Dear saints, this morning we have what, at first, sounds like a regular day with Jesus: a large crowd has gathered. But Mark immediately notes that these people had brought no food with them. They are led by Jesus out when they diligently follow him and listen to whatever he had to say. In short, they had a great hunger for the Word. They were so wrapped up in seeing and hearing Jesus, they completely forget about their bodily, physical needs. They were fine sleeping under the stars. Their bodies didn’t register they were missing needed sustenance. Suddenly, they had been following him for three whole days away from their land and into the wilderness. Mark gives us no clue that any of them were aware of what they had been doing. They were laser-focused on hearing Jesus.
But Jesus is keenly aware. He knows exactly what has happened. Exactly what will happen if he sends them away on their own. He calls his disciples and says, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” They are at a loss: “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
Once again, the Twelve had failed to recognize the power and identity of their Lord. It was not a surprise for Jesus to find himself three days into a journey and have no food in the gathering. It wasn’t a surprise to Jesus that there were seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. And it wasn’t a surprise to Jesus that his disciples had not yet realized the fullness and reality of who he is.
Jesus directs the crowds to sit down. He takes the bread, prays over it, breaks it, and distributes it to the many through the hands of his disciples. He does the same with the fish. All who are there: man, woman, and child eat until they are filled. And when the fragments are gathered, seven baskets remain. And now, having filled not only their souls but also their stomachs, Jesus sends the crowd away to their homes.
Our Lord had compassion on the people following him. For three consecutive days, he was giving them what they needed more than anything else in the world: his word. He knew what they needed to hear, and he gave it to them. Not only would his words cut their consciences, but he would also bring to them the healing balm to restore them. St. Matthew’s account also indicates that Jesus healed many while on this journey. And when he did, the people glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus has the same divine compassion for you and everyone else in this world that he had in those days in the region of Magadan. Think back to the Garden. In divine love, God created the universe and everything in it. He created all the fascinating things on earth to the least detail. And it was perfect and good. He created man in His own image. He completed man by giving him woman. And he planted a Garden for the man and woman to care for. A Garden that would provide for their physical needs. Everything physical and spiritual need Adam and Eve had was provided by the Lord God. He even gives them a good and perfect Law to follow: Don’t eat of that one tree, for if you do you shall die.
But we know the next chapter. We know they were deceived and ate of the fruit. We know they died right then and there, even if it would be years before the fruit of that death would fully manifest. At that moment, they and all their descendants were made slaves to sin. The fruit we produce as a slave to sin is impurity and lawlessness. It leads to its multiplication. We see it not only all around us but in our own constant struggles.
Despite our condition, the Lord has divine compassion upon his fallen creation. He knows the spiritual needs of Adam, Eve, and all mankind. He knows our need for redemption and salvation. He knows we need a peace that can only be achieved by him. He promises this peace over and over again. The entire Old Testament testifies of this promise, and we see it culminate in the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In Christ Jesus, our spiritual needs are met. He takes on our flesh, he lives under and fulfills the Law, he is condemned and is cursed in our place, he dies, is buried, and rises again. Because of the work of Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. In his mercy, he washes you clean, gives you a new heart, and turns you into a slave of God. And while that word slave has an awful connotation today, it is both reality and to your good.
The slave to sin can only sin. Can only participate in unrighteousness, unlawfulness, and impurity. But through the power and grace of God, he makes you his own. He frees you from your spiritual bondage and places the light and easy yoke of Jesus upon your shoulders. Now you desire to be and do righteousness. You want to produce good fruit. You desire the Holy Spirit’s work in you to sanctify you and lead you to eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is as the slave of God that man finds true freedom.
Our God not only knows our needs, physical and spiritual, but he also provides for them. Just as he gives us life and salvation through Jesus and his Means of Grace, he gives us and sustains our physical life through our daily bread. Through his work as Fatherly work as creator and sustainer of all things.
And like the people following Jesus, we need to continually hear this. We need to be continually reminded of God’s Gospel of Peace. This is because, though redeemed and declared righteous, though we want to do good, we constantly act like the slave of sin. This is why we gather. This is why you may make the sign of the cross, remembering your baptism. This is why we approach the Altar. We need to hear and receive the Word continually. For in it is the power of God. In it is God’s good gift to you of salvation. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD
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