A Feast That Does Not Cease :: John 6:1-15
Then, when they had their fill, he told the disciples, gather the abundance of broken pieces, in order that not even one would be destroyed (v. 12).
There is a hunger deep within the heart and soul of man that can be satisfied only by the presence of the living God. Man tries feverishly to fill the void on his own. We convince ourselves that, on our own, we can find him in our heart, in our work, in our logic, in the world. We think we can grow closer to him in nature. But these are all just lies of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. Our search never pans out.
The marvel of God’s love and grace is that he satisfies the heart and soul completely. He desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tm 2:4), so that no one would perish (v. 12; 2 Pt 3:9). Jesus leads us to the mountain, where he teaches us, heals us, feeds us, nourishes us, he saves us.
He knows the longing of our heart and soul ... and he fills the void with ...
A FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE.
1. There is only one host who can provide this kind of feast.
The central figure in this great miracle is, of course, Jesus.
You see it and hear it, don’t you? When our eyes and ears are open, we can always see and hear Jesus at the center of scripture. Today is definitely no exception. To use John’s words, these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the God, and that in believing you will have life in his name (Jn 20:31).
We are not here today simply to hear simply the words of Jesus. We aren't here simply to hear good words about good living. If we do only that, we will miss the point. We are not here to see just another miracle of Jesus. Today’s reading isn’t about the selfless generosity of a boy with a sack lunch who inspired people to share. To see fish and bread multiplying without seeing the One whose power made that happen is to miss the point.
There is only one host who can do what Jesus is doing today.
He is the one we’ve all been longing to hear and see. He satisfies our heart and soul.
What the people following Jesus see and hear is absolutely miraculous. It reminds them of what their forefathers witnessed while wandering in the wilderness for forty years. First, the Passover was at hand (v. 4). Second, there was a clear lack of resources reminding us of the wilderness wanderings from our Exodus reading (vv. 9-10). And now, here they are on a mountain (v. 1), the place where heaven and earth meet (Is 49:13).
Is Jesus the Prophet who is coming into the world, they wondered (v. 14).
So Jesus went up on the mountain, and there, he sat down with his disciples. ... And lifting up his eyes, and seeing a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, where are we to buy bread so that these people can eat? (vv. 4-5)
Said another way, Philip, what are you gonna do? You’re not just gonna sit here, acting like your piety is getting you somewhere, are you?
Jesus, of course, knew full well what he was going to do ... he was going to provide a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE, just like we confess in the words of the Apostles’ Creed. God daily and provides all that we need to preserve this body and soul.
But you struggle believing that, don’t you?
The disciples’ answer to Jesus’ question is actually quite telling about us Lutherans. Philip reminded us that two hundred denarii isn’t enough to take care of the needs of the people; we need much more money. Then Andrew pointed out more precisely, see, we have only five barley loaves and two fish. (vv. 7-8). That’s to say, what’s the point in even trying to do ministry here?
2. Oh, how quickly we forget that God always provides a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE.
Just like the Israelites in the desert, the food we choose for ourselves has no lasting value. God provides for us every day. Whoever gathers much will have nothing left over, and whoever gathers little will have no lack (Ex 16:18).
Yet we people are always clamoring for more.
We never have enough, we tell ourselves. We are never satisfied by just bread and fish, steak and potatoes, brats and kraut.
Our heart and soul thirst for the relationship that God established with us in the garden. Our heart and soul hunger for the relationship that we plowed into the ground.
We long for forgiveness. We long for relief from the sin and guilt that hang around our necks as we ignore the word of the Lord that says: Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day (Ex 16:4).
To say we don’t is trust that God will provide ... is to deny the Word of the Lord.
To dismiss our grumbling and complaining about all that God has given us ... is to dismiss the Word of the Lord who provides it.
So keep giving to the poor and the needy of Appleton City, walking on the straight and narrow, being nice to our spouse, fleeing from sexual immorality and adultery, devoting yourselves to the apostles’ teaching. These are good fruits of the spirit.
But know too that none of these things have any effect on our sin, and they won’t satisfy your heart and soul. You are not sinners because you sin. You sin because you are sinners. At best, all of these works ... like so many more ... are appreciated by others and they definitely provide balm for your guilty consciences. But the wage of sin is still death. Your sin is still killing you. We are still selfish, prideful, arrogant, abusive, ungrateful, lovers of pleasure. We are still stingy and greedy. We are still manipulative and immoral. We still are jealous gossips. We still long for something better than quail.
So, brothers and sisters in Christ, what are we to do?
In the name of Jesus, repent, everyone of you.
3. He continues to provide a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE.
Jesus is the only one who satisfies a hunger that no one and nothing else can fill.
Have the people sit down, Jesus says. There is much grass here.
So the men sat down. ... Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them (vv. 10-11). And they were all filled and satisfied.
You know these words, don’t you?
It doesn’t matter where we have been, or what we’ve been up to. Jesus proves he is the friend of sinners. He sees our needs before we can even ask. He joins us. He serves us. He gives to us. He eats with us. He identifies with us. He clothes us in his righteousness.
4. And he fills our greatest needs with a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE.
Because of it, whether I have much or little, you now know you can trust in God to sustain you according to his good pleasure ... AND that you can cast all your cares and anxieties on him who knows if and when I require more.
Through this gospel, we now know these words were not written ONLY for us to read (the devil can do that, too). It should ALSO remind us and prompt us to say that ... what Christ did in the wilderness he continues to do for us today.
See how our Lord commanded that the abundance of broken pieces be gathered up. He wants nothing to be destroyed ... no one to perish. Not only does our Lord provide our daily bread, he delivers it in abundance for abundant life. It is the finest bread and the finest wine ... in abundance.
Why do we deny ourselves this great gift?
Our Lord Jesus once fed the multitude on the mountain. Today he feeds us with his word. He comes to us where we are ... in crowded cities, noisy factories, and lonely hospital rooms. He comforts us in tension-filled offices, mortgaged homes, family farms. He nourishes us here at the corner of First and Locust in times of personal distress, spiritual darkness, failing health.
He heals us during pandemics that produce unparalleled anxiety.
Sadly, there still are many who have the wrong idea of who this Jesus really is.
To be sure, many will try to take Jesus by force and make him their bread king (v.15). But he is much more than just a Messiah who will overthrow the powers of the world.
He is more than just the Prophet.
He is more than just a good man with a good word about good living.
He is more than just the man upstairs.
And he is not just one option among many.
Jesus is the God who provides a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE that nourishes both heart and soul. Christ looks down on his followers and sees our need, knows our need, and feeds our need. The eyes of the Lord are indeed on the righteous (Ps 34:15).
So, brothers and sisters in Christ ...
Come whenever you can to this altar and receive his gifts with joy knowing that in that means of grace your sins are being forgiven and your faith is being nourished.
Come and receive these abundant gifts as often as possible. In them, we are constantly reminded of how our Lord fulfills his promises to us and for us ... How he united himself with you in baptism ... How he drowned your sin and raised you to new life ... How he took your sin, your pain, your afflictions, your guilt, your hunger and thirst for righteousness and carried them to the cross, where he was beaten for you, mocked for you, crucified for you, died for you, and was buried for you ... where he appeased all of God’s wrath for you.
And come, because he rose from the dead to give you a living hope of eternal life with him. Until then, he continues to give you his body and blood in a FEAST THAT DOES NOT CEASE for the forgiveness of your sins.
May God grant his grace that his blessing to you. It is for you. And it provides the sustenance we need forevermore, in Jesus’ name.