The citizen., 1920-12-23

LESSON TE<T-Matt h:13-1.
GOLDEN TExT-Tbey need not depart;
give ye them to eat.-Matt lt:i6
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI,-Matt 1872
20; Mark s32-4t: Luke s:l0-i7; John s.i-i2
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Feeds Many
Hungry People
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Feeding the Five
Thousand.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Helping to Feed the Hungry.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Ministry Of Jesus to the Multitude
Since we took the Birth Of Jesus"
for our Christmas lesson last Sunday,
let US now study the alternate lesson
for last Sunday instead Of the review.
.. Jesus Healing the Multitude (vv.
l3. 14).
l. Jesus retired to the desert ".
l3). The news Of the cruel death Of
John the Baptist brought grief to the
Masters heart, and He withdrew to
a place Of quietness to commune with
the Father. The very best thing for
us to do In time Of sorrow Is to fee
into the presence Of God. Jesus ac-
cepted Johns death as typical Of what
they would do to Him.
2. Followed by the people ". 13).
He could not be hid. Their interest
In Him was so great that they fol-
lowed him on foot Where Jesus
really is the multitude will gather.
8. Jesus healing the sick ". l4).
Although the rulers had broken with
Him. He did not abandon His work
but continued to preach and to work
for the good Of those who would hear.
The multitudes broke In upon Him
and disturbed His quiet hour with
God, but the great heart of the King
was moved with compassion as He
beheld the suffering multitudes-sick,
lame, blind and palsied. Though the
people brought their desperate, hope
less cases to Him there was nothing
too hard for Him. The sight of the
multitude as sheep without a shep-
herd moved Him to pity.
%. Jesus Feeding the Hungry MuI-
titude wv. 15-2D.
According to the connection In John
6:1-14 the real purpose Of this mir
acle was to show himself as the Bread
Of Eternal Life sent down from
heaven.
l. Jesus conference with the dis
ciples (vv. 1919. ~ The dis
ciples' request ". 15). They asked
that the multitude be sent away.
They knew hat they were In a
desert place, therefore prudence would
indicate that they would go to the =
village to buy victuals, (2) Jesus
command ". 16). Give ye them to
eat" Such a command would have
been utter foolishness had He not pos
sessed the power to create the supply;
but always with the command OF
Jesus goes the power to do. CD The
disciples perplexity ". ~ They
said "We have but five ioaves and two
fishes" They were counting on their
meager resources leaving Christ out.
To be face to face with the humanity
impossible is threefOld benefit (a) To
make us feel our dependence upon
Christ; o. to drive us to Him for
His help I'm our need; (c) to lead US
to give the glory to Him for results.
2. Jesus method In feeding the
multitude wv. 1929 ~ The
Lords part. He created the pro-
visions. He is able to create that
which will meet the needs Of the
hungry multitude. (2) The peoples
part They were TO sit and eat
They were not responsible for the ere
alton Of the supply nor its distribu-
tiOn, but they were responsible for
obedience. (O The disciples part
This was to take that which the Mas.
ter had blessed and distribute II. We.
are laborers together with God. GOD
has made us partners In the salvation.
of the world.
~. Jesus Alone in the Mountains
Praying (vv. %, 23).
l. He induced the disciples to get
into the ship ". 22). The reason for
this was that He desired to keep them
from being mixed up with the crowd,
for they desired TO force him to be
king
2. Multitudes were dismissed ". 23).
This was to prevent the multitude from
trying TO force Him TO be king. When
they saw His wonderful ability 10 feed
the hungry multitude they desired to
have such a man made king.
3. Praying alone ". 23). He doubt
less was praying for the disciples. He
knew what trials they would have to
undergo. Having been induced by
Him 20 enter the ship and being over
taken by the storm, they were doubt
less tempted to think that a mistake
had been made; but We should learn
that the way which the Lord would
have us 20 is not always without Its
storms.