, 1886-06-06

LESSON EXPLANATIONS.
BY REV. JOHN HALL. DID, LID, NEW
YORK.
Teachers will see at a glance that the main
element of the Lesson are in VS.. 27-40. and
that verses 2!-27 are simply selected 10 make
clear the connection between the forms of
cur Lords speech and the mirac Q that had
gone before, AMI qlickened their interest.
lie miracle made a deep Impress on
on the Poop c, the multitude, n mixed
crowd, incluiilg probably many Gentlles
Will. the Jews" are addressed from verse
Al, the words of our lesson are mainly to this
multitude" Tney remain durin the storm
on the eastern side OF the sea or lake, and in
the morning they look out for Jesus. But
he is not there. There is no boat there bu,
one, and that n little boat 1t cou'd not
hav, come back for Jesus, and he was not seen
to leave with the twelve So they thought
he must be on their side still, the disc pies
on the other. Boats meantime coming in
from TIb ,rias reported that Jesus was not
there. Concluding that as He was not on
Their side nor at Tiberias, He must BE- at
Capernaum they took little boats and came
TO Capernaum, seeking Jesus" That is the
point emphasized. II The motives be but
pure, what n blessed thing it is to have a
crowd seeking Jesusl' When they found
HIM they. from natural curiosity, asked
WHOM ii, came. He did not leave with the
TIVE We. When had He crosse II The
storm of the night ma lie the wonder the
greater, no doubt. OF the real facts they
did not dream. Notice that cur Lord at
taches no weight to mere curiosity. PeoI le
who are hearing from ''mere curiosity"
rircly receive much benefit. He goes to the
rot of the matter, and his language needs a
lit c c%xplanat on in the ght of verses . and
II. They Wee indsel impressed with the
proofs OF his being the promised prophet;
but they rested in the spectacle. They
should have said, we know he is the prom
ISL prophet; now let u, hear him and do as
nc directs They iii not see the prac-
trial us, Of tho 'sigls' We do not take
HIM as chIrging them with mere eager
II IS for more fool, though tn S is commonly
impi'd and hence the proverbial ''loaves
and fishes. bu- with resting in the outward
part of til, matter, instead of looking TO the
inward and spiritual lesson the miracle was
meant To teach. YES, you own me as u
prophet, and you like to share in these scenes,
but YOU should consider what they show:
that receiving my teaching is the way of
life The "Inultituden has its success ors,
who say, what a remarkable mani AMI a
fine congregation 1t is n pleasure to DO
there" and forget that they are to be there
to hear Gods word and be saved. To be
satisfied or filled with interest or any
thing short of salvation is folly and sn.
This striking word of the Master would
not be ineligible but for the report OF
verses 22-25
We may condenss the substance of tie
lesson, and at the same time leave nothing
unexp aimed, if we raise these four ques-
tions: Who is the "bre I'D of lif.l' How
does he become sol l. this bread sufficient
How is it to~bc hadl
l. THE BREAD OF LIFE.
Jesus the Son of man., ~ gives that brea,l;
Jesus is that bread. Tn re Is no contradic-
ton between these two statements, for he
gives himself. He Is the meat that en-
dureth unto life everlastin - /. e., they who
Tcce We or believe him have eternal life.
Such shall not be lost, hut sa ved-''have ever
la ting lifsn-anl their be lies raised up again
at tine last day by Jesus He is the true bread
from heaven. There is a famous picture Of
the Yosemite valley; but if one stood on the
heights over it. his curiosity reused by the
picture, it might be said to him, There is
the true, the real Yosemite e." The mama
was tn Protective picture; Jesus is the real
ity. Moss was the instrument of giving
III mamma, hut Col gave it, my Father.
And so he does with you; he gives, send 4,
provides me FOR the life OF tbs world
IL HOW DOES HE BECOME II BREAD OF
LIEF
m) God the father gave him. my father
giveth, y { c. lie did it in love; he did it in
RICH .eousness- This is emphaticaly put,
''him hath God the father sealed" l. e.,
solemn y commissioned as his servant AMI
appointed redeemer for men. He does in
deed seal by miracles and other signs Of
his divinity, Tut it is the commission that is
here in view.
(b) He came down from helven,n taking
our nature, becoming one with us, acceI ting
the burden cf our sins, a prophet among
learners, n priest among the guilty
for whom he is to atone, n king among
his subjects. On the earth where sin
ruled, Christ is to conquer it.
lcrHe does the Fathers will. lie magni-
hes the law by enduring death, its Just pen
atty. He takes tie cup HIS Father gives to
be drunk. He receives the baptism of pain
and suffering, the very thought of which
made HIM Ion ior the time when 1t would
be over. Ii God. who is TO settle the whole
matter, is sati,f with what Christ docs Tor
our salvation, who else has any right to
speaki incarnation and oiled .ence unto
death Je US accepted as the way Of our de
liverance. When we receive Him we have
life eternal.
Ill. suFF1cIEScY OF THIS SUPPLY.
Twotoid III Enough Tor each on. He
who feeds on this bread shall never hunger
nor thirst. Ii is enough for all his nature
and all h existence. 1t Is fitted to on r
soul, nature as bread and water to our
bodily. No.hing else can thus satisfy; and
it provides for all our being. Receiving
Christ, we have everlasting life and a pledge
ior even the body: Il will raise him up at
the last day.
fl IL fe ,pa,trb for all ,yko ~, Tl...
is no fear OF famine here. There was enough
and TO spare after the miracle. So here.
He VIII senl none empty away. Every
one that seetu the Son and beiieveth on Him
shall have life everlasting. whatsoever
will may come" No sin is too great Tor the
b God and too many cannot come. Jew and
Gentle, bond and Tree. may come.
~ now A WE oET THIS BREADl
JesLs gives various words, Just as apostles
and rophets do-just as we, when persuad-
ing others to any course, vary our language
so as to get the attention and persuade the
heart 1t would be a mistake to apply his
language 10 the Lords supper. for it mad not
yet been appointed, and many partook OF it
who have not life. He employs such words
u describe the way OF getting this life Ms
believe ''cometh," explained ty bcliev-
eth, and again in verse 81, seeing and be-
iieving, In verse 40.
Tie earnestness which we should feel Is
expressed by 'lal orr in verse q, you have
gone To great pains TO be here. because OF
the miracle We saw, be earnest not be- spec
tators oi a great sign-but partakers OF the
things signified.' Work Jesus said, but
how shnl we work the work OF Godi" OF
which ia y understood him to speak. "Thi
i the work Of God. this is what he wishes
you to do-bclievc on HIM whom II, hath
sent" 1t l. tn one word through all IN I'll
Grsra.
This. then, is II We nave not TO earn
this bread. Il isG Ms gift We havs not to