The citizen., 1918-03-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson l2.-first Quarter, March
~, 1918.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Lesson Text, Mark 6:32-44-memory
Verse, Mark 6:50-Golden Text
Matt. 2o;2s-commentary Prepared
by Rev D. NJ. Stearns.

all that they had done and taught, our
Lord said that they should come away
from the crowd and rest awhile. for so
many were coming and going they had
no leisure even 10 eat (vss. 3O32). To
those who long for rest he snys. II
know thy works" and he also ,nys.
Come unto me and | will xiv, you
rest (Rev. 2:2; Matt. IL :2S). Con
trnst those who some day will have
such glorious rest and those who will
never rest day nor night (Rev. 14:11.
13). II may be his will for some that
they continue at work until absent
from the body or caught up to meet
him In the air.
The two parts OF todays lesson, feed.
Ing the multitudes and toillng In the
night storm. simply and wonderfully
set forth our present occupation as his
followers. and present conditions TIL
he come. The feeding OF the five thou.
sand Is the only miracle recorded In
each OF the four gospels, the night
storm II found In all but Luke. When
the multltudes saw them departing
across the sea, they ran afoot and out.
went them. and came together unto
him. When he saw the multitudes he
was moved with compassion for these
shepherdless sheep and began TO teach
them many things (vss. 80. 34). II was
nearly passover time and Jesus had
gone up into mountain with his dis
ciples. but the multltudes followed him
Because they saw his miracles on them
that were diseased 80 he healed their
sick as well as taught them (John O Il.
4; Matt. l4:l4). In Luke Oil Il Is
written that he spake unto them of the
Kingdom Of God aud healed them that
had need Of healing. Always note the
association OF his healing with his
teaching concerning the Kingdom
(Matt. i:23). As the day wore away,
and the evening came, the disciples be-
came a little concerned about the mul-
utudes having nothing to eat. and so
they asked the Lord to send them away
into the villages 10 buy bread (vss. 80.
36l. How great must have been their
surprise when he said: ''rhey need
not depart. give ye them TO cat" Tvs.
81; Matt. 1870.
Here we need 10 notice John ESQ.
and the suggestion OF Philip and An
drew; the one saying how each one
might have little If and the other
apologizing for speaking Of lad who
had five barley loaves and two small
fishes. The Lords suggestion. or rath-
er command, was simply an impossible
ity. as they saw II. How they fniled In
their knowledge of him. and seemed
not To recognize I'm him the one who
had fed all Israel for forty years with
bread from heaven. DO we know him
any better nowT Commanding them TO
bring to him the boys loaves and
fishes. and make the multitudes sit
down by hundreds and fiftles upon the
green grass, for there was much grass
in the place, he took the lOaves and
fishes and. looking up 10 heaven. he
gave thanks and blessed them. and
gave them 10 the disciples. and through
them 10 the multitude. They did all
eat and were filled. and twelve baskets
full OF fragments OF the loaves and
fishes were gathered, for he had said.
"Gather VI the fragments that remain
that nothing be lost" Thus 5000 men.
besides women and children, were
abundantly fed (vss. 4l-4i and the
other gospels).
Mutltudes are perishing today for
lack of the Bread of Life the Living
Bread from Heaven, and he Is saying
10 all who have IL. Give ye them to
eat" More than half OF the people on
earth have never yet had a taste of the
Bread Of Life. while those who have
tasted and hungered for more are too
often given stones Instead Of bread.
He is saying Eat ye that which IL
good and let your soul delight itself in
fatness." Eat, o friends; drink. yea.
drink abundantly o beloved" lisa.
55:2; Song OF Solomon 8 ~ but where
are the disciples who are ready 10 re-
celve the bread at his hands and pass
Il on 20 the hungryl He received from
his Father all that he passed on to
others, as he said, II have given unto
them the words which thou gavest me"
(John II :s; 12:49. 50). Only that
which we receive from him Is worth
passing ON, for all else Is naught but
the thoughts and opinions OF men. His
cry still is, "Whom shall | send, and
who will 20 for us?" There is no use
saying "Here am !, send me" lisa. 6.S)
unless we are willing as his sent ones
TO carry only his message (Ex. 4:l2;
Jer. 10; Iag. :i3).
He sent the multltudes away In
peace. but constrained his disciples,
who were evidently unwilling TO leave
him, TO return by boat TO the other
side, TO Bethsaida. while he departed
into mountain alone 10 pray (yss. As.
46). The wind was against them. and
evidently "A strong wind. for they were
tossed with the waves and were toiling
hard at the oars, and this continued
TIL near morning, the fourth watch.
when he came TO them, walking on the
sea (yss. 47.4S). lie saw II all, but did
not come to them till the morning.
How suggestive II all is OF his true dis
ciples now. lie Is at the right hand OF
the Father making intercession for Us.
aud We are In the worlds night coar
tending with winds and waves.