The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-07
JOHN vi, 22-4O.

Him. and seek instead food for the soul, which
Jesus would give. (John, iv, IA In ,ais lie
desired to become 10 them what He was intended
20 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 only in part.
supposing that the gift proposed by Jesus was
to be obtained by good deeds, the common
opinion among Jews at that time. (Mark, Y, IL
They inquired what they should do in what
works they should engage In reply Jesus in.
formed them that spiritual blessings were not to
be purchased by faith which was the only good
work required-faith in Himself, thus setting
forth that doctrine upon which Paul afterward
laid such emphasis. (Romans, iv, 49, Here,
then, is the exalted teaching of the gospel sys-
tenn.
REQUIRED sIGN.-Verses so, 3l.)-The di.
rection to believe on Jesus as the one sent from
God, TO administer spiritual food and give ever.
lasting life naturally awakened many questions
in the minds of those who heard Cnief among
these questions this How is the claim of
Jesus maintained? They inquired for the sign
as a proof OF His authority or office, accord
ing to the common custom of giving such at.
testation to a messenger from God, Oiatthew,
Nii, SS,) The sign seeking was distinctly Jewish
q Corinthians, i, 33), and a. mark OF moral in
frmity or perversity as Jesus declared. CIat-
thew, xii, 3g.) They who sought the sign evil
IDENTIFY recalled the miracle of the loaves and
fishes which they had witnessed, which to some
minds might have been sufficient to sustain the
claims OF Jesus. But they not willing to
admit the force of that fact, asserting that
Moses had wrought a greater deed. lie had fed
all Israel with mamma in the wilderness. Hence
they required some greater deed as a sign,
something that should warrant them in be.
lieying on Him, intimating that they would
believe
DIVINE BREAD (verses 32, 80, S).-Jesus did
| not accept the challenge for signs as proofs of
| authority He knew that nothing could be
gained by any further display of power Dis
| ciplcship is not secured by that method, but by
| the opening the mind to the truth (John
| viii :3), Hence He proceeded 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 (EX., Xv:D, that therefore the in.
tended force Of their remark was lost Having
| corrected their error Jesus proceeded TO speak
| in plainest terms concerning himself As God
gave the mama, 50 He had now given the true
bread (John, iii;l6), the one an emblem Of the
other. Then follows (verse SS) remarkable
statement, setting forth the origin, character
| and mission of Jesus, as coming from Heaven
to give "liie unto the world" Inc assertion
evidently startled his hearers, with a desire not
unlike that Of the Samaritan woman at the we'll
| (John, iyil5), they besought Jesus to give them
| that bread.
| SUFFICIENT PORTION oversees S5, SO, 8O.-
Evidently the people did not fully comprehend
the savior's words, although they had broken
| forth in expressions OF earnest desire. Hence
further instruction was needed. The bread Just
| mentioned was not something bestowed by