What nations are without it? We should all desire to help a famishing family; what ought we to do for those who have no Bible, and know not Jesus? LESSON XVI. Jesus continues his Teaching in the Synagogue at Capernaum. CH. vì. 41 — 52. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the - Father, save he which is of God; he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Do you recollect what Jesus said in the last lesson, about losing any of those who should come to him? Did you ever read in your library books about good children who died very happy? Have you not sometimes greatly desired to see them? I suppose you have seen and heard of some very wicked people; now the Bible says these go to a different place: have you con sidered toward which place you have advanced the last week! 41 WHEN he had taught them all these things, what did the Jews do? Why did they murmur? Were they more willing to receive his favors, or obey his commands? 42 THEN What did they say ? In what city did Jesus live with Joseph and Was he known before this in Jerusalem ? Was this, and the miracles which he performed, proofs that God had sent him? 43 WHAT did Jesus say to them? 44 WHAT did Jesus affirm no man could do? Does coming to him, mean the same as being his disciple? Did you ever hear that George Washington, when he was a boy, said he could not lie? Why could he not lie? Can any good boy tell that which is not true? Can any man who is, and means to be bad, be a Christian at the same time? Will any one come to Jesus until they desire the blessings he has promised to his disciples? Does not God's word enlighten and excite the mind, by its instructions, promises, and threatenings? Have you never felt drawn by the word and Spirit of God to come to Jesus? What does he affirm of such as come to him? Can you tell some of the motives which are presented in the word, to induce men to come to Jesus? What will be the sad consequences of not coming? 45 WHAT saying of the prophets is mentioned? In which of the prophets is this written? - Isa. 54 13. Jer. 31: 34. Micah 4: 2. Who does Jesus say cometh to him? What do men learn from the word of God? How does God teach men? Ch. 16: 8, 13, When a person truly believes and deeply feels that he is a condemned sinner, and can be saved only by Jesus, will he not come to him? 46 WHAT does Jesus then say? Who is meant by he who is of God? If none except Jesus has seen and known God, how ought he to be regarded as a Teacher? Can you repeat what Jesus said in Chap. 4: 24 ? 47 WHAT does he promise to believers ? Does verily add any thing to the strength of the Does he mean that they should not die? 48 THE body cannot live without nourishment; can the soul? What does Jesus say he is? Do you recollect another passage where he called himself the bread of life? What promise did he make his disciples, when he sent them to preach the gospel? - Matt. 28: 20. How did they feel when men beat them, and Did you ever read how these promises cheered Now will you tell me how Jesus is the Bread 49 WHAT food did their ancestors eat in the wilderness?- Exod. 16: 4. Did it prevent their bodies from dying? 50 WHERE does the bread come from, of which a man may eat and not die ? Where did the manna come from? 16: 4. What is the kind of death here meant ? - Exod. Did the manna prevent this kind of death ? 51 WHAT then is the bread from heaven, here meant? Do you now remember what was said in v. 48 ? For whose life does Jesus say he would give it? Now can you tell how his flesh is figuratively called bread, and why it is called the living bread? This provision is made for the world. Will it benefit any except such as partake of it? 52 WHAT did the Jews do? What did they say ? Do you think they understood what Jesus meant? If some one should ask you what this meant, what should you tell them? Would you not greatly dread perishing with hunger? Is it a much more fearful thing for the soul to Is not your soul in danger of perishing for want LESSON XVII. Jesus continues his Instructions in the Synagogue. CH. vi. 53 — 59. 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, bath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shali live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. WHAT did Jesus frequently call himself in the last lesson ? Do you think you understood what he meant ? Will you tell me what you understand by the expression, I am the Bread of life? How was it that he gave his flesh for the life of the world? This is called Atonement, do you understand what it means? What effect had this declaration on the Jews? 53 THEN what did Jesus tell them? Can any persons be saved from punishment for Will any except those have eternal life? |