We are fortunate to have a sermon from the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church of Franceand the Administrative Coordinator of Europe and Africa. As you will read, he is an excellent writer. The sermon is easy to read and provides much insight.
SERMON for the 4th Sunday of Lent
Galatians 4:21-31; John 6:1-14
THE CITY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD
When the Son of God becomes a man, it is natural that a misunderstanding arises about Him, so unaccustomed are earthly or worldly men to rub shoulders with an envoy from Heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ played on this misunderstanding during the three years of His public ministry. He never ceased to give signs and proofs of His heavenly identity, while constantly avoiding allowing Himself to be enthroned on the earthly throne of His ancestor, King David. However, Christ is waiting for the hour of His trial to reveal His true identity; first before Caiaphas, then before Pilate, for He knows that His passport to the Kingdom of God is such as to bring upon Him the incomprehension, jealousy, and wrath of unbelieving men. See Him before Caiaphas, the High Priest (Matthew 26:63-66): “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.” Their reaction is violent, but predictable, and that is why Jesus waited until His time had come to declare Himself “the Son of God, the Messiah.” Caiaphas then sent Jesus to Pilate, who alone had the right of high justice over Him, as the representative of the civil authority in Judea occupied by the Roman power. Here He is now before Pilate (John 18:36-37): To Pilate, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” My friends, are you of the Truth? Do you hear the voice of the Lord saying to you, “My kingdom is not of this world... now is my kingdom not from hence.”? Do you believe that this Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea, rejected by the leaders of His time and crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, is truly the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, and the only begotten Son of the Father, God made man?
Do you really believe that there is an eternal Kingdom in Heaven, of which our Father is King, and where a special place is reserved for each of us who have been chosen by God and who believe in Him? Yet it is to tell us this that Christ came to walk in the land of the Jews, at the risk of being mistreated, rejected and nailed to a vulgar wooden cross by pagan strangers, enemies of the Jews and of their God: the Eternal, the only living and true God; the one God Creator and Redeemer; the only One worthy of praise and glorification, and above all the only One who loves us and proves it by coming Himself to give His body to death and then rise again, thereby proving that He truly is the living and true God, the Almighty. Behold, then, this almighty God Stoop Himself to descend onto earth to visit us, to teach us, and to redeem us by snatching us from the clutches of the Evil one! He takes on the mantle of a man, this new Adam who has come to make amends for the fault of our first ancestor. Because there is no forgiveness without reparation. This is the very logic: what has been damaged must be repaired in order for the crime to be forgiven. To suffer a penalty of mortification is not enough. It is necessary to restore to its original state any damaged item that can still be repaired. And that's what Christ did: He didn't just suffer the punishment deserved by our sin; He has opened the gates of Heaven to us, making His elect subjects of the Kingdom of Heaven in their own right, even now, in hope, and for eternity, with direct access to the Father, by means of that red telephone that is called: prayer (Ephesians 2:15-19): “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” More than reparation and restoration, Christ offers us promotion in His Kingdom by making us His brothers by adoption of the Father.
But don't think that those who betrayed and killed Jesus Christ were atheists! They were Jews serving the true God, and Romans serving false gods. Do not imagine that they eliminated Jesus Christ by handing Him over to the executioners because they did not believe that He was the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah! On the contrary, they knew that Christ was the famous Messiah-God, but they did not want to humble themselves before Him; they did not want to give up their privileges as a ruling caste; they preferred to serve themselves than to serve Him.
They were even the first to believe in the resurrection of our Lord, before the Apostles themselves (Matthew 28:11-15): “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Their first reaction was therefore to believe in the resurrection of Christ, as if they had expected it - and that is why they had the tomb where the body of Jesus was locked up guarded - and their first action was to invent an official lie by buying the silence of the witnesses of the event at a price of money. Matthieu makes us understand through this paid omerta that the elite had a mafia-like behavior, as is often the case when a caste remains in power for too long.
The pagan Romans even believed in Jesus Christ before all these upper-class men, even before the resurrection of our Lord (Matthew 27:54): “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” This officer was right to fear God, and he is a colleague to that other Roman officer whose dialogue with Jesus is worth listening to (Luke 7:2-9): “And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Note that if the Roman officer believed in Jesus, the "Elders of the Jews" - the elite - found it quite natural to intercede for this officer with Christ, as if He were God...
On the other hand, the little people of the Hebrews who had been called to repentance and baptized by John the Baptist, followed Jesus wherever He went, for they had clung to the One who had saved them from their sicknesses, delivered them from their demons, and forgiven them their sins (John 6:2): " A great crowd followed Him, because the people saw the miraculous signs that He made on the sick "; (John 6:8-14): “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? 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. 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. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, 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. 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.”
Seeing this miracle, and to use Caiaphas' expression, we could say (Matthew 26:65): “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.” By doing the works that only God can do, Christ places Himself as the Son of God, in deed as well as in words. And this displeases the elite because they have taken the wrong side: that of religious power, rather than that of service to God and His beloved creatures. But Christ goes away in order to avoid any misunderstanding about Himself (John 6:15): “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Christ thus prevents the crowd from using Him, which would be a reversal of roles: We are here to serve Him, we who have been called, chosen and predestined for this one purpose! There are therefore two kinds of humans on earth: on the one hand, those who use God, always asking Him to bless them, to heal them but not to govern them; and on the other side there are those who are willing to serve Him.
Paul explains this to the Galatians that we may well be, by means of a comparison between the sons of Sarah by Isaac, and those of Hagar by Ishmael. Hagar was Sarah's slave, and as a slave, she did not inherit the promise made to Abraham at Mamre, unlike the son of the promise Isaac was (Galatians 4:22-23): “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.” And Paul draws a parallel between the Old Covenant (Hagar and Ishmael have only the Law, in the absence of a divine promise) and the New Covenant: Sarah and Isaac (Galatians 4:24-26): “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.5For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Thus, Ismailis are slaves to the Law (the Sharia), while Jews and Christians are free from the Law, being in the benefit of God's grace (but they are not without the Law - the Ten Commandments - which they observe in their lives to please God). This is what Paul then clarifies (Galatians 4:28... 31): “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” The children of the promise are those who benefit from it by faith, that is we, the believers in Jesus Christ the Son of God, our only Lord and Savior.
And Paul puts back in their du place the disbelievers of all kinds, even Jews, those who believe but refuse to submit and serve God in Christ, like Satan the rebel against God “Non serviam - I shall not serve” and all those who, following him, want to have no "God or Master", such as Free Masons. And if only they would just rebel against the Lord, what a good thing! But they do not cease to persecute Jews and Christians, the latter being the true heirs of Abraham through Sarah and Isaac by the Spirit of God, from the time of Abraham to the present day (Galatians 4:29): “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” And to our misfortune, “… It is written: ... the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. [Sarah]” (Galatians 4/27a & c). And Paul invites us to the joy of the children of the promise made to Abraham and Sarah (Isaiah 54/1a... 3… 8): "… “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child! … For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited ... In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Yes, we are the people of the redeemed, the tribe of Abraham, the children of the Father; and His promises are for us who believe in Him and serve Him night and day, in prayer of praise and worship. Amen.
Rt. Rev. Yves Méra, AOC Bishop of France
Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
Fourth Sunday in Lent
In our liturgy of the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, we find the following Words of Institution given us by our Lord: do this in remembrance of me. We will also see his words regarding the same when he said, this is my body and this is my blood. Bishop Ryle once observed that, “The conduct of the disciples at the Lord's Supper forbids us to believe that the bread they received was Christ's body and the wine Christ's blood. They were all Jews taught from their infancy that it was sinful to eat flesh with the blood (Deut. 12:23-25). Yet they were not startled by our Lord's words as if they perceived a change in the bread and wine. Our own senses forbid us to believe that there is any change in the bread and the wine. Our own taste tells us that they are really and literally what they appear to be. Things above our reason the Bible requires us to believe, but not what contradicts our senses. Our Lord's true human nature forbids us to believe that his body can be in more than one place at one time. If our Lord's body could sit at table and at the same time be eaten by the disciples it is perfectly clear that it is not a human body like our own. But this we must not allow for one moment. It is the glory of Christianity that our Redeemer is perfect man as well as perfect God. The language in which our Lord spoke made it quite unnecessary to interpret his words literally. The Bible is full of similar expressions. Our Lord spoke of himself as a door and a vine so we know that he used emblems and figures to describe himself. There is therefore no inconsistency in his using figurative language in instituting the Supper.”
What Bishop Ryle has written concerning the Lord’s Supper is based upon the very words of God. We cannot escape the fact that in our eating of the bread and drinking of the cup we are memorializing our Lord’s death and sacrifice—remembering his passion and giving thanks for his free gift of grace to us.
Now examine the words of our Lord in St. John 6:51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat 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. Think about what he said. It is akin to what he said to Nicodemus about being “born again”. We therefore partake of him after a spiritual sense not in a physical one. St. Paul clarified the same in the epistle of Hebrews when he noted, For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (9:24-28).
Indeed, we are partaking of the Lord’s body and blood, but after a spiritual manner. Nevertheless, the reality of his spiritual presence requires us to self-judge and confess our sins and trespasses BEFORE we eat of that bread and drink of that cup. St. Paul warned the Corinthian church in his first epistle not to take lightly their participation in the Holy Communion when he wrote, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (11:26- 27). Given what we have read from Scripture we may conclude that nothing done in our worship of the Godhead should be considered mundane or trivial, and that includes our participation in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. God expects 100% participation and 100% understanding on our part as regenerated believers for the simple reason that he has supplied us with such detail within the pages of Scripture.
So when we hear the words of The Invocation (page 81 of the BCP), that we be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him, we understand that we are joined with our Lord via the Holy Ghost who resides within every born-again believer. So it follows that in our partaking of the communion elements, we are affirming the very presence of our Saviour within us. Holy Communion then is more than just a memorial feast, it is a spiritual linking of ourselves to our Lord.
The living bread has come into the world and has given us the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Our duty then is to break the bread and to drink from the cup until his coming again when he will both eat and drink with us at that marriage supper of the Lamb prior to his return in glory, for as the Scripture reads, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10) .
Our duty as Christians has ever been to proclaim the word of God to others, and to live in obedience to God’s will for us. But in order to do those things we must possess a proper understanding of whom we are worshiping and how we are to worship. We ought to be discerning with regard to our worship, our work and our walk in this life. If God is our helper, then we ought to lean on him and trust in him. The faithless, the foundering, the disobedient, and the hypocritical are those who will hide behind the mask of Christianity and use it for their purposes; while the true and faithful Christian will don the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11), keeping himself under control and in the Spirit, living and even dying in obedience to God’s word. To be born-again of the Spirit means to live for Christ and to accept him as Saviour and Lord. We who have been regenerated in him believe that he is that living bread; we believe that he is our good Shepherd; we believe that he will come again in glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end (Nicene Creed).
Jesus Christ came from a city which meant “house of bread.” He came to bring us more than the simple sustenance for our earthly bodies, but the eternal sustenance of God. He came that we might have life and in abundance. It is my prayer for each of you, that you will come to the Lord’s Table today and partake of Jesus Christ as that living bread, and that prior to your coming, you would confess your sins and trespasses to God in his name. It is not enough to attend church, sing a hymn or two and them walk away without seeking him who came to make us whole and to bring us into the beloved. We must honor our Lord out of a willing, broken and contrite heart that daily seeks his pardon. God has called us to himself and we have answered in the affirmative, so then let us do all that he has commanded in his word written that we might receive God’s peace and be blessed in every good word and work.
Let us pray,
Father, as we have received eternal life through thine only begotten Son, assist us in our service to thee, that in all things we will do our duty on thy behalf; for this we ask in Christ’s most holy name. Amen.
Have a Blessed Week.
Bryan+
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have this sermon today from the Rev. Don Fultz of St. Peter's AOC, Statesville, NC
Fourth Sunday in Lent
St John 6. 1-14
Feeding the 5,000
In the Gospel passage this morning, St. John gives us an account of one of Jesus’ greatest miracles, the feeding of the 5,000 or commonly known as the “miracle of the five loaves and two fish”. These verses describe one of our Lord’s most remarkable miracles. Of all the great works that He did, none was done so publicly as this, and before so many witnesses. It is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels (Matt. 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:11-17, John 6:1-14) with the exception of Christ’s resurrection. Whereas the basic facts in all four Gospels are similar, there are some differences in the detail that are included. It is interesting to note that only John’s Gospel tells us where the loaves and fish come from- a lad who had brought them.
John normally does not repeat miracles recorded in other Gospels. In fact, John includes only seven of Jesus miracles in his Gospel. ohn most likely included this account of the feeding of the 5,000 to provide additional information that was not recorded in the other three Gospels. John’s recording of this miracle showed the creative power of Christ and was a prelude to Jesus’ discussion about Him being the “Bread of Life” and God providing “Manna from Heaven” in the remaining verses of Chapter 6. The purpose of John’s Gospel is to show that Jesus is the Messiah, Son of God in human form, so the signs in John’s version of the feeding of 5,000 are designed to show God at work in the lives of his people.
Background Information:
(1) Location: The miracle takes place in a remote desert wilderness area in a mountain area overlooking the sea of Galilee.
According to Luke’s account (Luke 9:10), it was near the city of Bethsaida which is located on the North East side of the sea.
(2) When did it occur? In the Spring time near the Jewish Passover approximately one year before the crucifixion of Christ!
(3) People healed and fed were predominately Jewish.
(4) So why is Jesus going up into the mountain on this occasion?
Two thoughts. Matthew’s account tells us Jesus had just received the sad news of the death of John the Baptist beheaded by Herod. Maybe He needed some time to grieve alone. Also, Mark tells us His disciples had just returned from their ministry trip. So some rest and sharing of information would be necessary. Moreover, Jesus decides to take his disciples to this remote mountain wilderness area to find some solitude and get some rest and time to spend with his disciples.
However, we are told that as soon as they had arrived via boat, they were met by a great multitude! Wow! What a surprise! It seemed that people from all of the surrounding villages had heard and followed them on foot. So why was this great crowd of people following Jesus? John tells us in verse 6-2 “because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased”
There were three reasons why Jesus performed miracles:
1. Out of compassion
2. As a sign of his identity…the Messiah, Son of God (John 14:11)
3. To teach important lessons
Did Jesus turn the people away? No. He began to teach and heal them! Mark 6:34 tells us, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things”
Luke says, “and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:11). Jesus was always concerned about teaching. John 6:45 tells us “It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man that had heard, and hath learned of the Father, commeth unto me.”
Matthew’s account says, “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick,” (Matt. 14:14) Luke says, “and healed them that had need of healing.” (Luke 9:11)
Matthew’s account (14:15) then tells us it was approaching evening, so the disciples came to Jesus, and wanted to send the crowd away so they could reach the surrounding villages before dark and buy themselves victuals (food.) But Jesus said to them in Matt 14:15, “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.” Let us now look at St. John’s account in more detail. John tells us in 6:3, “Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.” Then John tells us in 6:5 “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? “We are told in verse 6:6 that Jesus said this “to prove him; for He Himself knew what he would do.” Then Philip answered Him, in 6-7 “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them take a little.” Two hundred pence was the equivalent of 8 months wages in Jesus days for a common worker.
It may have been all of their funds on hand –yet still were insufficient to buy enough bread to feed everyone.
Jesus asked the question to Philip to test his faith. Also, because he lived in the area of bethsaida… about 9 miles away. However, they were in a remote area, miles away from the nearest village to buy bread.
They would have to travel a great distance to buy bread but still would not have enough financial resources to feed everyone. Also, how many stores or bakeries have enough bread on hand to feed 5,000 hungry men. While Financial resources are important, sometimes they are not the most important consideration. A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.
Then in verses 6:8,9 we are told “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?” We are not talking about 5 large loaves of bread as common today but rather 5 small loaves, each about the size of a biscuit. The fish were also very small –all fit in the Lad’s small lunch basket.. Didn’t sound like Andrew was very confident, when he said “but what are they among so many?” Did Christ need the lad’s scant offering to feed everyone? No. He is the same God that created the universe out of nothing just with a word and said let there be light and there was light. (Gen 1:3) But it pleases the Lord when we give, even small offerings so they can be multiplied one hundred fold. He wanted to reward the young lad for his generosity.
Then in John 6:10, “Jesus said, Make the men sit down.” “Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about 5,000.”
Mark’s gospel says they sat down in ranks by hundreds and fifties. God wants everything to be done in an orderly manner. St. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Then in John 6:11 we are told: “And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”
We should always give thanks to God for the bountiful gifts he gives us especially before each meal. St. Paul tells us in 1st Thess. 5:18 “In everything give thanks; For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Miraculously, the bread and fish were multiplied in the hands of Christ after He gave thanks. It is interesting to note the other Gospel writers say, the bread and fish were broken before given to the disciples. This gives us a picture of the “Last Supper “that Christ had with his disciples before his death. Matthew’s account says “they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” (Matt 14:21). Some bible scholars say those that were fed could have been up to 10,000 or more.
Then John tells us in 6:12-13, “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. (12) 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.” (13) St. Mark “s account states “they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.” (Mark 6:43) So the fish had to be miraculously multiplied as well as the bread. No one left hungry as all were filled. Matthew Henry tells us the left over baskets was to manifest and magnify the miracle and to show that the provision Christ makes for those who are His are not bare and scanty but rich and plenteous.
Then in verse 6:14 John tells us “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.”
The crowd realized no man could have performed this miracle. Jesus was indeed the Messiah that Moses and others had prophesized in the Old Testament. What lessons can we learn from this Gospel text and miracle?
First of all, we have a lesson in Compassion. Jesus knew that the great majority of the crowd following him were just curiosity seekers and most of them would probably never become His disciples. Yet, when He saw them sick, hungry and destitute, He had pity on them, and not only healed them but fed them. Jesus would not allow their needs to go unmet and He would not allow them to walk away without caring for them. Yes, Jesus has a special love, beyond doubt, for his own believing people. But He also has a general love of compassion even for the unbelievers and the evil. St. Paul tells us in Ephesian 3:19: “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” As Christians we should strive to live our lives after the pattern of Christ. We should love our neighbors as ourself…second greatest commandment. We should show our love and compassion for others…even our enemies.
Second of all, we have a lesson about Christ’s almighty power. We see our lord feeding five thousand men, plus women and children with only “five small barley loaves and two small fish.” We see clear proof that a miraculous event took place in the “twelve baskets of fragments” that remained after all that had eaten. Creative power was manifestly exercised. Food was called into existence that did not exist before.
Last of all, we have in this miracle, a lesson about the sufficiency of the Gospel for the needs of all mankind. We see the Lord Jesus supplying the hunger of a huge multitude of Five Thousand Men plus women and children. The provision seemed, at first sight, utterly inadequate for the occasion. To satisfy so many craving mouths with such scanty portions, in such a wilderness, seemed impossible. But the miracle showed that there was enough and left overs to spare. There was not one who could complain that He was not filled.
There can be no doubt that this was meant to teach the adequacy of Christ’s Gospel to supply the necessities of the whole world. Weak, feeble, and foolish as it may seem to man, the simple story of the cross is enough for every one in every part of the globe. The tidings of Christ’s death for sinners, and the atonement made by that death, is able to meet the hearts and satisfy the consciences of all nations, peoples, kindreds, and tongues. When carried by faithful messengers, it feeds and supplies all ranks and classes. St. Paul tells us in Ist Cor 1:18: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Five barley loaves and two small fishes seemed scanty provision for a hungry crowd. But blessed by Christ, and distributed by His disciples, they were more than sufficient.
In Closing, the miracle we discussed today shows nothing we face here on earth is too big for God. He is always larger than everything, especially any obstacles in our life.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Fourth Sunday in Lent
John 6:1-14
“One Can Make a Difference”
Today’s Gospel calls us to look at the miracle that Jesus did in multiplying the loaves and fish. Jesus sees the crowd and asks one of his disciples, “…5Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” He was trying to test Philip; the Gospel writer John tells us or “prove” him, for he “…6himself knew what he would do.” Philip sees that they do not have enough money to buy bread for all the people and is “…7not sufficient for them” But another disciple seeing the same situation Andrew who was Simon Peter’s brother says unto Jesus, “9There is a lad here which has five barley loaves, and two small fish.” Even he realized that they were not enough among so many. (John 6:5-9)
We all encounter situations in our lives where we have to choose courses of action and make decisions. Should we just give up? Some seem to do that. That talk may be under some of our feelings in one way or another. Now giving up is not such a bad idea as it sounds either. For when we give up, we can let God work, if that is our intent.
"One with God is a Majority"---William Gladstone. That sign was above the entrance/exit to my grandfather's study. I have never forgotten it.
Last time I looked God works through means. He has ordained people to do His work. I want to give Andrew credit. He saw that there was a possibility among the impossible. He did not just do what Philip did and say , “this is not going to work.” God says build but He gives us the tools, the saw, the wood and the hammer to do it.
Are we an Andrew or a Philip? In our own American history, I can think of some that persevered and did not give up in the middle of very hard situations. One of these is George Washington at Valley Forge. Here it would have been easy to just give up. He had basically no food and no place to house his army in the winter, but he did not give up.
We know from our American history that in the middle of this he developed a plan to attack even in winter because that was when the British would be least expecting him. And in the end he was successful and saved the nation. That is why we honor him with the title, “father of our country.”
Andrew looked to Jesus and of course we know what happens. He made the men sit down, about 5,000. “11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples….the fragments left over filled twelve baskets above unto them that had eaten.” The Scripture calls this a miracle (sign). (John 6:11-14)
In our situations are we letting God work through us or others? Or have we said , “this can never happen?” Unfortunately, there are more Philips than Andrews around us. Negative thinking about what God can do is damaging. It stunts our growth and our vitality. It discourages and disheartens us. We lower our heads in deep feeling of disappointment.
Another reading reflects this as well----Ephesians 3:14-21. I saw this right away when I read it . “17that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love…19be filled with all the fulness of God.” It would be well to admit that we have conducted a lot of relationships and business without others remembering the golden rule. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them….” (Matthew 7:12)
We all want our opinions respected and wish to be heard. We all have rushed to judgment without all the facts. There may be things we disagree on, but we can agree to disagree in love. The reading in Ephesians says when we are filled with the fullness of God, we can let Him do His work.
Our job is to listen to that direction from Him. Ephesians 3:20-21 gives us the goal in the form of a prayer, “20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
If God is to work through His Church ( and our individual lives ) we should be more like Andrew than Philip. Maybe we cannot do such and such, but we can do this or that. We can make a start in the power of Christ and in the love that envelopes us. Do you see the difference? “May we go where God leads “someone prayed I heard on the radio this week. So we pray, “enable us for your service.” We pray for the world in which we live and the calling that God has chosen for us.
Yes, God calls us to be the one person that makes a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. For one person can make a difference with God and in the lives of others we encounter.
In conclusion, I was thinking of all the errands that had to be done around the house. I was overwhelmed. Then I said, “Do part,” and see what happens. It was just changing a filter in the water pitcher for drinking water. I was frankly annoyed that it had to be done again. Then I did it piece by piece as I walked through the kitchen.
This is certainly true in our prayer lives if we have one at all. Take a small time to sing a hymn, read the Scripture, or change a habit. But don't be overwhelmed. Piece by piece brings Peace.
A lot of addicts have this problem...they can't get past the addiction. But if we take a small step in the correct direction that will help us get to the holy life God requires.
David D. Mc Millan,
Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.
AOC Worldwide Prayer List –
I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Prayer Needed:
Brannon – hospitalized due to chronic unknown source of muscle spasms – 3 year old
Rency – 2 year old suffering from RETTS Syndrome
Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer
Jim – Praise the Lord – Changes are occurring
Judy Fauble – end stage Alzheimers – pray for Judy and family
Jack Williams – had to enter long term care due to vascular dementia – pray for wife Karen
Audrey Beebe - who fell and broke her hip. Other health issues also. Please pray for her recovery.
Colby Landry - cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of trial.
Persecuted Christians - subject to persecution and imprisonment for their faith.
Bobby Bryan - suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.
For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across the globe.
David – Hip Bursitis- Spurs
Bobby Bryan – cancer and cardiac issues
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Kamil Nasir – He went to be with the Lord March 2, 2026, please pray for his wife Ambreen and son, Kundan Lall
Dennis Potrikus - fall with bad knees – recovering his rehab
Donna – ongoing radiation and Chemotherapy. Pray for successful remission
Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery
Michelle – metastasized lung cancer – treatment ongoing – 50% positive remission
Sue – trying to sell her house in Texas to get settled in NC. -traveling mercies – back to Texas
Extended Issues need continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment
Keep Praying for the following:
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