Title Can you do it?
Contents
♡♥♡ Can you do it? / John 6:1-10
***Introduction
The main text of this time is the introductory word of ‘The Miracle of the Five Byeong-Eye’. The main body of the miracle is recorded in verses 11 to 13, and verses 14 and 15 correspond to the latter part of the miracle. However, the Lord is giving a deeper lesson to the disciples and us today in this introductory part.
The content of the miracle is that “a lunch box containing five barley loaves and two small fish brought by a young child, he fed a group of five thousand men to their full satisfaction.” The significance of this miracle is not simply the fact that he gave food to the hungry crowd. This is to teach the heavenly food that is given to us through Jesus Christ for eternal life. In other words, it is to teach the food of the spirit through the food of the body. This is the gospel. Therefore, it is an important miracle recorded in all four Gospels.
Considering these words, we should pay special attention to the two disciples of Jesus, Philip and Andrew. These two disciples are expressing their own thoughts on the Lord's question. Through these, the Lord makes us think of important meanings for us today as well.
1. He teaches the true Passover food, the bread of life.
It was said that the time of this miracle was nearing the Passover. For the Jews, the Passover is an unforgettable, unforgettable feast. Not only that, it is the first of the three feasts that God commanded Israel to observe.
Meanwhile, the angels, who were commanded by God, traveled all over Egypt, killing the firstborn of the beast and the firstborn of man. However, the house marked with blood on the door was passed without encroaching on it. This is God's Passover. This Passover meant the exodus from slavery in the flesh and the departure of Israel, the chosen people. In other words, the lamb was sacrificed for the liberation of Israel and for becoming God's people.
However, the Lord made the people who came to keep this Passover eat bread and meat, and then exclaimed, “Jesus Himself is the bread of life that gives us eternal life.” This means that we must eat Jesus Christ to gain eternal life and freedom from the sinful world. How do you eat and drink Jesus? After the main text, verses 54-55. He said, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day; my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” You can partake of this as a ‘communion’ now. But the real meaning is in John 15:7,10. The first is verse 7. “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” / Verse 10, “Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love, so if you keep my commandments you will abide in my love.” In other words, it is union with Jesus Christ through obedience to the Word.
In this way, the Lord revealed Himself, the true Lamb of the Passover, to many people who want to keep the Passover physically. He also taught the more important spiritual food through the physical food that people struggle for.
2. He breaks down the limits of people's worldly knowledge.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered to hear the news of Jesus. Since it was said that there were only five thousand men, the total must have been well over 20,000. Jesus asks Philip in front of so many people and disciples.
“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
“Two hundred denarii would not be enough for each one to receive a little.”
The Lord's question and Philip's immediate answer. Philip's answer means, 'It takes more than two hundred denarii to make these many go crazy.' Philip misunderstood Jesus' question. The Lord asked, “Where did you buy bread?” Philip answered with a money question of “two hundred denarii.” The Lord's question meant, 'Can I do this?' If Philip had thought deeply about and trusted the Lord until now, he would have replied, 'Lord, you can do it.'
A certain saint saw in a vision that he died and went to heaven.
I saw the kingdom of God so beautiful. But the big gate was firmly shut. The saint knocked on the door. After a while, I heard footsteps coming from the inside to the front door. And then, "Who's there?" isn't it? The saint answered, “Yes, I am the ○○○ deacon of the ○○ Church.” But the door doesn't open and the sound of footsteps goes away.
The saint knocked on the door again. The same thing happened over and over again. The saint was in trouble. What did I do wrong? What answer should I give?
Then I knocked on the door again a third time. Again there was a sound of footsteps, and I asked, “Who is there?” This time the saint replied, “Lord, it is you.” Then wouldn't that massive gate slide open?
We are like this. If you are full of worldly logic and knowledge, the power of God cannot stay. If everything is calculated, logical, and fully understood in your own thoughts, you will never experience the power of God. Ladies and gentlemen, is it logical that five thousand men can be satisfied with five barley loaves and two fish? Or is it understandable? A Christian's faith cannot be known by worldly knowledge and cannot be calculated by human experience (Job / God speaking to Job, Job 38).
3. He breaks down people's walls of distrust.
Andrew, who appeared after Philip, heard Jesus’ words and found a man who had brought food from the crowd. It was a little child who brought a small lunch with five barley loaves and two fish. But Andrew saw the lunch box as nothing in front of a large crowd. Andre says. “There is a child here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But how much will it be for so many?”
Andrew also did not believe in the Jesus he had experienced so far. According to his own thoughts and experiences, it was by no means believable. The lunch box seemed insufficient to fill a child's stomach. In a way, Andrew's expression of disbelief is probably the universal idea.
Let's look at Ezekiel 37:1-3. “The Lord came upon me with power, and with his spirit he brought me and placed me in the middle of the valley, where it was full of bones. He made me pass through the bones, and behold, there were very many bones on the ground of the valley, and it was very dry. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I answered, Sovereign LORD, you know.”
God took the prophet Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones. He asked while looking at the bones. “Son of man, can these bones live?” This question is similar to Jesus’ question today. God asks, 'Can I do this?' In other words, he wanted to see Ezekiel's faith toward God.
From human eyes, human experience, and human knowledge, it was impossible. It is unbelievable that these bones will come back to life. Then the prophet Ezekiel answers. “Lord Jehovah, you know.” In other words, it is an expression of ‘it depends on the will of God.’ This belief is the form of faith we should have.
Jesus undoubtedly destroys Philip's worldly mindset and Andrew's unbelief. The Lord made people sit in groups, took a small lunch, gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. The disciples must have thoroughly felt the power of the Lord as they shared the bread and meat.
The manifestation of God's power in our saints is possible only when the Lord is in us. Because we do not have power, but it is the Lord who works. Therefore, to the Lord's question, "Can it be done?", there must be a confession, "The Lord can do it." If you do as you asked Philip, when the Lord asks, “Where shall we buy this bread that these people may eat?” The answer, “You can do it,” is an expression of faith.
Now that the first half of 2002 is over, the second half has begun. Let's look back on the first half and give thanks for God's guidance. It is said that those who give thanks glorify God. And in the second half of the year, let's go forward with faith boldly toward the work given to us based on the sure faith we depend on the Lord. Let's not forget that the Lord who saved me is with me.
He who said, ‘I can do it, my strength, Lord God, do not doubt. The Lord who said it is possible, the Lord who said it is possible, said that faith alone is the only power. They say that faith alone is the only power.’
I pray that God who rewards you according to your deeds will accomplish what you believe.