Middletown transcript., 1917-03-10
LESSON FOR MARCH II
JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE.

am the bread of life-John 6:35
Following the feeding Of the fiv
thousand, Jesus saw the design Of tn
multitude ". 15), and separated him
self unto prayer. Following that com
munion, the disciples went over th'
sea toward the City Of Capernaun
". ~, but in his supernatural powe
he followed them, walking upon th'
water ". 19). Midway he entered
their ship, and Immediately the!
reached the land toward which they
had been striving ". 21; Nix. 6:48-49)
The next day John 6:22) the people
who at this period were following hin
in such great multitudes, took steps tt
reach him. Finding that he was moi
at their side Of the lake, they tool
boats and came to Capernaum, "seek
ing for Jesus" ". 24). We read thai
the common people heard him gladly
These people wanted the comradshiI
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?
!. Bread Which Perisheth wv: %.
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 60
further for victuals than we will for a
vision. When the people found Jesus
". 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. 1t
looks very well for these people to be
seeking Jesus" but they were seek
ing the wrong thing ". 26). 1t 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
liiO WoAuCA ID lAOISdICO ny tAc AuSt
that they expected a constant supply
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 on
him whom he hath sent" ". 29). This
is not inconsistent with I Cor. 1878
l. c., mo man can say that Jesus Is the
Lord but by the HolJ 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 son
of his.
The Jews demanded q sign as con-
dition of believing on him, when he,
was the greatest Of all signs
". 36). They sought to enforce their
demands by reference to Moses and
the mama, but Jesus showed them
that the mama was a type of "the
(true) bread of God" The character
istics of this bread are: 1) It comes
down from heaven; (2) 1t giveth life
unto the world. Jesus hearers did not
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.
Ill. The Everlasting Bread wv. 3d.
3O. misunderstanding his teaching
". 34) Jesus said unto them plainly:
II 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,
out he, himself, is the Bread of Life.
As bread will satisfy the needs Of the
physical body, giving strength, vital
ty and energy, so he will supply the
needs of the soul. He will satisfy the
leep hunger and longing which Is the
of need, and he will also sat
sly the thirst which is the more in
ense desire-the spiritual craving Of
he soul. Jesus ministers to the never
ailing strength of all who come to
lin, and who believe on him. Coming
o him is seeking help and blessing
rom him. Believing on him Is the alb
olute abandonment of self to him.
This multitude had actually seen the
living bread ". 36), yet they believed
lot because they were so occupied
With the material and unreal things Of |
his world.
Today we find men so taken up with |
he material and unnreal that they |
either appreciate nor believe upon the
rue bread which has been sent down
rom God out of heaven. Not all will |
ONE to him (John :24), but anyone
an prove that he belongs to the elect
f God and the company Of the Father
y coming to Jesus ". 97). IF any
ian does come, he will be received.
'hese words of Jesus are very posi-
i've, II will in no wise cast him out"
his throws the burden of reSnOnSihi1.