The Dermott news., 1917-03-08
LESSON FOR MARCH II
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

fOloWing the 1eeding or the UNe | thousand, Jesus saw the design of the l multitude (v. 15), and separated him. l self unto prayer. Following that com | munion. the disciples went over the 1 sea toward the City of Capernaum 1 (v. ID, but in his supernatural power he followed them. walking upon the l water (v. 19). Midway he entered | their ship. and immediately they reached the iand toward which they had been striving (v. 21 Nix. G:4S-4D. The next day tJohn 6 :22) the people who Tt this period were following him in such great multitudes. took steps 10 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. 24D. We read that the common people heard him gladly These people wanted the eomradshlp of Jesus, and the longest bread line in the world today is that of hungry hearted men. The question k, are we willing to give them the loaves of comfort?
 |. Bread Which Perisheth (yy. 223- 2D. If you think you will always get the loaves and fishes simply be- 1 cause you have followed the Lord. you have handed yourself geIdbriek.2- .2- pr. Griffin Bull. Most of Ills will go i further for victuals than We will for q 1 vision When the people found Jesus !. fy. 25) they rather reprimaHded him for leaving them. when the fact af the matter was that he was nut hehoiden to them in any sense whatsoever. It looks very we'll for these people to he ">eeking Jesus but they were seek ing the wrong thing (v. 261s IL was not really Jesus himself they wanted, hut the loaves and the fishes. II was not the sign" as indicating lis divine character that drew them. hut simply the wonder as indicated by the fact that they expected constant supply Of bread, nor did they see tH that bread the Sign but only the bread.
 Salvation k the free gift of God apart from works. Nevertheless he commands the exercise of will This k the work of God That ye believe an hun whom he hath sent (v. 2a1. This is not inconsistent with 1 Cor. r. 2, l. C., "No man can say that Jesus k 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 hy the resenerating en- ergy of Gods spirit making me Il son of his.
 The Jews demanded sign as q con- dition of believing on him. when he, himself. was the greatest of uil signs tN. 3Gl. They sought to enforce their demands by reference to Moses and the mamma but Jesus showed them that the mama was Il type of the Cruel bread of God" The character iStics of this bread are: CD It comes down from heaven; CD It giyeth life unto the world. Jesus hearers did not understand what he meant, and eX claimed: "Evermorc 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 3J 37). Misunderstanding his teaching (v. 34) Jesus said unto them plainly: "l 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 h, himself, is the Bread of Life. As bread will satisfy the needs of the physical body, giving strength. vital fly 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 desirr-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 not because they were so occupied with the material and unreal things of this world.
 Today we find men so taken up with the material and unnreal that they NlilIfNiulc HUI ntIltht uIDil lht true bread which has been sent down from God out of heaven. Not all will come to him Uohn 2 :24), but anyone can prove that he belongs to the elect of God and the company of the Father by coming to Jesus tv. 37. If any man does come, he will be received. These words of Jesus are very posi- tive, 'I 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: "I will raise him up at the last day" (v. 4O "He that believeth on me hath ever lasting life" (v. 47) {; 'I 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 flesh is meat indeed" (v. 55) He that