Middletown transcript., 1920-12-23
i i LESSON !! FOR q / DECEMBER rs
JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE

l = p = II
LESSON TExT-Maft. s4a$-ss.
|. GOLDEN. TEXT-They need not depart
yive ye them to eat.-Matt. N:1k
ADDITIONAL MATERLAI-Matt. 1s:s1
q; Mark 6:a214: Luke 9:10-l7; John s:1-1s
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus- Feeds Man!
Hungry People
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus Feeding the F1v'
thousand.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Helping to Feed tho Hungry.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Ministry OF Jesus to the Multitude
Since we took the birth Of Jesus
.or our Christmas lesson last Sunday
.et us now study the alternate lesson
:or last Sunday instead of the review.
Il. Jesus Healing the Multitude Wv,
l3, 14).
!. Jesus retired to the desert ".
iS). The news Of the cruel death Of
John the Baptist brought grief to the
Masters heart, and He withdrew to
place of quietness to commune with
he Father. The very best thing for
Is to do in time Of sorrow is to flee
nto the presence of God. Jesus &C
:epted Johns death as typical Of what
they would do to Him. 81 :.
2. Followed by the people (v. 49,.
He could not be hid. Their interest
n Him was SO great that they fol-
owed him on foot. Where Jesus
really is the multitude will gather.
8. Jesus healing the sick ". 49,.
Although the rulers had broken with
Him, He did not abandon His work
but continued to preach and to werk
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 shep-
herd moved Him to pity.
u. Jesus Feeding the Hungry MuI-
titude wv. .15-2D.
According to the connection in John
CELIA the real purpose Of this mir
acle was to show himself as the Bread
Of Eternal Life sent down from
heaven.
1. Jesus conference with the dis
ciples wv. 1919. (1) The dis.
ciples' request ". 15). They asked
that the multitude be sent away.
They knew that they were in
desert place, therefore prudence would
indicate that they would 60 to the
village to buy victuals, (2) Jesus
command ". 16). "Give ye them to
eat" Such a command would have
been utter fO0lishneSs had He not pos
sessed the power to create the supply;
but always with the command of
Jesus goes the power to do. (3) The
disciples perplexity ". 17.) They
said 1--WE have but five loaves and two
fshes." 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; (b) to drive us to Him for
His help in our need; (c) to lead US
to give the glory to Him for results.
2. Jesus method in feeding the
multitude wv. 1929 (1) 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 crc-
alton Of the supply nor its distribu-
tion, but they were responsible for
obedience. (3) The disciples part.
This was to take that which the Mas
ter had blessed and distribute it. We
are laborers together with God. God
has made us partners in the salvation |
Of the world.
III. Jesus Alone in the Mountains
(vv. %, 23).
/. He induced the disciples to get |
into the ship ". 22). The reason for
this whs 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 to feed
The hungry multitude they desired to
have such man mede king.
3. Praying al0ne ". 2S). He doubt
less was praying for the disciples. He
1new what trials they would have to
undergo. Having been induced by
Him to enter the ship and being over
AIKEN by the storm, they were doubt
ess tempted to think that mistake
lad been made; but We should learn
hat the way which the Lord would
,ave us 60 is not always without Its
storms. In fact, the storm is pretty
rood indication that it is the Lords
way. II
Doubtless He also went apart to
commune with the Father in order to
,ain relief and strength for Himself,
since the multitude were
low ready to make Him king. 1t was
10 doubt real temptation to Him.
One Learns to Lean. l.
It came to me on one Of the Christ.
mas holy days (not holidays), for the
pain will not give me onc;
nd who can be merry and sing songs
vhen the muscles ache and the nerves
uiver? But one may have holy days
ven then, and perhaps holier ones
hn~ vr,hnv, HoolkI t. sx3r<1Sc~ <h@ |