Fourth Sunday in Lent (1895)

John 6:1-15 It is at present a poor, needy time, as everyone knows.1 And even this poverty of the time is an act of God, as Scripture clearly teaches. What does God now intend by sending us a low, needy time? We do not ask what this means for the godless world, but in this case what are the gracious purposes of God to and for us Christians. We can find an answer to this question if we look at our Gospel today that tells us about the miraculous feeding of the five thousand by Christ. In particular we pay attention that Christ asked Philip a question before this miracle to test him, and that afterwards the people wanted to make the Lord Jesus king over them, but in vain. Therefore today we ask the question: How do we have to regard the present needy time according to our text? Answer: 1. As a test of our faith in God's provision in earthly goods. a. The Lord addressed the question to Philip when He saw a great multitude coming to Him: Where shall we buy bread that these may eat? He said this to test him. He knew well what he wanted to do.2 Philip, however, showed little growth in this test. His weakness was manifest. His answer3 was not very joyful in faith. Likewise Andrew.4 But the LORD himself helped these two and the other disciples stand the test, by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand.5 b. We have to regard the current needy time as such a test of faith. The Lord also similarly asks us by the present shortage: Where shall we buy bread, etc.? So the Lord says this to test us; to test us whether we joyfully say: Lord, etc. Regrettably, we often fail this test. We rightly become aware of our weakness precisely by the test. We usually give just meek, hesitating answers like Philip and Andrew. But we are able to pass the test if we always consider anew the glorious miracle of feeding the five thousand, and strengthen our faith from it. 2. As a reminder not to forget about the earthly and even the heavenly goods. a. A serious reminder was urgently needed by the people in our text6, which reminder they also received from Christ.7 Those people recognized from the glorious miracles that Christ is the Prophet who is to come into the world.8 But what did they now want from Christ? Not above all spiritual, but physical goods. They wanted to catch him, that they made him as king
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Perhaps a reference to the Panic of 1893. The after-effects of the Panic of 1893 were still being felt two years later. - Tr. 2 John 6:5-6. 3 John 6:7. 4 John 6:8-9. 5 John 6:10-13. 6 John 6:14. 7 John 6:15b. 8 John 6:14.

over them.9 But Jesus hindered this.10 He later chastises with explicit words their earthly and carnal mind11, and instructs them not to labor for food that is perishable, but for food that endures to eternal life.12 b. Such a reminder is also urgently needed among us for the sake of our mind that still clings to fleshly things, and for such a reminder we also have to regard, without a doubt, the current needy time. Even many who call themselves Christians essentially reckon only in earthly goods. That is what they seek from Jesus and desire from Him. The spiritual and heavenly things are indifferent to them. They also would like to catch Jesus and make Him into a king over them. Of course, those who are still excluded from the kingdom of Jesus; Jesus and His kingdom to them is still far off. But a carnal attitude is also found even among true Christians, even among us. We are, e.g., often much more depressed for lack of physical than spiritual things, much more eager for earthly than for heavenly things. For now the Lord warns us even by the current needy time: Do not labor, etc.13 Chr. K.

John 6:15. John 6:15b. 11 John 6:26. 12 John 6:27. 13 John 6:27; Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:33a.
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