JN 6:8 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?"
Sometimes we come across a practical problem that requires a solution. The solution appears impossible to resolve to the unqualified mind. Cars produce those kind of problems - mechanics produce the answer. In Riversdale where we pump our water out of the ground we occasionally get pump and water problems that appear to have no real solution. Plumbers and electricians come up with the solution.
Computers!!!!!!!!! There are computer technicians and there are computer wreckers who pose as technicians and you have to be able to recognise one from the other.
In life we can face all kinds of problems.
In John chapter 6 we read of a problem. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother faced a dilemna. His problem was a multitude of 5,000 people - who were hungry.
His resource a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish.
His question; "........... how far will they go among so many?"
It was a big problem they felt very deeply Philip had earlier looked on the huge crowd with despair and had said:-
JN 6:7"Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
This is a problem of mammoth proportions.
This crowd had gone out on a limb for Jesus. From Capernaum to the other side of the Sea of Galilee was a distance of about 7 kilometres and Jesus had set sail. The people had been watching with astonishment the things he did; it was easy to see the direction the boat was taking; and they hastened round the top of the lake by land.
7 kilometres across the lake but 15 kilometres on land up the river were the fords of Jordan. Near Bethaida Julias, almost on the lakeside, was a little plain where the grass always grew. This multitude of people - from all over were now 15 kilometres from their starting point and they were starving.
JN 6:7"Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
That was the problem!!!
When our car breaks down we consult the mechanic.
When our computer breaks down we go to the Computer technician.
But when we face the impossible - who do we do?
We go to the one with the ability to address the problem!!!!!
We have a huge crowd of people at least 5,000.
This crowd is hungry at at least 15 kilometres from home.
The only food available is five small barley loaves and two small fish.
And we have Jesus of Nazareth.
Let us pause in this account to do what Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 3 says:- Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
This week you will have faced a considerable different number of situations.
Concerns about all manner of things will have come up for you.
This week I have encountered a number of different folk facing all kinds of things.
Some people have grown weary and some have been tempted to lose heart.
When we come to Hebrews chapter 7 and ask the question - How is Jesus portrayed to us in this chapter??
Because chapter 7 is all about Jesus Christ.
It is interesting when I was reading - from the imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis this week - chapter 5 _ On reading the Scriptures sprang out for me.
In it I read, Truth not eloquence is to be sought in Holy Scripture.
Each part of the Scripture must be read with the same Spirit by which it is written.
If you desire to benefit, read with humility, simplicity and faith, and never desire to make yourself appear learned.
HEB 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
For now, let us leave the disciples, Jesus and the 5,000 there on the edge of the sea of Galilee Near Bethaida Julias on a little plain where the grass always grew.
Let us freeze frame that picture and ask the verses that we have read -
What is it about Jesus that would inspire us to confidence in this impossible situation????
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
HEB 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
HEB 7:4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
What Hebrews chapter 7 does is it highlights the Priesthood of Jesus.
In a sense it declares his credentials.
Not only does this passage declare Jesus’ credentials when it finishes up with the words of verse 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
HEB 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
HEB 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews chapter 7 describes in great detail not only what Jesus does - For example Hebrews chapter 7:26 Such a High Priest meets our need - but also how Jesus fits into God’s Grand plan in history. He shows how Jesus’ Priesthood is forshadowed by this man called Melchizedek.
He shows how great Melchizedek is that even Abraham gave him ten percent of his plunder.
As a type or foreshadower of Jesus.
Melchizedek is King of Salem which is Jerusalem. Jesus descended from David whose special city is Jerusalem so we find - a double connection with Jerusalem.
Melchizedek is King of Jerusalem - Jesus, you will remember rode into Jerusalem and was hailed as King.
Note also that the inscription above Jesus’ cross is "King of the Jews"
In verse two we read three titles for Melchizedek that acurately describe the function of Jesus as well.
"king of righteousness" Of Jesus we are told: Hebrews chapter 4 5 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Jesus is without sin - No-one who ever lived can say that!! Yet Jesus died for our sins on a cross.
Therefore Jesus makes a way back to God for every sinner who will accept God’s gift of forgiveness.
Jesus as King of Righteousness is vitally important and foundational for the believer. Without him playing this role it is impossible to enjoy the blessing of God.
Sin is a toxic poison that destroys our relationship with God.
The levitical law that came after Melchizedek and Abraham provided for a set of sacrifices for sin - but the problem was that those sacrifices had to be made over and over again.
Sin remained a problem - Billy Graham says
Sin, has remained unchanged, although people have done their best to alter it. We’ve tried to dress it up wih other names. We’ve put new labels on the same old bottles of poison., We’ve tried to whitewash the rotting building and pretend it was sound.
WE’ve tried calling sin "errors" or "mistakes" or "poor judgement." But sin itself has stayed the same. No matter how we try to salve our conscience, we’ve known all along that people are still sinners, and the results of sin are still disease disappointment, disillusionment, despair and death.
Because of sin - life is terminal. It produces death.
So when we say Jesus is King of righteousness it means that through Jesus’ death we are put in touch with God again - all the love, all the creative power, all the goodness of God are opened up to us through Jesus Christ who died as the perfect sacrifice outside of Jerusalem 2000 odd years ago.
As King of Righteousness - Jesus becomes a door into the very purposes of God. It is through this door and only through this door that the Holy Spirit is released to the Church.
But Jesus is also described as "king of Salem" Salem became Jeru - salem. We can not talk about Jerusalem as if it were any great city in the world like London or New York or Auckland.
Jerusalem means foundation of peace. It is the worlds most significant city. From David’s time onwards, it is regarded as Fgod’s dwelling place although Melchizedek predicts that.
It is the scene of Christ’s resurrection and of his return in glory we can read about that in Zecheriah chapter 14 verse 5.
Jerusalem is a bridge between heaven and earth:-
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
Jerusalem is going to be the principle city on earth - it will be the city that brings God’s peace on earth. Jesus will be it’s King and he is it’s king. It is the ultimate power on earth - for eternity.
Temporary powers will come and go - But the real world power eventually will be Jerusalem - and it will be peaceful and righteous and it’s King will be Jesus Christ. When the writer to Hebrews describes the Priesthood of Jesus as "king of Salem" then he is saying, among many other things that Jesus is the instrument of God’s power on earth.
Thirdly we find the Melchizedek and therefore Jesus’ Priesthood described as the "king of peace."
JAS 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Peace is the most sought after treasure on earth.
Jesus is described as the King of Peace.
SOME MISSIONARY BIBLE TRANSLATORS were working very hard to find a word for peace in a primitive tribal language. At last, a native who was working with them found a combination of words that had the concept—"a heart that sits down." So they translated John 14:27 as having Jesus say, "I will make your heart sit down." JN 14:25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
: Don Robinson was a missionary to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
Sawi villages were constantly fighting among themselves, and because treachery revenge, and murder were highly honored there seemed no hope of peace. The tribe, however, had a legendary custom that if one village gave a baby boy to another village, peace would prevail between the two villages as long as the child lived. The baby was called a "peace child".
The missionary seized on that story as an analogy of the reconciling work of Christ. Christ, he said, is God’s divine Peace Child that He has offered to man, and because Christ lives eternally His peace will never end. That analogy was the key that unlocked the gospel for the Sawis. In a miraculous working of the Holy Spirit many of them believed in Christ, and a strong, evangelistic church soon developed – and peace came to the Sawis. Peace Child (Glendale, Calif.:Regal, 1979)
...
Jesus then ushers in God’s peace He gives us a tranquility and peacefulness that is not found anywhere else.
Let us put these three great titles together again.
Melchizedeks name means and Jesus is characterised by the following description.
"king of righteousness";when we say Jesus is King of righteousness it means that through Jesus’ death we are put in touch with God again - all the love, all the creative power, all the goodness of God are opened up to us through Jesus Christ who died as the perfect sacrifice outside of Jerusalem 2000 odd years ago.
"king of Salem"Jerusalem is going to be the principle city on earth - it will be the city that brings God’s peace on earth. Jesus will be it’s King and he is it’s king. It is the ultimate power on earth - for eternity.
"king of peace."John 14 verse 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives
You might remember we left the disciples, Jesus and the 5,000 there on the edge of the sea of Galilee Near Bethaida Julias on a little plain where the grass always grew.
JN 6:8 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?"
How far they will go depends on whose hands they are in.
Here is what happenned:-
JN 6:10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 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.
JN 6:12 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.
How did Jesus do this:-
Because he was the "king of righteousness";
Jesus was right with God. Out of that relationship God was free to move and answer prayer.
It reminds us of the importance of keeping right with God through Jesus.
A good relationship with God allows the holy spirit to move.
God is able to superceed what we would call natural law just as he superceeded the Levitical law as we read in Hebrews chapter 7.
HEB 7:18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Also he was described as King of Salem - that is for us a present reality of God’s power on earth. In Acts chapter 2 we see God’s power released into the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is still able to work in power in the world today.
Thirdly he is the King of Peace.
Why would people seek after Jesus through 15 kilometres of rugged middle eastern terrain.
Because they sought God’s peace.
They found that peace in Jesus Christ and people still do today.
This morning I want to encourage you as you allow Jesus to express himself in your life that you will not only know works of
Power in your life but you will know peace as well.
Feel free to contact us:
jgullick@xtra.co.nz
JN 6:14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, 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.
