Iesus Feedeth One Thousand with Five Melons.
1. AND it came to pass as Iesus had been teaching the multitudes, and they were hungry and faint by reason of the heat of the day, that there passed by that way a woman on a camel laden with melons and other fruits.
2. And Iesus lifted up his voice and cried,
O ye that thirst, seek ye the living water which cometh from Heaven, for this is the water of life, which whoso drinketh thirsteth not again.
3. And he took of the fruit, five melons and divided them among the people, and they eat, and their thirst was quenched, and he said unto them,
If God maketh the sun to shine, and the water to fill out these fruits of the earth, shall not the Same be the Sun of your souls, and fill you with the Water (of Life)?
4. Seek ye the truth and let your souls be satisfied. The Truth (of God) is that water which cometh from Heaven (without money and without price) and they who drink shall be satisfied.
And those whom he fed were one thousand men, women and children—and none of them went home a hungered or athirst; and many that had fever were healed.
5. At that time Iesus went on the Sabbath day through the cornfields, and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
6. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him,
Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.
7. And he said unto them,
Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungered and they that were with him; how he entered into the House (of God) and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
8. Or have yet not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the Temple do work on the Sabbath and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is One greater than the Temple.
9. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son (of man) is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Heals the Withered Hand On The Sabbath Day.
10. AND when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue. And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying,
is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?
That they might accuse him.
11. And he said unto them,
What man shall there be among you that shall have but one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? And if ye give help to a sheep, shall ye not also to a man that needeth?
12. Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day.
Then saith he to the man,
Stretch forth thine hand.
And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole [like as] the other.
13. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Iesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed their sick and infirm, and charged them that they should not make it known.
14. So it was fulfilled (which was spoken by Esaias the prophet) saying,
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my spirit upon him and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
15. He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust.[1]
LECTION 48. l-3. -The feeding of one thousand with five melons is another instance of the love of Iesus to the hungry and thirsty thousand who came to his ministry. He first feeds the body, then instructs the soul. Too often it is the reverse of this among his followers. Hence, "The lack of love causeth many to wax cold."
Read: Isaiah 42:1-4