The cost of feeding, following and fleeing — Murray McCandless

John chapter 6 and verse number 1, after these things, now I take this to be a period of likely maybe up to five years between chapter 5 and chapter 6, but after these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee which is the Sea of Tiberias and a great multitude followed him because they saw his miracles or the signs which he did on them that were diseased.

Jesus went up into the mountain and there he sat with his disciples in the Passover. A feast of the Jews was nigh. When Jesus lifted up his eyes he saw a great company come unto him and he saith unto Philip, whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?

Now notice the Savior says, buy bread that these may eat. This he said to prove him for himself knew what he would do. Philip answered, 200 penny worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may take a little.

One of his disciples Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, there's a lad here which hath five barley loaves and two small fishes but that but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, make the men sit down.

Now there was much grass in the in the place so the men sat down in number about five thousand. Jesus took the loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed to the disciples and the disciples to them that were set down.

Now it's important I think to notice that the Lord Jesus was involved in the distribution as well as the disciples. And likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled he said unto his disciples, gather up the fragments that remain and nothing be lost.

Therefore they gathered them together and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men which they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said, this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Jesus as the Bread of Life

Likely referring back to the words of Moses earlier back in the Old Testament. Now just for the sake of time please come over to verse number 26. Jesus answered them and said, verily verily I say unto you, you seek me not because you saw the miracles but because you did eat, you did eat of the loaves and were filled.

They were not for meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. Which the Son of Man shall give unto you for him that God the Father hath sealed. Verse 29, Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the word that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

And now he goes back and refers to the Old Testament. Verse 31, our fathers did eat manna in the desert as it is written he gave them bread from heaven to eat. Jesus saith unto them, verily verily I said to you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. Now over please just a little further. We have the murmuring in that of course in verses 41 to 43. Verse number 51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat.

Now that's singular. That's a once for all act. That's Ephesians 2 and 8 if you like. For by grace are you saved. If any man eat of this bread he shall live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh which I give for the life of the world.

Verse 53, Jesus saith unto them, verily verily I said to you, except ye eat again what's for all the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. Verse 56, he that eateth. That's in the continuous tense. In other words that's our daily living by the Son of God as the apostle could say who loved me and gave himself for me.

Verse 56, he that eateth my flesh drinketh my blood and doth me an eye in him and so on. Verse 64, but there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him.

Then and he said therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except that were given unto him of my father. From that time many of the disciples went back and walked no more with him. Jesus said unto the twelve, will you go away?

And Simon answered him and said, Lord to whom shall we go for thou hast the words of eternal life. It would it's always helpful of course to read and in your own private reading I'm sure you do you read the whole chapter because you're really kind of it's a little disjointed when you're breaking it up like that but simply for the sake of time I've just picked out salient verses that I have before me this afternoon.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand in the Four Gospels

I think most are aware of the fact that this particular miracle this sign is the only one recorded in all four gospels. Okay the feeding of the 5 ,000. It's likely two and a half years into his public ministry likely close to a year maybe before Calvary and it likely took place in what we would know I think was referred to yesterday as the Golan Heights where this scene with these 5 ,000 being fed where it actually took place.

John is a man that's interested in the Passover and there's three Passovers that he mentions chapter 2 verse number 6 and then in chapter chapter 2 rather chapter 6 in chapter 11 the Passover but it is significant when we kind of think of the Passover the first Passover God's people are feeding on the lamb at the time of this Passover the lamb is feeding the people.

There's quite a reverse to that but only John will tell me and tell you the names as they're given here Andrew Philip and the lad John is the gospel writer who is big on names. If you go through it you'll notice that other gospel writers will not mention John will pick up the name of the particular individual he was big on names.

The only name he wasn't big on was his own. That sometimes is the reverse that is true of ours. However chapter 14 if we went back to Matthew it says this that that had eaten were about 5 ,000 besides women and children.

One Diet for All God's People

I think it is significant to notice brethren and sisters there was one diet for all. Okay there wasn't a particular diet here for the older people and these people. There was one diet for all. More than that if I go back to Matthew's gospel it is the men women and children eating together.

There was no youth conference down the road. They were gathered and they were eating together the young with the old. There's nothing more delightful at any time to see God's people gathered in conference capacity or otherwise.

And you see the young and the old together and they're enjoying each other. Okay they're not separated out that that's what breaks us down. So we'll we find that they are definitely brought together. It's interesting that the man who would sit would sustain them for 40 years.

What they had to understand it was Moses. Maybe that distribute if you like the manitou but God gave them the manna. God gave Moses that spiritual food that was from heaven. And we see that of course as we come here.

But more than that here they are. And you've got a lad. I think of it this way in the old testament you have a little lass name is made that told all that she knew. In the new testament you've got a little lad because that's the word that is used here.

Just a little lad. And he gave all that he had. Sometimes it doesn't take long to tell all that we know and sometimes it takes less than to give all that we have. But you put those two together and I think there's a very interesting picture.

He blessed he break. That was once for all act. Okay. And I'm referring of course back to the Matthew passage but it says he gave and that is in the continuous tense because he continues to give today.

The Cost of Feeding

Now having given it just a little summary of of just the scene that is given to us in John's gospel. I want to think of three things this afternoon. First of all I want to think of the cost of feeding.

Even the Lord Jesus said and by there is a cost to feeding. We'll come back to that. There was a cost of following. You're going to follow the Lord. It costs brethren and sisters. There is a cost of feeding.

There's a cost of following. You know something else before the chapter ends. There's a cost of fleeing. There are those that weren't going to follow him anymore. This is too much. They just couldn't believe it.

And from that time many of the disciples went back and they followed him no more. However having said that feeding can be something that's very very delightful obviously by the size feed can be very very delightful.

But you know something so can following. It's not a it's a irksome or or something that you would do. But the truth of following can be something that's very enjoyable. It's when I get out of the path when I'm no longer following that the difficulties come and the problems began and they set in.

Superficial Discipleship and Spiritual Depth

But more than that there's a cost of fleeing too. I'm going to touch on what I have termed superficial discipleship. Okay as long as they they were being fed. Listen what he says. He says you believe not of the miracles.

But you did eat because you did eat. Okay there was a superficial discipleship that is amongst us today it's just nothing of depth and we need something in our feeding that will produce or anchor us to a depth in our Christian experience.

Okay. God does not measure a man by his height Saul but by his depth David. Let's go more and we'll just go over these very quickly and and leave time as I can. Uh the feeding I say is always at a cost.

Choosing Time for Spiritual Nourishment

Okay. Naturally speaking we know that groceries likely have never been higher at least in our country. It's always a little less over here. But then our dollar isn't worth what your dollar is. But feeding is at a cost.

Let's understand brothers and sisters it's going to become very evident in the assembly. Whether it is in my worship whatever it is is whether I have been feeding or not it's going to cost you time. Brother is it clear.

There's likely umpteen things that you are going to do. But in the place of that you have made a determined choice to feed your soul. Now I know feeding can for an assembly putting on a conference feeding can get a little thin conference weekend.

I realize that I'm not gonna get up here and ask you where'd you read this morning. I wasn't down here at the kitchen working away early like you were. But let me ask you just in the last week. Where have you been feeding now.

What pasture you've been running through. Where have you been feeding in the last month. Where have you been feeding. What have you taken into your own soul that you've enjoyed because feeding is enjoyable.

They'll pardon me the man that I'm traveling with and the people I'm staying with if we compared the diets and unhealthy foods that I bring and stash into their fridge. By all statistics I should be dead.

I shouldn't be standing here. I should have a medical at the doctor the other day. I'm not saying this. Mostly brother I can drop this afternoon. I mean that just out of medical. I was telling them in the house so the doctor put the pressure cuff on and I said what's the numbers.

I said my wife's a nurse. You want to know. He rolled his eyes thought oh he said 120 over 60. I can't believe it. So I said well sounds good enough to me. What is your spiritually. Okay. What's the high numbers in your experience.

What are the low numbers. Feeding. I say feeding comes at a cost to come to this conference. There's a cost. Sure there is. I'm not talking just about the petrol is in the gas that's in your tank or or other things.

There's a cost that's involved Saturday. There's other things you could do jobs you could take on. I know brethren that will unfortunately sadly by choice take the job on the weekend because the pay is bigger.

And other brothers say no. I'm going to the lacrosse conference. Sorry. There's no price here. That's going to buy me like it did Samson. Feeding is at a cost he said because he says us when shall we buy bread.

He's asking that to Philip. Philip verse from Bethsaida. Philip knew where bed bread could be bought. Okay if that was the case. But that wasn't going to happen because the Lord knew what he was going to do.

Spiritual Food Cannot Be Purchased

Okay. Spiritual food. I'll say it slow. That'll be a change for me. Won't it. Spiritual food cannot be bought with the currency of earth. Okay. But it's pricely. It's costly. I can prove that to you from the Word of God if you like.

For example you know we think in Acts chapter 8. Remember the layman. Peter says silver and gold. Have I not. Listen mr. layman. No amount of currency is going to put you on your feet. And no amount of currency put spiritual life into these ankle bones of ours.

Nothing but the blood of Christ and the forgiveness of sin and the enjoyment of salvation. Divine birth regenerate born-again evidence of life. So mr. blind man the currency of earth isn't going to do it.

But the Lord goes further than that member acts chapter 8. There's a man there by the name of Simon. It takes a Peter to sort the man out and that man is Peter says under that man thy money perish with thee because thou thoughtest that thou that the gift of God may be purchased with money can't do it.

But feeding is still costly. You'll remember that we come to Isaiah chapter 55. What does the prophet say. He that hath no money. Come and buy. How do you pay without money charged to somebody else's account.

Somebody else pays for somebody else has paid the price. Yay. Come and buy wine and milk without money. Without price. Wherefore do you spend for that which is not brand again. Revelation chapter 3 verse number 8.

Remember he raised that church and he says this. I counsel thee to buy of me gold. Tried in the fire. The costliness of feeding. Costliness of feeding at this conference for you to be spiritual fed. If you want to go in the currency of earth I would just guess that most of our platforms run a cost of about close to $1 ,500 an hour.

Okay. If it's in your own hall and all you're not hiring people that sort it could be a lot lower than that. I'm going by figures that likely I'm thinking about down east and that's about. Well I know one of our conferences they announced what the conference called it.

That was good good for them. They weren't begging for help or money. But the conference cost $21 ,000. They're 16 in fellowship. So if you want to be a Philip and do your bean counting go ahead. Doesn't make sense doesn't.

It does it. When 350 people are brought together and they're fed they're thrilled. No currency of earth matters. They got something for their soul. And that's what we want for the Saints of God to get here today.

It's something for your soul. Not from Murray McCandless but from God. From the one that still gives eternal life gives bread continuously. Okay we partook once salvation's day. But he continues to feed us as his people.

Ruth, the Cost of Gathering, and the Joy at His Feet

I like the picture you've got with Ruth. All that time she will spend in the field. But look what she gets at the floor and then what she gets at his feet. But as she hadn't learned how costly it was to get one Aoife in the field she would never have appreciated six measures given to her at his feet.

In other words if I haven't to put as simple as I can. Okay I've been reading my Bible and enjoying anything from the Word of God. This will likely be the most boring two hours in your afternoon experience.

Right. If you've been feeding them on farming or flying and that sort of thing. I started to tell stories about either one not that I don't much about either. It could become very interesting. That's not what we're here for.

So there was a cost that was associated with it. Okay. So when it comes to this scene there's three things that are being factored in. And these three things go today. First of all there was feelings.

They were here brothers. You. Well you know I feel this. And I feel that I feel the other thing. Oh really your feelings. What do they count. Come to Philip and Andrew. It's figures. You know he doesn't have one of his calculator on his iPhone.

He's just calculating things up. But he said hey we're not gonna make it. We're not gonna make it brethren and sisters when it comes to the calculations of earth none of us should be here. You wouldn't make it.

You see there was one of two things they could look at. I will slow this up. They can look at the situation or look at the Savior assembly difficulties. Brethren don't run away from them. Don't blindside them.

Don't pretend they're not there. But don't spend all your time looking at the situation. Look at the one who could meet the need of that situation. That is the lesson as far as I am concerned that John is emphasizing in his gospel here in chapter 6.

Okay. So there's feelings. The figures. The others. Faith. Okay. Faith. I love people like that. It's just like that I do know it is those that have the least that the most that know the most about living by faith.

Yeah. They have the least. It never bothers them. Oh the Lord will meet the deed. I think if people can give you all kinds of examples. I'm sure others have experienced it even in a greater sense than I have.

But if I will spend my time doing the math counting bean counters figuring the thing out adding this up and adding that out. No I'm not saying that in our life as stewards we shouldn't be careful. And we shouldn't be watchful.

But when it comes to the ability of the Son of God Himself present the Savior to feed my. He's the one that feeds me. Okay. He's the one that feeds you. When you're in that room by yourself and you're reading and you're enjoying something he's feeding you.

He's the shepherd that feeds you see the shepherds. If you like the the shepherd figure comes through here with the Lord Jesus. Right here the pasture. Right here. This passage. Okay. Philip who has been with Jesus since the beginning of his public ministry never considers turning to the master for the answer.

Philip. Wait a minute. Come on. You've been here. You would think he would be the first one that would turn to him. But he doesn't. He doesn't. Isn't that so much like us. Sometimes when we think that we have the spiritual grip on things we can't look at the one who meets the deed.

Christ the Shepherd Who Meets the Need

But let me tell you something I love I've enjoyed this has fed my soul. You know how the Savior comes through. I know he comes through. Miraculous. I know it's a sign. But he comes through as the shepherd.

How do you know he's coming through as the shepherd. We're talking about sheep in this passage. Yes we are. You say how do you know that. But we'll just follow carefully. Mark will tell us that he makes them to sit down on the green grass Psalm 22.

Okay go back to Psalm chapter 22. He maketh me to lie down said the psalmist David in the green pastures and the word there is grass. So it's the same scene. It's the shepherd as the shepherd he is going to meet the need of these people.

Okay they would look at the situation and the supply. And this lad here. And he is not named. I'm sure if John could have told us his name he would have just a lad. Just a little lad. Seemingly so insignificant.

But look at what he could do. Why haven't we seen that at times some that gets saved and they're. But they start off pretty weak and pretty small. But boy in a while in time as they've honored God and they've developed and attending the Bible readings in the assembly the local church that tilled field is growth.

There's development. And though it may be very small they've got something that they could feed. I've witnessed it myself her brother getting up. But I thought whoo Amos chapter 3 verse 3. How could you walk the other except they be agreed.

It was the best message I've ever heard in my life. He had obviously been feeding. Have you. They become evident up here. I've been feeding. They'll become evident with any speaker if we really have been feeding.

And that was the test that was here. Okay so Philip can answer the question. He's like the man at the pool of the Bethesda when the Lord said will thou be made whole. We wait till this day. No answer.

Or to Adam where art thou still wait for the answer. Because Philip couldn't answer this he's stumbling upon what is obvious. That is the one like I say he's busy computing that 200 Denarius can't meet.

It can't do it. We can't. This won't work. Send them home. Send them out of here. These were not easy days for the Lord Jesus. If you read the Gospels you'd find that John that John had just been beheaded.

I think that's why I wanted to resort to prayer up in that mountain just to get away from the scene. Now when he sent them away and they and they're going away are two different things. Okay when he is the thought of sending him away he's just if you like excusing himself from the company.

He's not driving them away. Okay. Because when you come to just figure which gospel is now and they that were with them in the feeding. They're still there. But now he has come back. So there's a cost of feeding.

So brethren sisters we're gonna go from this conference. There's a cost of feeding. There's been a cost to being here. I trust you've been fed. Go home pay the cost. Whatever it might be brother sister and a busy schedule of life.

If you're gonna be fed there's gonna be a cost associated with it. There's no shortcuts. It's not gonna come cheap. Following is at a cost. Okay. You know when you look at it it's interesting. You think boy why wouldn't this convince them.

Wouldn't this sign do it. Now I want to introduce you to what I call superficial discipleship. From the outward it looks good. But here were people and all they were interested in it was that what they could get out of it.

The Cost of Following and Superficial Motives

You know what they're getting out of it for right now the social part be a number of years ago. Now a brother showed up at one of our conferences and not a brother that usually attended conferences. I truthfully it was.

It was not our conference at home in Sussex. It was another conference and I was glad to see him. I call him my name. So I'm glad to see. Yes I'm here with the girls you know as well. Good. But they can come.

I didn't ask him anymore. He says well I'm hoping they're gonna find a boy. Oh really now there isn't a better place to find a partner than at a conference. Okay. Even though I didn't find mine at a conference.

That's not why you're here. Really that's superficial. That is superficial. I'm sorry they have to tell you those girls didn't find a boy that they were looking for. They found boys eventually unconverted unregenerate.

They married them and I'm sure the girls are saved themselves. So there were those that were there. But when he takes the conversation and turns now from the physical the temporal to the spiritual they're not interested.

Okay. That's why brethren and sisters let me say it again. I grew up in conferences that were likely 85 spiritual maybe 15 social. Okay. And in all due respect this is the kind of conference that goes on here where I wouldn't be here.

Unfortunately there are events going on today among the Lord's people that are 85 social and maybe 10 spiritual. The spiritual part of it. What I've heard said to me is a joke. Keep the spiritual first.

Keep the feeding of God's people and the blessing that will result of that. So falling was at a cost. Okay. Not just what I can get out of it. Okay. But what I can get for my soul. Sure we enjoy the fellowship of Saints fellow believers.

The Cost of Fleeing

Finally just let me just mention this. Fleeing is always at a cost. They went back and they followed him. No more. That was it. They were done. Never to be heard of again. But there are those that remain faithful.

That's where we have those beautiful words. What do you look to. Piece it. Will you also go away. And he says. Well to whom can we go. To whom can we go. Brethren sisters. No other one that we can go to.

Good friend of mine good friends. I'm on a couple. I'm sorry to tell you made a decision to leave where they had been gathered. And the assemblies have been gathered with for likely 25 years when they sat down with the brethren to tell him that we're leaving.

And the brethren had a nice visit with a nice nice couple. Okay. One of the brothers said if you don't mind me asking you where are you going. What the man said. Well there are other places. And there are.

There's only one place. Only one place. There are other places. Come on. You don't have to drive too many streets here lacrosse to find there's lots of other places. Plural. The man was absolutely right.

But there's only one place. There's only one place where they could be fed. And that was in the presence of the Savior Fred. Right from him there that day. Liberally and abundantly. Those other stuff.

I just raced over and I'll just leave it for you. Three things. Okay. A cost of feeding. A cost of following. But remember there's a cost of fleeing. Go back to the Old Testament. There's plenty examples of that those that fled no longer would be loyal to David.

Cost is too much. There's a man by the name of our Brazilii and David is actually begging him to stay to eat with up. He's telling evil inside. I can't even smell the food. How could I enjoy it. Sad to say you know he never came to a place where he could have died at his table at his table.

If I had my choice of where I would be taken home to heaven it would be at the Lord's table. Just some I'll slump over. Maybe I'm too selfish. I have no idea. You don't either nothing wrong with that say well.

He spent his last breathing moments remembering the Lord. The one who still today feeds his people at a cost.