Frederick citizen., 1895-01-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for January go
1895-Christ the Bread of Life-Johr

Especially Arranged from PelouDetS S Notes.
GOLDEN TExT.-He gave them bread from
Heaven to eat.-John 6:3l.
THE SECTION includes o review Of the last
lesson. and therefore the whole OF John G.
TIME-,A Sabbath early in April a. D. 90, the
day after our last lesson That 1t was their
Sabbath IA shown from the fact that the latter
part OF tho discourse was given In the syna-
gogue (v. 59).
PLACE-.Cape on the northwest shore
Of the lake OF Gailee, now Tell Hum.
CONNECTING LINKS.
The First Effect of the miracle Of
the loaves was to produce such conf
dence in Jesus power that the people
sought to make him their king by
force, imagining, perhaps. that He was
too retiring Here was just the leader
they needed, who could at word sup
ply all the needs of an army, and had
all Divine power at His command. With
II i'm for Il leader, taking advantage of
the discomfort, the whole people would
rise up, overthrow lcrod, go to
Jerusalem, make it their capital, throw
off the Roman yoke, and enter upon
the glorious career God had promishcd
So, often in Gods work, we would
pluck the fruit before it is ripe, and
not wait patiently the Divine processes
The Night of Prayer John G:15; Matt,
14:23-25) When Jesus had fed the null
titudes, as in our last lesson, He sent
them away to their homes, constrained
the disciples to set out for Bethsaida in
their boat, and then, retiring to the
mountain retreats, He spent the night
in prayer. The reasons probably were
~ He needed rest of spirit after TIE
long days of labor in teaching and
working. Communion with God is rest
(2) In all spiritual work there is need of
communion with God. The best part
of prayer is this communion. (3l Jesus
was standing alone against a Niagara
current of misleading influences. The
action of the people to make Him a
king was renewal of one of His great
est tcmptations-to obtain immediate
success by worldly kingdom, instead
of II spiritual kingdom and the saliva,
ton Of men by the slow way of the
cross. And as lie prayed, the faithful
stars in the heavens Shonc out"
The Storm at Sea Tvs. Is, l0).--While
Jesus was praying among the hills,
the disciples were rowing in a north,
east direction toward Bethsaida, where,
apparently, they were to meet Jesus,
take Him ON board, and then proceed to
Capernaum, their home. On the way they
were overtaken by one of the sudden,
violent storms from the north so con-
mon on the Sea of Galllee. The danger
was great, and the tempest drove them
away from their harbor. The reason
for this experience probably was to
train them in faith, hope and courage.
For soon they were to sail on the
worlds stormier sea, with Him far
above, seeing but unseen. ale will
not have them to be clinging only to
the sense of His bodily presence-as
ivy. needing always an outward sup.
port-but as hardy forest trees which
can brave Il blast; and this time He
puts them forth into the danger alone,
even as some loving mother bird thrusts
her fledglings from the nest, that they
may find their own wings and learn to
use them. french.
1t is l. BE Not Afraid tvs 10, 20J.-In
the fourth watch. between three and
Six o'clock Matt. l4:25), when they
had gone two or three miles ". lyl,
Jesus appeared to them, walking on
the boisterous waters But before this,
rs Mark (6:4s) tells us, Jesus was
watching them. To themselves they
seemed alone, hut Ills eye was upon
them from his mountain top. His
heart was with them. They were con
tinually within His love and protection.
At first the disciples were afraid, but
Jesus calmed their fears-'l}e of good
cheer; it is /; be not afraid" and soon
they were in the desired haven. Their
faith was strengthened by knowing
that Jesus was Lord of the sea, and
land, and all the forces of nature.
Here is type of the Christian and of
the church amid the storms of sorrow
and temptation. doubts, and perpleXi
ties and cares. Ours is a ship on a
voyage. not u ship in harbor, so that
the storms blow over us. 1t is not the
absence of danger, but the presence Of
Christ which treasures -McDon-
aid. The church is safe in the world
so long as the world is not in the
church. The church with the Divine
Saviour. the Christ, in it is always safe,
Peter experience. recorded in Mat
thew (li:28-3D, should not be omitted
As Jesus drew near the boat, walking
on the water, Peter desired to try the
experiment himself, by the aid OF
Christ's power. lie stepped out upon
the sea, and the water bore him up
But, looking at the boisterous waves
instead of nj Jesus, his faith failed him,
and he began to sink. Jesus took him
by the hand and brought him into the
boat. Self-confidence led to failure
But faith in Jesus, who put forth His
hand, brought him safety.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Jesus taught those who came from
the lowest motives. We are not re.
sponsible for the motives with which
people come to our teaching. but we
are responsible for what we do to help
them.
V. 81. The true aim and purpose Of
life is that which is spiritual and eter.
nal, belonging to the character and the
soul rather than the body.
The soul needs food as really as the
body.
The food of the soul Is that which
gives 1t fresh life, which enlarges its
being, strengthens its faculties, de.
velops it's moral character, satisfies Its
longings and aspirations.
V. 20. The first duty God requires Is
to receive from Jesus the new heart,
which Is the source Of all true moral
action.