American Loon

We continue with John 6, where the people had observed the signs of His feeding of a great many, possibly up to 20,000 souls. They were impressed, how could they not be? Where in their lives had they encountered anything close to this? As such they declared “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14)

You might think this was good news, the people recognizing something extraordinary in their midst. Most if not all knew about John the Baptist and his saying he is not the Christ but repent now for the Christ coming. (John 1:19-23)

If they had paid attention to the Rabbis in the synagogues, they would have known and expected the Lamb of God to soon be among them. (John 1:29) From this last event, where so many had been fed with just a few loaves and fishes, this looked like their long predicted King had finally come. (Isaiah 9:6–7)

However, this was not what Jesus wanted. For people to see a great event and then proclaim Him to be King. Jesus knew what was in their hearts, just as He knows what’s in our hearts. You can fool those around you with what you say, but God knows what’s in your heart. Remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They sold some property because there had been a great upwelling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of many:
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 5:32-35)

Ananias and Sapphira felt moved and did what others had done, (Acts 4:36-37) but since their hearts were not involved, only their heads, which is the very reason for virtue signalling, they did something truly foolish. Shallow believers think that they can just dip their toes into the righteous waters and that will be good enough. How is it with you? Do you feel drawn to obey God or is it a “do it because that’s what good people do” kind of thing? There is a lot of that going around. God truly knows what’s on your heart so it matters not what you say to anyone, only what you say to the Father. The two who sold property did so because others had done it and they were thought well of. Wanting what Barnabas had received, and to be honored like he had been, but also not wanting to give everything, but keep some back. Keep in mind, there were no rules to giving, just like now. Give what you can, that’s what God asks. But be honest about it. They were not and Peter caught them out. (Acts 5:5-6, 10-11) The young men that did odd tasks for the Disciple were very busy that day.

What have we learned? Hopefully not that you will drop dead if you are dishonest with your Creator, however fear of He who created you is a good thing as stated here: So the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. Deuteronomy 6:24

The problem that Jesus had with these people who saw what He did and then were working themselves up to make Him King is it was head knowledge. They had not repented, they were not contrite with the knowledge of their sins. The same thing with Ananias and Sapphira, they were trying to ride in on the honor given to Barnabas. The problem we have is a lack of commitment and honesty with our heart. We know the right and wrong of things as it is written into our hearts. (Hebrews 10:16–17) God wants our whole self to belong to Him, not a shallow, you pray to Him when you’re in trouble, kind of commitment. Jesus wanted these people following Him around to repent and be committed to Him. But it seems they were content to just be followers and you’ll find in scriptures what Jesus thought of that. (Luke 9:23, John 15:5-8, Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:25-35)

When these people were talking about what He had done and were thinking about making Him king, Jesus withdrew to the mountain, alone. He didn’t even bring the disciples with him. (John 6:15) What we are seeing right now in our country, God withdrawing from us. John MacArthur said in a sermon a week or so ago that sin makes us stupid. This is a proverb for our time. Look at what is going on in your life and remove the sin from it. That’s not just a good idea, it’s the Law. Exodus 20, read it if you haven’t and again if you have. Then start in the New Testament, anywhere really and see where sin made people stupid, think Ananias and Sapphira, and where God made simple fisherman into Disciples of the Lamb of God. Consider it homework for the soul. None of us knows the span of our days and when we are dead, we can no longer repent and come to Christ. Don’t be stupid. It is the kindest thing that can be said to you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Rom. 15:13

All Glory to God the Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ

We are now into John chapter 6 and it starts out “After these things.” Jesus had been in Jerusalem, doing signs and wonders and had run into the Pharisees who had taken issue with Him healing a man on the sabbath. We know from Mark 2:27, Jesus had said “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” 

From Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The sabbath is a sacred and Divine institution; a privilege and benefit, not a task and drudgery. God never designed it to be a burden to us, therefore we must not make it so to ourselves. The sabbath was instituted for the good of mankind, as living in society, having many wants and troubles, preparing for a state of happiness or misery. Man was not made for the sabbath, as if his keeping it could be of service to God, nor was he commanded to keep its outward observances to his real hurt. Every observance respecting it, is to be interpreted by the rule of mercy.

Why then were the Pharisees making a big deal of this? God’s original commands were the 613 laws of Moses (called “Torah”) that guided the ancient nation of Israel.

The Mishnah was an oral tradition of commentary on the Mosaic Law that introduced additional, man-made rules that “built a fence” around the Mosaic Law so people wouldn’t even come close to breaking God’s commandments.

The Pharisees were concerned with keeping these additional commandments and especially with having the outward appearance of keeping them.

These Pharisees took it upon themselves to add to God’s law, to “build a fence around” what Moses had written. Jesus had warned them of their hypocrisy: Matthew 23:27-28 What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Like the virtue signallers of today, they would brook no disagreement with their rules, it just incited them all the more. Just like today. A sane person would wonder why we keep repeating the same mistakes. 

So, after these things, Jesus moved up into the area of Galilee, near Tiberias. (John 6:1) By now, large crowds of people had been attracted to Him. “They saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.” (John 6:2) He and His disciples went up on the mountain to sit. (John 6:3) It was the time of Passover which depends on the new moon and the date varies a bit. This year, 2021, it would be March 27th to April 4th. Early spring and we know it is the celebration of Moses leading his people out of Egypt. (Exodus 12) 

All of which means there are large crowds of people, many following Jesus, attracted to the spectacle of what He could do, and others coming for the Passover celebration. 

Jesus saw the large crowd coming to Him and asked Philip “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” Philip was from Bethsaida which is on the North end of the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were also from the same town. Now I don’t know if it was because Philip was sitting closest to Jesus or Jesus had a particular lesson in mind for Philip when He asked him where they were going to get food to feed this crowd. Can you imagine the look on Philip’s face when heard what he heard from this Son of God? The scripture says that it was to test him, (John 6:6) so that answers that question. Have you been tested by God? I know I certainly have. If you are aware enough to know you are being tested by God, you should be aware enough to know that these tests are to strengthen us, to refine us, to make us more holy because God is holy.

Philip, probably still marveling at the question, gives room for his doubts to be spoken out loud. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” (John 6:7) Andrew was probably standing nearby and had a more hopeful suggestion. “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9) Okay, not real hopeful with that last part of his suggestion, but maybe he was wondering what this Son of God was up to. They had all seen things that were well beyond what their imaginations could dream up. This rabbi they were compelled to follow had done signs and wonders and had drawn this huge crowd… 

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” This was an area of much grass and so the men sat down and they numbered 5000. (John 6:10) Yes, I am aware of the argument of only counting men. It was just what they did and they were consistent with it. Nobody believes it was just men following Jesus, it was families with kids in tow. Many bible scholars believe the actual number fed that day could have been 15,000–20,000 people.

With a large number of hungry people sitting in the grass before Him, Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. (John 6:11)

They ate until they were filled, of the bread and fish. Jesus told His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” (John 6:12)  So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:13) Up to 20,000 people had just eaten their fill of a couple of barley loaves and a few fish and there were leftovers. Grace upon grace, John 1:16. What’s abundantly clear is that, when we come to Christ, He dishes out grace in heaping, huge servings, with leftovers. 

When the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:14) The people said it, with their bellies full. One hopes that they truly believed that in their hearts. 

So, how is it with you in this day of virtue enforcers? Are you thankful and willing to share that with those around you? Even with those who scold you for not wearing a mask or not staying 6 feet apart? It is hard to be nice to someone who is not nice to you, but what did Christ do? What did He tell us? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:39) Neighbors are sometimes not very nice people. Neither were the Pharisees. Think of them as prisoners of war, captured by satan and made to follow him. Would that change your opinion of those unpleasant to you? The fields are white and ready to harvest. (John 4:35) Surely, those are not all pleasant people. There is a very good reason that Christ focused on Love. I want you to think about that. Love conquers all, satisfies all of the law. Ask God for more love in your heart, to love those that don’t love you. Ask Him for greater understanding of what that Love is. And then act upon it. What Jesus did for those many people was done out of love. Love does not separate, but draws together. Work with what God has blessed you with and remember He dishes out grace in heaping, huge servings. Share that with others and reap the blessing of your obedience to God.