The Lad with the Fish John 6:1-13, 25-35

Let’s call his name Joshua.  And let’s think of him as an old, old man.  Joshua was an old man with a great memory for detail.  He loved to tell and retell memories that were important to him.  Everyone who knew Joshua enjoyed his stories, because not only was he quite old with many, many different stories, but he was gifted a story-teller, too.  So, anytime Joshua cleared his throat and said, “Did I ever tell you about the time . . . “, everyone would lean in to listen.

“Did I ever tell you about the time I was a little boy at a great banquet?  No?  Well, back when I was quite young, probably not more ten or eleven, I went out by the sea.  There were a great many people there from all over the region—tall, short, young, old, rich, poor, crippled, and healthy.

“The day was a beautiful day.  The sun was bright in the late afternoon sky.  You had to squint your eyes when you looked at the sea because a million little sunbursts were exploding across the surface of the deep, blue-green water.  It felt like they were bouncing off of the surface and right into my eyes.

“I remember the sea breeze racing over my skin and ducking into my clothes as if it was looking for a place to hide.  Birds coasted over and dove into the water, scooping up late afternoon insects or top-dwelling fish.

“As the afternoon went on I started feeling a bit hungry.  I was glad that my mother packed me a meal.  She was nearby and was constantly looking at something over the shoulders of other people in front of us.  I couldn’t really see much of anything.  All I really saw were the bellies and backs of the adults all around me.  Occasionally I would catch the eye of other children being squeezed in the sea of legs, walking sticks and backpacks.  Every once in a while a dog would run through yapping and yipping.  That was kind of fun, and sometimes a bit scary if they were coming right at me.  But all I had to do was reach for my mother’s or father’s hand and I felt secure again.

“I remember at one point I started getting tired and told my Mom that I was hungry.  She told me to wait just a bit more, because we were getting closer.  ‘Closer to what?’ I asked.  ‘Just hang on to me and you will see’.

“A moment or two later there was an opening in the crowd.  I could see that there was a group of men standing together and everyone wanted to touch one man in particular.  Then I heard a strange conversation that was started by the man everyone was looking at, (John 6:5b-7)"Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  Then another man answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"  I told you there were lots of people there.

 “It was at the point my mother remembered my whining for dinner and she quickly handed me my meal.  I eagerly opened it, but then all of the sudden I heard one of the men say, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

“I can tell you for certain that my little stomach was not any too happy to give up my meal—for what it was worth.  But there was something about the urgency of the moment.  So, I handed it—napkin and all—to the men.

“I can still remember the surprise of those around us. I can still see some of the smiles on the faces of the adults as they looked down at me.  And I can still remember my mother leaning down suddenly with a warm hug, whispering in my ear.  ‘That’s Jesus! You just gave your lunch to Jesus.  I am so proud of you.’

“I had heard the name of Jesus in my parent’s conversations.  I remembered hearing that He was a good man, who helped people everywhere He went.  But it wasn’t until this particular day that I really saw what that meant.

“You see, there were thousands of people out by the sea that day.  It was only as I grew a bit older that I truly comprehended why everyone wanted to be near this man named Jesus.  They had come from far and wide, some of them forgetting to even bring food, some of them having run out of food as they followed Him that day.  So really it wasn’t just me that was hungry—we all were.  And Jesus wanted us to be fed.

“Then I heard Jesus say, “Have the people sit down.” (6:10a). I remember reading about it later and it was written this way: There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (6:10b-13) 

“I don’t think that I can rightly tell you how He did it—the fish and the bread just did not stop coming.  I know three things from that day 1) I gave Him my lunch, 2) He gave thanks to God and 3) then we all had lunch!

 “The writer put it this way: When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (6:12-13)

“I don’t care what anyone says, that was a banquet!  Everyone around me, my mother, and everyone we walked by on the way home—not one of them complained of being hungry.

 “From that day forward I thanked God just the way Jesus did for my food.  But something else happened that day. I began to want to follow Jesus myself.  Not because my mother wanted me to, but because I wanted to go.  Every opportunity I got I wanted to thank Him for that feast and all the ones to come.”

______________________________

The Apostle John remembered this story that we find in the Gospels.  He remembered the little boy.  And later in chapter 6 of the Gospel of John we see that he remembered something else.  Jesus took their recent experience of actual bread to teach them a profound truth about who He is. 

Read John 6:26-33.

Today we can acknowledge the Bread from heaven.  It is Jesus Christ who has given us life—real life.  He’s given us far more than homes to live in, food on the table, emotional healing, restored relationships.  He’s given us far more than cars and work and money and courage to endure and strength to carry on.  He’s given us above all we can ask and imagine—and that is salvation from sin and into spiritual peace now and eternal peace forever.

Take some time right now to give thanks for all the Jesus Christ has given you.

Amen

Copyright M.R. Hyde 2014

Deception's Answer

Greetings, dear readers.  I will have to take a two week hiatus from our study in Hebrews.  In the meantime, I dipped into some of my older writing and came across a good lesson regarding deception from which I hope you will find some benefit.  Next week we will pull again from the "files" and then after that continue with our good, hard work through the book of Hebrews.  God bless you all!

In Him,

M.R. Hyde

DECEPTION'S ANSWER

Have you ever been deceived? It is a truly humbling thing to know that you've been deceived. The very fact that it is possible to be deceived is alarming. We get quite comfortable in our own wisdom, the human wisdom gained through experience in life. But it is the wisdom from God that keeps us from further deception.

In 2 Peter 1:3-4, the great apostle Peter described the truth that holds us. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Deception comes from several arenas.

1.      Our own evil desires can lead us into deception.  James 1:13-15 nails this down precisely.  “When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me.   For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ”

2.      False teachers and false prophets can lead us into deception.  Again in 2 Peter 2:1-3 we read about the facts of history. “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

3.      Hollow and vain philosophies (including ideas, concepts, and beliefs) can lead us into deception. Colossians 2:8 demonstrates how the apostle Paul dealt with this quite frankly when he addressed the Corinthian church.  “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” And in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we can see that arguments and pretense are arch enemies of the truth. The apostle Paul is quite strong in his description of these things as strongholds.  “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

4.      Finally, and originally, deception is from Satan and demonic influences. We can read about these in Ephesians 6. But again the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, states it quite plainly.  2 Corinthians 4:4 reads, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  Peter, who also wrote to Christians in the New Testament church, identified this same source of deception specifically. In 1 Peter 5:8 we read: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  And the Apostle John, in God's revelation about the end days, described the demise of the deceiver and those who had worked with him to deceive.  In Revelation 20:10 we read, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  The revelation was complete showing the consequences for all those who follow the deceiver as well. In Revelation 22:15 we read, “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” 

The final result of deception, if not interrupted by grace and forgiveness, is sin which leads to death.  James 1:15  makes this point very clear, “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”   While we sit and read the Scriptures it may be easy to think about those in our lives who have been deceived or are deceived. But as the Scriptures point out every person is susceptible to deception at any time in their life.

Often all of these means of deception work in concert together to blind us to the truth. When we look at the reality of possible future deception the question remains, “What can keep us from deception?”  The better question is really “Who can keep us from deception?”  The Person and the method assure us a final victory.

           

The Person of Jesus Christ, who holds the keys to death and hell in his hands today (Rev. 1:18), is our answer to recognizing, preventing and being delivered from deception. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  John 14:7 continues quoting Jesus as he instructs his disciples about their relationship with the father and with him. “If you really knew me, you would know my father as well. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  The emphasis in this verse is on knowledge of God, which Jesus describes as the critical factor to avoiding sin and deception.

If our eyes are fixed on the object of our own evil desires, then the only outcome is to follow that evil desire into sin. Our own evil desires can be as silent as coveting their neighbor's car or as obvious as fulfilling our own sexual needs through adulterous relationships with another human being or by falling into idolatry through substance abuse. But, if our eyes are fixed on the truth then what is false will appear in this life as it is and we can to walk away from it by the power of the Holy Spirit.  A great promise rests in 1 Corinthians 10:13.  “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he would not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

If our eyes are fixed on false teachers or false prophets, then the only outcome is to follow the prophet into his or her own error which has come from their own arena of deception. Numerous accounts throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament articulate these outcomes. Modern history as well records the outcomes of such false teachers.  These outcomes include a vast array of consequences, some ending in death, many falling into in disillusionment, and many more in the loss of faith.

If our eyes are fixed on hollow and deceptive ideas, the only outcome is to dwell on that idea, philosophy, ideology or theory, ignoring the Person of truth, resulting in confusion, disillusionment, disorder and ultimately the death of faith. Colossians 2:22-23 articulates the characteristics of the teachings from such deceptions.  “These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

If our eyes are fixed on or fascinated by Satan and demons (ie., looking curiously or seriously into the occult, Satanism, demonology, etc.) then the only outcome will be the captivity by these and the potential of living in everlasting darkness.

So, fix your eyes on Jesus! And when we do this through the study of his Word, praise and worship, and walking in fellowship with other believers, the glory and the light of truth will expose the deception. God's grace and mercy makes a way for us to respond. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “ . . . but when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  How do we fix our eyes on Jesus? How do we take the way out?

God gave us free will to choose.  This is a powerful gift, especially in the face of temptation and deception.  When we are deceived it is easy to believe that we do not have a choice or that our will is too weak.  And that is the first deception.

When deception is brought to light in our lives our responses can be in several ways.

A)     Confession and repentance from our own evil desires.

B)    Turning from visible or material teachers and or relationships to the invisible intangible Teacher and Provider.

C)    Moving from relativity and chaotic ideas into concrete and absolute truth.

D)    Resisting and avoiding the father of lies. Be sure to note that if you resist him, he will flee! James 4:7-10 gives very clear directions in this matter.  “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” This passage makes clear that there are many things that we can do. But the one thing we cannot do is lift ourselves up. That is God's job. When we have submitted ourselves to him and humble ourselves before him, then things start to happen.  Then God will lift us up into his great light.  This can happen very simply by crying out to the Lord. Quick and earnest prayers such as, “Oh Lord, help me see the truth!” or “Dear Jesus, I don't know what the truth is. Fill me with your truth!” are powerful and effective because God wants us to know the truth that will set us free and he will answer us in our time of need. Then it is up to us to receive what he has offered—a way out! Here again the power of the Holy Spirit can help us flee, walk away, or turn our backs on all forms of deception.  The outcome of fixing our eyes on Jesus will be to walk in the light as he is in the light (1John 1:7).  That's my kind of outcome!

If you find yourself being deceived or having been deceived, turned to God immediately. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life asking him to replace the deception with truth, asking him to fill you up more and more. John 16:13 quotes Jesus saying, “. . . but when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Confess your own evil desires or your obsession for an immediate physical teacher or recognizing your captivity in thoughts or ideas that are destructive or alienating. Ask God to deliver you. Resist the devil and seek healing and deliverance from Satan's hold in your heart because “God does not despise or turn away from a broken and contrite heart.”  (Psalm 51:17)

We must remember that we have an enemy of our souls who is able to deceive us if we are looking the wrong way. In humility we must recognize that we can be deceived and therefore we must keep our eyes, minds and hearts fixed on Jesus. He is the one, who out of his own glory and goodness and great grace, always gives us an answer and a way out of deception and the way into his wonderful light.

            Amen!

Copyright M.R. Hyde 2014