The Carlisle independent., 1917-03-08
INTERNATIONAL. SUND6YS0IOOL
 LESSON
LESSON FOR MARCH II
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE.
LESSON TExT-John s:2-s7.

lAESSON IEAI-JOUn b+E4-0t.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of nfe.-John 6:35.
 Following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus saw the design of the multitude (v. 15), and separated hin- self unto prayer. Following that con- muEion, the disciples went over the sea toward the City of Capernaum (v. ID, but in his supernatural power he followed them, walking upon the water (y. 19). Midway he entered their ship, and immediately they reached the land toward which they had been striving (y. 21; Mk. 6 :4S-49). The next day (John 6:22) the people who at this period were following him in such great multitudes, took steps to reach him. Finding that he was not at their side of the lake, they took boats and came to Capernaum, ''seek- ing for Jesus" (v. 24). We read that the common people heard him gladly. These people wanted the comradship of Jesus, and the longest bread line in the world today is that of hungry hearted men. The question is, are we willing to give them the loaves of comfort?
 l. Bread Which Perisheth (vv. 23- 24). If you think you will always get the loaves and fishes simply be- cause you have followed the Lord, you have handed yourself a goldbrick. ''- Dr. Griffin Bull. Most of us will go further for victuals than we will for vision. When the people found Jesus (v. 25) they rather reprimanded him for leaving them, when the fact of the matter was that he was not behOlden to them in any sense whatsoever. It looks very well for these people to be seeking Jesus." but they were seek ing the wrong thing (y. 26). It was not really Jesus himself they wanted, but the loaves and the fishes. It was not the "sign" as indicating his divine character that drew them, but simply the wonder as indicated by the fact of bread, nor did they see in that bread the sign but only the bread.
 Salvation is the free gift of God apart from works. Nevertheless he commands the exercise of will. "This is the work of God that ye believe oD him whom he hath sent'' (v. 29). This is not inconsistent with I Cor. 12 8. l. C., "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost" Like the two blades of pair of shears, the executive act of my will in believing on Jesus is met by the regenerating en. ergy of Gods spirit making me a SOD of his.
 The Jews demanded a sign as con dition of believing on him, when he himself, was the greatest of all signs (v. 36). They sought to enforce their demands by reference to Moses and that the mama was a type of "the (true) bread of God" The character istics of this bread are: CD It comes down from heaven; (2) It giveth life unto the world. Jesus hearers did not understand what he meant, and ex claimed: "Evermore give us this bread" Jesus was trying to impress upon his hearers the same diligence in heavenly matters as in the pursuit of earthly meals.
 III. The Everlasting Bread (vv. 35- 37). Misunderstanding his teaching (v. 34) Jesus said unto them plainly: 'I am the bread of life," meaning that he is the true bread of God. He is not only the giver of the bread of life, but he, himself, is the Bread of Life. AS bread will satisfy the needs of the physical body, giving strength, vital ity and energy, so he will supply the needs of the soul. He will satisfy the deep hunger and longing which is the evidence of need, and he will also sat isfy the thirst which is the more in- tense desire-the spiritual craving of the soul. Jesus ministers to the never failing strength of all who come to him, and who believe on him. Coming to him is seeking help and blessing from him. Believing on him is the ab- solute abandonment of self to him. This multitude had actually seen the living bread (v. 36), yet they believed hOl pCSduoC thCS nSAS 1O ONNukANN with the material and unreal things of this world.
 Today we find men so taken up with the material and unnreal that they neither appreciate nor believe upon the true bread which has been sent down from God out of heaven. Not all will come to him (John :24), but anyone can prove that he belongs to the elect of God and the company of the Father by coming to Jesus (v. 37). If any man does come, he will be received. These words of Jesus are very posi- tive, 1T will in no wise cast him out"
 Jesus, the One who raises the dead, is therefore co-equal with God. Note the remainder of this chapter: T will raise him up at the last day" (v. 40); "He that believeth on me hath ever lasting life" (v. 4D q am the bread of life" (v. 4S); Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, ye have no life in you" (v. 53); "Whoso eateth my flesh hath eternal life' (. 54) "For my