The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-07
THE SUNDAY-ScH0OL LESSON.
Jesus the Bread of Life. John
vi, 2222-4O.D

Prepared for The Republic Iv ;.- Reverend :. r.
Gilbert II. T.. Secretary II American Society
q. Religious Education.
| CONTENT-Ol taking ship ut the corn
m1nd Of Jesus the disciples intended to
turn to Eeth-aida CIarll II. 45g. Il small
community north Of Capcrnaum. lying on
the northwest coast of the Sea Of C;alilec.
! The storm may have changed their course
| or the Master may have given another di-
Tccti0n TO the little vessel. They landed
on the beach Of Gernesa-5t. some distance
south OF their proposed destination. n plain
Of rare beauty and fertility. Jesus was
Immediately recognized by the people. who
spread abroad through all that region intel
liEence Of his presence MARK vi. ~. So. ana
the sick We're brought To him to he healed.
How long he remained IN those parts cam
not be determined. as there is no detailed
account Of his doings. Bat after time he
departed ana went with his disciples. pos
sibly by boat. but probably On foot. to
CapernaCn.. then regarded "a his home.
Thus was concluded the ninth Of those cir
cults which Jesus travelled In his ministry
in Gaiilee. The time WAS probably the
month Of April. In the year -.
HASTl RETU RN-tNersss -. % and eiD
II will lie remembered that after performing
thu miracle with the Ioayes and fishes
Jesus retired TO pray and later sought his
disciples on the sea. That occurred that
night. When the morning came the multi
tudes who had Leen fed We're entirely
alone. No Christ with his maJchess power,
no apostles tn do his btadinE. We're to be
found. They Were greatly perplexed hy the
fact that. 50 far as they knew. there had
been hut one boat. and that had been taxi
IN by the disciples. They were ignorant
% the fact that other small craft had
come along the shore (Which. however, had
not been UsedD ari they were. therefore.
curious 70 know how Jesus deTartcd; by
what means he had gone from .hem. The
whole company was. therefore. seized by
determination 10 make search FOR the alb
sent one. While some went afoot around Tho
head of the SEA i few. the leaders, took
passage I'm the small boats that had come
in the morning. trading boats, doubtless,
and sailed away TO CapeEEaum. There they
passed from place 10 place. but failed 10
find the one they sought. as he was III
Gennt saret.
CtRNAL DISTURBANCES ., and e6)
" hen at last Jesus entered CapsrnaUm he
found the eager crowd waiting. for him.
They quickly gathered about and with DEM
onStrat!cns of good viii sought tn Know
when and how he came Their curiosity
was evidently genuine, and 10 one less aC-
quaint.d with human nature the approach |
must have been gratifying. 1t WAS one OF
the few instances when the populace de- |
sired 70 know something OF the mystery |
that surrounded the life Of jesus and 10 |
account for his wonderful deeds. John iii. |
- But the ipEermost thought and purpose |
of the crowd were fully known TO him who |
could penctrat. the secret desires Of all. !
John ii. "a y sad Picture was presented |
To his eyes as n Eche!i she hearts Of those |
about him. They cared nothing for the |
person whom they sought. They were not |
greatly Influenced ny the miracle. Hu; they |
had received food. and their appetitcs were |
whetted. so that they desired repetition |
of this bounty. Their carnai desires con |
trolcd them.
SPIRITUAL FOOD-(Verses %. % and % |
..s.f
of the motives Of the people. lie proceeded |
to give them advice suited to their condi- |
ton. They were to cease their earnest ef- |
forts after food for their bodies; that Is.
after such supplies through him. and seek
instead food for the soul. which Jesus would /
give. John iv. H. In this he desired to
become to them what he was intended to |
be 10 the world-not donor Of temporal |
things, but the author Of spiritual gifts. |
to which mission he had been set apart or |
sealed. The hearers understood these words |
onl- in part. surprising that the gift pro-
posed by Jesus was II he obtained by good
deeds the common opinion among the Jews
at that time MARK Y. Ia. they inquired
what they should do. in what works they
should engage. In reply, Jesus Informed
them that spiritual blessings were not 10
be purchased i'm the way proposed, but by
faith which was the only good work re-
qui-ei. faith in himself. thus setting forth
that doctrine upon which Paul afterwards
laid emphasis. ,Rou.. IN. - Here. then.
is Ike exalted teaching Of the gospel sys-
TEN.
REQUIRED SIGN-Verses 80 and 81 The
direction to believe on Jesus "a the one sent
from God to administer spiritual food and
give everlasting life naturally awakened
many questions IN the minds OF those who !
heard. Chief among these questions was |
this: How is til. claim Of Jesus maintained? |
They inquire for the sign proof of his
or office according to the COM |
mon custom of giving such attestation to a
messenger from God. Matt. xii. So The
sign-seeking was distinctly Jewish and a !
mark Of moral i.liirnlty or pcrvcrsity. |
Matt xii Sgp They who sought the sign |
evidently recalled the miracle OF the loaVcs !
and fishes which they had witnessed which
To some minds might have heen Sufficient to
sustain the claims of Jesus. But they were
not willing to admit the force of that act.
asserting that Moses had wrought a great
or deed He had fed al! Israel with mamma
in the wilderness. Hence they required
some greater deed as a sign. something !
that should warrant them In believing in
MIN. intimatipg that they would believe
DIVINE ERF,AD-(Eerses %. % and :i) |
Jesus did not accept the challenge for signs |
as proofso Of authority. lie knew that thing
could be gained by any further display OF !
power, Discipleship Is not secured by that !
method but Dy the opening of the mind |
10 the. truth tJchn viii. 3D. Hence he mo- |
cccded to instruct the people. He informed |
them that Moses did not give the bread |
to Israel as they had affirmed: that he |
was merely the servant through whom God |
acted ticx. xvi. a: that. therefore the in
tended force Of their remark was lost. Hay