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| Understanding Pilgrim's Progress is now available in print. Kindle is in negotiations. Gregory L. Jackson's author's page is here. |
ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Amazon Now Has Understanding The Pilgrim's Progress in Print
The Usual Suspects Will Get Their Copies Soon
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Midweek Lenten Service - I AM the Resurrection and Life.
Greek Lesson John 1:16ff
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The
Psalmody Psalm 23 p
The Lection The Passion History
The Lection The Passion History
The Sermon – I AM the Resurrection and the Life
The Prayers
The
Lord’s Prayer
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' daughter Jeshra is being treated for seizures.
I AM the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
25 ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη: ο πιστευων εις εμε καν αποθανη, ζησεται.
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
This is pivotal for the entire Gospel and is featured in the Gospel of John. What people do not grasp from the story of Jesus is - why did they kill someone kind, gentle, Who constantly healed people?
The foundational reason is that He taught the righteousness of faith in Him. That continues to be something that infuriates people, as the Objective Justification addicts prove daily.
The pivotal point came from the raising of Lazarus and his walk with Jesus into Jerusalem. That proved the divinity of Christ, that He was and is the Promised Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer.
The Jewish leaders plotted to murder Jesus and Lazarus, because Lazarus was living proof of the power of Jesus' Word. He called Lazarus by name and commanded him to come from the tomb.
That makes this conversation with Martha so poignant. Jesus deliberately delayed His arrival so Lazarus would be in the tomb for days. He could have rushed but did not. He could have cured his friend but did the opposite.
So Jesus experienced the pain of knowing Lazarus would die wondering, "Where is the Christ? Why am I dying alone?" His sisters said the same thing, somewhat in reproach but also in faith. They knew what Jesus could have done but not what He could do at any moment. Jesus raised the dead at least twice before. Why didn't they know? We can guess that there were many stories from His travels. More significantly, how does one grasp and believe such a wonder?
Jesus also knew He would face death too, and not as a local, wealthy celebrity but as a criminal, a traitor, a blasphemer, tortured, stripped, and jeered at. He trembled at Lazarus tomb. Most of us have had that experience. The tension is so great that we shake and cannot stop the shaking.
John 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
Martha expressed open-ended hope in what Jesus could do. There is conflict between her faith in Him and her hope in Him. That cannot be resolved.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
From John himself we know that Jesus delayed His arrival on purpose. The disciples assumed they would die together near Jerusalem. Jesus planned this moment, as the Father commanded. This would force the Roman government and Jewish leaders into retribution based on fear. The Jewish leaders feared losing the Temple and everything. The Romans feared a bloody civil war, which happened in 40 years anyway.
Martha believed in eternal life but was not looking at the miracle of the moment.
25 Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Luther put it well when he said, Wherever the Gospel is taught, eternal life springs up. The grace of God teaches us that we are on the doorstep of heaven already. That changes how we conduct ourselves here, laying up treasures in heaven, and how we look at everything.
I have had many books in the past. I even took a photo of our library room, with bookshelves lining the walls to hold them all, new paint, carpeting, the window blocked. But I never had so many great classics of faith as I have now. They were partly unreachable before the used market reached online. And someone had to dig for them and find out they existed. They still look for the gold from the Lost Dutchman's Goldmine, outside Phoenix. One man devoted his life to finding it.
But the treasure of the Gospel is constantly being distributed by the Holy Spirit in the Word and Sacraments. That comes from sermons, faithful hymns, Christian art. The work of spreading that is scattering treasures for all to enjoy.
Greek Lesson
11 εις τα ιδια ηλθεν, και οι ιδιοι αυτον ου παρελαβον
12 οσοι δε ελαβον αυτον, εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν τεκνα θεου γενεσθαι, τοις πιστευουσιν εις το ονομα αυτου
13 οι ουκ εξ αιματων ουδε εκ θεληματος σαρκος ουδε εκ θεληματος ανδρος αλλ εκ θεου εγεννηθησαν
14 και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου, δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος, πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας
15 ιωαννης μαρτυρει περι αυτου, και κεκραγεν, λεγων, "ουτος ην ον ειπον ο οπισω μου ερχομενος εμπροσθεν μου γεγονεν οτι πρωτος μου ην."
Ways to learn Greek -
Ways to learn Greek -
- learn common, frequently used Greek words,
- learn to look for the English equivalents,
- do not write English in or keep a translation open.
16 και εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος
charismatic, charism, eucharist
17 οτι ο νομος δια μωσεως εδοθη η χαρις και η αληθεια δια ιησου χριστου εγενετο
18 θεον ουδεις εωρακεν πωποτε; ο μονογενης υιος ο ων εις τον κολπον του πατρος εκεινος εξηγησατο
exegete
Birds Sing - After the Storm
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
We had storm upon storm, where - once again - moving the garbage barrels required plans, cunning, and mud shoes. But yesterday the storm mass moved after dawn. The sun broke out to warm and dry the earth. The birds sang and scouted for food. They feed in the rain, if they know it will be lasting. But they all come out in the sunshine for the bugs, wriggling worms and larvae, and the seeds.
Most trends are fading when they seem to be at their peak. When I heard Governor Cuomo crying out the Masonic distress signal, "Is there no help for a widow's son?" (I love my mother. I love my state. My state loves me.) - I knew it was over. He needed to establish his credentials for his 2024 presidential run. He loves his mother! Even mobsters love their mothers, and his dad was long identified as the goto guy for the Mob, before Mario the Pious assumed state office. St. Mario defended abortion on demand at Notre Dame and denounced capital punishment as "murder."
For the ordinary citizen, the Masonic distress call is, "Name a store with paper products left!" I discussed that with Pat and John yesterday and brought back 25% of the entire supply from the largest Walmart in Arkansas - one roll of paper towels. It was received with gratitude. I also had a bag of white and sweet potatoes for their roast.
Notes of optimism and hope are sounding in the news. Medicine works against Corona, a virus discussed in a scientific journal in 2007. People will return to work. Paper products will be less precious as hoarding diminishes.
Before Sassy takes me out for a walk, I will pour out some birdseed on both barrel lids. The starlings and grackles will try to beat the squirrel to the supply. Yesterday the compromise was clear. Mr. Squirrel got one barrel lid - the birds got the other. I figured natural enemies in Congress would work out a deal, too.
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| Norma A. Boeckler's graphics are up on Facebook before most people are. |
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Ichabod Told You on March 17th.
The Storm Will Be Over by Easter
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| 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
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| ELDONUT evangelism - the heart of it all. |
Monday, March 23, 2020
Four Noble Truths
- Fear is far more contagious than a flu virus.
- Soap and water are just as effective as expensive alternatives.
- Journalists remain the stupidest creatures on the planet.
- 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
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| 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:
- 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.
- Almonds and walnuts have many great nutritional values.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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| 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 -
- Aerating the ground
- Providing channels for rain
- Adding usable calcium to improve the root zone
- Fertilizing with nitrogen compounds
- Offering itself, unwillingly, as food for many creatures and fishermen
- Donating eggs for future generations
- 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?
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Laetare, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2020
Laetare Sunday, The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2020
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
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
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| 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
- Exodus 3 - God is I AM. John 8 - Jesus says, before Abraham was I AM.
- The blood of the lamb was spread on the doorposts to keep the angel of death away, before the Exodus.
- The passover meal is still centered around the spotless lamb sacrificed for the meal, fulfilled in the crucifixion.
- The Son of God followed the Exodus.
- Moses struck the rock and brought forth water, not unlike the living water spoken of by Jesus in John 4.
- Moses brought down bread from heaven to feed the Israelites, the theme of John 6 - Jesus as the true bread from heaven.
- 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.
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.
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