“Take Heart, I Am Here” Matthew 14.22-33 Pentecost 9A, August 2014

1.                  Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 9^th Sunday after Pentecost comes from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the 14^th chapter, we’ll be looking at verses 22-33.  This text follows what we read in the Gospel of Matthew last week.  Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand (Mt 14:13–21). There should’ve been no doubt in Peter’s mind about Jesus’ mighty power over every area of life and nature, after all, he fed the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. But, how soon the disciples, and we, forget. When we confront challenges in our lives, our faith often becomes weak because we rely on our own strength instead of on the power and wisdom of God.  In those moments Jesus comes to us and says, “Take Heart, I Am Here,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  Imagine receiving this note from our Heavenly Father each day as you wake up.  “Good morning: I am the Lord your God. Today I will be handling all your problems. Please remember that I don’t need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you can’t handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (Something For Jesus To Do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, don’t hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it’s a situation you think you are capable of handling, please consult me to be sure that it’s the proper resolution. Because I don’t sleep nor do I slumber, there’s no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest, my child. If you need to contact me, I’m only a prayer away.  Love eternally, The Lord Your God.”

3.                  In our text today from Matthew’s Gospel Jesus reveals His divine presence to His disciples by walking on the sea.  When the disciples witness this they say, “Truly You are the Son of God.” We see that as long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, he also is able to walk on the water. Like Peter, we often look away from the object of our faith and focus on our problems and doubts. Although we know the Son of God is with us and provides for all our needs, we still worry and fear. Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” His powerful arm reaches out to steady us and guide us. Matthew 14:22–33 says, “²²Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  ²⁸And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

4.                  Our failure as followers of Jesus is partly our inability to see our Savior as being interested in helping us in the small ordinary situations of life.  Oh yes, we easily see Him stretched in agony on the cross for our sins, but do we see Him concerned about paying the bills, over an argument with our neighbor, or about a disagreement with your husband or wife?  That’s why the greatness of our Heavenly Father is found in this:  that God is concerned about your minor problems.  He knows your weaknesses and sympathizes with you.  We often fail to find help from God because of our little faith, not God's inability to help.

5.                  We can learn this from looking to the Sea of Galilee and see how Jesus showed, in a miraculous act, that He’s victorious over our weaknesses.  Suddenly a violent windstorm swept down on the ship with the disciples.  Jesus comes to them, walking on the water, climbs into the ship, and the stormy winds calm down.

6.                  Doesn’t this remind us of crises & conflict that can happen to us in our lives?  A car accident sweeps into our lives causing severe injuries, or a heart attack or stroke strikes.  Then Jesus comes and "climbs into our boat" with His outstretched hands of mercy and healing.  Once again we find hope in His promises and strength in His Word.  The stormy winds of life vary.  They come as doubt when we question the mercies of God.   Or, some forgotten sin comes back to haunt us and we question God's love.  Yes, even sickness and death comes into our home and we cry out, "Why us?"  We lose our job in a depressed economic time; frustration and disappointment help make the future look dismal.

7.                  Dear friends we’ve all experienced situations like these haven’t we?  And, unless Jesus comes into our dark nights with His comfort and hope, we wallow in bitterness, hopelessness, and despair.  He removes fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.  He tells us, "take heart, it is is I.  Do not be afraid."

8.                  When the apostle Peter was walking to Jesus on the water and started to sink in the large waves, he panicked and cried to Jesus for help.  Jesus reached out and grabbed him.  How often we despair, certain that we’re sinking in the pressures of life or that the overpowering forces of sin are closing in on us.  Then let us hear Jesus reach out to us and say, "Take heart, it is I."  Our Savior is here to help us!

9.                  Yes friends, Jesus removes fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, and in the end brings peace and heaven.  No matter what storms arise in your lives, Jesus pilots us to safety through each of them and at last brings us to the haven of eternal security.

10.              “Take heart, I am here,” says Jesus.  The darkest night is less lonely and less empty with the Savior at our side.  Under us, holding us up, are His everlasting arms.  We need not face a single issue of life alone.  With every problem, we can come to Him and know that He has salvation.  That’s encouraging.

11.              “Take heart, I am here” said Jesus to the man who was paralyzed (Matthew 9:1-8).  “Your sins are forgiven.”  And so a spirit of joy filled his day.  Have you ever noticed that the feeling of guilt takes the joy out of life?  The forgiven soul has been released from the bondage of sin.  This fills the heart with an unspeakable blessedness.  Christian people are joy-filled people.

12.              “Take heart, I am here” said Jesus to His disciples on the way to the garden where He was betrayed (John 16:33).  “I have overcome the world.”  Wickedness, injustice, cruelty, dishonesty, hatred, and deception seem to take over things and control all the important positions of life.  We Christians often feel as though we’re fighting a losing battle with sin, error, and unbelief.  But in the darkest hour, Jesus is here to help, to save, and to cheer.   By His grace and in His strength we can face even death and smile, “for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

13.              Prayer:  Jesus, gracious Savior, take me by the hand today and lead me through each perplexing and troubling hour.  Without you I sink, I faint, I fall.  Help me.  Give me a greater faith, a larger hope, and an abiding sense of security.  Grant that Your promises fill my heart and mind with a blessed cheerfulness and undying courage that leans on You, the rock of my salvation.  Here my cry, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“We are God’s Gathered People” Isaiah 56.1, 6-8 Pentecost 10A, Aug. 2014

1.      Please pray with me.  May the Word of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 10^th Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, it’s entitled, “We are God’s Gathered People,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.       It’s back-to-school time. Imagine you are a parent taking your children to school for registration, only to be told that your children will not be welcomed into the classroom and that you should take your children elsewhere. That’s what happened to a family in Florida in 1987. The parents had three boys, each a hemophiliac and infected with the AIDS virus they received through contaminated blood. News of their condition spread around town, leading to a general panic. The boys were ostracized. Their home was burned to the ground. The mayor of the town pulled his own children out of school rather than have them attend with these HIV “lepers.” The message from the town was clear: “Consider yourselves foreigners. You have no home here.”

3.      Maybe you’ve felt like a foreigner because you didn’t have the right clothing or live in the right part of town or go to the right school. Some people are made to feel like foreigners because of the language they speak, the color of their skin, or the amount of their income. To be a foreigner is to have no home, to have no joy.

4.      Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 says, “1Thus says the LORD:  “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.  6“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer;  their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”  8The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”

5.      The prophet Isaiah reminds us that sadly, sometimes God’s people have been guilty of treating others as foreigners who have no place with us because they are not like us.  Israel became confused about what it meant to be God’s chosen people.  God selected Israel to be his covenant people, blessed them, and prepared to bring the Messiah into the world through them.  Israel was not to mix with other nations lest their false religions corrupt the truth God had revealed to Israel.  Israel began to think of itself as the sole object of God’s love; God did not desire any others to be saved. The people ignored their God-given mission to be “a light to the Gentiles,” refusing to associate with “foreigners” at all.

6.      It’s still true today.  Christian churches sometimes do the same thing, transforming God’s house into our house.  We may welcome only people who are like us: same color skin, same culture, same style of dress, same ideas about church.  By our attitudes and actions we may declare, “No foreigners welcome.” We operate as “a church within a church,” allowing only certain people to fully participate. The joy of others is diminished because they do not feel accepted at church.  This is shameful, for the Scriptures declare that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us have found favor with God because of our family, wealth, race, or length of time as members. By excluding those whom God desires to include, we may exclude ourselves from God’s mercy.

7.      The Holy Scriptures make it clear that by our sinful nature we’re all “foreigners” before God, for God is holy and righteous, and we are sinful and alienated from his presence.  We would be for eternity except for the grace of God, which reveals justification and righteousness in Christ and gathers us together in his love.  So, God promised to welcome foreigners who would cling in faith to God’s covenant promises. He brought this to pass through Jesus Christ.  We who were foreign because of our sin, God made acceptable by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.

8.      In his crucifixion, Jesus bore the burden of all our sins.  He suffered our “foreign-ness” as he was forsaken by his Father.  God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as payment for all our failings, including treating others as foreigners. 

9.      We see this in the old King James English translation of this text in Isaiah 56 we find something interesting that links us to the Good News we have in Jesus our Savior.  The text translation in the King James Version for foreigner is “sons of the stranger.”  Could “sons of the stranger” serve as a synonym for “sons of God if we capitalize the word “Stranger?”  Isn’t there a sense in which all Christians, mature Christians, newcomers, native and foreign, are “sons of the Stranger,” spelled with a capital S, the Stranger who is Jesus so that He can make us a part of God’s Gathered People?

10.  Jesus our Lord, a citizen of the “far country “called heaven, came from outer space to visit our world over two thousand years ago to share our life for more than 30 years.  He was even greeted as a stranger.  “There was no room for Him in the inn.”  When his mother Mary and guardian Joseph were in Bethlehem before Jesus was born.  Jesus was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  “He came unto His own (the Jews), and the world knew Him not.”  Jesus, “had no place to lay His head.”  As a Prophet, Jesus was “without honor in His own country.”  His nearest relatives considered Him “beside Himself.”  In His greatest crisis His disciples all ran away and deserted Him as He was betrayed with a kiss by Judas.  And in that same crisis, on the cross, Jesus was even estranged from God His Heavenly Father on account of our sins.  He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsake me?:  Or “My God, My God, why hast Thou treated Me as a stranger?”  In that dreadful cry we recognize the Son of God, Jesus our Lord, becoming the “son of the stranger” as far as God His Father was concerned.  That was our estrangement from God that Jesus endured.  The outcome?  Now you and I have eternal companionship with God as His gathered people through Jesus.

11.  Now through the means of grace, God sends his Spirit to gather us to himself. In Baptism you became God’s own child, receiving full acceptance into God’s household and the promise of everlasting joy. The Word assures us that while once we were far away and no people, now in Christ we have been brought near and are the people of God. We attend our Lord’s Supper as honored guests welcome at his feast.

12.  The joy of the Gospel is that none of us are excluded because of our past sins, our family history, our physical weakness. Although Satan strives to convince you that you are not welcome, that you are a foreigner, God’s promise in Jesus declares that you do belong, you are a part of God’ Gathered People, giving you joy in his house.

13.  In today’s Gospel from Matthew 15, Jesus responds favorably to a foreigner from the region of ancient pagan cities that once were Israel’s worst religious and military enemies.  We express this joy as we maintain justice and live in righteousness with others, regarding everyone we meet as one for whom Jesus died. We don’t keep the Good News of Jesus from anyone. We welcome all to confess Jesus and enter into his eternal joy.

14.  God’s plan is to gather still others besides those of us he has already gathered. We live with all people justly and rightly, speaking the truth of justification and righteousness through Jesus’ sacrifice, which makes the “foreign” forgiven. Thus we will be the Spirit’s tools to gather more people of promise to have joy in God’s house forever.  Amen.

“Take Heart, I Am Here” Matthew 14.22-33 Pentecost 9A, August 2014

1.                  Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this 9^th Sunday after Pentecost comes from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the 14^th chapter, we’ll be looking at verses 22-33.  This text follows what we read in the Gospel of Matthew last week.  Jesus had just finished feeding the five thousand (Mt 14:13–21). There should’ve been no doubt in Peter’s mind about Jesus’ mighty power over every area of life and nature, after all, he fed the 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. But, how soon the disciples, and we, forget. When we confront challenges in our lives, our faith often becomes weak because we rely on our own strength instead of on the power and wisdom of God.  In those moments Jesus comes to us and says, “Take Heart, I Am Here,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  Imagine receiving this note from our Heavenly Father each day as you wake up.  “Good morning: I am the Lord your God. Today I will be handling all your problems. Please remember that I don’t need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you can’t handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (Something For Jesus To Do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, don’t hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it’s a situation you think you are capable of handling, please consult me to be sure that it’s the proper resolution. Because I don’t sleep nor do I slumber, there’s no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest, my child. If you need to contact me, I’m only a prayer away.  Love eternally, The Lord Your God.”

3.                  In our text today from Matthew’s Gospel Jesus reveals His divine presence to His disciples by walking on the sea.  When the disciples witness this they say, “Truly You are the Son of God.” We see that as long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, he also is able to walk on the water. Like Peter, we often look away from the object of our faith and focus on our problems and doubts. Although we know the Son of God is with us and provides for all our needs, we still worry and fear. Jesus says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” His powerful arm reaches out to steady us and guide us. Matthew 14:22–33 says, “²²Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  ²⁸And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

4.                  Our failure as followers of Jesus is partly our inability to see our Savior as being interested in helping us in the small ordinary situations of life.  Oh yes, we easily see Him stretched in agony on the cross for our sins, but do we see Him concerned about paying the bills, over an argument with our neighbor, or about a disagreement with your husband or wife?  That’s why the greatness of our Heavenly Father is found in this:  that God is concerned about your minor problems.  He knows your weaknesses and sympathizes with you.  We often fail to find help from God because of our little faith, not God's inability to help.

5.                  We can learn this from looking to the Sea of Galilee and see how Jesus showed, in a miraculous act, that He’s victorious over our weaknesses.  Suddenly a violent windstorm swept down on the ship with the disciples.  Jesus comes to them, walking on the water, climbs into the ship, and the stormy winds calm down.

6.                  Doesn’t this remind us of crises & conflict that can happen to us in our lives?  A car accident sweeps into our lives causing severe injuries, or a heart attack or stroke strikes.  Then Jesus comes and "climbs into our boat" with His outstretched hands of mercy and healing.  Once again we find hope in His promises and strength in His Word.  The stormy winds of life vary.  They come as doubt when we question the mercies of God.   Or, some forgotten sin comes back to haunt us and we question God's love.  Yes, even sickness and death comes into our home and we cry out, "Why us?"  We lose our job in a depressed economic time; frustration and disappointment help make the future look dismal.

7.                  Dear friends we’ve all experienced situations like these haven’t we?  And, unless Jesus comes into our dark nights with His comfort and hope, we wallow in bitterness, hopelessness, and despair.  He removes fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.  He tells us, "take heart, it is is I.  Do not be afraid."

8.                  When the apostle Peter was walking to Jesus on the water and started to sink in the large waves, he panicked and cried to Jesus for help.  Jesus reached out and grabbed him.  How often we despair, certain that we’re sinking in the pressures of life or that the overpowering forces of sin are closing in on us.  Then let us hear Jesus reach out to us and say, "Take heart, it is I."  Our Savior is here to help us!

9.                  Yes friends, Jesus removes fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, and in the end brings peace and heaven.  No matter what storms arise in your lives, Jesus pilots us to safety through each of them and at last brings us to the haven of eternal security.

10.              “Take heart, I am here,” says Jesus.  The darkest night is less lonely and less empty with the Savior at our side.  Under us, holding us up, are His everlasting arms.  We need not face a single issue of life alone.  With every problem, we can come to Him and know that He has salvation.  That’s encouraging.

11.              “Take heart, I am here” said Jesus to the man who was paralyzed (Matthew 9:1-8).  “Your sins are forgiven.”  And so a spirit of joy filled his day.  Have you ever noticed that the feeling of guilt takes the joy out of life?  The forgiven soul has been released from the bondage of sin.  This fills the heart with an unspeakable blessedness.  Christian people are joy-filled people.

12.              “Take heart, I am here” said Jesus to His disciples on the way to the garden where He was betrayed (John 16:33).  “I have overcome the world.”  Wickedness, injustice, cruelty, dishonesty, hatred, and deception seem to take over things and control all the important positions of life.  We Christians often feel as though we’re fighting a losing battle with sin, error, and unbelief.  But in the darkest hour, Jesus is here to help, to save, and to cheer.   By His grace and in His strength we can face even death and smile, “for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

13.              Prayer:  Jesus, gracious Savior, take me by the hand today and lead me through each perplexing and troubling hour.  Without you I sink, I faint, I fall.  Help me.  Give me a greater faith, a larger hope, and an abiding sense of security.  Grant that Your promises fill my heart and mind with a blessed cheerfulness and undying courage that leans on You, the rock of my salvation.  Here my cry, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“First Things First” Matt. 14:13-21, Pentecost 8A, 2014

1.         Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The message from God’s Word for us today is taken from the Gospel lesson from Matthew 14:13-21.  Here Jesus teaches us to put “First Things First.”  As Christians, we need to seek the Savior who takes care of our spiritual needs (vs. 13, 14) and then we trust the Savior who takes care of our physical needs (vs. 15-21).  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.         In the Biography of James Hudson Taylor by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor (London: China Inland Mission. 1965), we find a story about a man who truly trusted God for provision. As a young man Taylor was preparing to go to China to be a missionary.  But, before he became a missionary Taylor worked for a doctor in England and was paid a quarterly wage. As the time to receive his salary drew near, Taylor was disturbed that his employer said nothing about it. Taylor was nearly broke, but would not break his resolution and ask for the salary. While visiting a needy home on Sunday, Taylor felt led by God to give his last coin to a needy family. The next day he received an anonymous gift through the mail, four times what he had given to the poor!  The following Saturday, the doctor finished up his work and said, “Taylor, is not your salary due again?” Taylor confirmed that it was and became disappointed when he learned that the doctor had completely forgotten about Taylor’s salary and sent all his funds to the bank! He prayed about the matter (for he had bills of his own to pay) and left it with the Lord. That evening, the doctor visited him and said that one of his richest patients came over after hours to pay his bill! He gave the money to Taylor, who rejoiced. He had learned he could trust God for the provision of his needs, both in England and China.

3.         Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 miraculously provided life-giving sustenance for all. He showed his ability to provide for our needs. We find the “bread” theme throughout Scripture. God provided manna for the wandering Israelites in the wilderness in the Old Testament as Moses was leading them. And, in the Lord’s Prayer, he promises to give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). Jesus is truly the Bread of Life (John 6:30–35; 47–58). We may confidently trust him to provide for our every need.

4.         Matthew 14:13-21 says, “13Now when Jesus heard [about the death of John the Baptist], he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him 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.” 16But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

5.         Now ordinarily we need more than 5 small loaves to feed 5000 men.  But, here in Matthew’s Gospel we see that Jesus touches the bread in the wilderness with His mighty hand, and it increases until all are fed.  Jesus feeds the multitudes by a miracle.  God still multiplies bread.  A farmer sows some wheat into a field and it produces fifty to a hundredfold.  That, too, is a miracle of God.

6.         To this day, we’re fed out of the abundant goodness of God.  Each day, God provides us with enough bread to satisfy the world’s hunger.  If anyone goes hungry, God can’t be blamed.  Why is it then that people go hungry in this world?  The greed and selfishness of man withholds and destroys the bread that God so richly provides us.

7.         God gives us our daily bread and He challenges us to live trusting in him from day to day.  After all, the same God who sends down rain upon the righteous and the unrighteous, who clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air, is able to provide for your needs.  There’s enough bread to spare.  But, at times we think otherwise.  We see our refrigerators and freezers becoming more and more empty.  But wait, God opens His hands at His appointed time supplies us with all our spiritual and bodily needs. 

8.         Most of the time, God gives us more than we need for today.  He pours out His blessings upon us even more than we need in one day.  What should we then do, if we have more than we can use?  Well, like the disciples we can gather up the fragments.  We are stewards of our earthly possessions, and we shouldn’t squander or waste the physical possessions and resources that God has given to us.  We are to use the things that God has given to us wisely.  We’re not to forget to break our bread with the needy and to us our possessions to further God’s Kingdom.

9.         But, Jesus feeding the 5000 here in Matthew 14 reminds us something else.  Jesus isn’t just some wonderful man or great teacher. Jesus Christ is the only, the true, and the almighty Lord God.  Each one of Jesus’ miracles proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.  And each miracle of Jesus in the Gospels tells us in a special way how our Lord Jesus feels for you. Each miracle in a special way is intended to strengthen your faith in him. The feeding of the 5000 does this. It shows Jesus to be our all-sufficient Savior, who loves us dearly and who will care for all our needs. Like those disciples, we sometimes forget that. So often we can see all of our problems, but we don’t always see that compassionate and all-powerful Savior there too who can help us. Many times we forget that he always has and will provide the best solution to what we might view as a great problem.

10.       This miracle reminds us to “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pe 5:7). This miracle also verifies what St. Paul so triumphantly says: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Ro 8:31, 32). This miracle reminds us too of what our most important need is and how Christ meets that need. He feeds the souls of this crowd first, and then he feeds their bodies. That simple thought of this text emphasizes what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt 6:33). This is the lesson Jesus sought to teach the crowd on that day when he first nourished their souls and then sent them home with happy souls and full stomachs.

11.       That multitude apparently didn’t learn that lesson. Later on they wanted to make Jesus their “bread king.”  They figured that Jesus would be their Welfare King, who would provide socialized medicine for them and who would provide them their grocery cards to get whatever food they needed.  Hey, who wouldn’t want that, right?  It sounds great! Well, sometimes we don’t always learn that lesson, either. Do we always give our soul’s welfare priority over everything else in life? So often we can be more concerned about the grocery bills, the rent, and all the other bills than we are with nourishing our souls on the Word, growing in our faith, and advancing the kingdom of God.

12.       But, thanks be to God that the one who fed this great crowd with a meager supply of food is the one who still says to us: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn 6:35).  Amen.

13.       Please pray with me:  With grateful hearts, we come to Your throne of grace, O Lord, recognizing Your goodness and abundant mercy.  You have opened Your hands to supply our needs for this day and have given us also the heavenly manna of the Gospel to nourish our souls and preserve us in faith.  Accept our praise and thanks arising from our appreciative hearts, which you have cleansed from all sin through Jesus’ most precious blood.  Amen.