The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-03-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
NIENTS FOR MARCH 8.

Subject: Jesus the Bread Of Life
John 6:22-4O - Golden Text,
John 6:35-Commit Verses 81,
33-Commentary.
TIME.-April, A. d. %. PLACE.
Capernaum
EXPOSITION. - 1. Seeking the
Food That Perisheth. 22-31. The
multitude came seeking Jesus"
That sounds well, but it was wrong
sort of seeking and did not bring sal
walton. 1t was not really Jesus Him
self that they were seeking, but the
loaves and fishes. There is much of
that sort of seeking still. 1t was not
the sign" as indicating His divine
character that drew them, but simply
the wonder as indicating that there
would be constant supply of bread.
They did not see TN the bread the
sign," but only ''in the sign Of the
bread" Their eyes and desire were
entirely fixed on "the food which per-
isheth." There is flood which abid-
eth unto eternal life," and the man
who seeks only "the food which per-
isheth" when he can have food which
abideth unto eternal life'' is a fool.
it is the Son of man who gives this
more precious food. It is a gift and
cannot be earned (cf. Ro. 6:23; Eph.
z:S). Still we are to work" for it.
How to work for it v. 20 tells. The
loaves miraculously multiplied were
sign OF the true bread. The result
or eating the meat which abideth is
That one lives forever Tvs. 81, $50.
The proof that the Son Of man gives
the food which abideth unto eternal
life is that the Father, even God, had
sealed Him (cf. Acts 1922; Jno. /:
50, "a; 5:36, 81; 1887, SO; Matt.
SD. There is just one work that
COD requires as the condition of re-
ceiving this bread, viz: belief on Him
whom He hath sent (cf. Jno. 3:16-18.
80; Jno. 1871; Eph. 1881. "This is
the work of God" All other things
count for nothing If this is lacking.
This work does not merit the true
bread, but simply accepts it. Jesus
hearers demanded a sign as a condi-
ton OF believing on Him. The unrea-
sonableness of this demand is appar-
ent when one remembers the recent
miracle of the loaves and fishes Tvs.
1914. The demands of modern
skeptics are just as unreasonable. He
Himself was the greatest of all signs
". 36). They sought to enforce their
demand by a reference to Moses and
the mamma. But Jesus showed them
that the mama was but a tyne of
Himself, 1.-The (true} bread of God"
The two characteristics of this bread
are ID it "cometh down out of heay-
en-; CD it "giveth life unto the
world. Jesus hearers did not un-
derstand what He meant, SO they ex-
claimed. 'evermcre give us this
dread
Ii. Offering the Bread of Life, So
40. Jesus explained to them that He
Himself was the true bread of God of
which He spoke. Il am the bread of
life were His simple but wonderful
words. AS the bread of life He would
satisfy every hunger of their hearts
and every thirst as we'll. Hunger"
may stand for the deep longing for
that which ministers strength:
thirst" the more intense desire for
that which satisfies spiritual craving.
Then we see that Jesus ministers new
er failing strength to all who come to
Him and never failing peace to all
who believe on Him. There is a diff
ferent shade of meaning in coming
to Him" and believing on Him"
Coming to Him. is seeking help and
blessing from Him; believing on
Him" is the absolute abandonment of
self to Him. They had seen this
bread (v 36) right before their eyes.
but never appreciated what it was be-
q toll xxvff
and unreal. And men are so taken
up with the material and unreal to-
DAY that they neither appreciate nor
believe in this true bread. But while |
the mass of men would not come to
Jesus some would, "all that which the
Father giveth Me-" That which the
Father hath given includes every one
that had heard from the Father and
hath learned" (v. 45). Any one can
prove that he belongs to that elect
and blessed company that the Father
hath given to Jesus by just coming to
Eirl And il any one does come he
will be received. Jesus says in the
most positive way, 81 will in no wise
cast him OUT" If any one thinks
himself too great a sinner, or not to
belong to the elect, Or to have sinned
away the day of grace, just let him
come and he has the word of Christ
for it that He will receive Him. 1t is
a wonderful reason Jesus gives for
not casting him out, "for came down
from heaven not to do Mine own will,
but the will Of Hin who sent Me- (v.
So. Then follows statement of the
Fathers gracious ill. 1t is so diff
ferent FROM tho ilea many have of
Gods will. This will is "of all that
which He hath given me should lose
nothing, but should raise it up at the
last day." Not one then that really
comes to Jesus, and thus proves he
belongs to that which the Father
hath given" Jesus can ever be lost
(cf Jno. 1928, 20; 1912, r. ":
Col. 3:3, 4; l Pet. 1:3; Jude 1; 2 I'll. !
1:12). 1t is furthermore the will of
God that everyone Cd that behold
eth the Son" OR. W, and (2) "be-
lieveth on Him should have eternal
life. !" Such is the Fathers will and
Jesus adds, Il will raise him up at
the last day
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