THE KING’ S BUSINESS
252
brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 . And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 . And they took up twelve bas kets full o f the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 . And they that did eat o f the loaves were about five thousand men. Hunter. lels it in these four points we shall have a good time, even though it be interrupted as this was, but not otherwise. 3 . The Eager Multitude, 33 . The plan to-slip away quietly failed. The people saw the little company go aboard, and quickly noting the boat was heading for the neigh borhood o,f Bethsaida Julias, near where the Jordan runs into the Sea o f Galilee, ran around by the road, some even out-distanc ing the little boat. A, six or seven mile race showed either intense curiosity or real interest. Not all who rup to the popular evangelist are anxious about spiritual things, and Still it is true that some— “who came to scoff remained to pray.” 4 . The Compassionate Saviour, 34 . The sight o f the crowd, some o f them sick (Luke 9:11) touched His great, loving heart, and made, it overflow with compas sion, He had already given up so much for them (Phil. 2:5-8), He could easily give up His rest for them. Perhaps the news 1 o f John’s death had been one o f the reasons for His desiring to be alone for a little while, but even that most cherished privilege o f mourning a loved one’s loss was* surrendered to meet the needs o f the living. From Luke we learn He “welcomed” them—not merely put up with them. Their need and helplessness touched Him. They needed something, but knew neither exactly what it was nor how to get it. Is the same not true today? He loved, and loves, the people, and any man who is Christ’s
many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39 . And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green, grass. 40 '. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 . And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and I. The Interrupted Vacation; 30-35. 1 . The Return of the Apostles, 30 . From verses 7-13 we learn that Jesus had sent the twelve on a preaching tour, empower ing them to heal the sick and to cast out demons. At the time John’s disciples came to Jesus with the ne^vs o f his death, the twelve returned to Him (probably to Caper naum) ; to report the results o f their mis sion. They told Him all they had done and all they had taught, having nothing to conceal. You and I must stand before Him one day, too, and report our doings. (Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). Are we prepared? 2 . The Loving Inviidtion, 3 1 , 32 . How thoughtful the Lord Jesus is for His peo ple. Underneath the eager recital o f their, triumphs He saw the tiredness o f His faith ful workers. The curious visitors, rude and selfish, gave no opportunity for quiet iftter- course, no not even a chance to get some thing to eat. So the Master invited His men to take a trip across the lake with Him and a bit o f a rest on the other side. Jesus is no hard task-master, no slave driver. He wants us to work, whole-heart edly, enthusiastically, energetically, hon estly;.but H e wants us to rest, too. “ God doth not, ask o f us such busy labor, As leaves no time for resting at His feet.’’ This proposed vacation had been hon estly earned, was really needed, yvas at the Lord’s command, and was to be spent with Him. If our vacation this summer paral-
LESSON EXPOSITION
By J. H.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs