The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Laetare - March 14, 2010

The Church Season of Lent
The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Laetare (March 14, 2010)
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI
One Year Series

OF MIRACLES AND MEN

Readings:
Psalm 132
OT Exodus 2:-21
Epistle Galatians 4:21-31
Gospel John 6:1-15

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The text for today’s message is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 6th chapter of St. John.

John 6:1-15 (NIV)

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 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?” 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. 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. 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.

SO FAR THE TEXT

Jesus was walking along and a great crowd followed Him. They followed Him because He had performed “miraculous signs on the sick.”(v. 2) But, is there no reason that they followed Christ other than their curiosity? Did this crowd follow Jesus because they had seen something and wanted to see more? Well, if so, they were about to see more, for all 5000, or more probably closer to double that number, would see a great deal more. This crowd would see everyone around them fed from a miracle. And not only would this crowd be fed, there would be leftovers too. But before the miracle the apostles struggled with the task of feeding a crowd this large. Philip couldn’t figure it out, the crowd was just too big and the money in the purse was just too little. So Andrew speaks up and mentions to Christ that there was a boy in the crowd with a few fish and a couple of loaves of bread. So you might say that at this point in scripture it appears that Andrew is ready to punk a young boy out of his lunch in order to try to feed the masses. But ultimately Andrew and Philip couldn’t make the situation add up in their heads, so Jesus, knowing their thoughts He took over. The apostles faith in logic had failed, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ would not fail. At first blanch it would appear that the apostles trust in Christ was not enough for them so they could not see how the whole crowd could be fed.

We too fail to trust the Lord’s Word. We’ve heard time and again how God saved His people from the brink of disaster. And we really want to trust that God will do the same for us. That God will bring us forth out of our illness, through our challenges, and that all will be just the way we want it to be. It doesn’t appear that we can get over ourselves enough to trust completely in our Father’s care. When our prayers aren’t answered quickly enough or just the way we want them to be answered we tend to think God is a liar, and we think He has forgotten us. We think that this will be the time that He will let us down. So we know it’s our turn to take matters into our own hands, so we need to get busy, so we can get it all done on our own.

But, God never forgets. He knows what you need before you ask it. We forget that God knows only one way to give, and it from the abundance of His love and compassion for His people. And that’s just how He gives to His people in John chapter six. Five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand men, not including women and children so closer to ten thousand people. And lest we forget there are leftovers; twelve baskets full of leftovers! So God gave them more than enough, what about me?

The feeding of the five thousand teaches us that we can trust God in Jesus Christ in all things, and that He can provide abundantly. That provision isn't just for some pie in the sky, hope and dream. He provides for us now, each according to His good plan for our life in Him, and according to our needs. And God does know your every thought and He knows your every need. He takes care of us in our day to day pressures, desires, passions, and temptations. But, God does not always give us what we desire, surely not always what we expect, and sometimes we get what we expect the least. I’m not sure any one of those five thousand plus people expected to receive a meal way out there in the no where. But, God does provide what we need, and then some, so that we may accomplish what He has planned for us.

God has planned for us and He has taken care of our every need. He feeds us with His true body in Holy Communion. In the holy Supper, we receive Him - His body and blood. It is not a mere "symbol". We receive Him. We receive His righteousness - which means that our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed. We receive His life, which means that we cannot die. We receive His standing before God the Father, and so, God treats us as though we are His only-begotten Son, precious and beloved.

So, what is going on in your life? What is it that you need? It is a miracle? Is it a big miracle or a small one? Then hear what God says to you, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Now, we may wonder from time to time, especially if it is not going well for us, why things are going the way they are, if this whole God thing is true. Is God out there? And if He is, is He out there for me? Will He answer my prayers the way I want them to be answered? Yes, God is out there, but more than that He is here for you. And what about the why and how of your prayers, God hears your prayers, He hears your cries for mercy and He gives you His Son to give you mercy which will never end. And so then you may ask, what is our part? Well in response to Gods grace, we need to be faithful, trust in God and go forward with the confidence that God knows His plans for us.

God does see us through in every need. He will see us through every sorrow. He will see us through any danger. He will see us through any crisis. He will see us through even the door of death into everlasting life in glory. God has enough compassion for us, in fact He has more than enough compassion and love for each and every person and each and every situation. God grace is an abundant never ending supply which our demand cannot outpace. Trust in Him, as St. Peter writes, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. “(1 Peter 5)

Whatever your circumstances, and whatever your need, God is ready with everything you need, He has made sure of that. For God gave His only Son, that is one Son. And from that one Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for you, from Him alone, God gives you and every one the promise of eternal life. Today you will have a taste of heaven in the bread and wine, that is Christ’s body and blood. One day that miracle of Christ will allow you to step from this earth to an eternity of heavenly bliss. Do not fear what life will dish out for you, rather rejoice that the main course is Jesus Christ and He is the bread of eternal life for you. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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