Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-04
Golden Text: 81 am the bread of,
e."-,DOhn 6:35,

NE. john b 80.
The feeding of the five thousand,
as this miracle is called, marks the
midpoint in the public ministry of
Jesus. Up to this time His popu
larity was ever increasing; from this
time it began to wave until at the
end everyone of His disciples even
had forsaken Him so that He went
to the cross alone. The reason for
it's place was the test He put the
people to after it was over, so that
from that time forth many drew
away from Him. The circumstances
were as follows:
1t was Just before the passover.
Vast crowds Of people were always
on the move at that time, on the
way to Jerusalem to celebrate the
feast. The disciples had just return
ed from their tour upon which He
had sent them, and had had such
great success that news of it reached
Jierod in the palace. SO impressed
was he with what was being accom-
plished that he thought John the
Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had
been restored to life. 1t was his
guilty conscience accusing him, OF
course, but it at least gives some
hint of the marvellous work that had
been done; and also suggests the dan
gerous position of Jesus and His
friends. They were in Herods ter
ritory and at his mercy. SO Jesus
said to His disciples: Come We your
selves apart and rest awhile, ana
leading them, He and they took ship
and crossed over to the Other side
out oe Herods Jurisdiction, and 10
the mountain where they were evil
J I'D 10
But they could not get away from
the crowds The success of their
mission had greatly increased the
popularity of Jesus; and this, added
to the fact that such large numbers
We're on the road now travelling to
Jerusalem, accounts for that num-
Der that followed Him around the
head. of the lake and made the rest
and retreat SO much needed an i'm
possibility. Instead of sending the
multitUdes away, He had compassion
on them because they were as sheep
without a shepherd and so He minis
tered unto them, teaching and heal.
ing, until the day was far spent.
Such a crowd would be poorly pro
vided with food, and in that region
northwest of the Sea Of Gallee there
were no towns large enough to sup
ply such an unusual demand. The
disciples had evidently discussed the
matter among themselves, and had
decided to ask Him to send the null
: titude, away so that they could get
food-no doubt having a selfish mo-
tive back of it, for they really need
ed the rest that they had come to
this place to get; they had not had
leisure SO much as to eat
Jesus knew their thoughts; He also
knew what lie was going to do. But
to test Philip He spoke the question
which was in their min6s-particu-
larly Philip s-"Whenca shall we buy
bread that these may eat?" For He
had already told them, in response
to their suggestion that they be sent
away, that they should give them to
eat.
Philip was one of those keen bust
ness men who hadn't a great amount
Of faith. He had fine qualities; but
he had to get rid of some of those
fine qualities. He made a quick cal
culation, ana replied: ThirtyfiVe
dollars worth of bread wouldn't give
this crowd a taste; and there are two
other difficulties-first, there is not
that much bread near here: and sec
ond, we haven't the thirty-five dol
lars if there were. o Philip, Philip.
a genius when it, comes to business !;
but blind, not to take into account
your greatest asset, Jesusl
Philip seems to have had great
difficulty in getting over this fine
quality of his; FOR even the night be-
ore Jesus was betrayed he had to
say to Him. Have [ been so long
time with you, and yet thou hast not
known me, Philip" He might have
A sol NHnS T hny II 90
where to get enough to feed this
crowd, but [ haven't an idea where
to get enough to feed this crowd, but
l am sure that you can do what is
necessary.
Andrew had been scouting around
He was always on the job. But all
that he had been able to find was a
lad with a lunch. He had five
Uneeda biscuits and a couple of sar
dines-hardly enough for one hungry
boy. Andrew told Jesus of his find !;
then he too seemed to lose faith.
But what are these among so
many?" he added
Now Jesus didn't need this much
! even; He is the Creator of the uni
verse. But He likes for us to sub
NIT all that we have to l1im-our lit
tie all-that He may make it all suf-
IlclenI. $50 lie took the lad S lunch
and babe the disciples have the null
titude sit down on the green grass
in companies of fifty and multiples
Then He lifted up His eyes to heav-
en-, and gave thanks. The very way
in which He gave thanks must have
enSendered more faith in the hearts
of the disciples, for when He brake
and gave to them to give to the
multitude they didn't hesitate, but
started out in the work of dstribu-
/. ton with all the confidence of their
; having enough for all. This was test
of their faith. for otherwise they
might easily have felt that they were
being made fools of.
But as they distributed there was
more to distribute. Everybody had
as much as they could eat; and there
were five thousand men beside the
women and children. a total of not