The Fourth Sunday in Lent.
The Collect.
G |
RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
A |
FTER things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 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. 13Therefore 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. 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. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
In today’s reading, I have added the last six verses since this serves to expand the beauty of the first fourteen
1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 8 to 12 miles - 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles (Not the spiritual, but the physical) which he did on them that were diseased. (we have all inherited the sin-diseased blood of Adam.)
For “26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26)
And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
The Nature of mountains! The higher we climb, the less distraction of the world around us.
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
Bread & Wine. Body and Blood. Bread represents the Church & people – the Body of Christ. WINE His BLOOD. This event happens just before Passover, therefore, this miracle of the feeding of the multitude represents also to us the Bread of Heaven our Lord provides of Himself to the Church.
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?
What does this multitude mean to us? Question: Could the need of the people be satisfied by man?
A great multitude will come to Jesus at the resurrection and will be fed by the Bread of Heaven.
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
There are times when the Lord places us in need to see if we can discern the need to call upon the Higher Power.
In Philip and Andrew, we have the response of two different kinds of faith – a PESSIMISTIC faith versus an OPTIMISTIC faith
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 ?Andrew knew that there was a pitiful supply to feed so many, but there was always a way through the Lord.
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down., for which there are two meanings:
1. The work of the Lord must be down in good order – not chaos.
2. God feeds His people. Our salvation is of grace and not of our works. We rest while He works in us.
Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Plus women and children. The good works are done by Christ in us.
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.
Jesus gave thanks! If the Son of God returns thanks to the Father for blessings, how much more should we?
The disciples? God allows us to have a hand in serving His people – but the blessing (bread and fish) comes from the hand of God.
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
Gather up the broken pieces. There are many in the Kingdom of Heaven who are broken and dispirited. These, too, must be gathered for future service. God cast no one away whom He has called as His own.
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.
All in Christ are of Abraham for they have believed the same promise made to Abraham of a SEED.
The Twelve baskets represent the fulness of Israel – both Jew and Gentile.
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.
Two salient points –
1. The Body of Christ is the Church
2. The Blood is that of Christ with which the Church is purchased
Conclusion
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. 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
When we are separated from Christ, we will find ourselves in darkness and always have mighty storms in life over which we have no control – but Jesus brings peace and calm.
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
When Jesus is with us, there is no need for fear.
21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
A furlong is one-eighth of a mile. So, 30 furlongs would be just four miles into the sea; the sea was 8 miles wide, so this was very center of the sea.
We are able only to get ourselves into the center of life’s storms – but only with Jesus, can we get out and home.
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