The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-02-27
Jesus the
Bread of Life
Sunday School Lesson for March s. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

|
| them. l am tho bread OF life"-John
d.1.
TIME.-The day after our last leo
son. when Jesus fed the 5000, April. A
u. -.
| PLACE. -Gennesaret. a bcaetiful plain
| on the western shore OF the Sea OF Gait
lee. south OF CapernGum.
| SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Jesus
| the Bread of Life. John 6:iS-5i. hS. Cor
| II '23-e6, and the use OF dread" in the In
situation OF the Lords supper. Compare
Deut. So and $780, Matt. ~. ell. The
! Mamma referred TO In John CSC, 20; EN.
l6:l4-25 Neh. sl5. Psa. 7S,2a Jesus the
Life John IA; B.29; s: ii.&: l+;G. i5'3,
John I 2; 20. Sits 20; Cor. i.io:
| Gal go. Col 3'a TIN. IL. 10. Rev
| 81. OH Testament Miracles OF Feeding
| compared and contraStei with this mir
acle 81 Jesus Elijah fed bv ravens a
! Kings no: miracuiously increases the
widows meal aud oil a Kings 1910
ELISHA feeds 100 men with 20 leaves q
| KINGS t;42-tD
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Why did the people seek Jesusg
| This question in " 25 implies that
the next morning the people had been
searching for Jesus. not having seen
him leave the fields where the miracle
had been wrought
!
! motive they ought to have had. and
the lower motive which predomlnated.
V. 25. Jesus answered" not thoir
spoken question. but their spiritual
! need which their conduct asked. We
! seek me. not because We saw the mir
acles." n V signs" the Greek name
! for miracles used here This would
/ have been a right motive 10 which
Jesus himself appealed. They were
not attracted by the miracles as
signs OF Gods love. as types and
| proofs that Jesus was the Messiah. as
/ Invitations to trust and love him
But because We did eat the loaves. and
we're filled" The verb means were
satisfied as beast with fodder. -
! Whitelaw. They were not hypocvltes.
/ they only took a low view. and were
/ selfish Their motives lay chiefly In
| the results OF the miracles. the heal
ing. the satisfying Of hunger. and not
! in the miracles as signs. They saw
the outward form OF the miracles. but
not the soul: the husk. sbut not the
| kernel: they read the words as In m
unknown tongue. but did not see
/ their meaning.
They were ike the Roman soldier.
! who. finding an embroidered purse Of
| jewels, kept the purse. but threw
away the priceless gems.
Why did Jesus answer as he did'
| by this answer Jesus tried 10 lift the
minds and hearts Of the people to
higher motives aud clearer views OF
| the truth
How did Jesus lead them 10 higher
| aims in life? V. 81. Labor not"
Work not: the same word as work
| In vs.. ESQ below. For the meat
which perisheth." The food Tor the
body. This Is not TO be the chief end
even OF work for daily food
V. 81. Our fathers did ear mamma
IN the desert (see tx. l6l AS II IL
written" EEK. l6:t; Pisa. 1874. Sep.
tUagint versionD. Moses. our founder.
iavgiyer and leader. to whom the
promised Delivsrer IL To be like (Deut
1875: Acts 3;22l.
Moses proved that he was sent
| from God by giving the people bread
! from heaven 20 eat: now what do you
that you are the greater prophet. even
the Messiah who will deliver Va from
our bondage TO the Romans. as Moses
delivered us from the Egyptisns7
Jesus had led 1000 with five loavcs
from the earth for one meal Moses
had fed millions for 30 years with
bread from heaven"
The Tes,s--Such are the tests Of
| true religion. by which We may rec
ognize II aud distinguish II from oil
substitutes that are offered. CD Il
is from heaven and hears the marks
Of its heavenly origin. (2) Il gives
ilfe. awakens and sustains every fac
ulty. 90 Il il for the soul. the splr.
itual nature. more than for the body
(p IL blesses Tor this life. hut IS.
pecially prepares for eternal life. ami
assures us of its blessedness 90 u
Is universal. for al ages. and for all
men. under all circumstances CO.
But. like earthly bread. II must be
eaten In order to avail.
What Is meant by Jesus as the
BREAD OF Lifef How does he feed our
souls? First He by his stonement
ara holy spirit imparts spiritual life.
the new life of God In the soul. We
are horn of the Spirit
Second The soul needs food as
really as the body. Every faculty OF
the soul needs Its own food. that will
strengthen and sustain its life. de-
velop Its powers. make II grow into
the fullness and perfection OF Its ma.
ture.
Third. Jesus feeds the soul In every
part. How many characteristics are
necessary 10 make our character God
like. We do not know. There must
be love. humility. submission, pa
tiepce, hope. gentleness. Joy. and all
the qualities that entered to compose
the character of the Son OF God
Cornelius Woelfkin.
Fourth. We come into this personal
communion with Jesus, and within the
power OF his personality. by reading