There Is News In The Truth

Chapter III

What favor is there for the Jew?
Does circumcision profit you?
To them from God commandments fell;
Where is your faith, O Israel?
Let God be true and justified;
Let men be charged that all have lied.

If by my sin God’s pow’r commend,
Then why should God thus take revenge?
If when I’m false he’s glorified,
Am I a sinner, though I’ve lied?
Then shall I sin that good may come?
No, God forbid, just damnation.

We are no better than the Jew;
All Gentiles under sin we proved.
As it is written, None is right;
None search or understand the Light.
Out of the way have all men gone.
No man on earth does good, not one.

Their throat’s a grave; their tongue’s a snake;
Their feet have run t’ward blood to take.
Their way is full of misery;
And ruin will accompany.
The way of peace have they not known.
No fear of God their eyes are shown.

What things the law of God demand,
These must apply to sinful man.
That every mouth of man may stop;
Upon the world, God’s gavel drop.
No flesh shall stand before the throne;
For by the law all sins are known.

The way to God doth now appear;
The prophets and the law are clear.
God’s righteousness faith will provide.
No difference then, for all he died.
In sin has plunged all Adam’s kin.
God’s glory, no, he cannot win.

But by his grace He’s made us just;
Redeemed in Christ His blood we trust.
Set forth by God this offer stands:
Faith in his blood his grace demands.
I do declare, for God is just:
His righteousness to all who trust.

All boasting then by faith is vain;
By lawful deeds there is no gain.
One God shall justify the Jew.
By faith, he calls the Gentiles too.
Does faith make void God’s holy law?
Forbid it. Faith fulfills it all.

I’ve had a difficult time getting Thursday Theology off the ground. I’ve been needing some type of plan to go forward. Ecclesiology, the study of the church is a big subject. I hardly know where to begin. However, I did run across something that might help us put some order into all this.

To understand the church, it may be beneficial to understand the relationship between Christ and His Church. Lewis Sperry Chafer says, The all-important revelation respecting the true Church is contained in the seven relationships which she sustains to Christ… So here we have a perfect thesis to start with; a plan. Seven relationships. Seven studies. Seven articles for Thursday Theology. Praise the Lord. These are the seven relationships:

The Shepherd and the sheep
The Vine and the branches
The Cornerstone and the building
The High Priest and the kingdom of priests
The Head and the body
The Last Adam and the new creation
The Bridegroom and the bride

So let’s just dive in to the first one!

The Shepherd and the Sheep

I know no other verse that seems to have grown and grown on me through the years as Psalm 23:1. The first five words do such a number in my soul, it can’t be expressed. The Lord is my shepherd… My heart stirs and sings that wonderful song:

He leadeth me! O blessed thought,
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught;
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis Christ’s hand that leadeth me.

I doubt seriously that I can do this subject any justice. But let’s look at the text. Truly, the first eighteen verses of John, Chapter 10, are the subject. But I can’t cover all that right now. Jesus first begins with a parable concerning this relationship. And the second half he explains it and actually makes the statement, I am the good shepherd. I want to focus first on the parable Jesus makes which follows:

¹ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
² But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
³ To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
⁴ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
⁵ And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
⁶ This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. John 10:1-6
John 10:1-6

He entereth in by the door

Now, there is a door. Let me put it this way: There is an obvious point of passage. It’s designated. It’s framed. It works. It implies that there is a fenced or bordered area of some sort that cannot be easily crossed, except you go through the door. This door is significant to the sheep. What benefit is there to any for the shepherd to go through the door unless the door had some signification to the sheep.

Of course we know that Jesus is the door and the good shepherd. It may take some time for that relationship to grow between the shepherd and the sheep; as any relationship. But the foundation to that relationship is the door. The sheep know the shepherd because he first knows the door. Whether he stumbled upon it, or sought after it, or was brought to it, his life in the fold begins at the door. And every encounter with the shepherd begins with the door.

This passage is namely an admonish warning about the thief and the robber. If someone comes into the fold by some way other than the door, something is just not going to smell right. This speaks to us of spiritual discernment. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

Knowing God’s will comes in knowing the door. It matters not how the shepherd enters, whether he bursts in or strolls in. It matters not what he looks like; whether he wears new clothes or old clothes. It matter little what he smells like either. What matters is did he come through the door? Did he come through the place he always comes through? This is a matter of location. Is he where I found him last?

Though things change along this narrow road, there are some things that remain familiar. This speaks to us of prayer. It speaks to us of Calvary. It speaks to us of the Word of God. There is a common thread that holds together all our experiences along the way with the good shepherd. Not just our experiences but the experiences of all the sheep. Our relationship with Christ differs from sheep to sheep. But what we all have in common is our consciousness of the door. Our relationship depends on how much and how well we’ve exercised our senses regarding it.

When you look at the tabernacle that the Israelites constructed in the wilderness, you’ll see that every door had the same colors of blue, purple, and scarlet. It didn’t matter if you went through the gate of the court, or the first veil, or the second veil, there was a familiarity amongst the doors. They were God’s chosen colors. And they stood out compared to the rest of the tabernacle. There was no doubt as to where the door was.

In discerning God’s will, it’s sure nice to hear the voice of God. But it’s not always like that. It’s not always a clear impression. But just as valid as the voice is the door; the familiar common colored thread that frames the way. I think maybe it’s usually hindsight that we see it. It’s not so much that we heard the voice of God and knowingly did God’s will. It’s that we go through things where we don’t understand God’s leading. That is until we look back. We see those familiar colors down the way and realize that it was God leading all along. And hindsight, after much exercise, will give us foresight. He entereth in by the door.

Praise the Lord. There’s three more things I’d like to cover regarding the parable Jesus gives them before we go on into his interpretation.

He calleth his own sheep
He leadeth them out
He goeth before them

Lord willing we’ll get to that. There’s no rush. I want us to remember, myself included, that this is Thursday Theology and we’re studying Ecclesiology, which is the study of the Church. And under that, we’re examining the relationship between Christ and his church. And to do that, we’re looking at these seven figures of that relationship that Christ gives; the first one being the shepherd and the sheep. So you’re in pretty deep if you got this far.

In times past, whenever I heard someone preach on this text, the focus was usually centered on when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. So consequently the main thrust has in the past been to keep your eyes upon Jesus. But more recently, most of time the focus has been more on how Peter was never supposed to get off the boat in the first place. So the theme has been to stay in the boat. I’m not sure if I’ve changed or the preaching has changed. But either way, as with alot of Jesus’ miracles, the focus often is not on the miracle itself, but the person and the circumstances in which the miracle pertains.

For example, we look at the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. We hear exposition on the pool and the troubling of the water. We hear exposition on the man’s condition. And then we hear about his second encounter with Christ where he’s told to sin no more. But I never hear much about the transition that the man’s lame legs undertook, and the new legs he now has. Perhaps this is inherent of a miracle. What can we say? It’s just so. There is no explanation. They asked the blind man over and over about the miracle maker. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25) Perhaps that is what truly makes a miracle a miracle. I’m not complaining. I’m just making an observation.

So likewise, the miracle of Jesus walking on water usually turns into the miracle of Peter walking on water. It always seems to be about Peter. And preachers will get after preachers for getting after Peter. But for both the focus is still on Peter. So with that in mind, let’s look at the text found in Matthew, Mark, and John.

²² And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. ²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. ²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. ²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. ²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. ²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? ³² And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. ³³ Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matthew 14:22-33

⁴⁵ And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. ⁴⁶ And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. ⁴⁸ And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: ⁵⁰ For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. ⁵¹ And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. ⁵² For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Mark 6:45-52

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.
John 6:15-21

Here are just a few observations regarding the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. I’m just going to let my imagination run on this. Beware!

Jesus walked on water after praying alone through the night.

Can it be that Jesus walking on water is a picture of the Christian life, the super-natural, Spirit-filled, miraculous walk of the child of God? If so, I find it significant that it was demonstrated after a long season of prayer alone with the Father. We claim that Jesus lives in our heart. Well, the man Christ Jesus was a man of prayer. Even now, he prays. It is Christ… who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34) We claim that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. Well, the Holy Spirit is a praying spirit. The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

The sea is the world and this life that swallows up the dead. But Christ walks above it all. The sea and the power of the sea, with its hurricanes, tsunamis, mansoons, tidal waves, reigns as king of the forces of nature. It has the power to seperate, to swallow, to pillage, to quench, and to drown. But the sea has no power over the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is truly the Master of the Sea.

But not before prayer; not before fellowship with the Father. If any man, woman or child has spent any time above the boisterous waves of the world, above the sea that is full of death, then they will have spent some significant time in prayer alone with God. The bible says And the sea gave up the dead which were in it… (Revelation 20:13) The sea is the largest grave this world has known. It’s a place of death. Nothing that lives on land has the power to live under the sea. Jesus walking on water is a picture of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a picture of his dominion over death; his power to conquer death, hell, and the grave. But what I want to say is that it was not manifested but after a long night alone in prayer with the Father. If we want to walk with Jesus over and upon the sea, it takes a running start. You got to start up into the mountain alone. If you want to walk on water with Jesus, you must first walk with him up the mountain.

Jesus walked on water in the middle of the sea

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… (John 6:19) A furlong is a unit of measurement that is approximately an 1/8 of a mile; probably less in biblical times. So, twenty-five to thirty furlongs was most likely anywhere between six and seven miles. Now, the sea of Galilee is 13 miles long by 8 miles wide. So you can see, this pretty much puts the disciples and Jesus smack dab in the middle of the sea.

This reminds me of that day Jesus caused the miraculous draught of fish when he reveals himself to Peter. It didn’t happen at the shore. He told Peter to Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (Luke 5:4) So we see a pattern emerging. It seems that Jesus works out in the middle of the sea where it’s deep. Can I say this? Christianity is not a shallow thing. David said Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6)

The miraculous life Christ can give you is not found at the edges. It is insufficient to just get your feet wet. Plunge into the deep. I think Baptism may also be a picture of this spiritual reality. It’s got to be all the way in before you come out. I know Baptism is typically used to picture salvation. But I think it helpful to use it also to typify the daily dying and the daily reckoning that must be done. Paul said Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11) The manifestation and power of God in the life of the Christian is best seen in deep water. There is no real test in shallow water. Reckoning takes place in the deep.

A spiritual life is a deep life. ⁹ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ¹⁰ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) We want the blessings of God, and we want to see the miracles of Christ, but we want to play around the shallow water, where it’s safe. No risk. No test. No faith. No depth. The Spirit of God reveals the things of God, the deep things of God, by turning on the lights, Amen? But turning on the lights to reveal something doesn’t do any good unless you are first taken to that something. Ezekiel was carried away in the Spirit. He was taken up in the Spirit. Jesus was led by the Spirit. He was driven by the Spirit. And if he took Jesus out to the deep, he’ll take you out to the deep, if you’ll let him; if you’re willing.

Jesus walked on water in the middle of a storm.

This makes me think the song Meet Me There, which the lyrics say:

On the happy, golden shore, Where the faithful part no more, When the storms of life are o’er, Meet me there;
Fanny Crosby

The storms of life? Jesus said I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Without storms, there would be no rain. Without rain, there will be no life. Storms bring life. I’ll never forget something brother Joe Arther said. You may be going through the biggest storm of your life, but you may be in the perfect will of God. We go through difficult times; turbulent and boisterous; the roller-coaster of life; the billows roll. But I think that’s life. That’s just living. And I think, whether lost or saved, these storms are designed in order that God may manifest himself to us.

People often ask, If God is so powerful, or if God cares, why does he allow the storms to even occur? I suppose you could ask the same question of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. Why did he even allow the storm to start, if he was going to make the winds cease anyhow? Here’s a possible answer. Notice in Mark, the bible says For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. (Mark 6:52) Apparently, there was a lesson that they missed when Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves of barley bread and two small fish. Apparently, something was wrong with their heart. So Jesus sent the storm and appeared before them in the midst of it in order that they may learn of him and soften their hearts.

Maybe, if we are so distraught about the storms of life, we might want to consider the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Consider our hearts. Maybe something is wanting.

Jesus walked on water in the fourth watch of the night.

The fourth watch was between 3 AM and 6 AM. That is when Jesus showed up. That is when Jesus manifested himself. I feel like I don’t have to say anything here. Our imagination is sufficient to get something out of this aspect of the text. The fourth watch was the last watch. Just hold on a little longer. The bible says Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14) When we grow impatient and weary and tired, think of Mary and Lazarus. Think of Jericho. Think of Naaman. Brother Johnny Pope once said God arrives always on time, seldom early. God is much more patient that we are. One of the fruits of the Spirit is long-suffering.

The fourth watch of the night is when sleep feels best. It’s when the world sleeps. It’s when all is quiet and still. It’s when the night is far spent. Mark said this: And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea… (Mark 6:48) It had been a long hard day. They served 5000 men plus women and children. They were tired. And there they were launching out into the deep water rowing and toiling in the waves of the storm through the third watch, and after that is when Jesus showed up. Paul said And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

You’ve laboured and toiled all the day long. Don’t stop just because you think you’re done. Don’t stop just because it gets dark. Don’t stop just because you’re tired. Don’t stop just because it’s late. The greatest miracles are yet to come. The night is far spent, the day is at hand… (Romans 13:12) But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22) I’m just saying saved folk stay with the stuff. Saved folk are not fair-weather friends. They didn’t stick around for nothing though. They expect to see Jesus at the fourth watch of the night.

Jesus walking on water looked like a spirit.

What does a spirit looks like if it has no body? How did the Holy Ghost descend at the River Jordan in a bodily form without a body? What does a spirit that is invisible look like? I could only assume that what the disciples saw that night was similar to what we today would look at and think was a spirit or a ghost; something white and translucent; something super-natural. After all, what but super-natural can walk upon the water. My guess is that none of those disciples had ever actually seen a spirit. And what they saw so scared them they they thought they must be looking at a spirit. And I think that anybody that does see a spirit today, if any ever have, will have seen something that they have never seen in all their life.

So I hope that I’m not setting the bar too high, but this is what I see. Launching out into the deep, enduring to the fourth watch, in the tempests, is where we’ll see things that we’ve never seen before. To walk with Jesus upon the sea is to live the super-natural, to do the super-natural, and to see the super-natural. It may be that the super-natural is truly the spiritual. The definition of supernatural is attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. To walk with Jesus is to defy the laws of nature, but to uphold the laws of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

This is why I think this miracle is a picture of the spirit-filled life. The sea represents the law of sin and death. And to walk above that is to walk according to the law of the Spirit; To walk above that is to have dominion and victory over it. And that can only come by the Spirit of Almighty God. When we walk with Jesus, we also will not appear to be natural to others. What they will see will be the work of the Spirit.

Jesus walking on water demands our worship.

Then after all this, the bible says they were Sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. (Mark 6:51) and They that were in the ship came and worshipped him... (Matthew 14:33) I’ll say one word. God.

Jesus was God. That is why they worshiped him. What they saw that night walking on the water was God. And they knew it. It would be an interesting study to see if there was a change in the disiciples from this time forward. I don ‘t know. But one thing we can conclude from all this is that Jesus wanted them to know who he was. And thus he wants us to know who he is. He revealed who he was in the middle of the sea, in the desert place, upon the mountain, in the temple, by the well, in the garden, and all manner of places.

No matter where you are, Jesus wants you to know who he is. He’ll meet you where you’re at. ⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (Psalm 139:7-8) Apparently, the response the disciples gave after the miracle of the loaves and fishes was not adequate. Their hearts were hardened. But this time, they worshiped him. What was the difference?

Perhaps consider the fact that they had enough money to buy themselves food. So they were never really in danger of not eating. Maybe they were upset because they had to feed 5000 men plus women and children. Maybe they were wroth because Jesus overruled their suggestion to send them away. Whatever it was, they missed it and their hearts were hardened. It took a storm, the fourth watch, a miracle, and a little fear to procure the worshipful heart that Jesus desires. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17) This makes me wonder what Jesus prayed up there in the mountain. The disciples’ hearts must have been on the heart of Jesus.

Jesus walking on water proves he is the Son of God.

So when it was all over and they worshiped him they said Of a truth thou art the Son of God. (Matthew 14:33) This was the first time the disciples said this. Up until now, the devil had said three times If thou be the Son of God… (Matthew 4) The legion of devil in the country of the Gergesenes cried out and said What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? (Matthew 8:29) But this time, the disciples named Jesus the Son of God.

The angel that spoke to Mary and told her of the child that she would bare said That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Now in the Gospel of John, Nathanael, when he first met Jesus did call him the Son of God. But that was the only other time before this incident out on the sea. This incident at sea was the first incident where the disciples collectively called him the Son of God. Significance? I don’t know.

But I do see one thing. The imparting of spiritual knowledge. When Peter named Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16), Jesus said that Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16) I would say that Satan and his devils belong to the spiritual realm of things. Therefore, they knew fully well who Jesus was. But us earthly beings are natural and need spiritual enlightenment. And thus it came to the disciples upon the water of Galilee as Jesus strode across the waves.

Make no mistake about it. Spiritual knowledge only comes by the miraculous hand of God. The other day I read in the Bible how that Isaiah saw the Lord upon a throne, and the seraphims were above the throne and they cried to each other Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3) I thought O my! What the angels see that we can’t? The earth? Though we see the sin, the corruption, the death, the war, the hate, all manner of evil, and the works of man. Yet the angels see the glory of the Son of God. I’ll say this: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:5) I would say that the disciples didn’t just come over the sea that night, but they over came the world.

Concluding Remarks

I read this the other day regarding Jesus’ words regarding Him being the vine and we the branches.

This figure, quite in contrast to that of the Shepherd and the sheep… is addressed to believers… it looks on to conditions that would obtain after Christ’s death, after His resurrection, after His ascension, and after Pentecost. This discourse is, more than any other portion of the Scriptures, the clearest and dearest message to believers in this dispensation. It therefore follows that this figure… is directly applicable to Christians. They are not here said to have been led out of Judaism, nor is there any reference to their former estate…
Lewis Sperry Chafer

And I see the same of this miracle. It’s not a picture of the sinner being saved like the giving sight to a blind man, making the lame man, the healing of the woman with an issue of blood, the healing of Jairus’ daughter, or the raising of the widow’s son in Nain. But instead a picture of the miraculous standing in Christ that God has placed. The defying of the laws of nature is what the law of the Spirit accomplishes. We are not under the law; or under the water. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4) We walk on a higher plane with our Lord Jesus. Amen.

The miracle of the loaves and fishes is probably one of the most well-known miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It appears in all four of the gospels, and each account has it’s own flavor to it. The text is lengthy so I’m not going to include it in this devotion. Instead, I’ll make each passage collapsible so it won’t take up so much space. Most of us do know the story.

Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. ¹⁴ And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. ¹⁵ And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. ¹⁶ But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. ¹⁷ And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. ¹⁸ He said, Bring them hither to me. ¹⁹ And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. ²⁰ And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. ²¹ And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. ³¹ And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. ³² And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. ³³ And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: ³⁶ Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. ³⁷ He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? ³⁸ He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. ³⁹ And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. ⁴⁰ And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. ⁴¹ And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. ⁴² And they did all eat, and were filled. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. ⁴⁴ And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Luke 9:10-17

Luke 9:10-17 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. ¹¹ And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. ¹² And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. ¹³ But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. ¹⁴ For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. ¹⁵ And they did so, and made them all sit down. ¹⁶ Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. ¹⁷ And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

John 6:1-15

John 6:1-15 After these 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. 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. 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.

What stood out to me were the commands of Jesus to the disciples; the specific things that Jesus told the disciples to do.

Give ye them to eat… (Matthew 14:16)

This reminds me of what Jesus told Peter before he left. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17) There is man’s will and then there is God’s will. The disciples said emphatically, Send the multitude away. (Matthew 16:15) But Jesus corrected them and said, No. Give ye them to eat. We see the contrast between what God wants to do and what man thinks should be done. People want to blame God for being unjust and unfair in life. But I wonder how things would be if the tables were turned. Can you be more just than God? Can you be better than God? Those people were hungry. If it was up to the disciples, those families would have traveled on empty stomachs in the middle of the night and possibly fainted along the way. But Jesus had compassion on them.

Now one might argue that Jesus is God, and the disciples were only suggesting what they saw possible to do. If they knew that Jesus was capable of turning five loaves and two fishes into a feast for five thousand, they would have never dreamed of sending them away. Well, I think that’s just it. They didn’t know better. And we don’t know better. ⁵ 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. (John 6:5-6) Maybe the impossible situations that come our way are meant to prove us and to give us the opportunity to see what God can do when we just do what he says. Give ye them to eat…

I’ve wonder much about the balance between man’s efforts and God’s power. We know that Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17) But, Paul said And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:( 1 Corinthians 2:4) So where do we draw the line? I heard this said many years ago:

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
Augustine

Often times we are admonished as to the futility of serving in the flesh, We question if it’s better to just not serve than to serve without the aid of God. Preachers claim that they don’t want to preach without the touch of God, but I’ve never seen a preacher step down for the lack of it. It seems all preachers all the time must have the touch of God. Sure. But at the same time, God may think it futile to put his touch upon someone that doesn’t serve. It’s not that we earn his touch. I’m just saying that the command is not to send them away, but to feed them.

Bring them hither to me… (Matthew 14:18)

Jesus commanded that the five loaves and the two fishes be brought unto him. The only gospel that explains where that food came from is the gospel of John. There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:9) I find it sweet and amazing that God would use something from such a small person to feed so many. Just a little boy. God can use a young person to do his work, if they be willing. No matter your age, if you would just give God all you got, he can bless it. It’s kinda like the widow’s mite. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26) I like the way Paul put it. Even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17) God can use the be-nots. Amen?

Also, John is the one who describes the food. They are barley loaves. And they were small fish. That barley was the least of all bread. It was the bread of the poor. The barley was animal feed turned into bread for human consumption. It definitely wasn’t the best, but it was a rough, rugged plant that got the job done. And he didn’t have 300 lb tunas. He had small fish. It’s just amazing. God used a little boy, with sorry bread and tiny fish to feed 5000 men, plus their families. All the money that they had collected, two-hundred pennyworth, was not enough to feed the multitude, but God didn’t need money. You might think that you don’t have much. And you might not. But give it all to him. That’s what he’s looking for anyhow. All I can say is that Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus name.

Make the men sit down… (John 6:10)

I like this one. I’ve been thinking much recently about how people’s attention spans are just not what they used to be. I saw a book the other day entitled 30 Second Religion. If you can’t get your point across in 30 seconds, then you can forget it. People that are into social marketing know that videos and memes get the clicks. This is why the modern church invests so much on the sensuality of videos, lights, music, and things of that nature. This is because just coming in to church, sitting down, and listening to the man of God preach the word of God is just not appealing to the worldly crowd.

But nonetheless, Jesus said Make the men sit down. I think this is perfectly good instruction as to how to conduct church, where God’s sheep must be fed. They need to just sit down and eat. And the men of God need to prepare the food, prepare the table, and serve a great feast of the word of God for His people to partake. Come and dine. (John 21:12) The master sayeth, Come and dine.

Now I’m all for standing up in church. Don’t get me wrong. What I’m saying is that God’s people ought to be prepared to sit down and eat. Church should not be a fast-food joint. That’s what Facebook and Instagram has become. People get their religion from memes. And then they go to church and expect the same thing. And they get bored and leave, and complain I’m not getting fed. No. They have an eating disorder; anorexia spiritus.

Preaching works. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21) Preaching is God’s program for church. And this implies that must needs be listening. Listening requires concentration. Concentration requires stillness. That’s why Jesus said Make the men sit down. It’s a well known and established fact, that eating your food in a rush can be detrimental to your health. Dietitions have always recommended that you relax, eat slowly, and chew your food much.

Gather up the fragments… (John 6:12)

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. (John 6:13) Everything in the bible declares emphatically and abundantly that God wants to bless his people. And truly there is a lake of fire for those that just don’t want God’s blessings. I believe it’s that simple.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32

And I like the way John describes the left-overs. Over and above! This is how God wants to bless us. You say, God ain’t answering my prayers! You might not be asking for the right things. And I don’t intend to belittle other people’s prayers. But I’ve been in prayer meetings when petition after petition was said and every single one of them had to do with circumstances, whether they be health, finances, family, and such. I think about what Solomon replied when God said to him Ask what I shall give thee. (1 Kings 3:5) Instead of riches and power, Solomon said Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. (1 Kings 3:9) That pleased God and He gave Solomon exactly what he asked. But then he also blessed him over and above. God said And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: (1 Kings 3:13)

There is no lack from God. There is no begging bread. Why would God command his people to be filled with the Spirit if he wasn’t fully prepared and supplied to deliver such a request. The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) is not trickle. It’s not on back-order. The other day my daughter went to the Hardee’s drive-thru and asked for nine cheeseburgers. They said, We don’t have enough meat. And they sent my daughter away. That’s just not the case with God. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37) If God is going to send someone away, mark it down: It’s going to be with left-overs.

Conclusion

What a miracle. There’s just too much in these verses to even scratch the surface. Boy, I love the word of God. So many scriptures come to mind about God’s abundant grace, his love that just doesn’t stop, and his mercy that just knows no limit. God sure is good.

(Proverbs 19:10) Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

There are some things that just don’t go together. They just don’t match. They don’t travel together. Delight is just not something a fool will experience.

This word תַּעֲנוּג translated to the English word delight is pronounced (tah-an-oog’) and is defined as daintiness, luxury, exquisite delight. It’s derivations are found four other times in the Bible.

(Song of Songs 7:6) How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

Here it is also translated delights. In this chapter, the husbandman admires and describes the wondrous beauty of the bride. This word describes the satisfying rapturous joy just to look upon his love. If you’ve ever been in love, it’s that nervous bursting in your chest the moment your sweetheart walks in the room.

(Ecclesiastes 2:8) I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Here is is also translated delights. Of course we know the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is trying to get across that all is vanity. But in his discourse, he lists the best of the best. These delights are the best, the most sought after, the most regarded, and most valued. These delights are most effective at moving and exciting the senses.

(Micah 1:16) Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

Here is used as an adjective to describe children – delicate. Now in this case delicate does not mean fragile. It carries with it the meaning of being very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality. So again we see that it is a word to denote an item of high value, a treasured and cherished item – their children.

(Micah 2:9) The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

I’m not really sure as to what the prophet is trying to convey, but I will say this: For some women, their pleasant house is their glory. They put much of time and care and TLC into their houses. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just saying in that respect, we see a place of beauty, a place that is decorated and cared for.

So delights can bee seen in these four things, the delight of love, great song, the love for children and home. And it’s this delight that is not seemly for the fool. These are the pleasures and delicacies that a fool will be hard-pressed to find. This brings to mind the words of Saul:

(1 Samuel 26:21) Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Wife, children, and home. Many who have lost these have played the fool and erred exceedingly. God have mercy on the fool. And we’ve all played the fool at one time or another and lost or jeopardized something or someone we hold dear. But there is hope hidden in the last half of the verse: Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. The lowly will never rule over the lordly. Or will he?

(Hebrews 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Oh yes! The grace of God can turn Proverb 19:10 upside down. Hear the praises of Hannah’s prayer! (1 Samuel 2:8) He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

(Romans 8:12-14) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

I came across this the other day. It really did something for me. I thought maybe I would share it. It’s from the book When the Holy Ghost is Come by Commissioner Brengle of the Salvation Army.

During the American Civil Ware certain men committed some dastardly and unlawful deeds, and were sentenced to be shot. On the day of the execution they stood in a row confronted by soldiers with loaded muskets, waiting the command to fire. Just before the command was given, the commanding officer felt a touch on his elbow and, turning, saw a young man by his side, who said, ‘Sir, there in that row, waiting to be shot, is a married man. He has a wife and children. He is their bread-winner. If you shoot him, he will be sorely missed. Let me take his place.‘
‘All right,’ said the officer; ‘take his place, if you wish; but you will be shot.’
‘I quite understand that,’ replied the young man; ‘but no one will miss me.’ And, going to the condemned man, he pushed him aside, and took his place.
Soon the command to fire was given. The volley rang out, and the young hero dropped dead with a bullet through his heart, while the other man went free.
His freedom came to him by blood. Had he, however, neglected the great salvation and, despising the blood shed for him and refusing the sacrifice of the friend and the righteous claims of the law, persisted in the same evil ways, he, too, would have been shot. The blood, though shed for him, would not availed to set him free. But he accepted the sacrifice, submitted to the law, and went home to his wife and children. It was by the blood; every breath he henceforth drew, every throb of his heart, every blessing he enjoyed, or possibly could enjoy, came to him by the blood. He owed everything from that day forth to the blood, and every fleeting moment, every passing day and every rolling year but increased his debt to the blood which had been shed for him.

Paul said (Galatians 2:20) The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I have to admit, I never realized the extent of my debt to which I owe. Somehow, the great salvation that Jesus has purchased on our behalf is viewed as something to be waited for; something in the future. And it is. But it’s not. Forgive me for being so unspiritual. But, I’ve heard it and even sung it, but I don’t think I’ve truly grasped it.

Every moment of my existence now I owe him. By all rights, I should be in hell. I should be dead; not just spiritually but physically dead as a door nail. But no. I got saved. God has given me a new life; another chance, so to speak, to live to the glory of Himself. He has provided another opportunity and a new and living way that I can actually live and not fall short of the glory of God. And it began the moment I got saved.

This passage spoke to me because the man that was set free had to choose to go back to his wife and children and live right now. Now why is this significant? Well, he was already a husband and father, and now he was to go back to being a husband and father. But now, he is afforded this opportunity by the blood of that righteous man. I’ll tell you what comes to mind. (2 Kings 6:5) But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

I got saved as a church member. No doubt some of you have also. I was already going to church. I was giving and tithing. I was faithful. I worked hard for the church. I preached. I had turned from much worldliness. I wasn’t at the bar, or the honky-tonk, or anythng like that. But I was lost. I’m not saying that I was good or anything righteous. I’m just saying I was already in church. Now the bible says (2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Now what was this supposed to mean for me? I’ll be honest with you: Things for me just didn’t change much. I didn’t start going to church. I didn’t join the choir. I was already doing this stuff. So understanding the newness that Paul wrote about has been difficult for me, to say the least. (Romans 7:6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

And I know people in my condition will say It’s just different now. And I can relate and say the same thing. But for me, it’s been hard fought. Before I got saved, I loved the church, I loved the brethren, and I loved the house of God. So the newness in all this for me has been a relearning of things I thought I already knew. So that’s why this fella on death row has really spoke to me. He was to go back to do the same things he’d done before, but now because of the circumstances, his heart will be different toward the work. I want to thank God for the wonderful, blessed circumstances to which I take this very breathe.

When someone is brought under Holy Ghost conviction, he is transported to the eternal trial of man; to a place called Calvary; a place where he can be set free. I often consider those three hours of darkness as Christ hung on the cross, and I remember the fearful darkness that God had let me see in my own soul. And I remember what my wife said of her conversion: I was in outer darkness. I think that darkness that overtook the world between the sixth and ninth hour on that dreadful day is a type of Holy Ghost conviction because it was in those hours that the bible says (Matthew 27:51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; The way to the holiest of all was opened up in those dark hours. That’s the only time you can get in. You’ve got to come to the trial.

You must see the writing on the wall. (Daniel 5:25-27) And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. ²⁶ This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. ²⁷ TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Belshazzar came to the trial. Or maybe the trial came to him. And he didn’t make it past the night. Oh, but our circumstances are different. I was finished? Yes. I was found wanting? Yes. But someone more righteous that I took my place. I came out of that trial a free man; a freedom provided by the precious blood of Christ.

I still attend an old-fashioned Independent Baptist Church, and much of my circumstances have remained the same. I still have to live in this flesh. The devil is still there. Temptations are still there. The world is still there. Responsibilities are still there. Bills are still there. Trials, sorrows, and difficulties are still there. But I can say with honesty and excitement: (Galatians 2:20) The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Do you see what I’m saying? That guilty man had a responsibility to his wife and to his children. His indictment did not change his responsibilities; nor did the trial; nor did his guilt; nor did his freedom. Let me say this too: His propensity to fail his wife and children didn’t change either. But the circumstances in which he now addresses those responsibilities have changed. He should never have seen his wife’s lovely face again. Never would he hug his dear children. But now, every breathe, every moment, every experience, every vision, every thought, every sound, every everything has been purchased by the blood of that righteous man.

I don’t feel like I’m conveying adequately what I’m thinking. Let me try one last time. It’s not so much that my circumstances have changed, but that every circumstance that I have the privilege to now experience I am now allowed by the mercy of Jesus Christ. And in that respect, all things have become new. Praise His holy name! So, I am a debtor. O my soul! The debt is growing every second I contemplate this.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee

(Proverbs 18:22) Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

A married man who counts his blessings begins with his wife. No matter how difficult the marriage, financially, emotionally, or whatever, Proverbs 18:22 never goes away. There may be many things that we desire, but what we need, we already got; favour of the Lord in our wife. God looked at old lonely Adam and said (Genesis 2:18) It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. It’s a good thing to be married to a good thing. God’s favour. We can’t earn it, but we sure can cherish it.

Proverbs 19:12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

The dew comes upon the grass slowly, small tiny water pockets. And as the night goes on, they get bigger and bigger and bigger. And by the morning, it’s looks as if it rained all night. The blessings of a wife can be like that. It’s not showers of blessings. It’s a slow and steady saturation of God’s love toward you. The blessing beads may seem small and insufficient, but hold on through the night. When the morning comes, you won’t be able to contain them.

And then, it’s every morning. Every day the sun comes up, by noon the dew is gone. The hot sun rules the day. It’s work work work! Toil toil toil! The nose to the grind stone all day long. And you go to sleep dried out from the day. But when you wake up in the morning, there’s the King’s favour, like dew upon the grass. Amen. It’s God’s original plan, seen in Adam and Eve. But it was also seen in other aspects of creation.

Genesis 2:5-6 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. ⁶ But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

It was after the fall that God sent the rain. I understand showers of blessings. Yes I do. But I think it helpful to consider God’s original plan: the foggy mist and the dew that settles from it. I’m telling you, it get’s the job done. Sometimes, that’s all a crop gets through a season, but it’s sufficient to see it through to fruition. I like the big rains, but many times, they’re gone as quick as they come. The dew is steady consistent blessing every morning. And that’s what a wife is. That is the favour of the Lord. That is what we need. It grows through the night and lasts well into the day and is renewed everyday.

You need not look far to find the good things that God has given you if you have a wife. Sometimes we get down in the dumps because we don’t see the big blessings. We hear of the grand miracles that God does for others and wonder when our turn is going to be. Or the cares and trials of marriage can distract us. We got our eyes on the tomorrow’s forecast, but the showers never come and we pout. And we miss the mist of God’s favour upon us all day long, every day, every morning. The good dew that clings to us faithfully as God is faithful to us in our wife.

I tell you, I’m glad my wife has stuck around. She’s been faithful and good to me. And that comes from nowhere but God, for only God is faithful and only God is good. God was right. It’s not good that the man should be alone. We grew up together. We got saved together. We’ve pursued God together. And as the years have gone by, the dew drops of God’s blessings in our marriage have gotten bigger and bigger, have run down unabated, and has been faithful to help grow and bare fruit.

(Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

And of course, this gives us a picture of how we, as the bride of Christ, should be toward our Christ. Could Christ look at us and say, I found a good thing? That’s a tough one, ain’t it. Where is our devotion to him? Our faithfulness? Are we like scattered showers; there today and gone tomorrow? Or is it just the normal cycle of our day to soak and saturate our Lord with praise, love, and affection?

(Lamentations 3:21-23) This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²²It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Therefore, our devotion and love to him should be fresh and new every morning. I know we fail. But He sure is worth it, ain’t He? (Exodus 30:7) And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning:

This is a very interesting text. It only appears in the gospel of John. I usually hear this text referred when preachers are preaching on Holy Ghost conviction. “It’s whosoever! It’ whatsoever! But it’s not whensoever!” Good preaching. I like it. I’m probably not going to get into it on those lines. In fact, my thoughts are a bit scattered on this. Here’s the text.

(John 5:1-16) After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. ⁵ And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?⁷ The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. ⁸ Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.⁹ And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. ¹¹ He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. ¹² Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? ¹³ And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.¹⁵ The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. ¹⁶ And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

So here’s a few things that stand out to me:

(Verse 6) That case…

For thirty-eight years this man had this infirmity. There were many there at the pool, blind, halt, and withered. Why this certain man? Why his case? And why now? And what about the other sick folk? No telling how long some of them had been sick; some more and maybe some less. They were all sick. They were all waiting. But of all those there, it was this certain man’s case that Jesus would deal with that day. It was his day. I wonder at the care and length that God would go for just one person. I know it’s God so loved the world. But it amazes me how God could single out a certain sinner. The hunter invests much to track down and win his prize.

My head spins at the remembrance of all the miracles that surrounded my conversion; the wonders that the Holy Ghost performed in order that I might be saved. I had a case of my own. For me it was a 30 year wait. I wasn’t into drugs and alcohol. No, I was steeped in religion. I was a whitened sepulchre, filled with dead men’s bones. I was decieved and blinded. But somehow, by the grace of God, I took the gospel; hook, line, and sinker. And God slowly reeled me in until I was close enough I suppose to cast the net. We might be all sick unto death, but each case is still different.

(Verse 7) No man…

The impotent man said I have no man. But Jesus said I am that man. I can’t help but think that this is just about where every sinner gets when he or she is about to get saved. You come to a point where no man can help you; no man on earth at least. But there is a man in heaven, with nail-pierced hands and a wound on his side, that can help your lonely condition. That woman at the well said (John 4:29) Come, see a man! They put the crown of thorns upon his head and the purple robe and Pilate brought forth Jesus and declared to all the world (John 19:5) Behold the man!

(1 Timothy 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; That poor impotent man got the helping hand he so desperately needed that day. Christ, the man, is our mediator, our helper, our paraclete. He is our heavenly advocate. Full of grace, he is able to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. He is our appointed counsel, for we could not afford one on our own. He wasn’t paid to do the work he did. He didn’t work pro bono either. Instead, he paid a great price to be our gracious advocate. I thank God I can say I had no man, but now I do.

(Verse 11) The same…

When the Jews told the healed man that it was not lawful to carry his bed, (John 5:11) He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Can I say this? (Romans 8:9-10) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you… That man that was healed at the pool answered simply I’m obeying he that made me whole. And that is what God’s people long to do. I’ve been thinking much of that song: I am thine, O Lord. I have heard thy voice and it told thy love to me… Ah, it was a wonderful day that I heard the voice of God. I remember when he leaned down over heaven and whispered in my wretched sinful ear, But I still love you.

And I’ve been ruined ever since; ruined to this world because the voice from another world still speaks. That song from Fanny Crosby goes on to say But I long to rise… (John 5:8) Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Being saved, meeting the Lord Jesus Christ, was glorious, but I long for more. The word of God says (Galatians 5:25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Paul asked us this question: (Galatians 3:3) Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? I’m going to listen carefully for the same voice that told his love to me. I’m going to obey the same voice that called me (1 Peter 2:9) Out of darkness into his marvellous light:

(Verse 14) Jesus findeth him…

The bible says that the man did not know who it was that made him whole, (John 5:13) For Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. There were just too many people there; too much hustle and bustle; too much commotion. But then after a little while (John 5:14) Jesus findeth him… Maybe it’s time to ditch the multitude. The bible says to (James 4:8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. You can’t draw nigh to God and stay nigh the multitude. He said (Song of Solomon 2:13) Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

I know the bible says that (Deuteronomy 4:29) But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. But it’s not just us that seeks to find. No no no. (1 John 4:19) We love him, because he first loved us. I thank God for the times, since the days of my conversion, that he’s found me. It’s easy to lose your way in the multitude of distractions. But the loving eyes, hidden alone in the shadows, are seeking and waiting and longing to catch the eyes again of his love, to lay hold of her hand, and lead her away with him. His eye is upon you and he waits patiently for you to break from the crowd; to get off the beaten track; and give him that opportunity.

(Verse 14) Sin no more…

Once Jesus found the man, his message for him was this: (John 5:14) Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. A stern prescription from the Great Physician who healed this man. This teaches us one sure thing; that sin will always have consequences. And this is a hard one to understand, I believe, for many people. Here’s the question that it demands. How can we be eternally forgiven from our sin, yet still suffer consequences of our sin? I mean, are we forgiven or not? Am I the only one that asks this question? I think not.

I’ve come to realize that there’s just alot about sin that I don’t understand. God’s grace is sufficient, yes. But grace from God implies utter and absolute unworthiness and insufficiency in us. And to this we give the credit to sin. Paul said concerning sin, (Romans 7:17-18) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Follow me. If it’s not I that does it, then it’s not I that is charged. But if it is sin that dwells in my flesh, then it’s in my flesh that the consequences are manifest.

Remember, (Romans 8:10) If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. You may be saved, Christ in you, but the body is still dead because of sin; because the wages of sin is still death. That hasn’t changed and will never change. We talk about separation from the world, but I think what is more needful and will do us more effectual good is to separate from the flesh; drop that dead carcass and cross over the River Jordan. I think Verse 14 is the call to all that were made whole to be filled with the Spirit. I think real biblical separation lies in the revelation of that great truth that Paul demonstrated: (Romans 7:25) So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Concluding Remarks

I’m looking forward to visiting this text again. Much preaching could be done from here and volumes could be written from this miracle. The gospel of John is very different from the Synoptic Gospels. Sorry there’s no three-point outline today but I could barely wrap my head around this one.

(Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The devil cannot be a dumb robotic thorn in our flesh who repeatedly bangs his head against the wall with us and God. God can take the wiles and snares of the devil and turn them around to our benefit, surely. But I think that is not the rule but the exception. If the rule, then why keep doing it? Is he that stubborn and foolish – like Wiley Coyote? I think not.

Therefore we must conclude that he must receive some great gain, some exceptional pleasure, and tremendous satisfaction in vexing us. There exist for him a compelling reason to walk, seek, and devour. His success must be much more compelling that his failure.

Romans 8:28 outlines the exception to which has been wonderfully and graciously applied to us, God’s people. That verse is for one people, them that love God. So therein lies our protection and peace from the wiles of the devil, to love God.

Evil things happen and come to us by the hand of the devil and his devils, but by the hand of God, it can be turned upside and inside out to instead bring us gain. What was meant to be a curse to us, God can make a blessing; an amazing work that Jesus can do but for one question: Lovest thou me?

Those that love God can be assured and rest in the care of our Father. But all else will succumb to the power of the devil. (Psalm 1:6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Thank God for the Rock on which is built Jesus’ marvelous church! Thank God that the gates of hell will not prevail!

(Matthew 9:32-34) As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. ³³ And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

#1 They brought to him a dumb man…

We typically look to the lame man that was lowered through the roof by four men when we want to speak about the faith of others and it’s bearing on that one lame man’s forgiveness and healing. Jesus saw their faith and helped the lame man. We use this to encourage the church to bring them in. So I just want to point out that this man also was brought to Jesus.

Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring them in from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring the wand’ring ones to Jesus.

(Luke 4:40) Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. There is the lame man brought by the four. This dumb man that was brought to Jesus. The nobleman wanted to bring Jesus to his son. The man with devil in the synagogue said Let us alone. Jesus was brought to Peter’s mother-in-law. The centurion at first besought Jesus to come and heal. The man in the synagogue with a withered hand was not looking for Jesus to be healed. He was healed to teach the Pharisees a lesson. Jesus was moved in compassion by the widow’s tears and raised her dead son from the dead. Jesus made a special visit to Gadara just to cast out Legion. Jairus begged Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter. I’ve covered about half of Jesus’ miracles and in most of them, it was not the sick seeking the physician. It was either somebody that loved them or Jesus himself. This is the reality of evangelism.

#2 A dumb man possessed with a devil…

One day I want to preach a message on Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due. We need to give God the credit where credit is due. We need to give the flesh credit where credit is due. And I see this verse and think that we need to give devils credit where credit is due. I wonder how man ailments that people have are truly devil possession. We send them to the hospital when they really need to go to church. A doctor will do them no good. They need Jesus. When Paul was speaking about examining ourselves before the Lord’s Supper he said this, (1 Corinthians 11:29-30) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. I know this verse doesn’t deal with devil possession, but it does illustrate some things; that some physical problems are just truly not physical, but spiritual. Most people would probably throw a fit if you suggested to them that their diabetes or their high-blood pressure was really devils. But I can see the wisdom in the enemy’s strategy; to exploit the weaknesses and infirmities of man. Why not? Doctor’s do it shamelessly. Anyhow, it’s something to consider.

#3 When the devil was cast out…

The dumb man spake and the multitudes marveled. Things happen when Jesus saves sinners. Things happen to the sinner and things happen to the spectator. When a sinner gets saved, it has an effect on the people around them. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. People notice new things. If you show up to work or church with a brand new King Ranch F350 Duelly, people are going to marvel. I would. What’s new about you? (Luke 7:22) The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. Has what God done in your life make the multitude marvel? Why wouldn’t it. Is not Jesus marvelous? Is not his love and mercy marvelous? Don’t sell Jesus short. Maybe you just need to speak up.

# But the Pharisees said…

Who cares what the Pharisees said! The Pharisee is the nay-saying, self-righteous critic that has nothing good to say about anybody. Their words don’t help, they hurt. When they speak, they put everybody else down in order to lift themselves up. The Pharisee is not the preacher who preaches against sin and, in love, reproves, rebukes, and exhorts with all long-suffering and doctrine. No. That man is trying to help you. The Pharisee is the one that will speak ill of this man every chance he gets. The Pharisee is the straw-man basher. The Pharisee will twist and turn the work of God into the work of the devil. The Pharisee has always got to mischaracterize the people of God for their own gain. They’re know-it-alls; ever-teaching, never learning. A Pharisee is a well without water. He’s the king without clothes. They’ll criticize those who stand for something and glory in their stand for nothing. Who cares what the Pharisee said?

Chapter III

The Shepherd and the Sheep

He entereth in by the door

Jesus walked on water after praying alone through the night.

Jesus walked on water in the middle of the sea

Jesus walked on water in the middle of a storm.

Jesus walked on water in the fourth watch of the night.

Jesus walking on water looked like a spirit.

Jesus walking on water demands our worship.

Jesus walking on water proves he is the Son of God.

Concluding Remarks

Give ye them to eat… (Matthew 14:16)

Bring them hither to me… (Matthew 14:18)

Make the men sit down… (John 6:10)

Gather up the fragments… (John 6:12)

Conclusion

(Proverbs 19:10) Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

(Romans 8:12-14) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

(Proverbs 18:22) Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

(Verse 6) That case…

(Verse 7) No man…

(Verse 11) The same…

(Verse 14) Jesus findeth him…

(Verse 14) Sin no more…

Concluding Remarks

(Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

#1 They brought to him a dumb man…

#2 A dumb man possessed with a devil…

#3 When the devil was cast out…

# But the Pharisees said…