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
Bread from Heaven
The Communion Hymn #508 Thou Whose Almighty Word
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 # 657 Beautiful Savior
Prayers and Announcements
- Sarah Buck, Pastor and Mrs. Shrader; we pray for many others.
- Zoom was working well, one year ago, going from UStream to Vimeo to Zoom.
- Enzo Meyer is graduating from Grand Canyon University, our second alumnus!
- Psalms will be the post-service readings (1-150).
- Acts of the Apostles - Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM Central. Zoom-YouTube.
- Midweek Lenten services - Wednesday at 7 PM. Zoom-YouTube.
- Easter is April 20, preceded by Holy Week.
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.
Bread from Heaven
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.
The Fourth Gospel is especially generous in teaching the miracles, which are the connection between faith in Him and the needs of the followers. Lenski wrote "signs" while the KJV says "miracles." In this age of rationalism, many people use "signs" without much thought, as minor as seeing something special and talking about it. The word "signs" sounds rather tepid. The miracles were life-changing and used to connect the Son of God with forgiveness.
The great multitude is encouraging and also discouraging. They will fall away when the miraculous event is finish and criticize Jesus for what He is teaching. However, that still gives them hope and evidence of the Messiah. The diseased being healed was a great motivation to hear and to see the divine.
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.
John's Gospel gives us the three year ministry, which is designated by the Passovers, and a reminder of Moses' people in the desert and their lack of food. Exodus is the bedrock and John 6 is the sermon about Exodus miracles, which begin with the Burning Bush, Exodus 3, the Two Natures of God, and God's Name - I AM.
That is how we should consider the New Testament miracles - sermons about the Old Testament, which was for them - the only Testament. The wiseguys like to mock the miracles of the Old Testament, including the Six Day Creation. Once they take away the foundation - the beginning - everything else falls down upon in their darkened memories.
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 [test] him: for he himself knew what he would do.
This place in the Bible should be memorized by everyone (Doubting Castle ruled by Giant Despair - Pilgrim's Progress.) The stories of Bunyan, locked in prison, is a perfect parallel. Jesus offered the question to His disciples, knowing in advance that He could do all things even when nothing was even adequate.
There is a bit of humor in the question about buying bread in the desert, knowing what He could do. That is where we often are - as believing in Christ - wondering how something can be fixed, even though that is definitely impossible for us, but easily accomplished by the Creator, by the Word.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
As Lenski suggested, anyone could have expressed a complete lack of faith about feeding thousands of people no matter how much or little they had. That is the job of the finance committee in every church, no matter the denomination. They relish the task of saying, "Impossible!" Even now the denominations - especially the Lutherans - are playing this role because they were bewitched with magical formulas instead of the effective Word - the Means of Grace - the Gospel.
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?
That offer is so feeble that it is more of a mockery, at the very least, no better than making the problem worse. Andrew seconds the motion to give up. This is a long-lasting response, which we still experience today and often fall on the side of these two disciples. Jesus did not mock or scold them - only wishing to help them solve the problem, gigantic for any reasonable person.
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.
The details are very important. Plenty of grass means that water is abundant. Desert people know about "tanks" which store water and attract animals and humans. 5,000 men sat down, making the miracle very large. This is a monumental event but described with simplicity, very much like our daily lives, with a number of simple acts having enormous consequences in the future.
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.
So many miracles were before them, but even then they could not consume all of it. They were all stunned and had to say - "This is the promised Prophet!" And yet, many of them soon rebelled against the Word - "This is a hard saying!" - and went away. Not long ago many soft-headed people claimed that everything would grow with "disciples," so they had to "make disciples," which sounded like "making cookies." Instead of dwelling on the Gospel Word, they leaned on "disciples that make disciples that make disciples."
