31   And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
      32   And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart.
      33   And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them.
      34   And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
      35   And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, The place is desert, and the day is now far spent;
      36   send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.
      37   But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings' worth of bread, and give them to eat?
      38   And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
      39   And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass.
      40   And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
      41   And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verses 31, 32. Why did the Lord want to go into the desert? How did they go? Did thy ever get that rest?

Verse 33. How did the multitude find out? How did they go to the same place? Who got there first?

Verse 34. Did Jesus fret or complain when He saw them? What did He do? (Comp. Luke 9:11; Matt. 14:14).

Verses 35, 36. What was the disciples' advice?

Verse 37. What astonishing request did Jesus make of them? What did they answer? Why did Jesus say that to them? (John 6:6).

Verse 38. What was the Lord's first question? How much did they have? What did He order? (Matt. 14:18).

Verses 39, 40. How did He arrange them? Is it right to employ system and method in doing things?

Verse 41. What did He do with the loaves and fishes? Did He give them back to the disciples? For what?

Verses 42-44. How much did each one get? Why were the broken pieces [92] taken up? How much was there of them? How many were thus fed?

      42   And they all ate, and were filled.
      43   And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the fishes.
      44   And they that ate the loaves were five thousand men.

NOTES AND TEACHING POINTS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LESSON.

      This lesson which is a parable as well as a great miracle is recorded in all four of the gospels. SUrely, then the Lord intended us to get the spiritual significance underlying the simple facts of the story.

THE TASK CONFRONTING THE DISCIPLES.

      The disciples were confronted with a task wholly beyond their ability. To furnish just a little to that vast throng would have required hundreds of dollars worth of bread, not even to mention the difficulty of obtaining and transporting it. Yet the Lord said, "Give ye them to eat." Of course the disciples protested, but the Lord showed them the way. Three steps were taken which can well be followed in all such perplexities. First, he required the resources, five loaves and two fishes in the case, to be brought to him. Second, he blessed and broke and gave back to his disciples, and third the disciples distributed to the multitudes, and lo, as they distributed, the loaves and fishes were multiplied and they ate and were all filled, and twelve basketfuls of broken pieces and also of the fishes remained to be gathered up.

THE TASK CONFRONTING US.

      We, too, are confronted by an impossible task. In the hungry multitudes we see a world spiritually destitute and starving. We are under orders to feed these dying multitudes the bread of life. (Matt. 28:18-20). Well may we, too, protest, that our task is superhuman, but it can be done if we follow the three steps the Lord Jesus laid down for his apostles in literally feeding the hungry cost five thousand. We, too, must first bring to the Lord all we have, our ability and talent, be it much or little, and surrender it into his hands. Then he will bless it and consecrate and hand it back to us, and as we distribute it, it will increase and fill hungry souls just as surely as the loaves and fishes satisfied the hungry folk on that memorable occasion.

THE UNCHANGING PRINCIPLE OF GOD.

      The Lord works today just as he did then. Had he chosen to do so, he could have rained bread from heaven, or turned the hillside into bread. But somehow God always chose to do things through men. Perhaps we can't see the reason for this, but that is just God's way. To his apostles and his church he committed the task of bearing testimony and bringing salvation to others, and as they do it, their own knowledge and faith increases and the very means for going God's work increases under their hands. Mark 4:24, 25; 2 Cor. 9:6-11.

INCIDENTAL LESSONS.

      We cannot fail to notice the tender concern of the Lord Jesus for his disciples that they come apart and rest awhile. The fact that they were deprived of this rest because of his compassion on the hungry multitude does not detract from the fact that the Lord intended that sometimes his servants should have a needed rest. [93]

      While it is the main business of the church to preach the word, it is always in good order to do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

      Some of us might do well to notice that the Lord of bountiful resources was unwilling that good food should be wasted.

      Finally let us learn from this lesson that we need not be fearful for our own living, or disheartened because of the vastness of the task seen in humanity's extreme need; but let us turn ourselves and our resources over to the Lord Jesus, and through Him we shall have power to meet all needs.

      For Class Questions use the questions printed alongside of the Lesson Text. [94]

Source: Second Lord's Day Lesson of March. Lesson 11. March 11, 1928. Jesus Feeds the Multitude (Mark