Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1605
Delivered on Thursday Evening, June 23, 1881
“This He said to test him: for He Himself knew what He would do.” John 6:6.
OBSERVE, dear Friends, how careful the Holy Spirit is that we should not make a mistake about our Lord Jesus Christ. He knew that men are liable to think too little of the ever-blessed Son of God and that some, who call themselves Christians, nevertheless deny Christ’s Deity and are always ready to forge an argument against the true and real Deity of the Savior out of anything which appears to limit His power or knowledge. Here is an instance of the care of the Spirit to prevent our falling into an erroneous conclusion. Our Lord consults with Philip, asking this poor disciple, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Some might, therefore, have inferred that Jesus did not know what to do and felt embarrassed. From this they would argue that Jesus cannot be Almighty God, for, surely, embarrassment is inconsistent with Omnipotence! Why should Jesus consult with Philip, if He knows all things?
Now, the Holy Spirit would have us beware of falling into low thoughts of our great Redeemer and Lord—and especially of ever being so mistaken as to think that He is not God. Therefore He plainly tells us, “this He said to test Philip, for He Himself knew what He would do.” Jesus was not asking information or taking counsel with Philip because He felt any doubt about His line of procedure or needed help from His disciple. He did not want Philip to multiply bread, but He desired to multiply Philip’s faith. Take heed, therefore, dear Friends, that you never think little of the Savior, or impute any of His acts to motives that would lessen His Glory.
Learn here, too, that we, being very apt to make mistakes concerning Christ, need daily that the Spirit of God should interpret Christ to us. Jesus simply asks the question of Philip, “Where shall we buy bread?” and we are at once in danger of drawing a wrong inference and, therefore, the Holy Spirit tells us more about Christ that we may escape from that danger. By giving us more insight into our Lord’s motives, He prevents our misjudging His actions. We must have the Spirit of God with us, or we shall not know Christ, Himself. The only way to see the sun is by its own light—and the only way to see Jesus is by His own Spirit. Did He not, Himself, say, “He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you”?
No man can call Jesus, “Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit must come to each man, personally, and reveal the Son of God to him and in him. Therefore, do not let us take up the Bible and imagine that we shall, at once, understand it as we do another book, but let us breathe the prayer that the Great Author of its letter would, Himself, give us Grace to enter into its spirit so as to know its meaning and feel its power. Even with the Infallible Word before you, you will miss your way and fall into grievous error unless you are taught of God. The mercy is that it is written, “All your children shall be taught of the Lord.” and again, “We have an unction from the Holy One and know all things.” There is no knowing anything except by that unction and by that Divine teaching. What dependent creatures we are, since we make mistakes even about Jesus Christ, Himself, unless the Spirit of God is pleased to instruct us concerning Him! Lead us always, O Light of God!
Another thing we learn from the text before we plunge into it is that our Divine Lord always has a reason for everything that He does. Even the reason of His asking a question may be found out or, if we cannot discover it, we may still be quite sure that there is a worthy reason. That reason, in Philip’s case, certainly was not because of any need of wisdom in Himself, but there was a reason—“This He said to test him.” Now, if there is a reason for all that Jesus asks, much more is there a reason for all that He does. We cannot tell the reason of Divine Election—why this man is chosen or that—but there is a reason, since God never acts unreasonably, though His reasons are not always revealed and might not be understood by us if they were.
Sovereignty is absolute, but it is never absurd. There is always a justifiable cause for all that God does in the Kingdom of Grace, though that cause is not the merit of the person whom He favors, for there is no merit. In the matter of your present trial and trouble, dear Friend, you have been trying to figure out the design of the Almighty, but without success. Don’t you know that His ways are past finding out? In all probability this side of eternity, you may never discover God’s purpose in your present trial, but that He has a purpose is certain and that purpose is a wise and kind one. It is such as you, yourself, would delight in if you were capable of understanding it. If you could have a mind like that of God, you would act as God does even in this matter which troubles you!