The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-03-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR MARCH 8.

Subject: Jesus the Bread of Life,
John 6:22.4O - Golden Text,
John 6:35-Commit Verses .,
3S-Commentary.
TTME.-April, A. D. 2s. PLACE.
Capernaum.
, EXPOSITION. - I. Seeking the
Food That Perisheth. 22-34. The
multitude came seeking Jesus"
That sounds well, but it vas a wrong
sort Of seeking and did not bring sal
walton. It was not really Jesus Him.
self that they were seeking, but t.
loaves and fishes. There is much -
that sort of seeking still. It was not
the sign" as indicating His divine
character that drew them, but simply
the wonder as indicating that there
would be a constant supply Of bread.
They did not see in 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 food 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.
1t Is the Son of man who gives this
more precious food. It is a gift and
cannot be earned (cf. Ro. 6:23; Eph.
$3.50. Still we are to work" for 1t.
How to work for it v. 29 tells. The
loaves miraculously multiplied were
a sign of the true bread. The result
of 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. /;
33, "a; 5:36, 81; 1927, SO; Matt.
3:17). There is just one work that
God requires as the condition of re-
ceiying this bread, viz: belief on Him
whom He hath sent (cf. Jno. ~3:16-18:
80; Jno. 1881; Eph. 2:S). 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.
SOudUlSuCSo VI lAlO uCmoau - oppdl-
elt when one remembers the recent
miracle of the loaves and fishes Tvs.
10-14). 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 mama. But Jesus showed them
that the mama was but a type OF
Himself, "the (true) bread Of God"
The two characteristics Of this bread
are CD it "cometh down out of heav-
en-" CD it "giveth life unto the
world" Jesus hearers did not I'm.
derstand what He meant, so they ex-
claimed, "eyermore give us this
bread"
II. Offering the Bread of Life, 3d.
40. Jesus explained to them that He
Himself was the true bread of God Of
which He spoke. II 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 OF 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 ". $50 right before their eyes,
but never appreciated what it was be-
cause so taken up with the material
and unreal. And men are so taken
up with the material and unreal to.
day that they. neither appreciate mol
believe in this true bread. But while
the mass of men would not come tc
Jesus some would, "all that which the
Father hath givenincludes every one
that had heard from the Father and
hath learned" ". 45). Any one can
prove that he belongs to that elect
and blessed company that the Father
hath given to Jesus by just coming tc
Him. And If any n does come he
will be received. Jesus says in the
most positive way, Il 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 hat He will receive Him. It Is
a wonderful reason Jesus gives for
NJ ooefip n hsro a11f Gtfnr 7 no m O HNun
from heaven not to do Mine W will,
but the will Of Him who sent Me" W.
38). Then follows a statement of the
Fathers gracious will. 1t is so diff.
ferent from the idea many have OF
Gods will. This will is "of all that
which He hath given me 1 should lose
nothing, but should raise 1t up at the
last day." Not n then that really
comes to Jesus, and thus proves he
belongs to that which the Father
hath given" Jesus can W be lost
(cf. Jno. 1928, 20; 1912, R. ";
Col. 3:3, Al Pet. 1:3; Jude /; 2 tt.
1:12). It is furthermore the will OF
God that everyone ID that behold
eth the Son" (R. W, and CD be
lieveth on Him" should have eternal
life" Such is the Fathers will and
Jesus adds, II will raise him up at
the last day."
LEADING QUESTIONS. - In this
lesson what different things do we
see Jesus to be? What does He give?
What does He satisfy? What is His
relation to the Father? What is God
the Fathers will? What must we do
to have every longing satisfied? How
many will Jesus receive and give eter-
nal life? What is the best lesson or
the passage?