) that
Jesus was first OF all teaching the null
titude, II Ii better to teach man how
to help himself than to help the man.
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). II Is not so
much how great the need nor how lit
tie we possess; rather. is that little
given over TO God1 Andrew, who had
revealed Jesus unto Peter. discovers as
though In desperation a boy whose
mother had thoughtfully provided him
with a lunch, consisting Of five barley
biscuits and two small herring ". % I;
mt least that much remained. This n
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 h proverbial. II
seems as though Jesus emphasizes the
helplessness OF the disciples In order
that he may show his power. His COM
mand "Give ye them" INK. $50
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 II to the supplying OF the
needs Of multitude. The secret OF
success was when he took up the
Ioaves, and. looking up" God also saw
that day and blessed 1t. 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" elk. 9:1O. 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 we're each probably
large enough In which to sleep. This
conservation process was n stinginl
rebuke to the improvident oriental'
and to present-day prodigals Of thai
wonderful bounty with which God hal
blessed our land. God gives to US tina
we may use for other. Joy dies unless
1t Is shared. Jesus Is the living breat
(John Q :4S), and will satisfy hunger
and life even AS bread generates IL
the human body heat, vitality AM
power; so he would still feed thu
hungry soul OF mankind. We have a
hand the word, and II Is for lack Of 4
that men die In the deepest. trues
sense Of that word. The poverty an'
perplexity of the disciples In his pres
ence and In the presence Of this grea
need are being repeatd over and owe
today, and yet 1t Is absurd We hav'
not enough to feed the multitude. Gu
few loaves of amusements, mental nc
tiyities and social service will not fee,
them, but when We break unto then
the Living Bread. they have enough
and to spare. The difficulty with tn
distribution Of material bread for tn
needs OF mankind is not that there 4
not enough grain. but rather that II
the process Of distribution certain com
panies Of men can control the fruits o
the earth, and withhold them from tn
consumer for their own profit. Is Their
not parable In this for the church Il
that IL Is so much concerned with II
own Joys. pleasures and profits tina
Il Is Withholding from the mass o
mankind. especially In the foreign field
the bread which alone can bring III
|, and Immortality to lightf
Summary: (D 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.
ca II we bring no gift. how can Co
bless mani Compare this boys sery
ice with the service OF the little mai
In Naaman's household.
(8) Conservation Of the fragments
using well or wasting the fragments o
time. OF opportunity, etc. makes al
the difference between success and fail
ure.