✠ Psalmody: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a; Psalm 122:1; Psalm 122:1, 7; Psalm 125:1–2; Psalm 135:3, 6a; Psalm 122:3–4
✠ Lection: Exodus 16:2–21; Galatians 4:22—5:1a; John 6:1–15
In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord is always right on time. He is neither early nor late, for His ways are perfect. Whether we see our current time as a heyday, on the verge of one, or far beyond the last hope of one, none of this time has the significance of what is to come in the life of the world to come. As we journey through this temporary time and place, the Lord repeatedly reminds us to keep this short life in the proper perspective. It is why our wise fathers in the faith passed down the celebration of Laetare over halfway through our Lenten preparation for the Paschal Feast. We must remember to rejoice always. In the midst of different stages of life, in the Lord we can rejoice always. In the midst of the different trials of life, in the Lord we must rejoice always. His provision for us in body and soul is never uncertain, thus neither should our joy be. In the midst of the darkened colors of repentance we are to remember to rejoice and to be intentional about it.
Many things come and go for us and regardless of how big or small they are, all must be seen with eyes of faith. No matter what illusion comes about to make the times seem sane and prosperous, the world is and, until Christ returns, will continue to be impressively nuts and wickedly chaotic. Believe what the Scriptures teach that in these last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. How does such peril bring those with faith to rejoice among it all? The Christian rejoices because the situation of the soul is not contingent on how well this world gets along, for even among the perilous times we are to rejoice. We rejoice not over such evil, but we rejoice in spite of it, knowing that we live for much more than what slips through the worlds fingers as sandy treasures that will not last. Instead, we have what God gives, what He provides in soul and body, daily bread this day, just as our dear Lord Jesus fed the 5,000 in the wilderness. We rejoice for we have Him and what comes from His hand. We rejoice, for we have Him and what comes from His Body and His Blood building us up so that we can see these times with the right eyes and examine where our fear, love, and trust truly lie. Do we hope in the nutty chaos affecting our circumstances, government, and full bellies to calm or do we trust in the Lord to provide all that we daily need?
Our time here is not hope-less nor joy-less, for we are not to despair in the face of spiritual darkness, wickedness, and apathy no matter how thick it grows. Compared to what we have in Christ, in His forgiveness and accompanying bodily provision, the total loss of everything here is nothing, just as it will be at our death. Our Lord Jesus does again this morning what He has been doing through all perilous times; calling sinners to rejoice in the repentance and forgiveness of sins that He freely gives. Oh, how we have much for which to rejoice as He faithfully feeds us in the wilderness as much as a faithful heart could want! Faith in Him is what sustains us through pestilence and famine, from war and bloodshed, from everlasting death. He calls our attention to what is most important when we wonder what the future will bring; worrying where we need not. He guides those of us engulfed in worry over the things of this life with the words: “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Follow not your flesh that hears this as a contract needing to be fulfilled on our part so that God will add to us on His part. Is that what we see our dear Savior do in John, chapter six? A sort of spiritual bargaining?
A large crowd of 5,000 men, plus unnumbered women and children, were following Him, because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick. He sat down with His disciples and when the crowd was coming toward Him, the Lord of Life lifted up His eyes understanding the full need before any other could; He Himself knowing what He would do. He lifted up His countenance and was gracious unto them. Rejoice, those sustained by Christ, by bringing to mind the words of the Aaronic benediction, as well as the words with which Jesus rebuked the devil in the wilderness when He was being tempted to turn a stone into bread saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Rejoice in God, Who came in the flesh, lifted up His eyes to those for whom He had compassion, spoke to His disciple Philip about the thousands, and provided for them all in the body showing Himself to be the One Who provides for, yea, exceedingly satisfies the hungry soul. The word that came from the mouth of God was, “Where shall we to buy bread, that these may eat?” He said this to test Philip, for He Himself knew what He would do. The people did not live by bread alone, yet the word from the mouth of God was that He would be the One to provide what they needed not only in soul but also in body. He provides His word and provides by His word.
Dearly beloved by Christ, the Lord isn’t ignorant of the thoughts or feelings that sweep through you, feelings that seem to lead you to do anything but rejoice. He knows you live in perilous times, and He has your needs in mind before you ask Him. So, what do you see Him doing about them? He does not avoid you, leave you to perish, or let you remain heavy laden and downcast. Your life full of so much of His provision that most goes unnoticed, unthanked, unaccompanied by rejoicing. He calls you ever to draw close to Him because the Last Day draws close. Repent of not rejoicing. Purge the leaven from among you of what it is that you have been loving more than Him or depending upon more than the word from His mouth and the bread from His hands. Take time to examine what you believe and why for the truth of Christ and His eternal provision now and forever is immeasurable cause to rejoice.
Zealously continue to come to this right place, because just like the large crowd, you come to see the Lord’s work. Here, find it. You know Him to be a healer, a provider, a Savior and you have come with a hope of receiving. Here you sit, living not by bread alone but by His mighty word, receiving it as He enters ear, mouth, and heart.
Because of Jesus, you don’t need to know, or worry, about whatever perilous times may come. You have never needed to know what lies in tomorrow and beyond here because it doesn’t matter the ways that the lies claim. Christ is the One Who feeds you in body and soul. The only thing you can take with you everywhere the future leads is the faith He gives and feeds and the One in Whom it rests. Everything else can be taken away from you, yet by faith, He will deliver you through this life into the next. If Jesus is your priceless treasure, then rejoice in the Lord, for as you seek Him, you will find Him. In the midst of our darkened world and perilous times, rejoice, be glad, break forth and cry aloud because you are children of God’s promise. The bread that you need, He has it. The life that you need, He gives it, now and forever.
In ✠ Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.