Eating Business [Lent 4; St. John 6:1-15]

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Jesus speaks to you today, saying:

“He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.”

First off, folks, it is important for the comfort of your soul that every time you hear about eating in the Bible, you think of the Lord’s Supper. Not because everywhere Jesus is creating it or instituting it and not because every time you eat bread and wine it is the Sacrament, but because everywhere Faith sees a meal it is reminded of the meal offered to you in the Divine Service and you are reminded of the forgiveness found in it.

For today, Jesus is feeding the people. He stands on the heights, elevating Himself in order to observe the masses. A bit condescending here, but He has earned it, having just finished performing all those miracles on the weak and the sick, as the Gospel said. We might add that He had no help in the matter, as His disciples had no such power.

It is in knowing all this that St. Phillip answers Jesus, desperately with all the disciples, trying to understand what God’s expectations and requirements of them are, here. Will Jesus send the masses away, as pompously suggested, or will He let them suffer for their zeal? Will He overturn tables or cuddle children? Will Jesus talk about death again, or peace this time? Will Jesus deal with the physical needs of these people or is He solely concerned with their spiritual needs?

Perhaps unfortunately for us and the disciples, it is none of our business. St. Paul writes, “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” (Rom. 9:18) which is simply echoing Moses’ encounter with the Lord when the Lord says, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Ex. 33:19)

Do we show such little respect for our Creator that we need Him to run things by us first? Is it our business how He runs things or what He gives to whom? St. Philip thinks so. He knows Jesus has been working by Himself, though He has been surrounded by seemingly competent men. He knows that Jesus is moved to compassion for these people and that’s good enough.

“Send them away Jesus”, Philip might say, “They will find food and if they are interested in You they will come back later. We know You are concerned with feeding their spirit, but not whether their belly has anything to eat. Just let them go.” Even though Jesus has already upbraided St. Peter and run out the devil, who both used the same denial of Jesus’ ability to not only grasp the entire situation, but His ability to do anything about it.

Though, we should not be judging Philip and the disciples, for we are in the same boat. We and they should know the right answer to Jesus’ question of where to find bread. They should already be convinced of God’s loving-kindness from the Old Testament and know what Jesus will do. Jesus should not have to test us only to fail us.

Repent. Though you know that Jesus paid the full price for your sins, you are terrified to believe it, because somehow you still feel as if it is a mistake and you simply didn’t hear God rightly. Intellectually you know that your salvation isn’t dependent on showing love to your neighbor, but you would definitely show that kind of love IF you were saved.

What if you weren’t able to show that kind of love, even if you were saved? Be truthful. Your love is definitely not the kind of love that Jesus shows you. You need to grit your teeth, you need to fall back on “just do your duty”, and you need to people-please so people will think you are doing it right and like you.

Here’s what you, Philip, Peter, and the devil must come to admit: that your spiritual growth is none of your business. What God does with His Creation and with His salvation is none of your concern, but Jesus includes you none the less, testing you so that when you see your failure, and you will, you would also see your Savior.

Jesus says that if you abide in His love you will bear much fruit. He is the vine, after all, and you are just a branch. This is not a conditional challenge to see who can bear the most fruit. This is a promise! Abiding simply means believing; believing that what Jesus does is enough for you. God does not need your conscious effort to produce fruit in you, He just does it, regardless of what that looks like in your life.

Jesus does not want you or Philip to see progress. He wants you humble, content, but most of all He wants you repentant, admitting that you are not doing things, but He is. You already reflect God’s love, but you don’t recognize it because its so natural. Philip, though he was being tested, did exactly what faith demanded of Him: turned to Jesus and let Him do what He wills.

The light you shine before men is the Good news of Christ and Him crucified. The good works people see you do and for which they give glory to God, are invisible to you. Your continual anxiety about works and your painful awareness of your sin and imperfection are tender mercies from God, reminding you that you also need a Savior.

Thus, the grace and mercy from our crucified and risen Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, is such that it continually and constantly drives you to Christ’s presence where you will always find more love, more forgiveness, and more assurance. Assurance that even though there is only a small bit of bread and a tiny bit to drink, this will be Jesus’ great work of salvation in your life.

Now that the Lord has accomplished the perfect life for you, suffering, dying, and rising again and now that the Lord has made His presence to dwell with you in such a way that you literally eat and drink with Him, you not only find love, forgiveness, and assurance in your soul, but also in your belly.

God does the impossible by making a promise of forgiveness to your ears and then making that same promise edible. Jesus accomplishes the impossible business of doing the work no one wants to do, that is saving every one, and makes it presentable in such a simple way that you either accept it in faith or reject it.

Regardless of your doubts, the Lord is secretly working out your salvation in plain sight, in His Supper and your anxiety about your works, your growth, and your façade melt away. For at His Table, you simply hear and believe, just as Scripture says, and there is no room for argument.

The attachment to the true Vine is here. The infusion of grace you so desperately seek to find is here. The Lord Who is strong to save and merciful at His say-so, is doing so here for you today. For, as Jesus has commanded, you have sat down in this place, heard the Lord’s Word in this place, and have received salvation distributed to you.