Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-16

The disciples had just returned
from their mission on which thelf
Master had sent them, and had been
so successful in arrestinS the at
tention of the people, that news had
reached the palace itself: Wheh
Herod heard of the wonderful Things
that were being done. he was alarm
ed There was but one explanation
to him, for his conscience was max
ing a coward of hint must be
that John Baptist, whom ne had be-
headed, was raised from the dead
drunken revel,. and it had never
ceased to trouble him.
While the disciples were on their
successful mission. Jesus had gone
week, He could do no mighty works
Driven thus from His home by the
unbelief of His fellowtownsmen,
and brought into dangerous promi-
nence by the SUCCESS of His disci-
them into a desert place and rest
awhile, and for prudential reasons
to withdraw from the territory, OF
Herod. who might try to use violent
mistaken idea as to His Identity:
Thus He is rejected further, and
has to leave the country of His boy
hood and active ministry
But there is to be no rest for. the
Son of man. While He and His dis
shore of the lake where the country
is not so thickly populated, the null
titudes are going by land around the
northern end of the lake and reach
ing their almost as soon as He does:
1t was just before the passover, and
vast numbers of people were on
their way to the feast: therefore an
immense crowd had gathered on the
hillside near Bethsaida Julias. When
He heard they were there He came
and moved with compassion for
them, healed all that were sick.
$4,000 Fed
The event which now occurred is
the only one of the miracles record
ed by all four evangelists; the rea-
Each gives some detail not given by
the other so we shall use them all
in our study of it. Early in the
afternoon Jesus asked Philip where
great multitude. which was found
to consist of 5000 men beside, wom-
EN- and children, which brought the
total to at least 5000. Jesus knew
what what, He was going gg,t to do, w put He He
had first St met Jesus, Philip had told
Nathaniel that he had found the
one of whom Moses and the prophets
had spoken-a prophet like unto
Moses (Deut. 1919. and one who
prophet; Moses had provided man
ma for the peoples needs. He want
ed to see whether Philip really be-
lieved what he had told Nathaniel,
whether he believed He could do
v What Moses had d. done 2ae+ But Philip
dull witted fellow, slow of compre-
hension. Moses gave the people
mama, bread from heaven, reveal
ing the Fathers, providing care.
Their, but Philip hadn't seen Him yet.
So Philip goes off and talks it over
with the. other disciples, and they
are in just as bad a fix They cal
culated the amount necessary to feed
the crowd; they, are quite sure there
villages; and besides, they haven't
enough money in their possession to
buy the quantity if it was to be
had. So later on in the afternoon
they came to Jesus and ask Him to
send the, crowds away that they may
go and buy bread for themselves.
His reply is: Eye have no need to
send them away. Give we them to
eat; The Incomes out the result of
their conference. 49,
full, conservative and resourceful,
has been thinking the matter over
He has found a lad with a lunch
five Uneeda biscuits and two sardines.
Not much for one boy, thinks An
drew; maybe Jesus can do some
thing with it, however; so he ventures
to suggest it, but expresses his doubt
that it can amount to anything.
Jesus instructed the disciples to
seat the multitudes in companies of
one hundred and of fifty each on the
grassy slope of the hillside. 1t must
have taken "nerve'-that's the mod
ern way Of spelling "faith"-to have
the crowd sit down that way. Then
Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven
and gave thanks-no, He did not ask
for anything; just gave thanks for
what he had in hand, and blessed it.
Then He distributed to the disciples
and they to the multitude. AS each
took what he needed and passed it
on. each found an abundance. When
all We're filled. at Jesus instruction.