With Illustrative Anecdotes and References. February 19th—Christ Feeding the Five Thousand. To read—St. John vi. 1-14. Golden Text—Ver. 35. C Christ and disciples have returned to Galilee. The fame of His miracles and teaching spreads. Multitudes crowd to see and hear Him. The annual Feast of Passover is coming on. Large bodies of pilgrims going up to Jerusalem attract Christ's notice. They are fed and taught. I. The Multitude (1-7). Their desire for Christ. Why did they come to Him? Some from curiosity—to see this famous Man; or because sick, hoping they might be healed; or from gratitude—having received benefits from Him. Christ does not court popularity; seeks retirement; goes up a hill with disciples for privacy and rest; there sits down and talks with them. From there sees crowd of pilgrims. Must do something for them. Christ's desire for them. Their wants call out His sympathy—they need food. Their helplessness moves His pity. Whence obtain supplies in wilderness far from home? Their ignorance makes Him long to teach them (St. Matt. ix. 36). What does He do! Tests His disciple Philip of Bethsaida (i. 44), who ought to know the resources of the district. Philip makes mental calculation of cost of feeding them. It will take two hundred pence (about £7, taking the denarius or penny as worth 7d., an ordinary day's wages, Matt. xx. 2). But the Lord knew what He would do. II. The Miracle (8-13). Many points to be noticed. The lad's offering—probably the meal provided for Christ and disciples. Five barley-bread loaves and two small fishes. But five thousand to be fed! Man's extremity is God's opportunity. Christ's command. People to rest, sit in rows. Giving thanks to God Who giveth food to all. Distribution by disciples, His almoners to the poor. Sufficient and to spare. None went empty away. Gathering up fragments to avoid any waste. III. The Result (14). Acceptance of Christ by the multitude as the expected Messiah. Lessons. 1. Blessed is he who considereth the poor. 2. Give thanks unto the God of heaven.
February 26th.—Christ at the Feast. To read—St. John vii. 14, 28-37. Golden Text—Ver. 37. Scene again changes to Jerusalem. Spring Feast of Passover long over, autumn Feast of Tabernacles begun. Christ at first decided (ver. 8) not to attend, but (ver. 14) changed His mind and went up, in the middle of the eight days, quite privately (ver. 10), and began teaching in the Temple. I. A Sermon (28, 29). Christ now preaches openly and proclaims His authority. They by this time know Him well. How? By His miracles, which proclaim Him as sent from God. Had healed the impotent man here at Jerusalem (ch. v. 8), also had been testified to by God at His baptism (St. Matt. iii. 17), and by John the Baptist afterwards as the Son of God (i. 33, 34). They knew not God, and therefore would not receive Him. II. An Attempt at Arrest (30-36). Many believed on Him—mostly common people. Why? Because of His miracles, His loving words, His holy life. But chief priests and Pharisees hated Him. Why? For His increasing popularity, while theirs was becoming less. Also for His so openly rebuking sin. So they sought to take Him prisoner, but failed. Why? Because His time for being tried not yet come. Christ continued His talk. He is now with them as Teacher and Saviour, but will soon go where they cannot follow, i.e. back to God. They who reject Him will then seek Him too late, and not find Him (Prov. i. 26). Christ is believed, accepted, loved by some. Rejected, hated, despised by others. How is it with us? III. An Offer (37). Last day of feast. Great procession to Temple. Water brought from Pool of Siloam and poured out. Isaiah xi. sung by priests and Levites. Christ applies it to Himself. Notice the steps— Thirst, or desire for satisfaction, common to all. Coming to Christ for free gifts of salvation (Is. lv. 1) follows. This is succeeded by— Believing or throwing ourselves entirely on Him. Lesson. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
March 5th.—Christ Freeing from Sin. To read—St. John viii. 12, 31-36. Golden Text—Ver. 36. Christ still at Jerusalem. Feast over. Country people gone home. He teaches daily in Temple courts. Tells of the union between His Father and Himself, and of His being lifted up on the cross (ver. 28). Result, that many professed to believe in Him. He tells them first of Himself as the Light of the World and then of their position as God's free children. I. Christ the Light of the World. The figure. Light is from God (Gen. i. 3), is bright and shining. Lights up darkness, reveals hidden things, makes all clear. The meaning. Christ came from God, to dispel world's darkness (St. Matt. iv. 16) and ignorance, and to reveal God (ch. xiv. 9). II. Christ's People Free (31-36). Bondage. New disciples put to the test. They must do two things—continue in His word, i.e. learn more of Him, and act upon the truth in their lives. The result will be that they will break their bondage and be free. The Jews object that they have never been in bondage. What have they forgotten? Their bondage in Egypt for four hundred years (Acts vii. 6); their seventy years' exile in Babylon (Dan. ix. 2); their present submission to the Romans. Christ tells them of a greater bondage than any other—that of sin and Satan. To live a life of sin is to be a slave of sin, which involves expulsion from the house (ver. 35). Examples. Cain the murderer became a wanderer (Gen. iv. 12). Hagar, mocking Sarah, had to leave home (Gen. xvi. 6). Prodigal son went to strange land (St. Luke xv. 13). No rest for the wicked. Freedom. Given to Christ's people. The Son shared Father's home from all eternity—so do His brethren. They are ever with Him, share His home and love (St. Luke xv. 31); they are free from sin (Rom. vi. 22); they cannot wilfully sin, being children of God (1 John iii. 9). Free to serve Him with loving service. Examples. Martha (St. Luke x. 40), Mary (St. John xii. 4), and St. Paul (Phil. iii. 7). Lessons. 1. The wages of sin is death. 2. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?
March 12th.—Christ Healing the Blind Man. To read—St. John ix. 1-11. Golden Text—Ver. 25. Three months since conversation in last lesson. Christ one Sabbath, on His way with disciples to or from Temple, sees a man blind from birth, probably asking alms from worshippers. I. The Disciples' Question. Why this blindness? A babe born blind—terrible calamity. Unable to care for self, avoid danger, or work for living. Was it a punishment in advance for some after-sin? Was it because of some sin of parents? The answer. No. Unusual suffering must not be connected with some particular sin. True, if there were no sin there would be no suffering. But all suffering for some good end (Heb. xii. 7. 11). Calls forth pity, love, sympathy, help. Example: Good Samaritan caring for traveller in trouble (St. Luke x. 33). This blind man's misfortune would prove to be for the glory of God. Christ's message. 1. To do works of mercy. Therefore "went about doing good." Proving Himself "sent from God," Who shows love for all—evil and good (St. Matt. v. 45). 2. To be Light of the world. To teach the ignorant, to reveal to men their sin and Himself as Saviour (Heb. i. 2), to show the principles underlying the commandments as He did about observance of the Sabbath (vii. 23). II. The Miracle (6-11). Notice—The use of means. Christ could have cured him by a word, as He did the sick of the palsy (St. Matt. ix. 6), but He put clay on his eyes and bade him go and wash—thus teaching use of healing ointment and cleanliness in cure of bodily ailments—but useless without His blessing; also a test of the man's faith, as with Naaman (2 Kings v. 14). The neighbours' interest. Such a wonderful cure seemed incredible, caused discussion—could it be the same man? How were his eyes opened? So the man was questioned and told his story. He believed, obeyed, and was cured. III. The Teaching. A Parable of the Sinner and Saviour. The sinner, born in sin, cannot see the light. Is bidden to wash in the fountain always open. Believes, obeys, and is cleansed. The Saviour, full of compassion, gives light, knowledge, hope, salvation, to those who believe. Lesson. Open Thou mine eyes, that I may see.
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