One of the
words that I would like to eliminate is “unprecedented.” I’m tired of hearing
the phrase: “We live in unprecedented times.” What is so different about our
time? What has really changed?
Yes, we are
having to wear masks and be socially distant from one another. But, really,
what has changed? And, I am praying for the day, when our masks will be removed,
and we can be more social with one another. But, really, what is so different
about today, besides our outward appearances?
Before we
ever heard about COVID-19 ravaging Wuhan, China, we faced the wages of our sin
in this country. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). And, death is
nothing new. The wages of sin have led to cancer, heart disease, influenza,
pneumonia, and the list goes on. So, why are we fearing death?
Well, much
of the fear is about faith. Yes, our faith in Christ Jesus is often lacking. We
turn on the cable news or evening news, and immediately our faith diminishes.
We hear of a shooting in Minneapolis. We hear of riots in Portland. We hear of
looting in downtown Chicago. The defunding of police has certainly had a cause
and effect upon gun sales throughout our country.
At the same
time, while we fear death, many of the voiceless have died due to no fault of
their own through abortion. These children never had a say. Then, we have infants
and toddlers murdered by stray bullets. Not a peep by the mainstream news. But,
we, who have a voice often fear death.
Why should
we fear death? Well, for those who do not trust in “Jesus as the Christ,
the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), death is to be feared. For as
Christ says, those who do not believe in Him as their Lord and Savior will
receive eternal punishment in hell where there is weeping and gnashing of
teeth. They have much fear. They do not ever wish to die. For outside of
Christ, there is only worry and torment when death comes.
But, in
Christ, for those who trust in Him, there is only eternal bliss when they die.
For everyone in Christ becomes heirs of the kingdom of heaven! In Christ, we
receive the free gift of everlasting life! (Romans 6:23b)
Today, the
mainstream news gives us the daily count on COVID-19 victims. The mainstream
news wants us to worry and not trust in Christ Jesus. They desire us to trust
in ourselves and our political leaders. But, don’t fall into their
indoctrination. Instead, trust in the Lord and open your Bible. As you read
through your Bible, you will read how much the Triune God (Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit) loves you! And, if you can, read God’s Written Word aloud. Since
faith comes by hearing – by speaking God’s Word – you will notice a
profound difference than just reading God’s Word silently. You will read that
in Christ, we do not fear death. In fact, as Christians, we welcome death! Yes,
death is our enemy. But, Christ has conquered the power of eternal death
through His life, His suffering, His death and His resurrection upon everyone
who believes in Him, so that through Him, we receive eternal life, salvation,
and forgiveness of sins!
The third
stanza of “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart” (LSB 708) proclaims that
Christians are not to fear death, but welcome it, since Christ has conquered
this evil foe:
Lord, let at last Thine angels come, To Abram's bosom bear me home, That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me, That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer
attend, And I will praise Thee without end.
Now, as
Christians, we are not to temp death or even kill ourselves. This goes against
God’s command. That is not what welcoming death is about. Instead, we are to
love each other as Christ continues to love us.
Christ shows
His love to us in His Means of Grace [Baptism (Confession and Absolution), the
Lord’s Supper, and the proclamation of His Written Word] for which we receive
by grace through faith in Him: eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and
salvation!
We, who are
of little faith, are strengthened only through Christ. On our own, we are
wandering sheep who can be devoured by wolves and fall down a cliff to our
death apart from the Good Shepherd. But with Christ, we are empowered knowing
that whatever happens to us – good or bad – we are never alone, for the Good
Shepherd is there to protect us from the powers of sin, death, hell, and Satan.
In Christ alone, we have received the kingdom of heaven and all the graces that
being in the kingdom bestows: eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and salvation!
Episode 17 of "Behind the Hymn: Martin Schalling."
Today's episode featured the hymn: "Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart" (LSB 708). In his hymn, Schalling writes "let no false doctrine me beguile." What is false doctrine and why is it so bad? Stay tuned to today's episode on the dangers of false doctrine, otherwise known as heresy.
Episode 16 of "Behind the Hymn: Erdmann Neumeister." Episodes will premiere each Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on the First Ev. Lutheran Facebook page.
Today's episode featured two hymns "I Know My Faith is Founded" (LSB 587) and "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It" (LSB 594).
Neumeister was known for teaching Biblical truths through hymnody. In each of the above hymns, he proclaims the saving truth of the Gospel.
In the first hymn in today's episode, "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It," he proclaims how Christians receive God's saving grace. As we sing this hymn, we proclaim how through our Baptism into Christ, we are saved, and nothing can take away the gifts bestowed in Baptism. Well, that is, except for us. For as long as we believe and trust in Christ, our Baptism into Christ saves us.
In the second hymn, "I Know My Faith is Founded," he proclaims that faith rests only on Jesus, who is true God and true man. This saving faith is created by the work of the Holy Spirit, that began at our Baptism, and the Holy Spirit continues to strenthen our faith through the proclamation of the Word of God. Without the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word, our reason alone could never fathom the truth of God. This truth of God is that we are saved only by grace through faith in Christ alone!
Credit: Lutheran Service Book - Companion to the Hymns
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
[Intro]
[Jesus asked His disciples:] “But who do you say that I am?”
(Matthew 16:15)
Who is Jesus?
This question has been asked ever since He first walked in the flesh on this
earth. Who is Jesus?
In the last century, C.S. Lewis famously answered this question this
way: Jesus was either God, a lunatic, or an evil man.
So, who is Jesus? There are as many questions today as
there were back in the First Century. Even people who profess to follow Jesus
as their Lord still ask questions.
Back in the First Century, when people were asked: “What do you
think of Jesus?” There were various answers. The religious leaders and
crowds alike, each had their own ways, on answering this question. And, most
often, they didn’t know how to answer the question: Who is Jesus?
Many of these people saw Jesus perform miraculous things, but they
still did not understand.
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) “Some say John the
Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets”
(Matthew 16:14). All questions. No definitive answer.
[False Christs]
Today, Jesus can be whoever you want Him to be. Well, according to
some. And, this some is a lot of people.[1]
Jesus could be your personal mascot, who cheers your every
decision. With His pom-poms, this Jesus stands on the sidelines of life
encouraging people in their pursuit of happiness. Instead of confronting you
with your sinful nature with God’s Ten Commandments unto repentance, He always
cheers and always supports your every decision.
Jesus could be justone option among manyways to
salvation. This Jesus is non-exclusive and like all other religious
leaders. He preaches the modern view of tolerance and most definitely will
never speak the truth for the sake of maintaining peace at all costs. He never
preaches right or wrong, but only a grey area.
Jesus could be your good teacher, who is nothing more than
a wise religious person.
Jesus could be your therapist. He is just a means to a
possible solution.
Jesus could be your giver of bling. He dispenses health,
wealth, and success to those whose faith reaches a certain level. So, if I only
do this or that, I will become healthy or wealthy, but this Jesus never
discusses suffering. It is all about your life now!
Jesus could be your national patriot. He leads the nation
in the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – the American
Dream. So, whatever the nation approves or makes law, of course, Jesus
naturally approves.
Jesus could be your social justice warrior. Here, Jesus
turns into a warrior who is all about liberating the oppressed from unjust
economic, political, spiritual, and social conditions. He fights for the
oppressed and fights against the oppressors.
Jesus could be your moral example, who emphasizes
moralistic living at the expense of forgetting the cross. Here, we believe we
can be as good as Jesus. If Jesus could be righteous, why can’t I? But we fail
to understand the implications of original sin.
Jesus could be your mystical friend. He is akin to a
fairy-like mystical being who is located within our hearts. He is all about
feelings. This Jesus is separated from the Word and Sacraments and He is
stripped of His humanity and divinity. He is just my conscience.
Jesus could become feminized. Instead of believing in the
man Jesus, we get rid of gender. Seeing Jesus as a groom and the Church as a
bride is a construct that needs to be diminished, for it can lead to a
male-dominated oppressive structure. Instead, Jesus is just a nice person who
spends His time cuddling little lambs and coddling emotions because He has been
stripped of His masculinity.
Jesus could become your Teddy Bear. Instead of dealing with
the reality of suffering, this Jesus is tame, safe and unchallenging. He is
just cuddly!
So, what do you think about Jesus? Of course, each one of these
examples is not the true Jesus. Jesus is much more than
what we desire Him to be.
[The Questioned Identity of Jesus in the First Century]
Today, more and more people are catechized about Jesus from
television shows and movies, rather than from God’s Word. Recently, CNN’s Don
Lemon stated: “Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on
this earth.”[2]
This is inherently false, since Jesus never sinned. By implying that Jesus sinned, this means that He is not fully God, and only a flawed human being. Sadly, we often think of Jesus as He is portrayed in television and movies,
rather than who He actually is as revealed in the Bible.
In the First Century, the people questioned the identity of Jesus.
They didn’t have television and movies to persuade them, but they guessed.
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Some say John the
Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:13-14).
So, why John the Baptist? Well, many, including Herod Antipas
thought that Jesus was John the Baptist, whom he beheaded, somehow revived to
life again, since they both preached repentance.
So, why Elijah? Well, there was speculation about the return of
Elijah and this was live and well during the earthly ministry of Jesus.
And, why Jeremiah? Well, much of what Jesus did reminded many of
the people of Jeremiah, especially in response to the unrelenting hostility
that Jesus experienced in Jerusalem from the nation’s religious leaders. And,
Jesus echoed the ministry of Jeremiah and his declarations, such as the
destruction of the Temple.
[Who is Jesus?]
Questions. Questions. Questions. Who is Jesus? Is there an answer?
Then Jesus turned the tables upon His disciples. He asked them, “But
who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
I’m sure they all looked at one another and then to Peter. Peter
then spoke on behalf of the Twelve and said, “You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
At last, we have the answer! Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the
living God! But, why is this so remarkable? We have already heard the disciples
identify Jesus as the Son of God previously. Why is this special? Why is this
unique?
Jesus answered Peter saying, “Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who
is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).
Here, Jesus is declaring that Peter is able to say what he has
confessed only because of divine intervention. Peter’s confession is only
possible through the power of God the Father.
[The Confession]
Now we have an answer! But, what does “You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God” actually mean?
Among Judaism, the term “Christ” could mean many different things.
It was possible to think of a royal Christ or a priestly Christ,
or maybe a prophetic Christ. As the Jews were expecting only a
particular type of Christ, they never expected the promised Christ to fulfill
every prophecy. Jesus is fully Prophet. Jesus is fully Priest. Jesus is fully
King. He is all three. He is three in one! “For all promises of God find
their Yes in Him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Jesus continues speaking to the disciples saying, “And I
tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew
16:18-19).
Here, Jesus is speaking to not just to Peter, but to all the
Twelve. So, what Peter confessed on behalf of the Twelve is their combined
confession: “[Jesus is] the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Because of the combined confession, Jesus is promising that He
will build His Church upon the rock of Peter – not Peter himself – but Peter’s confession:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” So, now, Jesus is
preparing the Twelve with the chief task to speak the truth about Jesus.
As part of this preparation, Jesus tells them that “the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This “it” is the
confession: Jesus is the Christ. This means that no matter the
situation, Satan could never destroy Christ’s Church. As long as we continue to
acknowledge Jesus as the Rock, or the Foundation, of our lives, the “gates
of hell” will never prevail against us!
At the same time, due to this confession, Jesus is acknowledging
that the apostles and other followers of Him will find themselves under
assault. But, the forces of evil will never win the day over His assembly that
is founded on the confession of Peter.
As fierce as this battle may be, the Christ will never allow Satan
and his evil ways to ultimately gain the upper hand. This promise, however,
does not protect the Church from evil. Due to our sinful nature, we will see
denominations fracturing. We will see denominations become corrupt. This is
happening now as our sinful nature would rather follow the authority of man
than the authority of God. But, we will never see the end of the “one holy
Christian and apostolic Church” (Nicene Creed). For the confession “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God” will never pass away.
You see, “Built on the Rock the Church shall stand even when
steeples are falling” (LSB 645) and “The Church’s One Foundation is
Jesus Christ, her Lord” (LSB 644). The assembly of the Church is built upon
the rock of this confession! This faith in Jesus as the Christ is
the foundation of the Church. As long as Jesus is the Rock and Foundation of
His Church, the gates of hell shall never prevail against it!
So, no matter what happens, such as heresies, false teachings and
schisms, God’s true Church will not be offended by the authority of false churches.
Or, the authority of false christs – like the mascot, mystical friend or Teddy
Bear.
[Only God Reveals Jesus to Us]
So, who is Jesus? Our own flesh and blood cannot reveal this to
us, but through the Gospel, God the Father has revealed the Son of Man, the Son
of God, to us on earth.
The real Jesus is God in the flesh. The real Jesus is fully God
and fully man. The real Jesus became man, so that He would die for our
transgressions and rise to life for our justification.
The real Jesus came to teach the apostles to teach us that He
alone is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. It is only by grace through
faith in Jesus that we have access to God the Father and to eternal life,
salvation, and forgiveness of sins, itself. There is no other way to be saved.
All other false christs only lead to eternal death and damnation, both apart
from God. There is no goodness or mercy apart from the true Jesus Christ alone!
Jesus Christ alone looses us from all of our sins and preserves
our life within His Church, against which even “the gates of hell shall
not prevail” (Matthew 16:18-19). His salvation is forever!
So, when we assess the person, work, and nature of Jesus apart
from the Bible, we typically come to identify Jesus wrongly. We underestimate
the depravity of mankind. We ignore our sins against God the Father of our
thoughts, words and deeds. We, instead, view ourselves as basically good. When
this happens, we do not need a Jesus who is crucified and resurrected for poor
miserable sinners.
Rather, we create a false Jesus, who gives us bling and acts like
a Teddy Bear. These false christs are never sufficient. Only the true Christ is
all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-sufficient. The true Jesus alone is able to
forgive us and resurrect us from sin and death.
The true Jesus is not a mere humanitarian, a wise teacher, or a
charismatic leader. He is God. He is the Second Person of the Trinity. He is
the promised Messiah. The suffering, death, and resurrection of a merely great
man have little practical value for us. But since Jesus is God, then His
vicarious suffering, death, and resurrection are of infinite value, availing
for the sins of the whole world.
The true Jesus comes to us in His Means of Grace! Here, we receive
forgiveness for our sins and strength for our weak faith! As the hymn “Built on
the Rock” proclaims:
Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us.
The altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore our Redeemer. (LSB 645, stanza 4)
You see, by grace through faith in the Rock, that is, the
confession, “[Jesus is] the Christ, the Son of the living God,”
we are received into the Kingdom of God through our Baptism into Christ’s death
and resurrection. We also receive forgiveness, life, salvation, and strength
for our faith when we partake of Christ’s very Body and very Blood in the Lord’s
Supper. And, as the world around us changes, God’s Written Word never changes
as Christ Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
This is Jesus! Jesus died, so that we may live! Jesus rose so that
our faith in Him would not be in vain! Jesus destroyed the powers of sin, death,
and Satan, so that everyone by grace through faith in Him would receive the
peace that is forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation! Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
TSOLI DEO GLORIAT
[1]
Matthew Richard. Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up: 12 False Christs
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2017).
By Pastor Peter Adelsen
First Ev. Lutheran Church, Glencoe
McLeod County Chronicle's Pastor's Corner
“[Jesus]
said to [Peter] the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was
grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to
him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him,
‘Feed my sheep’”
(John 21:17).
Today, the
sheep are worried and frightened. The network evening news leads each broadcast
with these similar words: “Crisis in America. Hospitals over-run in New York
City. Violence in Chicago. Racism in Minneapolis. The Climate in Crisis.” The network news leads each
story this way to get us to worry and keep watching. Who is to blame? Are we to blame for all these
problems and countless other problems? Well, not exactly. The one to blame is
Satan himself, who convinced Adam to sin in the Garden. From that moment, we,
who are descendants of Adam have become dead in our sin. Sin is the root cause
of every problem in the world. Instead of being content in peace, we are attracted
to all sorts and kinds of sin. One of those sins is worry.
The duty of news
is to cause us to worry. Why would they do this? From my experience in my
previous career as a journalist, they do this for ratings, clicks, sales, and
advertising revenue. You see, as long as people are scared enough to watch,
listen, or read, they are included in the ratings, clicks, and sales. Due to
our sin, bad news attracts our attention. Good news is just ignored.
Instead of
the constant crisis and fear, we need hope and assurance! We need the power of
sin defeated! We need life! This hope, assurance, sin’s defeat, and eternal
life can only be found in Jesus! Now, where is the place where this happens? It
is the Church, as we are among fellow believers in Christ and hear Christ’s
doctrine rightly taught. Yes, we can read about Jesus at home in your Bible,
but it is only in God’s House where we receive His forgiveness as we confess
our sins and fears to God the Father and receive Christ’s true Body and Blood
for the forgiveness of our sins. In response, God the Father removes those sins
and doubts through the merit and work of His only Son Jesus Christ. It is only
through the Church and through the stead of Christ’s pastors that the sheep are
fed with the sure and certain hope that Christ alone gives: forgiveness of
sins, eternal life, and salvation.
Christ
reassures us saying: “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to
his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27) So, why worry? Christ is with us always!
In our life now, we will experience persecution, pain, sorrow, and heartache.
Did Christ promise that His followers would have their best life now? No! He
alone gives us the assurance of the sure and certain hope of life everlasting! “Therefore
do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).
Through the
atoning death and bodily resurrection of Christ alone, the sheep are truly fed
with the sure and certain hope of forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and
salvation!
Today's episode featured the hymn "Jesus, Priceless Treasure" (LSB 743).
"Jesus, Priceless Treasure" is a love song about Christ, the bridegroom, and His bride, the Church - all believers in Christ. This hymn proclaims that Christ's believers are citizens of heaven and have God's grace, but our earthly life is not easy. Nor is sin conquered in this life. But, even though "the storms may gather," such as persecution, doubt, and fear, those who love the Father nonetheless "still have peace within."
Credit: Lutheran Service Book - Companion to the Hymns
To watch First Ev. Lutheran Church's Divine Service for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, click here.
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from
God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
[Intro]
How are you being fed? The common proverb “You are what you
eat” is very true.
We are constantly eating. We eat to satisfy our stomach. We also
eat to satisfy our mind. How are you being fed?
One week is 168 hours. On average, we should be getting about
eight hours of sleep each night, which is 56 hours per week. On average, we
work 30-40 hours per week. On average, we watch 35 hours of television per week[1].
On average, we spend about three hours per day on social media, which is about
21 hours per week[2].
But, how much time are you studying God’s Word in Scripture and hymnody?
A typical Sunday Divine Service is between 45 minutes to an hour
and 15 minutes. A typical Sunday Bible class is an hour.
According to a study, fewer than 20 percent of churchgoers open
their Bible daily[3].
And, sadly, according to a Barna survey, one-in-three practicing
Christians has stopped attending or stopped watching services online during the
COVID-19 Pandemic.[4]
Again, one-in-three practicing Christians have just vanished, since the
pandemic.
Today, more people are taught about Jesus from television and
movies than from God’s Word. And, more often than not, what television and
movies teach about Jesus is just pure wrong.
So, what are you eating to satisfy your body and soul? Remember, “You
are what you eat.” So, how are you fed? How are you nourished?
[The Feeding of the 5,000]
Today on this Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, we hear how Jesus
withdraws from the public eye to a remote place. Or rather, He attempts to do
so. The crowds who followed Him as He spoke parables are searching for Him as
they desire to be fed by His Words. When they find out where Jesus is – on
the northern corner of the Sea of Galilee, they follow Him on foot.
Today’s Gospel lesson is all about God’s compassion and how He
provides for us!
We begin today’s reading with Jesus responding to the news of John
the Baptist’s execution. Upon hearing the news, He withdrew to a desolate place
by boat as He prayed. In time, the crowds that heard His parables found Him upon
a boat in the Sea of Galilee.
“When [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had
compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).
Although, John the Baptist had died, the mission would continue.
God’s compassion and providing would not cease.
Jesus sees a people that are in desperate need for someone to
guide and nurture them. They are sick and hungry. They have spiritual needs and
physical needs. They are starving for only the nourishment that He alone can
deliver.
“Now when it was evening, the disciples came to [Jesus] and said,
‘This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go
into the villages and buy food for themselves’ But Jesus said, ‘They need not
go away; you give them something to eat’” (Matthew 14:15-16).
Now, let’s look at this from the point of view of the disciples:
Whoa! Where did this come from? This is Jesus challenging the disciples to
provide food for the crowd. Here, Jesus is testing them. Now, did the disciples
pass the test?
The disciples respond to Jesus saying, “We have only five
loaves here and two fish” (Matthew 14:17).
Instead of looking at the situation with a glass half full, the
disciples are seeing this situation as a glass half empty. They see this
situation as hopeless. They have little faith in seeing a resolution. All Jesus
is looking for is for them to put their faith and trust in Him, their Master,
who is God in the flesh, to provide.
You see, Jesus refuses to dismiss the crowds, because there is no
need to do so. The disciples are seeing this situation from a human point of
view by asking “Why not dismiss the crowds and let them provide for
themselves?” But Jesus is seeing this situation from God’s point of view.
This Jesus is the same God who delivered quail to the Israelites.
This Jesus is the same God who gave the Israelites bread from heaven in
abundance. This Jesus is the same God who opened the rock and out sprung water.
(Introit – Psalm 105:40-41)
This Jesus is the same God who “makes his sun rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”
(Matthew 5:45).
As the disciples fade from view, they return after Jesus acts.
With the command “bring them here to me” (Matthew 14:18), the
Lord provides.
Just as He has done before, Jesus prepares nourishment for the
crowds. He takes the five loaves of bread and two fish, pronounces a blessing,
and gives the food to the disciples. Then, Jesus fulfills His word that the
disciples thought they could never do as He said to them: “You
give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16).
Through Jesus, the disciples were able to provide food to the
crowds. They thought they couldn’t, but now they are! You see, Jesus wasn’t
about to leave the crowds to fend for themselves. Jesus provides.
And Jesus didn’t just provide the crowds with enough food. He
provided the crowd with an abundance of food! Everyone ate and no one was left
hungry for more. Everyone was completely satisfied.
As everyone was satisfied, there was an abundance of food left
over, enough for twelve full baskets! That is a lot of leftovers for people who
have eaten their fill.
Now, how many were satisfied? Was it just a few? No, it was a
crowd of 5,000 men, not including the women and children! So, this Feeding
of the 5,000 could be actually more like the Feeding of the 10,000 or
20,000! God is constantly providing and He always gives in abundance!
[The Message of the Miracle]
Now, what was the result of the Feeding of the 5,000?
It may seem odd that Matthew offers no account of a response or
faith from the disciples or from the crowds. There is no mention of
astonishment or faith or praise. Instead, the crowd and the disciples are left
to marvel on their own at the Christ, who acts the way God acts and
miraculously feeds the people.
You see, the primary message of this miracle is about the
compassionate power of Jesus!
This miracle tells us about who Jesus is and about how much God
cares about the needs of His people – in this age and in the age to come!
As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they needed God’s
provision, and He graciously provided even when they didn’t think that He would
or could. Here, Jesus reaches out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He
heals their sicknesses, and He offers them truth, and He feeds them by
multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast!
Jesus not only provides for our needs of body – our daily bread –
He also provides for our spiritual needs as He is also the Bread of eternal
life! Jesus is always providing for you and me!
[We are Only Satisfied through Jesus]
Oftentimes, we may be like the disciples and see the situation in
our life as hopeless. You may be in severe financial debt. You may not have
enough money to put food on your table. You may be suffering the loss of a
loved one who guided you, and now You are lost without them. You may think you
have sinned so badly that you believe that even God would not forgive you. You
may be worried about COVID-19, cancer, or other diseases. You see, on our own,
we are limited. On our own, we are never satisfied. On our own, we may see only
hopelessness.
But faith trusts in Jesus even when the situation is hopeless from
a human perspective. So, put your sins, worries and griefs upon Jesus! He alone
gives us the confidence to get through the roadblocks of our life. As the world
arounds us changes, God’s love for you never changes – for He is the same
yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
If you are in debt or you would like to learn how to manage your
money better, a great resource is Financial Peace University, which First
Lutheran will host again this fall.
If you have sinned – and we all have – we have Jesus, who
has died for that sin, so that by repentance and faith in Him, that sin is
forgiven through His atoning death and bodily resurrection! And, know this, for
everyone who dies in Christ will receive the crown of everlasting life!
You see, Jesus continuously shows His compassion upon us, His
sheep! He did not leave us to suffer and die in our sin. Instead, Christ came
to us with divine compassion as He saved us from sin and death as He feeds us
with Himself through His Word and Sacrament! He rescues us and feeds us through
His Means of Grace! In hearing His Word taught and rightly proclaimed, we are
fed! In receiving His true body and true blood in the Sacrament, we are fed!
Our brokenness is restored to health as Christ alone strengthens and preserves
us in body and soul to everlasting life!
Just as Jesus once took bread, “said a blessing,”
broke the loaves “and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave
them to the crowds” (Matthew 14:18-19), He also now takes bread,
blesses it by His Word to be His very body, and freely gives it to His Church by
the hand of His called and ordained servants. And, just as “they took up
twelve baskets of the broken pieces” (Matthew 14:20), there is more
than enough for His whole Church to eat and to be satisfied!
So, every person who hears His Word, receives His Sacrament, and by
faith believes His promise is completely satisfied for by grace through faith
in Christ alone, we are “the children of the promise [and] are counted as
offspring” (Romans 9:8) in His kingdom, as we are satisfied in this
life and in the life to come!
In Christ alone, we are satisfied! Amen!
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
