July 30 Sermon: John Chapter 6 Part
I
The Feeding of the Five Thousand,
For the last several weeks we’ve been reading from St. Mark, but today
we’ve switched to John’s gospel. The
reading is familiar because it appears in all four gospels.
It’s an opportunity to observe how John’s gospel is different.
Mark doesn’t tell us when the event he records happened. John on the other hand noted “Now the
Passover, the festival of the Jews was near.”
Somehow the understanding of this miracle is related to the Passover,
that festival of deliverance.
While Mark’s gospel simply makes reference to “the disciples”, John is
more specific, by naming Philip and Andrew as the key figures. And only John tells us about a boy who
provides the loaves and fishes for this miracle.
All of that is typical of John’s style - it’s more like a first
personal account then the others.
Finally, John reminds us that the miracle is a “sign” – a sign that
points to something beyond the event – a sign that has some deeper
significance. A sign
that reveals who Jesus is - for us.
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The mother was cleaning up in the kitchen, and there was one small
remaining portion of tortellini. Her
six-year old son Jeremy asked for it so she gave it to him.
When her eight-year old son saw that, he decided he wanted some
too. Naturally some bickering began.
She wanted to encourage Jeremy to share his portion with his brother,
so she decided to take a theological approach, asking “Jeremy, what would Jesus
do?”
His immediate response was, “Jesus would make lots more.”
That’s what Jesus did in today’s gospel – and also
remember that first miracle in
John’s story of Jesus. At that wedding in Canna, when
they ran out of wine, Jesus made lots more wine – very good wine at that.
Where ever Jesus is, there is abundance – not shortage. Abundance- extravagance -is a sign of the
kingdom –
and a sign of God’s love for us. For
Jesus knows us - knows our true needs and came that we might have life – and
have it in abundance.
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On several occasions during his ministry, Jesus held up children as an
example. Today’s gospel gives us an
example of a “child-like faith”. Adult
calculation is contrasted with child-like trust.
Philip provides the typically adult approach to things. Jesus points to the need – “Where will we buy
bread for these people to eat.”
Philip responds “Six months wages would not buy enough for each of
them to get a little.” By adult
calculation, the situation is impossible – we can’t do it.
It’s important to note that Philip is not wrong. His position is reasonable and entirely
realistic. But he is not
presented as the example from the story.
Instead it’s an anonymous
little boy who steals the show. Andrew
brings him to Jesus. This little boy was
innocent enough to contribute his small lunch to meet the multitude’s
need. Andrew, the adult, asked “What
good is his lunch when we’ve got so many to feed?”
But the naïve boy doesn’t ask that adult question. The child simply thinks: Jesus says they need
bread, so I’ll offer him my lunch.
While Philip realistically accessed the situation – he turned out to be
wrong. By the time Jesus finished, all had eaten and there were plenty of
leftovers. Philip had not factored in
faith in the power of God. He under estimated Jesus.
The little boy simply trusted Jesus to handle the situation. He offered what he had – and left it up to
Jesus.
Do the best you can and leave the rest to Jesus.
Child-like faith is essential for Christians.
Like a child we can be open to the possibilities – knowing that God is not
limited to what we can reason or imagine. We can acknowledge that there is a
power beyond ourselves – beyond what we can understand.
We can stand in awe and wonder
before the mighty power of God – realizing that with God all things are
possible. Simply trusting in the
Lord, who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish
abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine. Ephesians
3:20
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John noted that this miracle took place near the time of the Jewish
festival of Passover. That’s a detail
that reinforces the meaning of the miracle.
At the time of first Passover centuries before, some slaves in
On the other hand, they could choose not to believe what Moses said
about the power of God – and just remain in
At Passover the descendants of the liberated slaves celebrated their
deliverance – their redemption by the power of God. It was a reminder that God could choose to do
the impossible.
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Just in case you have some doubts about the feeding being related to
Passover, there’s a second
sign – deliverance by passing through the water.
Just as the first people of God passed through the sea, the disciples
are delivered safely through the storm by Jesus power.
It was also a reminder that benefiting from that power required faith –
trust in God’s word. At the Exodus,
those who didn’t trust and obey were left behind in
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The miracle is a sign that both points back to the first Passover and
also ahead.
For the reader of the gospel, that reference to Passover should also
bring to mind another Passover celebration – Jesus’ last meal with his disciples
before His crucifixion.
During the meal, Jesus reinterpreted the festival. From now on, he said, instead of remembering
the deliverance from slavery in
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The feeding of the five thousand is a sign that points to Jesus’
last supper and also ahead to future Christian gatherings - meals with Jesus by
the power of God. We can see that
miracle reflected in our worship.
Like them we have gathered to listen to Christ’s teaching. Then as on that day, after the teaching there
will be prayers - prayers that Christ would heal those who are seek - prayers
for all in any need.
Jesus’ disciples looked in the crowd for bread - and presented
to him the boy’s five loaves and two fish.
In the same way, the ushers will bring forward a loaf and some
wine. By the way, in the ancient Coptic
communion services, the ushers bring forward five small loaves at the time of
the offering - so that the congregation will always remember the link between
what they were doing and the feeding of the five thousand.
Then, Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks... 6:11
So we give thanks using the formal introduction to a prayer of
thanksgiving from the Jewish tradition - The Lord be with you - Let
us give thanks to the Lord our God - and then a
long prayer based on one of the Passover prayers, but modified to remember
Jesus. The bread is broken and then
distributed. Jesus feeds us with the
bread of heaven as he fed the multitude on that day.
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The Passover, the feeding of the five thousand, the Last Supper - in
each God’s power was exhibited. In the
Eucharist we acknowledge a power beyond ourselves - a reality that is beyond
what we can see.
With a child-like faith - with awe and wonder - we believe that Christ
is present among us. Although we can
not comprehend how, we simply trust His promise that he comes to us personally
as we kneel to receive communion. We
come not only for forgiveness, but for renewal - the strength to walk in
His way and serve in his name.
In faith, we trust His promise to love us and forgive us, for he knows
and values us as His children.
I pray that from His glorious unlimited resources, he
may grant that you be strengthened in your inner being with
power through His Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith. Ephesians 3:16