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INJ
St Mark 8:1-9
'Hungry'
Morning Service
The 9th Sunday after Trinity Sunday | July 22, 2007
Dear Saints,
In our text Jesus has a problem, the crowd which has come out into the wilderness to listen to Him is hungry.
“3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”
This is not the first time this has happened. Jesus had already fed the five-thousand, and now He's in the wilderness again, four-thousand without food.
Do you know what I think about this? When I look at this crowd? I think, “They're hungry? Well, they should have thought about that before they traipsed off into the woods without packing a lunch. Tighten your belts, go get some food, and quit your complaining.”
Don't the crowds know that Jesus has better things to do? Bigger things? He has, after all, taken upon Himself the human nature in the womb of the virgin Mary in order to redeem all of humanity. He's come to suffer for the sins of all the world, to die for all people, and by His death to overcome and destroy death. And even more, Jesus has come to destroy that ancient evil foe of mankind and life, the devil.
Sin, death and the devil, these are the three great enemies of all people, and Jesus in His life and death is making war with these, and over coming them. This is grand and mighty stuff, the entire cosmos is rocked by the core by Jesus. All sin is forgiven and death is destroyed and the devil is bound and... and here is where our text comes in, and I hope that your a little surprised... sin is forgiven and death is destroyed and the devil is bound and four-thousand empty tummies are filled.
It seems to me too small, to little, not important enough for Jesus. He should send them all to McDonalds and be on with His business of saving the world. But not Jesus. His name be praised, He does not think as we do.
He, remember the text, has compassion. Hear again the wonderful words of our Lord Jesus, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.” Jesus cares. The four-thousand were hungry, and Jesus was concerned about them, and not just that they were sinners whom needed redeeming, Jesus was concerned that they were hungry.
And He feeds them. Seven loafs and a few small fish, He feeds all of them. And not just a snack, they ate, the text says, until they were “filled.” Jesus answers their prayer for daily bread.
And now, dear saints, consider what this means to us. It often seems to me that God would be too busy to deal with the small things, the little things. That the Lord would be concerned with forgiving our sins and rescuing us from hell and damnation seems fitting, but we have before us in this text the comfort that the Lord would also rescue us from hunger and thirst and cold and pain.
Jesus has compassion on us, and He helps us even with the little stuff.
And so are you hungry? Jesus cares, and He has taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” And He has given us this promise, “He who gives food to all flesh, ... His steadfast love endures forever.” [Psalm 136:25]
Are you thirsty? Jesus cares about it. The Psalmist prays to the Lord: 10You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11 they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. [Psalm 104:10-13]
Are you suffering? Jesus cares. Listen to what He writes to His church in Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” [Revelation 2:10]
Are you sick? Dying? In pain? Are you just annoyed? Tired? Bored? Worried? Are you hot? Jesus cares. It's not too small for Him. You are His concern, His people, His beloved.
Are you lonely? Jesus cares. Listen to these promises, we should write them in gold on our hearts.
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:20]
He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." [Hebrews 13:5]
Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us, with you. You are never alone. Jesus is with you, forgiving you, and caring for all of your other needs. All of them.
There is, and I hope you've heard me say this, there is nothing too small for your Jesus. He is your Shepherd, your Lord, your Jesus, and He who has not spared even His own life, how shall He not also give you all things?
He is, even now, preparing a place for you in His new heaven and new earth, and hear how the book of Revelation speaks of the eternal life of the saints, that's you:
14 "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." [Revelation 7:14-17]
Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Hope Lutheran Church | Aurora, CO