CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES; THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES
Lesson XII.—Sabbath, September 19, 1896. CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES; THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES.
39 “Ye search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life. 41 I receive not glory from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not? Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, on whom ye have set your hope. For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
1 “After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.” 1. What testimony did Christ bear to the outward show of regard which the Jews had for the word of God? 2. What reason was given for their attention to it? 3. What connection did Christ declare that there was between the Scriptures and his work? 4. How did Christ show the emptiness of the Jews' religion? 5. Did Christ receive the honor which was due him? 6. What essential thing did he say that the Jews lacked? 7. What does he say in proof of this statement? 8. What does he set forth as the root of their unbelief? 9. Who is mentioned as their accuser? 10. How is it shown that they really did not believe the Scriptures? 11. What followed as a consequence of this unbelief? 12. What body of water did Jesus now cross? 13. Who followed him? Why? 14. To what place did he and his disciples go? 15. What feast was soon to be held? 16. In view of the place and the number, what natural inquiry did Jesus make? 17. What was the real intent of the inquiry? 18. What reply was given to him by Philip? 19. What information did Andrew give? What question did he ask? 20. What preliminary arrangements for a meal were made? How many sat down?13 21. What did Jesus do with the small supply of provisions? 22. After the meal was finished, what command did he give? 23. What quantity of fragments remained? 24. What effect did this miracle have upon those who saw it? 1. His rejection by the Jews is still the theme of Christ's discourse with them, and he shows them that, although they pride themselves upon their study of the Scriptures, through their knowledge of which they expect to have salvation, yet they reject that very word when it is made flesh, and are “not willing” to come to him who is the Life both of the Scriptures and the believer. “The whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of creation . . . to the closing promise, ‘Behold, I come quickly,’ we are reading of his works and listening to his voice. If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures.” 2. “The Scriptures are unfolded, not so much to the intellect, as to the heart, of man. . . . The Bible is a sealed book, so far as its spiritual treasures are concerned, to the man who brings only his intellect to the study of it. . . . The intellect is but the handmaid to the heart in Bible study. . . . The Bible is a book addressed to the heart rather than to the head. . . . Men generally do not understand the Bible, because they seek to understand it with their heads, rather than with their hearts. The word of God is to be heard with our ears or seen with our eyes, but it is to be understood with our hearts.” 3. “Jesus came by the authority of God, bearing his image, fulfilling his word, and seeking his glory; yet the leaders in Israel did not recognize or accept him; but when others should come assuming the character of Christ, but actuated only by their own will, seeking their own glory, they would be received. And why?—Because the teachings of these pretenders were in harmony with the traditions and prejudices of the Jews. The Jewish leaders were destitute of the love of God; and while their hearts were filled with envy, prejudice, and self-righteousness, they could not distinguish the voice of God. They were not acquainted with God. To them his voice through Jesus Christ was the voice of a stranger. Does not the same danger still exist? Are there not still those, it may be even religious leaders, who, by indulging pride, self-righteousness, or prejudice, are hardening their hearts against the influence of God's Holy Spirit, and making it impossible for them to discern his voice? It is thus that many reject the messages of truth that God sends to them.” 4. “It is ‘a desert place’ (Mark 6:32); but this is simply the country as opposed to the city, an uninhabited place, and so there was ‘much grass’ there. Philip's liberal expenditure of money would only provide ‘a little’ for each one, but Christ's blessing upon, and ministry of, the little which they had, made it possible for all to be ‘filled.’ A little of this world's goods, with Christ, is better than all that the money of the world can buy, without Christ.” 5. The instruction in verse 12 is of general application. “Every gift of God is to be made the most of. Fragments of time, money, opportunity, influence, are not to be flung away, but used.” 6. This lesson brings out the truth that Christ is the Sustainer of spiritual life, as well as the Giver of it, and he would teach that he sustains this life by imparting himself. The full import of this miracle is set forth by Christ himself in his discourse upon the bread of life, which will be studied in later lessons. Suggestions for Further Study.
1. Christ said to the Jews, “Ye have not his word abiding in you,” and, “Ye have not the love of God in you.” How are the “word” and the “love” manifested in those who possess them? 2. God put his own name in Christ from the first (Heb. 1:8; Ex. 23:21; Isa. 9:6, etc.), and Christ “was manifested to take away our sins” (1 John 3:5), by manifesting that name (John 17:6) without which there is no salvation (Acts 4:12). That name written in our foreheads (Rev. 14:1) is a sign of the completed work. It is a fulfilment of the new covenant promise. Heb. 8:10. 3. Verse 44 brings out the lesson of “self-seeking a hindrance to faith.” 4. Were any delicacies, merely to please or to tempt the appetite, provided in this meal? 5. Compare the effect of this miracle upon the people with its effect upon the rulers.