Body

There are two, slightly different, sermons on this page

27/7/03 : Trinity 6/Proper 12 -John 6:1-21

PRAY

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in every one of the four gospels, so it must be very important. We read of Jesus being both practical and spiritual. Practical in the way that he gets everyone to sit down, and he gets the disciples to give out the food and to gather up the left-overs. Jesus is spiritual in that he looks to God for the provision of more than enough food. Verse 11 says that he 'gave thanks'.

I don't know how many of us here give thanks to God at mealtimes ?
A five-year-old said grace at family dinner one night. "Dear God, thank you for these pancakes ..." When he concluded, his parents asked him why he thanked God for pancakes when they were having chicken. He smiled and said, "I just thought I'd see if He was paying attention tonight."

The way that God provides more than enough food for everyone shows the ample provision that God makes for people. Probably everyone of us here today has more than enough for our needs, although perhaps not us much as we might want. If you were to compare our standard of living to places such as Romania, where some people have no shoes, this shows us how rich we really are. This should lead us to be grateful to God. To thank him for providing us with food, shoes, and the other material and spiritual blessings that he gives us.
When I used to go to tea with my grandmother she used to make us eat all of our food. If we protested she would come out with one of her favourite expressions, 'Waste not, want not.' Jesus gets the disciples to gather the left-overs in large baskets usually used for putting fish in. This was a Jewish custom at the time. It is a demonstration that we are not to waste what God has given us abundantly. This applies to us as individuals, as a church, as a nation, as citizens of the world. God has provided enough food for all the people in the world, but those of us in the Western World eat most of it. Even though we account for less than a third of the world's population. God has given enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed. I have been encouraged by the collection of items for the Elizabeth Trust that continue to be given, and when we have had collections of food, clothing and shoes for Joe Smith to take to Romania.

Jesus and the disciples were near to Bathsaida when he fed the 5,000. This was Philip's home town. Jesus asks Philip in verse 5, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
Philip responds by concentrating on the physical and not the spiritual. Upon the need rather than the one who can meet our needs He says "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

There are links to the story of the Exodus, of Israel's deliverance and of the formation of the first Israel: the "mountain" where Moses met with God and received the law (vv. 3, 15, Sinai). Jesus' question to Philip and his answer (vv. 6-7, like Moses' question to God and God's answer - when God gives the people meat to eat), and feeding the crowd (vv. 11-13, like the gift of manna in the wilderness.) Philip thinks in material terms, as did Moses (v. 7), but Andrew, in contrast is more helpful, although still a little uncertain, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

They remind you of the two brothers who come downstairs on Christmas morning. They unwrap the first present. One of them is downcast and says, 'It's a bucket of horse manure !' The other one is delighted and starts rushing around. When asked why he said, 'Don't you see, there must be a horse around here somewhere !'
Do we, perhaps concentrate on the dung, rather than looking for the horse ?

This gospel account features different responses to Jesus who reveals himself by this sign. A sign points to someone or something. This sign points to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah or the Christ. We have the responses of Philip and Andrew. We also have the response of the crowd.

Initially, in verse 2 we read that they followed Jesus because of his healing ministry. They were following Jesus for the wrong reason. They were there for the 'buzz' of seeing a miracle, perhaps so they could impress there friends with the story. It was all about the experience, the emotions, the feel 'good' factor.

I wonder why we come to church ? Are we coming expectantly, looking to worship God, to pray, to share, to learn ? What we think makes a 'good service' ? Is this based on the feel-good factor alone ? Obviously it is great when that happens. But we should be wary of seeking an emotional experience at the expense of worship, prayer, and teaching. All of these things should, ideally play a part, but the major factor is our attitude. To God, worship, prayer, learning, the Bible, and church.

In the last two verses of our reading we see the response of the crowd again. This time to Jesus' miraculous provision of food, rather than his healing. Their response is in two areas, both of them concentrating on what they could get out of it.

One focuses on food. Verse 26 : Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill."

The second one focuses on what they perceived Jesus to be. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

The people misunderstand who Jesus is; they believe him to be "the prophet". In Deuteronomy 18:18, God tells Moses that he will raise a prophet like Moses who will speak what God commands. The Jewish people were, at this time desperately awaiting their Messiah. The anointed one from God who would deliver them. They expected that the prophet would, like Moses, repeat the miracle of providing manna or food in the wilderness. Jesus had just done this. The crowd thought that here was the Messiah who has come to deliver them from Roman rule in the same way that Moses delivered the Israelites from the rule of Egypt. They were ready to support Jesus by force. To do things their own way. But this was not God's plan, so Jesus left them.

God's plan was achieved not by inflicting violence on others, but by having violence inflicted upon Jesus. By Jesus suffering a long, slow, painful death, but also suffering separation from God the Father as he took upon himself the punishment that we deserve for our failure to live life God's way. Jesus has delivered God's people not from the domination of a foreign power. He has free us from the domination of sin and death. So we know longer follow our own selfish desires, and so we can have a right relationship with God.
Jesus sends the disciples ahead, by boat, back to Capernaum.

Verse 17: "dark": This symbolizes the lost and bewildered state of the disciples, "when Jesus had not come to them". Recall : "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it". Nicodemus comes "by night". In 8:12 Jesus says: "'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'

Verse 18: The terrain of the land around the Sea of Galilee renders it subject to sudden storms.

Verse 19: "Jesus walking on the water": This recalls God's control of the waters in the act of creation (Genesis ) and the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt by the miraculous crossing of the sea. It was through God's control over the sea that the first Israel emerged. John implies that Jesus is the new Moses; in the following verses, he is seen to be greater than Moses, for he has the power to bring forth the new Israel.

Sea represented confusion and disarray to the Jews. Jesus walking on the water shows his power and supremacy over the natural order. For God's power over the sea, see also Psalms.

Verse 20: "It is I": It being dark, Jesus may be merely identifying himself: the disciples would know his voice. But it is never safe to assume that John does not intend a deeper meaning, so perhaps we should see here another instance of Jesus identifying himself theologically, as the In v. 20, "It is I" translates the Greek phrase ego eimi - the words which God uses to identify himself to Moses in the Greek translation of Exodus 3:14. So Jesus is probably claiming to be God. After all, who but God could walk on water ?!
Verse 21: The disciples are lost at sea, and probably far off course (per the other gospels) but after Jesus appears, the boat "immediately" reaches "the land to which they were going". Probably this is another miracle.

John tells us about certain signs (of which these stories are two) which he hopes will encourage belief, be a starting point for understanding Jesus, and show Christ for who he is.

In today's gospel we have Jesus performing two miracles or literally 'signs'. We have two responses, that of the crowd, and that of the disciples. In John's account they are not rebuked for their lack of faith, so perhaps their response, of welcoming Jesus into the boat, contrasts to the reaction of the crowd.

The crowd wanted Jesus for their own interests. Healing when someone was ill. Food when they were hungry. Military victory when they were under a foreign power.

Whilst there are, undoubtedly, benefits in following Jesus, discipleship has to be selfless. I wonder why we follow Jesus ? I guess there is some selfish motive in some way if we are honest.

I wonder how much we receive, and how much we give ? If we are receiving a lot more than we give ?
Jesus said 'It is more blessed to give than receive' ( Acts 20:35 ). If we are not getting blessed maybe we are not giving enough.

Let us not follow the ways of the crowd. Of following Jesus for our own selfish motives. Let us follow the way of Jesus. Of choosing God's way. This is a way of sacrifice.

There are three areas that I feel we need to continue to be sacrificial in our church life.
Firstly, of using our time, energy, and gifts to serve God more.
Need more to be involved. Encouraged by 6 who joined me on Monday. Know everyone not physically able. Good to see most there are not at the centre of church life, even though most attend regularly.

Secondly, prayer.
Remember how Moses won the victory for the Israelites on the praying field and not the battlefield. Whilst he continued to hold up his hands in prayer the Amelakites were/enemy was being defeated. When he grew tired he was supported by Aaron and Hur.
If any progress is going to be made we need to pray passionately and persistently together. So people will come to Jesus. For Christians to grow spiritually. For Christians to serve sacrificially. For Christians to be holy.
Mention weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings.

Thirdly, money.
Encouraged by gift aid response & recent Tax refund of £2,200. Also payment of flat roof replacement. Cannot be complacent, still below budget this year to pay running expenses.

So as we sit here today let us think of who Jesus is. Of what he has done for us and of everything that he gives us. Let us consider also how he is calling each one of us to respond with our service, our prayers, and our money.

PRAY

B.C.P. Lent 4 - 30/3/03 8 a.m. John 6:1-14

PRAY

This is the only miracle recorded in every one of the four gospels, so it must be very important. Jesus and the disciples were near to Bathsaida when he fed the 5,000. This was Philip's home town. Jesus asks Philip in verse 5, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"

Philip responds by concentrating on the physical and not the spiritual. Upon the need rather than the one who can meet our needs He says "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Andrew, in contrast is more helpful, although still a little uncertain, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

They remind you of the two men in the pub, both of whom have drunk half of their beer. One sees the glass and declares it to be half empty, the other sees the glass and declares it to be half full. Perhaps we tend to look at the emptiness rather than our fullness at times !

Initially, in verse 2 we read that they followed Jesus because of his healing ministry. They were there because of the experience they would get from it. The eyewitness accounts they could give to their absent friends.

One focuses on food. Verse 26 : Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill."

The second one focuses on what they perceived Jesus to be. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 ( not in BCP ) Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

The Jewish people were, at this time desperately awaiting their Messiah. The anointed one from God who would deliver them. They expected that God would raise up a prophet like Moses who would repeat the miracle of providing manna or food in the wilderness. Jesus had just done this. The crowd thought that here was the Messiah who has come to deliver them from Roman rule in the same way that Moses delivered the Israelites from the rule of Egypt. They were ready to support Jesus by force. To do things their own way. But this was not God's plan, so Jesus left them.

God's plan was achieved not by inflicting violence on others, but by having violence inflicted upon Jesus. By Jesus suffering a long, slow, painful death, but also suffering separation from God the Father as he took upon himself the punishment that we deserve for our failure to live life God's way. Jesus has delivered God's people not from the domination of a foreign power. He has free us from the domination of sin and death. So we know longer follow our own selfish desires, and so we can have a right relationship with God. We focus on Jesus' sacrifice for us later in the service as we receive the bread and wine, symbolizing His body broken for us, and blood poured out for us.

The crowd wanted Jesus for their own interests. Healing when someone was ill. Food when they were hungry. Military victory when they were under a foreign power.

I wonder why we follow Jesus ? I guess there is some selfish motive in some way if we are honest.

I wonder how much we receive, and how much we give ? If we are receiving a lot more than we give ?

Jesus said 'It is more blessed to give than receive' ( Acts 20:35 ). If we are not getting blessed maybe we are not giving enough.

Let us not follow the ways of the crowd. Of following Jesus for our own selfish motives. Let us follow the way of Jesus. Of choosing God's way. This is a way of sacrifice.

There are two areas that I feel we need to be more sacrificial in our church life.

Firstly, of using our time, energy, and gifts to serve God more.

We were blessed at the Annual Meeting to have a full P.C.C. of 14 & 2 churchwardens. But we still need three people as Deanery Synod Representatives. Please pray about this and be open to God showing you who should serve him in these ways. Even be open to the fact 'it could be you' !

Secondly, prayer.

It is encouraging that we have over 30 people on the prayer clock every month, yet there are still spaces if any new folk want to join. We are only talking about a 20 minute commitment each month , although I am sure many people use the Prayer pointer Sheets at other times during the month. Of course, we have a weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings at Graham & Dorothy's.

So let us think of who Jesus is. Of what he has done for us and of everything that he gives us. Let us consider also how he is calling each one of us to respond with our service, our prayers, and our money.

PRAY