SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR SCHOOL AND HOME INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Previous

With Illustrative Anecdotes and References.

February 19thChrist 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.

Food Comes from God.

We are in want of food, and we buy a loaf at a baker's shop. Whence does a baker get the flour to make that loaf? You say at once—"From the miller"; but how does the miller get the corn to grind into flour? He buys it of the farmer. But how does the farmer get it? With infinite pains he prepares the ground with plough and harrow. Then he sows the seed and—leaves it. He can do no more. The soil in which it grows, the sunshine to warm it, the rain to moisten it, and the wind to blow upon it—all these are God's doing, not man's. So a wonder is seen in thousands of harvest fields every year. One grain has produced a hundred grains by the almighty power of God. Christ, the Son of God, passed over all the intermediate processes, and made one loaf to be multiplied into many. "He giveth food to all flesh, for His mercy endureth for ever."

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.

A Dry Well.

I once saw a picture in which the artist had represented a party of travellers in the desert. They had travelled far and long. The water was spent in their bottles, and their thirst was maddening. They were tired and footsore, and could scarce drag themselves along, when lo! joy of joys they descried a well in the distance. Gathering up their little remaining strength, they joyfully hastened to it. But, alas! for their bitter disappointment, when they reached it, there was no water there! The well was dry! In attitudes of utter despair the unhappy party laid themselves down beside the deceitful well to die. Never, oh never, can it be so with Christ. His water will never fail. He is the well of life. That living stream is from the throne of God, always full of life and grace for thirsting souls.—Rev. Gordon Calthrop.

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?

Burden of Sin.

We have a picture of the Arabs dragging huge loads for Mr. Layard, the great explorer, and we can imagine how Pharaoh's slaves, the Israelites, must have sweated and smarted under their burdens when in Egypt. And I (writes an eminent preacher) seemed in my youth to have just such a load behind me, and it would not stir. My burden of inward sin when I was fifteen was such that I knew not what to do. I prayed, and it would not stir. I read my Bible, but it would not move. I cried to God in my agony; I trusted Him. I looked to the Lamb of God, the sin-bearer, and lo! the burden was gone. I obtained pardon and peace through Jesus Christ, "Who bore our sins."

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.

Light and Joy.

A poor boy in a coal-mine, whose work it was to close the door after the coal-waggons had passed, was forced to sit there alone hour after hour in the dark. He was a dear lad, and when someone said to him, "Are you not tired of sitting so long in the dark?" he answered, "Yes, I do get tired, but sometimes when the men give me a bit of candle I sing." So do we. When we get a light in our hearts we sing. Glory to God Who is our light as well as our salvation! We see our sin and our Saviour, and, saved by grace, we shall one day see the dear face of Him we love, and behold the land which is far off.


arrows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Clyx.com


Top of Page
Top of Page