Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1912 — THE SAIOR'S TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACIE BIBLE STUDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE SAIOR'S TEACHINGS BROOKLYN TABERNACIE BIBLE STUDIES

FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHEB. Mark vi, 30-44—Sept. 22. “Jesus said unto them. I am the Bread of Life.’’— John vi, 35. M M HEN the twelve Apostles reM ■ I turned to Jesus they explained the instance of their tour and what they had taught; and He called them away to a desert place to rest awhile, because of tile crowd and because they had not even time to take nourishment. So they went privately by ship. But the news went also and the crowd went on foot from various cities. Jesus would have no time to Himself. His entire life was devoted and being rendered up a living sacriiice to the Divine service, in feeding the sheep of Jehovah’s flock, and Ills own sheep also, because all that were the Father’s were Ills. As He looked upon the multitude, lie felt a yearning compassion for them: “They were like sheep without a Shepherd;" and He continued to teach them. But did they not have synagogues, and regular reading of the Scriptures?

Did they not have Scribes, Pharisees, Priests and Levltes? How could they be without shepherding? Ah, they had a soulhunger, which the forms, ceremonies and burdens bound upon them could not satisfy. They really wanted tlie “Bread of Life,” wdilch Jesus hfl®

—which Jesus was, for He iiersonifled the Truth. Why then did they not receive It? They were bound by superstition, prejudice, tlie fear of mau, traditions of the ancients, and the opposition of the great and learned of their time.

Did they not frequently Inquire. "llave any of the Scribes and Pharisees believed oti Him’:” The common people always refer to the learned. The lenrned therefore have the greater responsibility. Jesus declared of them, “Ye have taken away the key of knowledge;" you will neither enter Into the favor of God yourselves, nor will you permit others to enter in.—Luke xi, 52. And is not this true today? The learned of the colleges and principal pulpits are telling the people that the Bible is not the Divine Message which Jesus nnd the Apostles declared It to be. that Moses and the Prophets did not write the books accredited to them; and thus indirectly telling that Jesus and the Apostles were deceived when Jesus said, “Moses wrote of Me,” and the Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah said thus and so. _ The Sympathy of Jasus. The multitiides In their enthusiasm went a long Jburney from home without making proper provisions for food. The disciples urged that the people be sent home. Jesus suggested, “Give ye them to eat." But they declared they had nothing wherewith to feed ftp many, and that If even they should go to purchase it would cost much. -> Finally they found five loaves and two fishes. By Jesus’ direction they seated the multitudes in companies on the grass, and the loaves and fishes, under heavenly blessing, were divided again and again, nnd all ate to their satisfaction; and the fragments amounted to twelve baskets, while those who had partaken were 5,000. This wonderful miracle not only attests our Lord’s sympathy, but also spoke volumes to the people of the Divine power that was in the Great Teacher; but there is still another lesson which it teaches us. Like all of Jesus’ miracles It was merely another foregleamlng, or Illustration, of His future glory and of the coming blessings. This miracle speaks to us of tho power that our Lord will then have for

providing for the necessities of the whole world. True, we do not expect that during the reign of Christ the world will be miraculously fed, but rather in accordance with the Scriptural promise, “The earth shall yield, her increase;” and again, “1 will call for the wheat,

and will increase it,” etc., etc. But specially the feeding of tbe multitude reminds us of the fact testified in oar text that Jesus is “Tbe Bread of Life” —the Divine Provision for the necessities of tbe whole world. "I Am tho Bread of Life.” As the Church now partake of the merit of Christ’s sacrifice, aud become members of His Body, the one Loaf, and, thus partake of eternal Life through Him. so in God’s due time, the Bread from Heaven is to feed the multitudes of earth. During the thousand years of His reign, t lie Bread of Life will be freely distributed amongst all mankind. That Bread of Life is the Truth pari it ularly the Truth connected with tin* great redeeming work <>f Jesus !T" is to be the Bread of Life to tin* wo'" 1 iiecause He bought the world with the sacrifice of His life. The t uuif‘,l, nnn.over. 'in this present tiitie. has :i i‘tiier piivitege which Ihq world in Hu* future will not share*, and that is re|tresi*ntcd in the Lotus "cup." His “cup” to Us represents our privilege of suffering with Ilua aud bet coy ng His Joint-heirs Ip Tbe Kingdom.

Ancestors of the evolutionist.

“Five loaves and two fishes."