Pentecost 10

John 6:1–15 NIV

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 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. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Mark 6:30–34 NIV

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Agree or disagree. Although God is omnipotent, he still needs to rest.

You would think that a being who is all powerful would never need to take a break from what he is doing. Isn’t part of being all powerful never getting tired? So we might disagree with this statement. We would be partially correct. An all powerful God does not need to rest. And yet, we believe that God did rest.

(NIV)

(NIV)

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Exodus 20:8–11 NIV

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

John 5:17 NIV

17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

God rested on the seventh day not because he was tired but to show that his work of creating was complete.

(NIV)

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”

His work of preserving us; however, is never done and he continues to work at all times for our benefit. One of my favorite devotional texts for those in the hospital is the assurance that God is always watching over us similar to how the hospital staff monitors us but even better.

Psalm 121:1–4 NIV

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

So even though God rested after creation, he does not rest when it comes to providing for and preserving us so we can go to him at all times confident that he is attentive to us and our needs.

But perhaps when you considered the opening statement of whether or not our omnipotent God needs rest, you thought of Jesus as the Son of God specifically. This makes the statement more complicated because he is true God who has all the characteristics or attributes of God, but he is also true man and has subjected himself to human limitations. In that case, as true man he shows his humanity by needing and getting rest at times. Several weeks ago we noted how he slept on a cushion on a boat as they crossed the Sea of Galilee. In this case, we read the parallel account of the feeding of the 5000 and realize that this takes place during an impromptu planned day off for Jesus and his disciples.

Mark 6:30–32 NIV

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

It has always been important to get some rest. God commands it in the Third Commandment. Our society realizes who important it is to take a regular break from work. Whether it is a break every several hours or a day or two a week or a regular vacation. I know some people pride themselves in never taking a break and almost seem to criticize those who do take some time off, the reality is that our bodies and minds need a break.

But it isn’t just our bodies and minds. Our souls need rest too. Hebrews is the most extensive commentary on this. (Epistle lesson)

(NIV)

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

You have chosen to come here today to get some of that rest. It is the rest that comes from hearing God’s word, worshipping him, and being assured that God uses his power to watch over us, bless us, and forgive us of our sins which vex us.

But sometimes our rest is interrupted. This is what happens in this well known miracle of Jesus.

Although he attempted to get away from it all, the people would have none of it. They pursued him the way we pursue our favorite celebrities. One complaint that famous people have is a lack of privacy. You are exposed and it is hard to be private.

Jesus’ plans for a day off are thwarted. What could he do?

He could have been defensive and explained why he needed to take a day off.

He could have played “catch me if you can” and gone somewhere else.

But what did he do . . . and why? He spent the entire day teaching a very large crowd and healing the people.

Because he had compassion for them.

And at the end of the day he did a miracle to show how God cares for us. (very briefly summarize)

John 6:14–15 NIV

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

What was the result?

People were refreshed.

The faith of many was strengthened . . . the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Misunderstanding.

Failure to commit (more on this next time)

We can expect similar reactions to when God uses his power to provide for and preserve us as well.

We are refreshed. Rest for our bodies and minds and rest for our souls. “Come unto me ye weary, and I will give you rest.”

Our faith is strengthened. We trust in the one who does not slumber or sleep.

Sometimes we have a misunderstanding of what God promises to do for us.

Failure to commit (more on this next time)

This event becomes a pivotal turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Although he would not waver in his commitment to care for the people, we will see that the commitment levels of those who considered him to be a celebrity would be severely challenged and that many would desert him.