The Yale expositor., 1908-03-06
Jesus the
Bread of Life
Sunday School Lesson for March 8, 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper


6:35.
TIME.-The day after our last les
son. when Jesus fed the 5000 April, A.
ID. %.
PLACE.-Gennesaret, a beautiful plain
on the western shore of the Sea OF Cali
lee, south of Capernaum.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
the Bread of Life. John SASH, 5S; Cor.
II 1926. and the use of bread" in the in
sttution of the Lords Supper. Compare
Deut. SO and 1920: Matt. "A; GIL. The
Mamma referred to in John 6:49. 50; lex.
16:lI-35; Neh 9:l5; Psa. 1924. Jesus the
Life. John IA; SPA; 6; ll:25; l4:6; 1913:
l John 1:2; Dps 5:11-13. 20; > Cor. 4:1O:
Gal. 2:20: Col. 3:3; 2 Tim. IL, 10; Rev.
%. Old Testament Miracles Of Feeding
compared and contrasted with this mir
acle of Jesus. Elijah fed by ravens Il
Kings 1880; miraculously increases the
widows meal and oil q Kings 1915:
Elisha feeds 100 men with 20 loaves q
Kings 442-4p.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Why did the people seek Jesus?
This question in V. % 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.
Two motives are given: the higher
motive they ought to have had, and
the lower motive which predominated.
V. 26. Jesus answered" not their
spoken question, but their spiritual
need which their conduct asked. "Ye
seek me- not because We saw the mir
acles." r. ", signs" the Greek name
for miracles used here. This would
have been a right motive to 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
were filled" The verb means were
satisfied as a beast with fodder. -
Whitelaw. They were not hypocrites;
they only took 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, but not the
kernel; they read the words as in An
unknown tongue, but did not see
their meaning
They were like 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 to lift the
minds and hearts of the people to
higher motives and clearer views Of
the truth.
How did Jesus lead them to higher
aims in life? V. 81 Labor not"
Work not; the same word as work"
in VS.. $3.50 below. For the meat
which perisheth." The food for the
body. This is not to be the chief end
even of work for daily food
V. 81. Our fathers did eat mama
in the desert" (see Elk. 16) "As it is
| written" EEK. 1874; Pisa. 1924, Sep
tuagint version). Moses, our founder,
lawgiver and leader. to whom the
promised Deliverer is to be like (Deut.
1875; Acts 1929.
Moses proved that he was sent
| from God by giving the people bread
from heaven to eat; now what do you
do that is greater than this to prove
that you are the greater prophet, even
the Messiah who will deliver us from
our bondage to the Romans, as Moses
delivered us from the Egyptians?
Jesus had fed 5000 with five loaves
| from the earth for one meal. Moses
had fed millions for 40 years with
bread from heaven"
The Tests.-Such are the tests OF
true religion, by which we may rec
ognize 1t and distinguish il from all
substitutes that are offered. ~ 1t
is from heaven and bears the marks
of its heavenly origin. (2) 1t gives
| life, awakens and sustains every fac
ulty CD II is for the soul, the splr-
itual nature, more than for the body.
| (4) 1t blesses for this life, but es-
| pecially prepares for eternal life, AMI
assures us of its blessedness. 60 It
Is universal, for all ages, and for all
men, under all circumstances. (6)
But, like earthly bread, 1t must be
eaten in order to avail.
What is meant by Jesus as the
Bread of Life? How does he feed our
souls? First. He by his atonement
and holy spirit imparts spiritual life.
the new life of God in the soul. We
are born 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 to make our character God
like. We do not know There must
be love, humility, submission, pa
thence, hope, gentleness, joy. and all
the qualities that entered to compose
the character OF the Son of Cod
Cornelius Woelfkin.
Fourth. We come into this personal
communion with Jesus. and within the
power of his personality. by reading
and studying the records of his life.
nv loving him. by working with him