Free PDF of Understanding Pilgrim's Progress

 This is the Dropbox link to Understanding Pilgrim's Progress.

Ichabod Told You on March 17th. The Storm Will Be Over by Easter

American Patriots are winning - the Storm will be over by Easter. (March 17th post)

Confirmed by the President on March 24th.

LutherQueasies No Longer Attacking Online Worship

 The LutherQueasies do the same thing, because their creed is identical - "God has declared the entire world forgiven."

Some readers will rejoice that SpenerQuest (aka LutherQueasy) has listed a few links to online services. They used to be deeply offended that we offered them every Sunday - including Advent and Lent, which some of their Church Growth parishes ignored altogether.

The WELS approach is so meager that one parish made a minor effort, including a borrowed sermon. Isn't that pure WELS? They brag about copying sermons to ease their tremendous work load, so why have everyone write his own sermon? Luther taught what Jesus practiced - preaching as the primary Means of Grace. WELS-ELS-LCMS people "know" that methods and gimmicks work, because their Calvinist professors teach how fickle the Holy Spirit is.

The Enthusiasts, who separate the Spirit from the Word, speak of everything they sell as "Spirit-anointed." Their programs, books, lectures, tapes, and software are all anointed. What is not anointed in their view? - the Word of God. They believe, teach, and confess that the Word is dead unless they make it come alive, forcing the Word to become real, relational, and relevant.

Real, relevant, and relational where the words on Ski's movie theater, but the images do not show up on searches.

We broadcast and save all our worship services and educational series. Our next door neighbor became a Christian and left her cult, and she watched each service before she died. She was so weak that she could barely walk next door.

People write in to say how much they appreciated having a traditional Lutheran service available when they were snowed in, sick, or unable to attend their local church. Every sermon is written out and sent around to those who want to receive the entire service and sermon by email.

Members visit and attend services, finding out how close our communion service is. We also travel and conduct services in various states.

 ELDONUT evangelism - the heart of it all.

Four Noble Truths

1. Fear is far more contagious than a flu virus.
2. Soap and water are just as effective as expensive alternatives.
3. Journalists remain the stupidest creatures on the planet.
4. Turning off the bathroom faucets with one's elbows can cause serious injury to the nose - not worth it.

Waking Up with Energy - The Paradox of Sugar

 I sold out at an early age.

Our blood sugar goes up by 50 points during a meal, and that is good. Salesmen buy lunch for potential customers because people feel much better when they are eating.

Our complex, divinely engineered bodies also have controls to make us aware of our misuse of food. I have been looking into this because of higher blood sugar matched by lower energy and various side effects, whether potential or incipient.

Starting the day sugar-centric is appealing but energy draining. Coffee with danish, toast, cinnamon rolls or fresh donuts is tempting, difficult to deny when offered. Black coffee, often prepared by barbarians, is strong, bitter, and aching for sweetness. Some add sugar, sugar substitutes, and fake cream to the coffee.

High glycemic (sugary) food gives instant energy, but the insulin from our pancreas beats it down quickly. The peak is high and short-lived. Long-term high blood sugar levels reduce potassium, which is essential for good energy. Therefore, the donut shoppe breakfast is deadly for energy the rest of the day.

I have also found that starting with dessert foods (toast, donuts, rolls, pancakes) will create a slump and a craving for more of the same, such as a good lunch topped with a mega-dessert.

A sugary food day is the worst way to get things done. In contrast, looking for long-term, level blood sugar days is going to produce great results and reduce binge eating to "Yuk!" A good breakfast avoids sugar, corn syrup, and high glycemic foods:

• Breakfast cereal - useless dessert flakes with milk and sugar added. 
• White bread products and (sob) donuts. Fortunately, donuts are so poorly made around here that there is no temptation.
• Fruit juice is really a flavored serving of sugar water. Note how many juices start with water and high fructose corn syrup.

A much better breakfast:

1. Coffee, black, made from freshly ground beans. I make ours with a pour-over device, a plastic funnel lined with filter paper. A little kettle turns off at the right moment. It reminds me of OJ fanatics - "A little pot is soon hot." Great coffee does not require cream, sugar, or fake sweetness from chemists.
2. Almonds and walnuts have many great nutritional values.
3. Eggs are high in protein but do not stick to the ribs, as they say, unless eaten with a small portion of dark bread and butter.
4. Fruit is far better than fruit juice. Bananas rot too fast. We buy berries, apples, and oranges/tangerines. Old fruit goes outside for the critters. I put three withered apples on the bird feeding area. One by one they disappeared. 
5. Fiber in the diet is necessary, and the coffee shop diet does nothing to provide that. Fresh fruit can be supplemented with delicious prunes and BelVita fiber crackers.

Getting Up Before the Birds

One day, these young squirrels ran away but stuck around to be the first ones back at the food.

I wake up around 5 AM and make pour-over coffee. Sassy walks into the kitchen and I pretend to be startled. She smiles some days. On other days, she looks at me like, "Old joke. Try harder." She smiled this morning and she got her usual allotment of 1/2 Johnsonville brat in small slices.

Most birds are not up before dawn. They enjoy feeding on a bright, sunny morning. I have a bargain mix of corn and peanuts in the shell for them. Another bag has shelled peanuts, various dried fruits, and sunflower seeds.

One morning there were leftover tangerine halves plus the bargain mix on both garbage barrel tops. The scene was quite funny. The squirrel was boldly eating, sitting up. Starlings tried to dive bomb him off the barrel. Only a few inches away, a blue jay called out at him and jumped each time, as if, "Get off and I mean it, now!" The squirrel wanted his breakfast and refused to budge, so I opened the door and all fled.

Squirrels run away as little as possible, so the birds stayed away too. Eventually the food was eaten at various times. No matter how much birds and squirrels love free food, they never eat all of it. If a flock comes in - starlings, grackles, sparrows - they take turns and leave. Flocks depend on scouts to see if it is safe, and they follow the lead of the most anxious bird in leaving when anything threatens.

Birds gather to await their next meal. In Phoenix we had permanent resident doves sitting on the pool fence. They had a dove block and daily tosses of sunflower seeds.

In Midland I bought leftover popcorn after a student exhibition - two large garbage bags full. That night inches of snow fell and I had the bird-feed no one wanted a few hours before. (We heard the announcement over the PA system - I alone showed up - "We have leftover popcorn we would like to sell.") Every day I spread popcorn over the snow. Soon a flock of doves remained in the pines. Whenever I stepped outside, they all cooed in pleasure at once. "Breakfast is served!" They also enjoyed a second meal each day.

I noticed in the summer (Midland) that the same area featured constant visits by birds. I set up a compost pile encased in chicken wire. Lots of tasty arthropods and earthworms worked on the finishing product, and birds perched on the wire to pounce on food. In human terms, it was a sushi bar, constantly refilling itself with wiggling high-protein food.

I no longer make compost in wire bins. Instead, mulch made from shredded wood and leaves serves as compost. The birds love to rest above the mulch and pounce on food.  Someone called a mulched garden, "The biggest bird-feeder around." Every living source provides for others. Nothing is wasted, as John 6 revealed when the multitude was fed miraculously.

Many miss the point of divine engineering. The Son of God, the Creating Word (Genesis 1, John 1) fashioned every living thing with a purpose, sometimes with more than one purpose. An earthworm devours bacteria, which digest the food drawn in by the worm. The earthworm's all muscle-body, with bristles attached to each segment, pushes and wiggles its way through soil -

1. Aerating the ground
2. Providing channels for rain
3. Adding usable calcium to improve the root zone
4. Fertilizing with nitrogen compounds
5. Offering itself, unwillingly, as food for many creatures and fishermen
6. Donating eggs for future generations
7. Dying to give a last burst of nitrogen compounds to the garden.

If an earthworm can do so much in its lifetime, how much more has God designed us to do in ours?

Laetare, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2020

Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #21    Jehovah Let Me Now Adore Thee (by Crasselius)
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #316    O Living Bread from Heaven 

Moses Foreshadowed Jesus

The Communion Hymn #388   Just As I Am (Elliot)
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50          Lord Dismiss Us 

 By Norma A. Boeckler

Prayers and Announcements

• Treatment and recovery - Rush Limbaugh, Kermit Way, Christina Jackson. Recovery - John Hicks.
• In the last stage of cancer and heart disease - Tom Fulcher, Diane Popp's brother-in-law.
• Surgery - Randy Anderson, Andrea's father.
• Two brothers, both with health issues.
• Pray for our country as the major trials begin.
• Wednesdays are Vespers at 7 PM, followed by The Gospel of John in Greek, starting slowly for newcomers.
• Pastor Palangyos started on enclosing the chapel and hiring the welding crew, but no vehicles can move now.

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.

Background for the Gospel Sermon, John 6
The Old Testament is chiefly there for laying the groundwork for the New Testament. The Fourth Gospel is my favorite example but we can also cite Matthew, which has five clear divisions, like the Five Books of Moses, the Torah, and is clearly reflective of the Old Testament prophesies.

Hebrews and Revelation are also highly reflective of Old Testament themes, or to be more direct - the Old Testament was written especially for those works. 

Moses, the Exodus and John

1. Exodus 3 - God is I AM. John 8 - Jesus says, before Abraham was I AM.
2. The blood of the lamb was spread on the doorposts to keep the angel of death away, before the Exodus.
3. The passover meal is still centered around the spotless lamb sacrificed for the meal, fulfilled in the crucifixion.
4. The Son of God followed the Exodus.
5. Moses struck the rock and brought forth water, not unlike the living water spoken of by Jesus in John 4. 
6. Moses brought down bread from heaven to feed the Israelites, the theme of John 6 - Jesus as the true bread from heaven.
7. Moses had the serpent lifted up to heal the Israelites. Jesus cited that example to show He is the fulfillment - lifted up in a similar way.

Old and New Testaments are truly woven together, because one is directly related to the other. Modernist scholars scoff at this, but they are no different from the crowds who saw the miracles and demanded more. Jesus' crowds did not believe His Word, then said, "Make us believe You with another miracle." Unbelievers do not see miracles, and miracles happen all the time. They are examples of God doing something that leaves human reason, science, and all past experiences wondering. 

Unbelievers see this miracle and say, "But I do not believe it." And that is the issue. They cannot give God credit for millions of intricate engineering marvels they see in front of them, in the soil, in the flowers, in the human body. A mechanic fixed the surgeon's car and said, "I do a lot of work just like yours. I fix leaks. I replace parts. I should get paid like you." The surgeon said, "Fine, let me watch you do that with the engine running."

What God reveals to build our faith will blind and harden those who obstinately refuse to see it. As the atheist says in Pilgrim's Progress, "I have studied religion all my life, and I am more against it than ever before." The statement - on its own - is a funny revelation.

Every detail in the Old Testament is there to build our trust in God and His mercy through His Son Jesus Christ. The more we know the Old Testament, the more we appreciate the New Testament and see those veins of gold in the ancient books of Judaism.

John 3: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


Moses Foreshadowed Jesus

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Jesus and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Instead of dispersing, the crowd followed Him, working their way around the sea. They followed Him because of the miracles He performed on the sick.

This is an important aspect of this chapter in John's Gospel - what did they believe and what caused them to follow Jesus? The healing of the sick was a great attraction. Who would not want to continue in the hopes of seeing a member of the family cured? 

As the chapter explains, these were the first cafeteria Christians. They did not want the entire message. Instead, they wanted to pick what was appealing to them - great, astonishing miracles from God - but not what He was teaching. Both went together, which is still a challenge today. They believed the miracles they saw with their own eyes, but rejected the teaching which came from the same source, the Son of God acting in concert with the Father. Today, people believe the teaching - or claim they do - and reject the miracles, in spite of countless affirmations of the power of God over the centuries since then. In addition, we have the testimonies of many great men and women about the power of the Word.

Yesterday I asked my Old Testament class, since we are discussing hymns, "What happened to the Methodists? They were known for their great hymns of faith. Now they are paying the conservatives $25 million to leave." Each era and tradition has left behind great hymns of faith because of the struggles of the time.

John Wesley and his brother Charles were not sure of their salvation, though both were ordained pastors and trained at Oxford in theology. 

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans."

Charles wrote a hymn about his conversion -

5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Bartholomaeus Crasselius, #21 for today, wrote a hymn that is sung around the world - "Jehovah, Let Me Now Adore Thee." He was a student at Halle, so he belongs to the era of Pietism, which inspired a great number of new hymns. Many references to this hymn are found on YouTube - from Japanese Christians.

The conclusion of this miracle in the desert is many "disciples" rejecting Jesus because of His "hard saying."

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

60 πολλοι ουν ακουσαντες εκ των μαθητων αυτου ειπον σκληρος εστιν ουτος ο λογος τις δυναται αυτου ακουειν

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

This is His third passover, his third year in His public ministry. Because they arrived by boat, they had time to rest and watch the large crowd walk along the shore toward them. They were higher up and could see them easily.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

This is an interesting contrast. Jesus was well known for healing people, and that is what moved people to follow Him. In listening to His divine Word, they also believed in Him as the promised Savior, Messiah, Son of God. But what does that imply? Jesus challenged or tested Philip by asking him about miraculous food. Surely the One who healed could also feed. He asked Philip to give us a public statement of his disciple's rationalism.

We are in exactly the same kind of era. Many have all the signs of Christianity associated with them - churches, hymnals, Bibles, even a streaming video account. Some ELDONA people asked about video, so I explained the basics - a camera, a computer, and an Internet connection. A pastor said, "But that costeth money. Who therefore shalt be able to afford such?"

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Philip's answer is in line with the objection to streaming God's Word around the world for a pittance. Philip is being entirely reasonable and not foolish. 

As Jesus said in another situation, "Count the cost." Calvinists have a tradition of applying human reason to the Word (which leads them into explaining away the miracle). I have never heard of a financial committee in a parish giving a positive report. Even in Midland, Michigan, where pay was exceptionally high, I felt obliged to call them "The Bad News Bears." Someone observed that if the finance committee gave their report first at council meetings, everyone would always be too depressed to suggest anything.

Pastor and Mrs. Palangyos started with the idea of taking the Gospel to their own people in the Philippines, in their own language. They began with nothing. Some land was donated. Funds allowed the start of a chapel. That is not how denominations start missions in America. Denominations start with the idea of spending $1 million or more on choice land plus a generic building. The whole property later sold for a large profit for the denomination. There is little room for faith - that is a business deal.

The Philippine mission is an example of faith in the Word first, the practical benefits following. Now the world virus situation prevents the most basic travel, so work is paused. And yet we can see their proclamation work continuing because they did not say, like Philip, "How is that possible to even do a little?"

Lenski, Gospel of John, p. 431

He had not forgotten by any means but had purposely waited until this time, when at last something had to be done. And he had purposely waited until the disciples could keep still no longer, until they felt that they must take the initiative. But now that they do so, none of them musters faith enough to think that perhaps Jesus himself intended to feed these people and that for this reason he had taught and healed until so late an hour.

We have to sympathize with the disciples. They had traveled a distance. They began to feel the hunger and to worry about sending the crowd away in time for individuals to seek food. We worry in this age of instant solutions, because everyone being fearful at once has led to imagined shortages. They cordoned the paper aisle at Walmart and people stood in line waiting for their quota. I asked if they needed two photo IDs and a thumbprint.

The fact is, we are fearful and anxious at times, and those doubts are easily fueled by a constant din of bad news, news without hope or even imagination. 

In perspective, our imagined shortages are like a warehouse to people with far less. As someone observed, all it took was news of shortages and our stores began to look like the ones in old Soviet Russian - empty shelves and long line.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

Andrew, chairman of the parish audit sub-committee, spoke up, "We have a little, but not enough for so many." At this point, the crowd seems to have a lot more faith than the disciples. If they were filled with dread about lack of food, they would head back to civilization.

I mentioned before that we had seven people in the van, driving across the barren desert landscape of Arizona when the gas gauge dropped near empty. Villages are far apart and many are too small to have their own gas stations along Route 66. We had driven up to stations with large signs seen at a distance, only to find them closed. I was bathed with sweat when we finally reached one with gas.

We can see how this miracle is the perfect teaching for a world crisis. Just as the disciples wondered and worried about food, so people worry about those things they cannot control - supplies, debt, taxation, and more.

Luther:
1. In today’s Gospel Christ gives us another lesson in faith, that we should not be over-anxious about our daily bread and our temporal existence, and stirs us up by means of a miracle; as though to say by his act what he says by his words in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” For here we see, since the people followed Christ for the sake of God’s Word and the signs, and thus sought the Kingdom of God, he did not forsake them but richly fed them. He hereby also shows that, rather than those who seek the Kingdom of God should suffer need, the grass in the desert would become wheat, or a crumb of bread would be turned into a thousand loaves; or a morsel of bread would feed as many people and just as satisfactorily as a thousand loaves; in order that the words in Matthew 4:4 might stand firm, that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And to confirm these words Christ is the first to be concerned about the people, as to what they should eat, and asks Philip, before they complain or ask him; so that we may indeed let him care for us, remembering that he cares more and sooner for us than we do for ourselves.

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

Norma A. Boeckler's art for this miracle is striking because they are on grass, as John described. There was plenty of water, so that was not an issue. But what is water on an empty stomachs? - it reminds us of how empty our bellies are.

They sat down in an orderly way for counting and distribution. Jesus gave thanks to God first and then distributed the loaves, the fish the same way.

Thanksgiving to God comes before the miracle, because faith trusts in God to provide what is needed. Jesus was and is human and divine, both natures in One Person. His faith is our example. He was tempted in every way we are (Hebrews 4) and He was also hungry, but through faith He took care of everyone and the disciples.

In the distribution, food multiplied. They were not - in shame - getting out their hidden food, as the blind rationalists imagine. They were following Jesus too long to have anything left except this little bit. There is always the temptation to explain why something can happen because we have reduced God's action to our level of understanding. But God operates at a level far beyond our comprehension. The more we trust that, the more miracles we see.

This was a motley crew. Some wanted to make Jesus the king, at this time. They were not seeking the Kingdom and its righteousness but the political dreams of the past - to drive out the pagan rulers. Others, after being fed so well, wanted a miracle to top Moses. In John 6, Jesus said in every possible way - "I AM the Bread of Life come down from heaven. If you have Me, you have everything else as well."

What is more important - being fed with bread and fish for the moment? or having forgiveness and eternal life?

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 

When they were filled
This miracle began with the disciples thinking they should send everyone home to eat, then saying the little bit donated was not enough to give each person scraps and crumbs.

As Lenski observes, this clause in blue should focus our attention. Jesus is not stingy with His miracles. The loaves and fish were continuously distributed until everyone and the disciples were completely satisfied. When people have worked hard in the heat, their bodies crave a lot of food to satisfy the deficit and make it safe to go home. In the Grand Canyon, people bring water but forget to take food for the body's demands in heat, even if it is a dry heat.

that nothing be lost
The abundance is verified by the amount leftover after the vast multitude is completely satisfied, along with the disciples - full stomachs and full baskets, more food that they began with. How can that be, apart from sharing in shame their hidden food? This is God's miracle, not a morality tale about the miracle of sharing. Jesus already knew what He would do and let that need build up until He could show them what God can do and still does in miracles.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Jesus was already their king, as the blind acknowledged near Jerusalem, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus understood the intentions of those who wanted to force Him into their kind of kingship, so He slipped away from them. Faith means trusting in Him, not forcing Him.

Jesus comes to us by pure grace, through the Means of Grace, not from force or demands. Whenever people insist on a Savior to suit themselves, they shrink the King of Kings into their bond-slave, though He already gave up everything for our salvation, benefit, and great blessings.

The Companion Book for The Pilgrim's Progress Is Finished on Our Side

Understanding Pilgrim's Progress is based on the video lectures which we broadcast and the print/online versions of The Pilgrim's Progress by Alec Satin.

Janie Sullivan will be working on the final versions - print, Kindle, free PDF, and Word version.

 Christian and Faithful were imprisoned in Doubting Castle and held by the Giant Despair and his lovely wife, Diffidence.

Luther's Sermon on the Miraculous Feeding in John 6

The Feeding of the Multitude, by Norma A. Boeckler

LAETARE. FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT



TEXT: John 6:1-15. After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down.

Now there was much grass in the place: So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.

Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.


I. THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND.

1. In today’s Gospel Christ gives us another lesson in faith, that we should not be over-anxious about our daily bread and our temporal existence, and stirs us up by means of a miracle; as though to say by his act what he says by his words in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” For here we see, since the people followed Christ for the sake of God’s Word and the signs, and thus sought the Kingdom of God, he did not forsake them but richly fed them. He hereby also shows that, rather than those who seek the Kingdom of God should suffer need, the grass in the desert would become wheat, or a crumb of bread would be turned into a thousand loaves; or a morsel of bread would feed as many people and just as satisfactorily as a thousand loaves; in order that the words in Matthew 4:4 might stand firm, that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And to confirm these words Christ is the first to be concerned about the people, as to what they should eat, and asks Philip, before they complain or ask him; so that we may indeed let him care for us, remembering that he cares more and sooner for us than we do for ourselves.

2. Secondly, he gives an example of great love, and he does this in many ways. First, in that he lets not only the pious, who followed him because of the signs and the Word, enjoy the food; but also the slaves of appetite, who only eat and drink, and seek in him temporal honor; as follows later when they disputed with him at Capernaum about the food, and he said to them in John 6:26: “Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves,” etc., also because they desired to make him king; thus here also he lets his sun shine on the evil and the good, Matthew 5:45.

Secondly, in that he bears with the rudeness and weak faith of his disciples in such a friendly manner. For that he tests Philip, who thus comes with his reason, and Andrew speaks so childishly on the subject, all is done to bring to light the imperfections of the disciples, and on the contrary to set forth his love and dealings with them in a more beautiful and loving light, to encourage us to believe in him, and to give us an example to do likewise; as the members of our body and all God’s creatures in their relation to one another teach us. For these are full of love, so that one bears with the other, helps and preserves what God has created.

3. That he now takes the five loaves and gives thanks etc., teaches that nothing is too small and insignificant for him to do for his followers, and he can indeed so bless their pittance that they have an abundance, whereas even the rich have not enough with all their riches; as Psalm 34:11 says: “They that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing; but the rich must suffer hunger.” And Mary in her song of praise says: “The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53.

4. Again, that he tells them so faithfully to gather up the fragments, teaches us to be frugal and to preserve and use his gifts, in order that we may not tempt God. For just as it is God’s will that we should believe when we have nothing and be assured that he will provide; so he does not desire to be tempted, nor to allow the blessings he has bestowed to be despised, or lie unused and spoil, while we expect other blessings from heaven by means of miracles. Whatever he gives, we should receive and use, and what he does not give, we should believe and expect he will bestow.

II. THE ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION.

5. That Christ by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand has encouraged us to partake of a spiritual food, and taught that we should seek and expect from him nourishment for the soul, is clearly proved by the whole sixth chapter of John, in which he calls himself the bread from heaven and the true food, and says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled. Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.” John 6:26-27. In harmony with these words we will, explain also this evangelical history in its spiritual meaning and significance.

6. First, there was much hay or grass in the place. The Evangelist could not fail to mention that, although it appears to be unnecessary; however it signifies the Jewish people, who flourished and blossomed like the grass through their outward holiness, wisdom, honor, riches etc., as Isaiah 40:6-7, says: “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.” From the Jewish people the Word of God went forth and the true food was given to us; for salvation is of the Jews, John 4:22. Now, as grass is not food for man, but for cattle; so is all the holiness of the outward Jewish righteousness nothing but food for animals, for fleshly hearts, who know and possess nothing of the Spirit.

7. The very same is taught by the people sitting on the grass; for the true saints despise outward holiness, as Paul does in Philippians 3:8, in that he counted his former righteousness to be filth and even a hindrance. Only common and hungry people receive the Word of God and are nourished by it. For here you see that neither Caiaphas nor Anna, neither the Pharisees nor the Scribes follow Christ and see Christ’s Signs; but they disregard them, they are grass and feed on grass. This miracle was also performed near the festive time of the Jewish passover; for the true Easter festival, when Christ should be offered as a sacrifice, was near, when he began to feed them with the Word of God.

8. The five loaves signify the outward, natural word formed by the voice and understood by man’s senses; for the number five signifies outward things pertaining to the five senses of man by which he lives; as also the five and five virgins illustrate in Matthew 25:1. These loaves are in the basket, that is, locked up in the Scriptures. And a lad carries them, that means the servant class and the priesthood among the Jews, who possessed the sayings of God, which were placed in their charge and entrusted to them, Romans 3:2, although they did not enjoy them. But that Christ took these into his own hands, and they were thereby blessed and increased, signifies that by Christ’s works and deeds, and not by our deeds or reason, are the Scriptures explained, rightly understood and preached.

This he gives to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. For Christ takes the Word out of the Scriptures; so all teachers receive it from Christ and give it to the people, by which is confirmed what Matthew 23:10 says: “For one is your master, even the Christ,” who sits in heaven, and he teaches all only through the mouth and the word of preachers by his: Spirit, that is, against false teachers, who teach their own wisdom.

9. The two fishes are the example and witness of the patriarchs and prophets, who are also in the basket; for by them the Apostles confirm and strengthen their doctrine and the believers like St. Paul does in Romans 4:2-6, where he cites Abraham and David etc. But there are two, because the examples of the saints are full of love, which cannot be alone, as faith can, but must go out in exercise to its neighbor. Furthermore the fishes were prepared and cooked; for such examples are indeed put to death by many sufferings and martyrdoms, so that we find nothing carnal in them, and they comfort none by a false faith in his own works, but always point to faith and put to death works and their assurance.

10. The twelve baskets of fragments are all the writings and books the Apostles and Evangelists bequeathed to us; therefore they are twelve, like the Apostles, and these books are nothing but that which remains from and has been developed out of the Old Testament. The fishes are also signified by the number five (Moses’ books); as John 21:25 says: “Even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written” concerning Christ, all which nevertheless was written and proclaimed before in the Old Testament concerning Christ.

11. That Philip gives counsel as how to feed the people with his few shillings, and yet doubts, signifies human teachers, who would gladly aid the soul with their teachings; but their conscience feels it helps nothing. For the discussion Christ here holds with his disciples takes place in order that we may see and understand that it is naturally impossible to feed so many people through our own counsel, and that this sign might be the more public. Thus he lets us also disgrace ourselves and labor with human doctrines, that we may see and understand how necessary and precious God’s Word is and how doctrines do not help the least without God’s Word.

12. That Andrew pointed out the lad and the loaves, and yet doubted still more than Philip, signifies the teachers who wish to make the people pious and to quiet them with God’s laws; but their conscience has no satisfaction or peace in them; but only becomes continually worse, until Christ comes with his Word of grace. He is the one, and he alone, who makes satisfaction, delivers from sin and death, gives peace and fullness of joy, and does it all of his own free will, gratuitously, against and above all hope and presumption, that we may know that the Gospel is devised and bestowed, not through our own merit, but out of pure grace.

13. Finally, you see in this Gospel that Christ, though he held Gospel poverty in the highest esteem and was not anxious about the morrow, as he teaches in Matthew 6:34, had still some provisions, as the two hundred shillings, the five loaves and the two fishes; in order that we may learn how such poverty and freedom from care consist not in having nothing at all, as the barefooted fanatics and monks profess, and yet they themselves do not hold to it; but it consists in a free heart and a poor spirit. For even Abraham and Isaac had great possessions, and yet they lived without worry and in poverty, like the best Christians do.

Reading from My Library

My friend is always asking me to do more work, like a book on Election without Faith.

He asked me to list my books for use as daily readings, so this is preliminary -

Basic doctrinal comparisons - Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant.
Luther's Biblical doctrine - The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine.
More detail on the efficacy of the Word - Thy Strong Word


Time to walk Sassy. More later.

Good Food Is Actually Good for Us

We have been having fun, looking up nutritional hints and enjoying great food. Sassy is my assistant chef, always showing up when food is cooked. She is always rewarded for her steadfastness.

Bad foods avoided -

1. Sugared, especially corn-syruped products. They give instant energy and foster craving for more of the same.
2. White flour products are often heavily salted and nutrition poor. They also major in causing hunger later.
3. Processed meats are heavily salted as a cheap preservative.
4. Processed foods are usually syruped and salted for taste.
5. Schwan's cooked Italian meat balls are good but very salty.
6. Diet sodas and ice cream are verboten.

Good foods prepared at home -

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast. I cook that on the gas stove with a little Tobasco sauce and some dry rub.
• Pork is great but priced like steak.
• Salmon - I made some and ate it, but it was nothing liked grilled salmon at Taziki's Greek Restaurant. Sassy loved hers.
• Frozen string beans with a little butter.
• Frozen brussels sprouts with a little butter.
• Frozen mixed vegetables with a little butter.
• Frozen brocolli, chopped, with a little butter.
• We are going to try frozen, mashed cauliflower, which has a surprising number of nutrients in it.
• Walnuts are heart-healthy and satisfying for dessert.
• Tangerines are perfect for replacing ice cream
• Lightly salted almonds are also full of minerals and good things.
• Avocados may be added (Christina favorite) and high density chocolate for its low sugar, great taste, and nutrients. No really. We have some sugary chocolate and are avoiding that. One 92% dark chocolate square will transport the recipient.

 My parents ran a Dairy Queen, introducing me to a good way to enjoy a desert. Cones are relatively low in carbo units and not something we consume in high numbers, unlike candies, cookies, and donuts.

History Is Often Propaganda

 Above are the reasons the Walther-worshipers prefer CFW to Loehe.

History is not what most people think, probably because the teachers are misled themselves. The original historians of the West were propagandists, for the most part, and some - like Herodotus - were entertaining story-tellers. Josephus attached himself to Rome's emperor and wrote his valuable history to make the imperial majesty look good.

Thucydides was the first analytical historian. He predicted, accurately, that his work would last forever. I read the three Greek historians - Xenophon, Herodotus, and Thucydides because I owned the twelve-volume set and had the time. Later I read Thucydides and Herodotus again while teaching religions of the West. Teaching world religion also led me into reading Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire several times, a wonderful combination of humor, anecdotes, propaganda, and detail.

We are profoundly affected by the history we study, and most of it is propaganda, written to propagate a point of view. The LCMS-WELS-ELS clergy and members read that CFW Walther was a great hero who saved the Saxon migration from the evil Martin Stephan. But the favored Walther circle of clergy/teachers knew all about their promiscuous and syphilis-riddled leader. How could they miss Stephan leaving his dying wife and children in Germany and taking along his healthy son and mistress? How could they miss Stephan's need for spas for his syphilitic, painful rashes?  Nevertheless, they landed in New Orleans and signed his elevation to the life-long title of bishop. Soon after, Walther led the riot that kidnapped the bishop-for-life and stole everything he had, schocked that he was an adulterer.

The Walther myth continues to be told in hushed tones of reverence and awe, and that binds his warped followers to continue their dark path. To be a true Lutheran, they argue, one must cling to Walther and repudiate Luther in every possible way. Walther is their bible and savior - sad to observe, painful to experience.

My baptism in Walther studies changed all my thinking about LCMS history, especially the fawning book called Servant of the Word. Missouri's hatred for Zion on the Mississippi is also quite telling. Antagonism toward Luther's doctrine and worship of the institution are easily explained by CFW's clever maneuvering.

A propaganda book on the Rothschild family taught me the value - for bankers - of endless war. I remember reading it and saying to Mrs. Ichabod, "The beauty of endless war is loaning money to both sides. Debt earns interest and property can be bought when there is blood in the streets, as the Rothschilds said."

It is good for people to know the true history of the nation and to see beyond the multiple-choice history tests we often had. I see some great things ahead in the immediate future, when the corrupting leaven is cleansed from our nation.

 Leupold and Keil-Delitsch teach Creation.
Both are largely overlooked today.

Yes, this is also in English, online, for free.