The Hymn #263 O Little Flock Fear Not Thy Foe
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her: all ye that love her.
Rejoice for joy with her: all ye that mourn for her.
Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me:
Let us go into the house of the Lord.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
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
Seek And Expect from Him Nourishment for the Soul
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.
This passage from the Fourth Gospel first teaches us about miracles and God's ability to provide for us. The vast crowd was convinced - for the moment - about Jesus' miracles and willingness to serve them. However, the disciples expressed a lack of faith about what Jesus could do.
I will repeat a story I have told before, because it shows how fear can turn into faith during stress. My boss asked me to have lunch with another insurance agent. He was stricken with anguish about whether he could succeed and provide for his family. I asked him about his faith, whether he trusted in God, Creation, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and His miracles. And he said he did. I asked, "You believe in God, Creation, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, His miracles, dying for our sins and rising from death? You are telling me that you believe all these things but do not trust that God will take of you and your family?" He smiled and cried at the same time. A perfectionist, he was stuck in WRONG!
We all go through times of terrible stress, which stirs up fear in our hearts. The opposite of fear is not money, popularity, or prosperity - it is faith in God's wisdom and care for each and every one of us. "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
People followed Jesus because the miracles gave them faith in the Savior. But that faith was shallow and easily attacked. The disciples knew many examples of what He could do, but they doubted.
John 6:3-5 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?
Jesus used the view to challenge what they could see from an elevated place, as a huge group moved toward them. The crowd was walking along the sea. Jesus said to Philip, "How can we buy bread, so they can 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.
Jesus was testing His disciples' faith, because He already knew what He was going to do. Philip figured the cost, and said there was not enough to take care of them. So that was a great contradiction, even before the crowd arrived. They had just seen a number of miracles, but the wonder did not care over to this crowd streaming toward them.
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.
Andrew is the chairman of the finance committee. There is one is every congregation. I called the committee the Puddleglums in one congregation and only a few people thought it was funny. "What are five small barley loves and two small fish?" That is the definite mark of not trusting in what God can do. With the disciples stymied, Jesus created some order, having the men sit down in a grassy area (fresh water was nearby). There were about five thousand men, so the entire crowd was very large with women and children.
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.
Jesus gave thanks (as we always should) and passed them to the disciples, who gave them to all who sat down, the fish as much as they wanted. Those who deny miracles cannot fathom how God can do such a thing, and yet every day scientists marvel that so many plants and animals have incredible abilities to do what we could never imagine ourselves. And we are the pinnacle of creation evolution (they think). Yesterday I learned that blueberries are not blue. They only pretend. A thin layer of wax scatters light so they look blue.
"That nothing be lost" is a command not to be wasteful, which applies in so many different ways. Those who are frugal can give a purpose to many different things, often through sharing. I have to point out that pruning roses for their beauty is also a way to make them more productive, because with plants nothing much grows after forming the seed pod. The plants we call "weeds" are named for their ability to flourish being left alone, crowding out the more delicate.
So this very special food from God was to be treated as unique and not to scattered like trash. This was a meal to remember.
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.
In teaching people about pastoral counseling, I remind them of the dangers of trying to do everything all the time. Now I have three named examples of Jesus deliberately alone, in Mark 1, Luke 5, and here in John 6:15.
Jesus was fulfilling His assigned duty when people wanted to make him the King and He withdrew. Most people want to work, because it is satisfying and healthy. Others make it an obsession and leave what is genuinely valuable behind. God ordained the Sabbath, which Christians changed to Sunday, to listen to God's Word and to enjoy peaceful time with family and others.
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 |
- Medical care - Randy Anderson (hospital), Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Sarah Buck, Lorie Howell, Kermit Way. Norma's appointment went well.
- My Good Shepherd has been sent to most households. Ask for more if needed.
