Been a while. Some of the references are to last Sunday’s sermon “Identity
Theft” and the IDW VBS of this past week. Not sure why the font stayed 20
point...
Pastor Michael Harman
St. Peter Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Newell, Iowa 50568-0393
vacancies at
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fonda
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pomeroy
In today’s Gospel, Matthew gives the historical account of the feeding of
the 5,000. Saints John, Luke & Mark tell it, too. Matthew & Mark go into
detail about the Baptizer’s death as the reason WHY Jesus goes to that lonely
place. But all 4 explain Jesus, Who is full of compassion, preached to fill
their hungry hearts and He healed hundreds that day.
“The great need of the disciples on this occasion was that, though they
could think and figure, they did not believe or realize what kind of Lord they
had in Christ. And that is the universal need even today, not only when we
need food to eat but also when we realize all sorts of necessities. We know
how to figure and calculate carefully so that our needs might be filled. But
when help does not come immediately as we’d like it, we get nothing out of our
careful calculating and figuring except sorrow and a loss of spirit. It would
be much better for us to commend all matters to God and not think so much about
our wishes or needs.” [Luther].
The disciples saw only 5 loaves and 2 fish for Jesus; or worse, only for
themselves. They were sad, tired, hungry, and wanted to go home.
They did not show genuine compassion. They did not care about the hunger
of the 5,000+ men. ‘Send the crowds away!’ They did not care about the people
stumbling in the approaching dark. They did not care for the little towns
either. Imagine 5,000 hungry men coming to our town this evening without any
warning! And, worst of all, the disciples didn’t trust God to provide for
their needs, much less for the crowds. How about you?
In spite of His sadness over the death of His relative, John: Jesus
Christ had compassion. Despite the lack of faith on the part of the disciples,
Christ cared. Even when the 12 did not bother thinking of others: our Lord
loved them, too.
Christ didn’t use His creative powers for His own benefit as He was tempted
by Satan in the desert. He did here. He did not come to be served by us, but
to serve; chiefly in matters of eternal life, but even in the matter of daily
bread.
Christ’s love is not some abstract concept or emotion. His love brings
life to soul and body. This is God feeding the Children of Israel in the
desert. Just as God uses people today to distribute His gifts of food,
clothing, shelter, water, medicines, and all the rest; so Jesus used His
disciples to distribute the loaves and fish. The Children of Israel weren’t
allowed to harvest leftovers, but the 12 disciples were commanded to by Jesus
since He is the greater Moses. And each picked up a basketful of surpluses
from God’s bounty.
So, does this illustrate Jesus’ compassion for others? Yes, and you do
well to imitate this by giving to others who need help. And we as believers
should willingly help people in need with food, water, acceptance, friendly
visits, medicine, therapy, clothing, visiting in jail, and the like. And we
should not be wasteful or polluting. But it’s not the point of this miracle.
Does this remind us to trust that God can provide? Yes, as His disciples,
we need to learn to be confident He will help (like Esther); but that’s not the
main idea here either.
Does this show how God can take your little something to do great things?
Yes, it is a reminder of how our offerings can benefit others; but no, it is
not the reason for this event.
Does this demonstrate that God gives daily bread even to unbelievers as
the 4th petition and 5th Commandment and 1st Article and hundreds of Bible
passages tell us? Yes. This miracle leads us to realize Godis providing and
receive daily bread with thanksgiving. BUT, this is NOT why all 4 Gospels
record this.
Does this remind us it is God Who provides for all our needs of body &
soul, even tho we don’t ever deserve it? Yes! And we pray to our Father in
the Name of Jesus to give us His Holy Spirit to recognize His gifts, give
thanks & praise for them, and then serve Him in joyful & willing obedience.
What Jesus did here, only God could do. No man could multiply food. What
Jesus was doing in His perfect life, death on the cross to pay for all sins,
and His resurrection on Easter could ONLY be done by God- made-Man for us,
namely, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
What God offers to us thru today’s disciples is not a fully satisfying
meal of barley bread and dried fish. Jesus gives His disciples soul food.
Thru them we’re fed His peace, rest, joy, life, and absolute forgiveness which
He won on the cross for us every time we gather in His Name for Word &
Sacraments. He gives an unending supply, so we can give to others.
We have nothing to offer of ourselves. We only distribute soul food God
gives. You can not expect to live as a joyful child of God if you are empty of
His Word. You can’t believe in the actual promises of God if you don’t know
them. You need to read them, daily. And here also, in God’s House, God serves
us His soul food - today. When you are gathered around God’s Word, God
provides forgiveness, life, and salvation for us.
Then, from the abundance of what our Lord freely gives? You can say from
the leftovers of what God distributes to you and me in His Word - He feeds
others. What He feeds you with (namely, Christ’s perfect forgiveness for all
your sins, mine, and everyone’s) you can give to others! And be certain that
no matter how much forgiveness you give others or even yourself, there is still
plenty from Christ’s cross to keep on giving to them, to yourself, and to all
people.
God does provide daily bread for us, and all creation. He promises when
you call upon Him and come and pray to Him, He will hear you. He will continue
to work in the world for your eternal good. Christ, our Savior Who rescues us,
has power over nature - as only God does - and He has promised to provide for
you. And if our Father did not spare His Son, but freely gave Him up for us
all, how will He not continue to also give us all things needful?
John records the crowds did not understand the miracle, and wanted to MAKE
Jesus a king to feed them. He already was, and is, and always will be the King
of kings. No one can make Him Lord.
But God our Father, in His sacrificial love for us, sent the Son of Man
into the world. He proved His identity by the many miracles. Then He claimed
us and gave us His identity as children of God by dying on the cross.
Then, in His resurrection, He guarantees us of new life now and forever.
May the strength of His compassion be and remain in you always, and with all
people who are in Christ Jesus! To Whom be glory forever, Amen.
