The Bread of Life Promised BY JEAN JOUVENET, CALLED LE GRAND, A FRENCH ARTIST, DIED 1717. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man cat 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."-John, 6, 51. W HEN the ship of Jesus reached the shore near already news of His coming; and those whom He had left behind in the wilderness now came also streaming, with word of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. As the multitude clustered round, Jesus rebuked them sadly, saying: "Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled." This served to open one of His most earnest and solemn sermons, the substance of which is given in the sixth chapter of John. He was there, He told them, not to sustain them in idleness with bodily food but to give them divine teaching, the "bread of life," eating which, they should live forever. They clamored for a "sign," for bread such as Moses had given their ancestors; but instead of yielding, Christ responded in those mystic words, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." This promise, repeated in this sermon in many forms, was the first explanation of the sacrament of the "Eucharist," the bread and wine. Even many of those who had before believed in Jesus, were puzzled and bewildered now, by thoughts too high for them. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." LUKE XXII-PETER DENIES CHRIST 1649 52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 54¶Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. 63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. 66¶ And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, say ing, 67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.' 69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. 71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. Chapter 23 1 Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod. 8 Herod mocketh him. 12 Herod and Pilate are made friends. 13 Barabbas is desired of the people, and is loosed by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified. 27 He telleth the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem: 34 prayeth for his enemies, 39 Two evildoers are crucified with him. 46 His death. 50 His burial. ND the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. "nor let me go" is omitted in the Revised Version. 1650 LUKE XXIII- -JESUS BEFORE PILATE 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8 ¶ And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him: and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 13¶ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)1 18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 'This verse is omitted in the Revised Version. |