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The Sunday next before Advent
The
Collect.
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S
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TIR
up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they,
plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously
rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It is written, “Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew
4:4)
Today marks a transition in the
Church year from the longest season of Trinity (six months) which should remind
us of the symbolic conclusion of the whole Gospel fulfilled in Jesus Christ,
both according to the completed and sealed Word of God; and the season of
Advent that anticipates the coming of the Light of the World unto mankind. The
Reformation and Confessional Church of the old line yet observe this very
genuine revelation of Scripture throughout the year by each season representing
a different stage of biblical truth of Christ. The lectionary compels the minister
to preach, in an orderly and systematic approach, the full Gospel of Christ and
not pick and choose only those passages with which he is most familiar or likes.
In this way, the ministers grow in knowledge and truth along with His people.
Advent, which begins next Sunday,
heralds the coming of the Bread of Heaven to the people at Bethlehem. Once the
Bread of Heaven is made available to us, we must come to the Bread and partake.
Though there are many different kinds of earthly bread, even the leavened bread
of the Pharisees (false doctrine), there is only ONE Bread of Heaven. Today's Gospel demonstrates the people coming
for bread - some for the Bread that satisfies forever, and others for that
bread only that satisfies for the moment. The day will come when great
multitudes, instead of coming to Christ, will have Christ come in all of His
glory to them bearing the gifts of Bread and Light at His second Advent. The
big issues of life today are centered around which bread we choose - the bread
of the world, or the Bread of Life and Heaven. I do not always agree with the
writings of B.B. Warfield; however, I do most certainly agree with the
following quote from Mr. Warfield:
"Throughout
the Scriptures “light” is used as the designation of all that is of consummate
and unapproachable perfection, whether in the physical, intellectual, moral or
spiritual spheres. In contrast with the darkness of sorrow and peril we have
the light of joy and safety; in contrast with the darkness of death we have the
light of life; in contrast with the darkness of error we have the light of
truth; in contrast with darkness of sin we have the light of holiness; in
contrast with the darkness of destruction we have the light of salvation.
Physically, intellectually, ethically, spiritually, savingly, “light” is all
that is pure and true, bright and holy and blissful. And light is the heritage of the saints. It is the sphere in
which God lives, for we are to walk in the light as He is “in the light.”
What
does Advent Season mean to us? It not only means the coming of Light, but the
Presence of it as well. I discern little difference in the season of Advent and
Christmas since both are transcendent and immanent of the fulfillment of all
primitive hopes and longings of the human heart - and both point to the same
event (the first expectantly; the second consummately).
There
are many tabloid ministries and cheap novels today which make claims of
visitation of angels, visits to heaven and back, speaking personally with the
Lord over tea, or predicting the specific day and hour of the Second Advent.
How misguided and deceptive these cheap and deceitful additions to God's Word
(a thing abhorred by Heaven) are in reality. Many false prophets have plundered
the sheep's wool by such false claims and are likely the demonic agencies by
which many are turned from the Gospel truth. Some even believe they can delay
coming to terms with their salvation since they are told that Christ will not
return until such-and-such a date. What vulgarity and error! We are not taught
anyplace in Scripture the day and hour of Christ's return. He does not intend
us to know of it, else He would have told us. Salvation is not to be a matter
of speculation - it is needful to make our election sure immediately. See what
St. Paul says regarding the opportune time of salvation: 2 (For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is
the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:1-2)
If
our loved one comes down with a deadly illness, will we procrastinate
consulting a doctor for him? We will rush to the Emergency Care facility
nearest home for prompt treatment! Are we not all afflicted with a deadly
disease inherited from our father, Adam, and perpetuated by the carnal natures
of our own souls? We need immediate care since tomorrow is not promised. Christ
did not come in vain - He came to heal and to save. How careless if we reject
that life-saving cure of Christ for our souls as soon as we learn of it!
When
my little sisters, brother, and I were left at home while our parents went
shopping for groceries, they left us with more chores than we could possibly
complete. I did not understand their rationale until I had children of my own.
They gave us plenty to keep us busy at doing good things so we would not be
idly tempted to do the bad things. We were never given a specific time as to
when our parents would return, so we had to get the house in order immediately
and await their return. The same is true of our expectation of Christ. 36 But of that day and
hour knoweth no man, no, not
the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matt
24:36) So we must be in waiting for
the return of our Lord, King, and Savior. He may come for us today out on the
highway of life, or His coming may be our home-going when we fall asleep in our
Lord.
Today,
we study together the feeding of the multitudes on a paltry supply of bread -
that which is paltry in the hands of man is turned to abundance in the Hands of
Jesus:
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw
a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence
shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew
what he would do. 7 Philip
answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that
every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's
brother, saith unto him, 9 There is
a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are
they among so many? 10 And Jesus
said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much
grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when
he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them
that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto
his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain,
that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore
they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of
the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then
those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a
truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:4-14)
What a wonderful Season of the Church Year is Advent. All good things in the
lives of men – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Apostles, and us – begins with the
Coming of Christ, both spiritually and physically, to us. Having longed to see
the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Seed of Promise, Abraham hoped in the
Gospel of Christ and was blessed to see His Coming. Christ comes to us that we
may be enabled to come to Him. We see this truth enacted in today’s Gospel
sermon text. Those who hunger for Christ will find Him if even on the mountain
heights of the Galilean coasts. Those who hunger for Christ will
1.
Discover
(through the Word and Spirit) where He may be found;
2.
Leave the
place where that are presently (sin and error) and GO to Him;
3.
Not give
thought of what the morrow may bring, but trust in Him to provide their every
need;
4.
Be fed with
the Bread of Heaven.
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes,
and saw a great company come unto him This is most prophetic of that
company of souls that will come, over the expanse of centuries and millennia,
to Him in faith and trust. They shall come seeking that Bread of Life
which will satisfy eternally and not temporarily. They shall, on the day of
God’s own choosing – and not that of greedy spiritual speculators – come to
meet Him in the air, and not a mountain, on His glorious Second Coming. For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1
Thess 4:16-17)
Christ often challenges the faith of His chosen vessels just as He tests that
of Philip. Knowing the mind of Philip in His spiritual growth, Jesus asks: Whence shall we
buy bread, that these may eat? A lesser prophet than Christ once asked the
same question of God in the Wilderness: Whence
should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me,
saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. (Num 11:13) It is certain Christ wants us to know a greater
prophet than Moses stands before us. Without the presence and power of Christ, the world is in constant worry about
this matter sustenance. Shall we have bread to eat and raiment to wear? Of
course, the world takes the matter a step further: How can we enjoy the most
opulent of cuisine and the most fashionable and elegant raiment – delicacies
and raiment that will set us apart from the common people and that will exalt
us in our pride? The starving child on the backstreets of Calcutta does not
wish for delicacies, but only a morsel of bread to appease his gnawing hunger.
It is so because the starving child knows not of delicacies or of elegant
silken robes, but only his desperate NEED. So the sinner (rich or poor), when
he comes face-to-face with his depravity, can recognize no righteousness at all
in his feeble works, but starves for the Redemption made available in Christ.
Rather than the bread of wheat, he starves for the Bread of Heaven. This Bread
cannot be bought with money, so Christ gives Philip a thought to nourish his
soul.
Philip’s mind has not progressed to that perfection of understanding, as yet,
that might be expected from so close a disciple! Clearly, under the terms of
the world, a small fortune would be required to buy sufficient bread to feed so
many. There were many more than five thousand present for there were five
thousand men alone, plus women and children. Has Philip forgotten that He who
provides food and lodging for the sparrows of the field is in his presence? Philip answered him, Two hundred
pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take
a little. Two hundred pennyworth of bread would cost two hundred days of
wages - And when he had agreed with the labourers for a
penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard (Matt
20:2) And even at such an expense,
there would certainly be no leftovers for each would only “take a little.” All
of our labors and wages from our birth until now will not purchase a single
morsel of that Bread from Heaven. The combined wealth of the world would not do
so. It is a gift of pure Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There was one disciple among the lot who accepted that there was a mystery in
the Person of Christ that enabled Him to provide plenty from little of nothing.
He knew not the manner in which might do it, but he nonetheless believed that
the mystery would be realized even in a meager amount. God takes our talents
and multiplies them when we are willing to share them. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but
what are they among so many? What are five barley loaves among a
multitude so great, yet, Andrew suspected that Christ would use even a small
amount to supply a great need – and He did! Now, we must recognize the
innocence of youth in this circumstance. The little lad had labored to bring
his two fishes and five loaves over a great distance and even up the slopes of
the mountain. Were he a mature man of wisdom, he probably would have refused to
share so little claiming that it would not suffice so many hungers and,
moreover, he had the foresight to bring them for himself and it would be
consumed by him. But the little child has a heart that is closer to the Kingdom
of Heaven and has not grown calloused by the world. The child willingly shared
his small treat with the Lord. Though we have little, if we share what we have,
the Lord will multiply the gift an hundredfold, or more!
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.
The rubrics of the Prayer Book indicate
when we are to kneel, stand, or sit, and we must comply with each and every
rubric of the Prayer Book if we are able. The Lord expects all things to be
done in good order and, here, He is about to feed the multitudes with His
Bread. The Bread of the Prayer Book is the Sermon delivered from the Lectionary
appointed for the day. So the people sit to hear the Word preached. It is the
means by which faith is received and increased. So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) Contrary to the
Romanist approach, preaching takes precedence over every other act of worship
including Communion for, without the Word, Communion is meaningless. So Christ
asks that the men be seated to receive His blessing of Bread. When men receive
from the Lord, they do not stand in their own power as if they contribute to
His miracle. “Stop your labors, have a seat, and see the works of the Lord!”
The Lord will always comfort our needs in green pastures - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures (Psalms 23:2) Now there was much grass in the place
(vv 10), So the men sat down, in number about five
thousand. Obedience before the Lord comes most surely when men realize
their need. These men were hungry and were expectant that Jesus could, indeed,
feed them. They obeyed Him.
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he
had given thanks Here, Jesus gives us the perfect example to follow in
returning thanks for the blessings of Heaven. He never failed to thank His
Father in Heaven for every blessing of food and drink. Do we do so, Friends?
“….he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set
down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” Please observe a stark
lesson here for us. We do not serve ourselves at the Communion Rail, but kneel
reverently (according to the Prayer Book form of worship – and the Holy Bible)
to be served the Cup and the Bread. We do not innovate and do according to what
seems right in our own eyes, but serve according to the good order required.
The Lord allows His servants to have a hand in assisting in His important work.
They serve the bread, but the Bread is given by Christ – it is not their
own. We, as ministers, preach the Word, but the Word is His and not OURS! Note
also, that each person on the grassy slopes received as much as they wanted of
the bread and fish. The cupboard of the Lord has no bottom of blessings. There
will always be more than enough to satisfy our hunger. We must return to the
Bread Table daily for our “Daily Bread.”
When they were filled, he said unto
his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain,
that nothing be lost. Notice that
all were FILLED! You never come to the Lord hungry and go away hungry.
He fills you with the desperate need of your heart. Another important lesson in
this verse is the one of stewardship. We are to be good a faithful stewards in
the economy of resources with which God has blessed us. We are to use His
blessings of talents we receive in satisfying the hunger of those God has
placed in our hands (parents included) but we are to waste nothing! When
we travel field and forest to gather souls for Christ, our efforts do not end
at the early confession of faith – we must continue to teach and nourish the
soul in the Word so that the convert will grow strong spiritual bones and
muscles. We must not lose a single flower from the bouquet….that nothing be
lost!
Therefore they gathered them together,
and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which
remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Let us count the
balance sheet of the Lord here: there were a mere five loaves at the start. Now
the remnants taken up fill TWELVE BASKETS! Do you believe this is too
amazing? Do you believe that the Creation of the stars in the expanse of space
too amazing, or the earth with all of its wondrous beauty too amazing, or
billions of people – all with different faces and features – amazing? What is
so amazing that the Word which created all that has been created could multiply
a few morsels of bread into such an immense supply? He is able to likewise
multiply the smallest mite of the widow’s heart when given out of her need to
Christ! He is able to multiply that love scattered abroad from that heart
brimming over with the love of God so that the residue is always of plenty.
What is the result of receiving the blessed Bread of Heaven? How should our
hearts respond to so mighty a miracle as salvation, forgiveness, grace, and
faith? Then those men, when they had
seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that
should come into the world. Faith is confirmed from pillar to post when
we have tasted the Bread of Heaven. The multitude recognized that Christ was a
prophet of even greater miraculous power and virtue than Moses – their greatest
prophet beforehand. The LORD thy God will
raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto
me; unto him ye shall hearken (Deut 18:15) Christ is, indeed, that Prophet! In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with
God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men…… And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John
1:1-4,14)
Friend, believest thou this?
