Series B – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday, July 19, 2015 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:29 | the holy Gospel According to Saint Mark |
| 0:31 | chapter 6 verses 30 through 44. |
| 0:35 | the apostles gathered around Jesus and |
| 0:37 | reported to him all they had done and |
| 0:40 | taught |
| 0:40 | then because so many people were coming |
| 0:42 | and going that they did not even have a |
| 0:46 | chance to eat he said to them come with |
| 0:48 | me by yourselves to a quiet place and |
| 0:50 | get some rest |
| 0:51 | so they went away by themselves in a |
| 0:54 | boat to a solitary place |
| 0:56 | but many saw them leaving recognized |
| 0:59 | them and ran on foot from all the towns |
| 1:02 | and got there ahead of them when Jesus |
| 1:04 | landed and saw the large crowd he had |
| 1:06 | compassion on them because they were |
| 1:08 | like sheep without a Shepherd so he |
| 1:10 | began teaching them many things |
| 1:13 | by this time it was late in the day so |
| 1:16 | his disciples came to him this is a |
| 1:19 | remote place they said and it’s already |
| 1:21 | very late send the people away so that |
| 1:24 | they can go to the surrounding |
| 1:25 | Countryside in villages and buy |
| 1:26 | themselves something to eat but he |
| 1:28 | answered you give them something to eat |
| 1:31 | and they said to him that would take |
| 1:33 | eight months of a man’s wages are we to |
| 1:35 | go and spend that much on bread and give |
| 1:37 | it to them to eat |
| 1:39 | how many loaves do you have he asked go |
| 1:41 | and see and when they found out they |
| 1:43 | said five and two fish then Jesus |
| 1:46 | directed them to have all the people sit |
| 1:49 | down in groups on the green grass so |
| 1:52 | they sat down in groups of hundreds and |
| 1:54 | fifties taking the Five Loaves and the |
| 1:57 | two fish and looking up to heaven he |
| 1:58 | gave thanks and broke the loaves then he |
| 2:01 | gave them to the disciples and set |
| 2:02 | before the people he also divided the |
| 2:05 | two fish among them they all ate and |
| 2:07 | were satisfied and the disciples picked |
| 2:09 | up the 12 baskets full of broken pieces |
| 2:11 | of bread and fish the number of men who |
| 2:14 | had eaten was five thousand |
| 2:16 | in the name of Jesus |
| 2:19 | all right so the Liberals are flat out |
| 2:21 | wrong in their explanation of the text |
| 2:23 | that we just read so notice I’m Coming |
| 2:25 | Out Swinging yeah the Liberals they tell |
| 2:28 | us that the reason why Jesus was able to |
| 2:32 | multiply fishes is because well John |
| 2:36 | gives us this little detail in John |
| 2:38 | chapter 6 verses 8 through 9 one of his |
| 2:41 | disciples Andrew Simon Peter’s brother |
| 2:43 | said to him there’s a boy here who has |
| 2:46 | five barley Loaves and two fish but what |
| 2:49 | are they for so many so we learned from |
| 2:51 | the Gospel of John that there was a |
| 2:53 | little boy who brought a sack of lunch |
| 2:55 | right and the way the Liberals explain |
| 2:58 | this and by the way liberals deny that |
| 2:59 | Miracles are possible which is |
| 3:01 | ridiculous but they deny they know for |
| 3:04 | sure God can’t perform Miracles because |
| 3:06 | you know all the philosophers say that |
| 3:08 | you know natural law there’s these laws |
| 3:11 | of the universe and they can’t be broken |
| 3:12 | really how do they know they can’t be |
| 3:14 | broken |
| 3:15 | you know is somebody going to give God a |
| 3:17 | speeding ticket for performing a miracle |
| 3:19 | you know will he spend time in prison if |
| 3:22 | he breaks the laws of physics but they |
| 3:24 | claim Miracles are not possible so their |
| 3:26 | explanation goes something like this |
| 3:28 | well you see there was this little boy |
| 3:30 | who brought his sack lunch and |
| 3:32 | unbeknownst to Jesus’s disciples |
| 3:35 | everybody also brought coolers and |
| 3:38 | picnic baskets and they were hiding them |
| 3:41 | you see they were hiding them because |
| 3:43 | they didn’t want to share and so here |
| 3:46 | comes this little boy with his sack |
| 3:47 | lunch and he says something like hey Mr |
| 3:50 | Apostle I’ve got I’ve got Five Loaves |
| 3:54 | and two fishes I can share and that |
| 3:56 | everybody felt so guilty because this |
| 3:59 | little boy gave up his sack lunch that |
| 4:01 | out come the coolers outcome the picnic |
| 4:04 | baskets and it’s the miracle not of |
| 4:06 | Jesus multiplying Loaves and Fishes it’s |
| 4:08 | the miracle of everybody learning how to |
| 4:10 | share |
| 4:12 | which is not a miracle at all and then |
| 4:15 | they go on to say oftentimes and this |
| 4:18 | tells us that we need to reject |
| 4:20 | capitalism which is all about |
| 4:22 | selfishness and embrace communism |
| 4:24 | instead |
| 4:28 | yeah I wish I was making that up and I |
| 4:32 | will not ask you to raise your hand but |
| 4:34 | I know there are some in this |
| 4:35 | congregation who have heard this text |
| 4:37 | preached that way so I won’t out you |
| 4:39 | though now let me point you to our |
| 4:42 | bulletin in our bulletin I have |
| 4:45 | reproduced for you a fourth Century hymn |
| 4:48 | on the Trinity which was written by |
| 4:51 | prudentius a Latin poet and hymn writer |
| 4:54 | and I want you to see what he does with |
| 4:57 | this text in so many verses Five Loaves |
| 5:00 | and Fishes two he orders placed as food |
| 5:03 | before the people thronging round their |
| 5:05 | Master by their hunger undeterred who |
| 5:08 | mindful not of food forgot their towns |
| 5:10 | their forts their markets hamlets |
| 5:13 | trading posts and cities glad to feed |
| 5:16 | upon his words the festive Gathering |
| 5:18 | swarms upon the plane by hundreds they |
| 5:21 | recline in Friendly bands and round the |
| 5:23 | countless boards they arrange themselves |
| 5:25 | to dine on two small fish and scanty |
| 5:28 | crusts he multiplies know now that he is |
| 5:32 | God |
| 5:34 | know now that he is God this miracle |
| 5:37 | proves that Jesus is God it absolutely |
| 5:41 | does because remember who was it that |
| 5:43 | fed the children of Israel in the |
| 5:45 | wilderness |
| 5:47 | ah yeah that guy God right and we learn |
| 5:51 | from Paul in First Corinthians that it |
| 5:54 | was Jesus himself who fed the people of |
| 5:56 | Israel in the wilderness so this takes |
| 6:00 | place in a desolate region in the |
| 6:02 | wilderness if you would and so Jesus |
| 6:04 | feeds the five thousand and that proves |
| 6:06 | he’s God so all the Liberals out there |
| 6:08 | who deny that Miracles are possible by |
| 6:10 | saying that Jesus didn’t multiply the |
| 6:12 | fishes that nothing miraculous happened |
| 6:13 | except for a bunch of people took out |
| 6:15 | their coolers that they were hiding and |
| 6:17 | started sharing their food well they’re |
| 6:20 | in a sense denying that Jesus is God in |
| 6:22 | human flesh but that’s exactly who he |
| 6:24 | claimed to be Jesus by the way was not a |
| 6:26 | Galilean Boy Scout who liked to help |
| 6:28 | little old ladies walk across the Sea of |
| 6:30 | Galilee he was none other than God in |
| 6:32 | human flesh now there is another way of |
| 6:34 | reading this today that evangelicals who |
| 6:37 | do not deny the the miraculous Rob Jesus |
| 6:40 | of his divinity and the reason why they |
| 6:43 | do this or how they do this is they take |
| 6:45 | this text and it’s not about popularity |
| 6:49 | if you would their explanation is that |
| 6:52 | well Jesus divvied up you know broke a |
| 6:55 | little bit of the Five Loaves putting |
| 6:56 | them in baskets and cut up the fish made |
| 6:59 | it into Sushi or something I’m not sure |
| 7:01 | put that in the baskets and then told |
| 7:03 | the disciples to go out and distribute |
| 7:06 | the food and of course they were looking |
| 7:08 | at the baskets going well there’s like |
| 7:11 | not enough to feed five thousand people |
| 7:12 | what are we supposed to do here Lord and |
| 7:14 | so they would go up and they would go up |
| 7:16 | to one guy you know in the crowd and say |
| 7:18 | here take some don’t take a lot this |
| 7:20 | isn’t going to go very far and no sooner |
| 7:22 | does the person grab a piece of bread or |
| 7:25 | a piece of fish that it begins to |
| 7:27 | multiply in the baskets and so the |
| 7:30 | reason this happened was because well |
| 7:32 | the apostles stepped out in audacious |
| 7:34 | faith and it was their audacious faith |
| 7:37 | that caused this miracle to happen to |
| 7:39 | which I basically say did you people |
| 7:42 | take basic reading comprehension in |
| 7:44 | fourth grade because those details are |
| 7:47 | found nowhere in the text that’s all |
| 7:49 | hogwash |
| 7:51 | so the text says we just read it and he |
| 7:54 | Jesus divided the two fish among them |
| 7:58 | all who did the dividing miraculously |
| 8:01 | Jesus did so Jesus gets all the glory |
| 8:04 | not the little kid with the sack lunch |
| 8:06 | not all these people who secretly |
| 8:08 | brought their coolers and shared with |
| 8:10 | each other and not even the apostles who |
| 8:12 | supposedly stepped out an audacious |
| 8:14 | faith and as a result of this miracle |
| 8:15 | happened no Jesus is the one who gets |
| 8:19 | all the credit and I would remind those |
| 8:21 | who would twist God’s word in this way |
| 8:23 | and to Rob Jesus of his glory that the |
| 8:27 | Lord Yahweh through the Prophet Jeremiah |
| 8:29 | had some pretty strong words to those |
| 8:30 | Shepherds who scatter Christ’s sheep |
| 8:32 | here’s what it says woe to the Shepherds |
| 8:34 | who destroy and Scatter the Sheep of my |
| 8:36 | pastor and how do they do this through |
| 8:37 | false Doctrine it woe to them declares |
| 8:40 | the Lord therefore thus says Yahweh the |
| 8:42 | god of Israel concerning the Shepherds |
| 8:44 | who care for my people you have |
| 8:46 | scattered my flock you have driven them |
| 8:48 | away you have not attended to them |
| 8:50 | behold I will attend to you for your |
| 8:52 | evil Deeds declares the Lord |
| 8:55 | word of warning for those Shepherds who |
| 8:57 | don’t want to Shepherd God’s flock |
| 8:59 | who want to twist his words and Rob him |
| 9:02 | of his deity by teaching false Doctrine |
| 9:05 | you scatter Christ’s sheep |
| 9:07 | by denying that Miracles are possible |
| 9:09 | you end up literally teaching people not |
| 9:12 | to trust Jesus but to doubt him and |
| 9:15 | that’s a very terrible thing to be |
| 9:17 | teaching people and so I would warn them |
| 9:20 | Christ here through the Prophet Jeremiah |
| 9:23 | says that God will attend to them for |
| 9:24 | their evil deeds and if they do not want |
| 9:26 | to have to give an accounting for their |
| 9:27 | false Doctrine they need to repent and |
| 9:29 | to be forgiven and then bear fruit in |
| 9:31 | keeping with repentance by teaching |
| 9:33 | God’s word straight |
| 9:35 | and proclaiming Christ from every |
| 9:37 | Passage |
| 9:39 | by the way |
| 9:40 | this miracle we’re going to now kind of |
| 9:43 | go back to our text all of that was |
| 9:45 | preface we’re going to go back to our |
| 9:47 | text this miracle there’s one very |
| 9:50 | similar to it in the Old Testament a |
| 9:52 | little known a little heralded miracle |
| 9:54 | it’s found in second Kings chapter 4 |
| 9:57 | verses 42-44 and so you’ll notice here |
| 10:00 | if you haven’t read this about the |
| 10:02 | Prophet Elijah here’s what it says a man |
| 10:05 | from |
| 10:06 | shalisha bringing the man of God bread |
| 10:09 | of the first fruits 20 loaves of barley |
| 10:11 | and fresh years of grain in his sack and |
| 10:14 | Elijah said give to the men that they |
| 10:17 | may eat Elisha had a company of prophets |
| 10:19 | that he kept you know company with if |
| 10:21 | you would and there were a hundred of |
| 10:24 | them |
| 10:25 | but |
| 10:26 | 20 you know 20 loaves of barley and some |
| 10:31 | ears of grain that’s not going to go |
| 10:33 | very far between 100 men |
| 10:35 | so |
| 10:36 | his servant said how can I set this |
| 10:39 | before a hundred men Elisha repeated |
| 10:42 | give them to the men they may eat for |
| 10:45 | thus says Yahweh they shall eat and have |
| 10:48 | some left so he said it before them and |
| 10:51 | they ate and they had some left |
| 10:53 | according to the word of the Lord notice |
| 10:56 | with God there’s always leftovers which |
| 10:58 | is great because you know don’t you guys |
| 11:00 | love leftovers like Chinese food |
| 11:02 | leftovers wow Pizza leftovers I mean |
| 11:05 | cold pizza that’s just fantastic right |
| 11:08 | so God is always giving you abundantly |
| 11:11 | more in the sense if you think of it we |
| 11:14 | read in our Psalm that our cup runneth |
| 11:16 | over what a wonderful thing you know so |
| 11:19 | God is the one who only not only takes |
| 11:21 | care of our needs but he gives us a |
| 11:23 | leftovers to boot and we see this in the |
| 11:25 | Old Testament parallel if you would to |
| 11:27 | this miracle which again is pointing to |
| 11:29 | Christ’s deity because who can multiply |
| 11:32 | food except for God himself |
| 11:35 | so let’s return to Our Gospel text I’m |
| 11:37 | going to be reading it from the ESV you |
| 11:39 | can follow along with you with your Pew |
| 11:41 | Bible here’s what it says the apostles |
| 11:43 | returned to Jesus told him all that they |
| 11:45 | had done and taught remember Jesus sent |
| 11:49 | the apostles out on a training Ministry |
| 11:52 | Mission if you would gave them authority |
| 11:54 | over demons and over sicknesses and they |
| 11:57 | went out and preached repentance perform |
| 11:59 | Miracles and if anyone wouldn’t receive |
| 12:01 | them Jesus said Shake the Dust off your |
| 12:03 | feet and move on to the next town you’re |
| 12:05 | not going to waste your time changing |
| 12:07 | the message or you know trying to |
| 12:09 | continue to talk to those who have |
| 12:10 | hardened their hearts against the spirit |
| 12:12 | in his word of repentance so the |
| 12:14 | disciples come back and they report |
| 12:16 | everything to Jesus and of course after |
| 12:18 | spending you know that time doing |
| 12:20 | Ministry they’re tired and notice that |
| 12:22 | Jesus cares for them he says them come |
| 12:24 | away by yourselves to a desolate place |
| 12:27 | is what is what the text says a desolate |
| 12:30 | place and rest for a while for many were |
| 12:32 | coming and going and they had no leisure |
| 12:34 | even to to eat and they went away in the |
| 12:38 | boat to a desolate it says desolate |
| 12:40 | place by themselves now many saw them |
| 12:43 | going and recognized them and so they |
| 12:45 | ran there on foot they could figure out |
| 12:46 | it’s like okay Jesus got in a boat with |
| 12:48 | his disciples they’re heading that way |
| 12:50 | oh we know where they’re going and they |
| 12:51 | ran on foot to get there first |
| 12:54 | so they ran there on foot from all the |
| 12:57 | towns they got there ahead of them |
| 13:00 | when they went ashore he saw a great |
| 13:03 | crowd and he had compassion on them |
| 13:07 | because they were like sheep without a |
| 13:10 | Shepherd the Greek there for compassion |
| 13:12 | means his guts were wrenched he |
| 13:15 | literally had a gut-wrenching compassion |
| 13:17 | for them and it says because they were |
| 13:20 | like sheep without a Shepherd now keep |
| 13:21 | in mind they had a governor they had a |
| 13:24 | Roman Emperor they had synagogue rulers |
| 13:27 | and leaders it’s not like they were |
| 13:28 | leaderless |
| 13:30 | but despite the fact they had political |
| 13:32 | leaders and synagogue rulers and even |
| 13:34 | Pharisees teaching them it says they |
| 13:36 | were like sheep without a shepherd |
| 13:38 | and so Jesus the Good Shepherd tends to |
| 13:41 | them which recalls our Psalm the Lord is |
| 13:43 | my shepherd and I shall not want. he |
| 13:47 | makes me lie down in Green Pastures |
| 13:49 | notice how the text from the psalm says |
| 13:52 | he makes me lie down in Green Pastures |
| 13:54 | this in a sense the psalm prophetically |
| 13:57 | points to this miracle that we’re |
| 13:59 | looking at |
| 14:00 | so Jesus began to teach them many things |
| 14:04 | the text says by the way this is what |
| 14:06 | Shepherds do they teach |
| 14:08 | and remember man shall not live by bread |
| 14:11 | alone but by every word that proceeds |
| 14:13 | from the mouth of God so the way in |
| 14:16 | which God’s Shepherds tend to God’s |
| 14:19 | sheep is through preaching and teaching |
| 14:23 | God’s word because man shall not live by |
| 14:25 | bread alone but by every word that |
| 14:27 | proceeds from the mouth of God so Jesus |
| 14:30 | the Good Shepherd what does he do |
| 14:32 | he teaches he feeds them God’s words how |
| 14:37 | so while he’s God in human flesh when |
| 14:39 | Jesus speaks everything he says is the |
| 14:42 | word of God is it not and so notice here |
| 14:44 | that Jesus doesn’t tend to their bodily |
| 14:48 | needs first he tends to their spiritual |
| 14:51 | needs first there are a lot of people |
| 14:53 | today who Embrace what’s called The |
| 14:54 | Social Gospel and they are of the |
| 14:56 | mistaken opinion that you can’t preach |
| 14:59 | the gospel to somebody who’s in need |
| 15:01 | physical want unless you first meet |
| 15:04 | their physical need |
| 15:06 | Jesus did this all backwards clearly he |
| 15:09 | wasn’t listening to the guys out there |
| 15:10 | promoting the social gospel because not |
| 15:13 | only did he not tend to their physical |
| 15:15 | needs first he preached |
| 15:17 | and he preached for a long time you |
| 15:21 | think my sermons are long |
| 15:23 | yeah Jesus’s sermons well he went on all |
| 15:26 | day here’s what it says and when it grew |
| 15:28 | late so Jesus starts preaching and the |
| 15:32 | Sun starts moving and it gets lower and |
| 15:35 | lower and the Shadows get longer and |
| 15:37 | longer and he’s still preaching |
| 15:40 | what’s wrong with you Jesus people have |
| 15:43 | to use the restroom we need some |
| 15:44 | fellowship time here well grew late and |
| 15:48 | so his disciples came to him and said |
| 15:51 | Jesus this is a desolate place the hour |
| 15:54 | is now late |
| 15:56 | send them away to go into the |
| 15:58 | surrounding Countryside in villages and |
| 16:01 | buy themselves something to eat |
| 16:04 | perfectly reasonable idea is it not |
| 16:08 | notice it says Villages it doesn’t say |
| 16:10 | send them to the closest Village I mean |
| 16:12 | these guys had thought this through I |
| 16:14 | mean it’s not like you can send a crowd |
| 16:16 | of 5 000 people to the local Olive |
| 16:18 | Garden yeah can we you got a table for |
| 16:21 | five thousand |
| 16:22 | oh plus men and women too yeah no you |
| 16:25 | don’t |
| 16:25 | can we make a reservation for next week |
| 16:27 | no it’s not going to work right so the |
| 16:29 | disciples thought this through send them |
| 16:31 | to the Villages send them back send them |
| 16:33 | away that spread them out right this is |
| 16:36 | a perfectly reasonable thing to be |
| 16:38 | proposing Jesus answered them and boy |
| 16:41 | his answer is anything but reasonable |
| 16:44 | you give them something to eat |
| 16:47 | I gotta admit this is one of those parts |
| 16:50 | of scripture that I wish there were like |
| 16:53 | videographers recording this because I’m |
| 16:57 | sure at this point this disciples were |
| 17:00 | going |
| 17:02 | what you want us to what right really |
| 17:07 | you know he’s lost his mind you give |
| 17:11 | them something to eat |
| 17:12 | so you can almost hear the kind of the |
| 17:14 | snark |
| 17:15 | shall we go and buy 200 daenery worth of |
| 17:17 | bread to give them you know to give it |
| 17:19 | to them to eat |
| 17:20 | you know good good question Jesus is |
| 17:23 | clearly you know preaching all day long |
| 17:25 | and the sun has clearly baked his brain |
| 17:28 | he said to them how many loaves do you |
| 17:32 | have go and see and out comes the little |
| 17:35 | boy’s lunch right so when they had found |
| 17:37 | out they said five and two fish |
| 17:42 | then he commanded them all to sit down |
| 17:44 | in groups watch this on the green grass |
| 17:49 | here Jesus the Good Shepherd not only |
| 17:52 | has fed his sheep with the very word of |
| 17:55 | God he now will tend to their physical |
| 17:57 | needs as well |
| 17:59 | because keep in mind it’s our spiritual |
| 18:01 | needs that are are clearly more |
| 18:03 | important than even our physical but our |
| 18:05 | physical is our physical needs are |
| 18:07 | important but keep in mind this body of |
| 18:10 | yours I don’t know if you’ve noticed |
| 18:13 | take a look at your high school |
| 18:14 | graduation picture things are not |
| 18:17 | looking good for you |
| 18:19 | not for me either this these physical |
| 18:22 | bodies of ours are wearing out things |
| 18:25 | are heading south gravity is having its |
| 18:27 | effect Upon Us hair has gone from |
| 18:29 | wonderfully colored to well white right |
| 18:33 | I’ve almost got the whole Santa thing |
| 18:35 | going on here in my goatee and my |
| 18:38 | daughter lets me know this all the time |
| 18:39 | to which I basically let her know that |
| 18:42 | she will never look as good as she looks |
| 18:43 | right now |
| 18:47 | right |
| 18:48 | okay we’re all heading to the grave and |
| 18:51 | these are the wages of our sin but |
| 18:53 | remember Jesus has compassion true splog |
| 18:56 | needs of my gut-wrenching compassion for |
| 18:59 | his sheep without a shepherd and so he |
| 19:02 | feeds them with his word |
| 19:04 | and then he takes care of their physical |
| 19:06 | needs |
| 19:07 | and so how many loaves do you have go |
| 19:10 | and see five and two fish I’ll have them |
| 19:13 | sit down in the green grass now remember |
| 19:15 | Jesus who when he was tempted in the |
| 19:18 | wilderness in the desolate place he was |
| 19:21 | tempted by the devil to turn stones into |
| 19:23 | bread he refused to use his miraculous |
| 19:26 | power to serve himself |
| 19:29 | Gregory of Nancy anzus the church father |
| 19:31 | he writes as man Jesus was put to the |
| 19:35 | test But as God he came through |
| 19:37 | Victorious yes he bids us be of good |
| 19:40 | cheer because he has conquered the world |
| 19:42 | he hungered yet he fed thousands he is |
| 19:47 | indeed living Heavenly bread he thirsted |
| 19:50 | yet he exclaimed whoever thirsts let him |
| 19:53 | come to me and drink indeed he promised |
| 19:55 | that Believers would become Fountains of |
| 19:58 | Living Water |
| 19:59 | but here Jesus the Good Shepherd he has |
| 20:03 | the Sheep whom he has compassion on sit |
| 20:05 | in the green grass and then he prepares |
| 20:08 | a table for them in the presence of |
| 20:10 | their enemies so they sat down in groups |
| 20:12 | by hundreds and by fifties and taking |
| 20:15 | the Five Loaves and the two fish he |
| 20:17 | looked up to heaven and said a blessing |
| 20:19 | or you could say he gave thanks he said |
| 20:21 | a blessing and broke the Loaves and gave |
| 20:23 | them to the disciples and set them |
| 20:26 | before the people now if you look in |
| 20:28 | your Bible |
| 20:30 | the section heading in this portion of |
| 20:33 | scripture it might say Jesus feeds the |
| 20:35 | five thousand right |
| 20:38 | a good friend of mine and a colleague |
| 20:40 | taught Pastor Todd Wilkin |
| 20:43 | he was musing on this text earlier this |
| 20:45 | week and he pointed out what a |
| 20:47 | ridiculous thing to say Jesus feeds five |
| 20:49 | thousand |
| 20:51 | and the reason why he was saying that is |
| 20:52 | because do you not understand that Jesus |
| 20:55 | feeds every single one of us every day |
| 20:57 | now granted my wife who’s a good cook |
| 21:00 | whom I impart blame for what’s going on |
| 21:03 | here |
| 21:04 | um |
| 21:06 | C is a wonderful cook and she prepares |
| 21:09 | breakfast for me every morning this |
| 21:11 | morning I had eggs and I had a muffin |
| 21:13 | and I had a banana and I also had some |
| 21:15 | little cherries to go along with it and |
| 21:17 | a little glass of pineapple juice it was |
| 21:19 | fantastic right but I would say even |
| 21:22 | though my wife did a fine job of |
| 21:23 | preparing that my wife did not make the |
| 21:26 | chicken |
| 21:27 | that made the eggs |
| 21:28 | she did not make the plants that made |
| 21:31 | the wheat where she that she turned into |
| 21:34 | a muffin |
| 21:35 | I guarantee you my wife has never made a |
| 21:38 | banana tree God is the one who’s made |
| 21:40 | all these things God made the chicken |
| 21:42 | God made the cow God made the the animal |
| 21:45 | that gives us bacon ah bacon right |
| 21:50 | he gave all of that to us he’s the one |
| 21:53 | who made them in other words there isn’t |
| 21:56 | a single meal that you can point to that |
| 22:00 | God didn’t feed you |
| 22:03 | not one |
| 22:05 | and so here in this miracle |
| 22:07 | Jesus who feeds the five thousand shows |
| 22:11 | through his miraculous power that he is |
| 22:13 | The God Who not only fed them but he’s |
| 22:15 | also the God who fed us because he’s the |
| 22:18 | same God who can speak the universes |
| 22:22 | into existence merely by his word and he |
| 22:25 | did so because remember back in Genesis |
| 22:27 | let the Earth produce |
| 22:29 | seed bearing plants |
| 22:32 | and it was so |
| 22:34 | see God feeds us to this day and that’s |
| 22:36 | the interesting thing about it is that |
| 22:39 | we all when we recognize this realize |
| 22:42 | well wait a second that means that God |
| 22:44 | is feeding |
| 22:45 | people who believe in him and people who |
| 22:48 | reject them |
| 22:49 | Believers and atheists idolaters and the |
| 22:53 | unrighteous and sinners |
| 22:54 | he feeds them all |
| 22:56 | which tells us a lot about God’s great |
| 22:59 | love for Humanity that despite our |
| 23:02 | Rebellion God sent his only begotten son |
| 23:04 | so that whoever believes in him would |
| 23:06 | not perish but have everlasting life and |
| 23:09 | we read in Scripture that God causes the |
| 23:11 | rain to fall on the just and the unjust |
| 23:13 | alike |
| 23:15 | and so food itself is a mercy food |
| 23:19 | itself is Grace it’s tangible Grace and |
| 23:23 | these texts reveal that to us by |
| 23:26 | revealing who Jesus is |
| 23:28 | and what he does and when we can’t when |
| 23:31 | we contemplate that and Ponder on that |
| 23:33 | then we realize that it is appropriate |
| 23:36 | for us before every meal to Bow our |
| 23:38 | heads and to thank the Lord for the food |
| 23:41 | that we are about to eat because it |
| 23:43 | truly comes from his Bountiful hand it |
| 23:46 | is a Grace it is a mercy it is a gift |
| 23:49 | so the text says he divided the two fish |
| 23:52 | among them notice it says he divided no |
| 23:54 | one pulled out coolers or picnic baskets |
| 23:56 | and they all ate |
| 23:58 | and they were satisfied and they took up |
| 24:01 | 12 baskets full of broken pieces and of |
| 24:03 | the fish one basket for each of the |
| 24:06 | disciples who were well if you would |
| 24:08 | Waiters |
| 24:10 | that day you know Jesus was the cook |
| 24:12 | he’s back in the kitchen ordering up |
| 24:14 | fish multiplying it out giving it to his |
| 24:17 | Runners and his disciples go and they |
| 24:19 | they divvy it out as well which tells |
| 24:22 | you something a little bit about |
| 24:23 | Ministry because remember Jesus he said |
| 24:25 | a blessing and he broke it sounds like |
| 24:28 | the Lord’s supper right well those in |
| 24:31 | Ministry are a lot like Waiters |
| 24:33 | each Sunday I have the privilege of |
| 24:37 | preparing a hot meal of God’s word and |
| 24:40 | once a month we have the opportunity for |
| 24:42 | me to also be a waiter here at this |
| 24:44 | table as I feed you the very body and |
| 24:47 | blood of Christ for the Forgiveness of |
| 24:49 | your sins so Jesus feeds us physically |
| 24:52 | he feeds us spiritually with his word |
| 24:54 | and he feeds us spiritually also with |
| 24:56 | his body and blood for the Forgiveness |
| 24:58 | of our sins what a great and wonderful |
| 25:01 | Shepherd we have who cares for us so |
| 25:04 | deeply that he cares that we are like |
| 25:07 | sheep without a shepherd and he gives us |
| 25:09 | Shepherds to preach the word to us to |
| 25:12 | deliver his body and blood and to hear |
| 25:15 | and proclaim the Absolution of the |
| 25:17 | Forgiveness of sins so that we do not |
| 25:19 | faint in this Wilderness while we await |
| 25:22 | the new heavens and the new Earth let me |
| 25:24 | read to you a verse |
| 25:26 | from a great hymn and yes it’s old and I |
| 25:29 | apologize for that but it’s still |
| 25:31 | wonderful it’s a stanza 2 of Lord Jesus |
| 25:35 | Christ’s life-giving bread here’s what |
| 25:36 | it says to pastures green Lord safely |
| 25:40 | guide |
| 25:42 | two restful Waters Lead Me |
| 25:44 | your table well for me provide your |
| 25:47 | wounded hand now feeds me |
| 25:50 | though weary sinful sick and weak refuge |
| 25:55 | in you alone I seek to share your cup |
| 25:59 | of healing |
| 26:02 | so remember this |
| 26:04 | that Jesus tends to us his sheep because |
| 26:07 | he has great compassion for us and now |
| 26:10 | today he feeds us with his nail scarred |
| 26:14 | hands |
| 26:16 | and comes to us walking on his nails |
| 26:18 | guard feet because he had such great |
| 26:21 | compassion for you knowing your sinful |
| 26:23 | condition he did not desire to send you |
| 26:25 | to Hell instead he came and served you |
| 26:28 | by taking all of your sin away from you |
| 26:31 | and placing it upon himself and then |
| 26:33 | going to the cross and bleeding and |
| 26:35 | dying for you |
| 26:36 | what a merciful and great savior that we |
| 26:39 | have who doesn’t give us what we deserve |
| 26:41 | but instead gives us Grace upon Grace |
| 26:44 | and even while we were still shaking our |
| 26:48 | fists at God and doubting that he |
| 26:50 | believed and persisting in impenitent |
| 26:52 | sin |
| 26:54 | he still continued to cause the crops to |
| 26:56 | grow |
| 26:57 | and the grain to be harvested and made |
| 27:00 | into bread so that every single meal |
| 27:03 | that you had he was the one who was |
| 27:05 | truly feeding you |
| 27:06 | and now we because we have been raised |
| 27:10 | from the dead spiritually given eyes |
| 27:12 | that are no longer blind but can see we |
| 27:14 | see the truth of that and we receive |
| 27:16 | with thanks God’s spiritual food as well |
| 27:20 | as his physical food knowing that |
| 27:22 | everything we have |
| 27:24 | all truly comes from the hand of a |
| 27:26 | gracious and merciful Lord who not only |
| 27:29 | gives us what we need but also gives us |
| 27:32 | leftovers in the name of Jesus Amen |
| If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening. |
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