+ 9th Sunday after Pentecost – July 21st, 2024 +
Series B: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We often imagine the wilderness in Bible stories like a scene out of a Clint Eastwood western: dry, dusty, nothing and no one for miles, except for tumbleweed below and the hot sun above. And it’s true – in Scripture, the wilderness is often desolate though it’s not Death Valley. And it’s often a place of testing and trials: Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness on account of their sin. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan for 40 days. In the wilderness all you have to rely on is God.
Mark’s story of Jesus feeding the thousands adds something to our picture of the wilderness. Jesus’ presence and provision reverse everything. This story began in desolation but ends in abundance. Began with hunger but ends in satisfaction. The disciples who were weary find rest and full bellies with the crowds on the green grass…even 12 baskets of leftovers.
With Jesus, the wilderness becomes a place of rest. A separate place. Free of distractions. With Jesus in the wilderness there’s divine hospitality. In the wilderness, Jesus reveals that he is a gracious host, a generous giver, and a compassionate Shepherd King for the crowds and for you.
As the story begins, though, rest seems illusive. The crowds – filled with a sense of desperation and hope – follow Jesus by land. A great crowd, Mark tells us. No rest for the weary. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
“Like sheep without a shepherd.” We hear this and Old Testament imagery floods our minds. Moses and Israel in the wilderness. Joshua leading the people after Moses died. Psalm 23 and Lord who’s our shepherd. David, the shepherd king. The prophet Ezekiel: For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.
These are all Old Testament pictures of the New Testament reality. Sketches colored in by Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses. The Joshua who leads his people into the promised land. Jesus is the Shepherd of psalm 23. The Son of David, and David’s Lord. The Shepherd King. The one whom Jeremiah and Ezekiel foretold in the flesh.
In the wilderness, Jesus does what he’s always done. Where there is no one and nothing else to rely upon except him, the Shepherd King provides. He shows compassion. He teaches and feeds. He serves up the daily bread of his word to fill their ears with God’s promises. Then he fills their stomachs with bread and all are satisfied. It’s the same for us too. He provides for us, body and soul. Daily bread at our table and in our homes, and daily bread of his word and supper at his table, in his house.
Eventually, the day grew late. The disciples were worn out, exhausted; probably a little hangry by now. And it sounds reasonable. It’s late. We’re in the middle of nowhere. No Dick’s drive-in or Chik-fil-a in sight. Send the crowds away so they can eat…and we can rest.
You can imagine the look on the disciples’ faces when Jesus answers them: “You give them something to eat.” “Have you seen the crowds, Jesus? Anyone have 2/3 of a year’s wages around? Cause it’s gonna take a whole lot of denarii to feed this mob.”
Imagine yourself in the disciples’ sandals: they’re more like us than we realize. They were worn out, weary, hungry, and they couldn’t possibly fathom what to do next. They’re at the end of their strength. The end of their work. The end of their efforts. The end of their imagination. They have nothing.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it. Sounds like us, if we’re honest with what God’s word says about our life in this fallen world. Where we often find ourselves weary, exhausted, and run down – just by life in general, but more often by sin. Other’s sin against us. Our own sin. Like the disciples we find ourselves at the end of our strength. The end of our wits. The end of our efforts. And like the crowds we come before Jesus with a sense of desperation. And right there…where all of our strength and hope and wisdom come to and end. We realize what Israel learned in the wilderness. What Jesus’ disciples learned. That in the wilderness there’s nothing and no one to rely upon, except God in his mercy and grace and promise. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
And here in the wilderness, when we come to the end of our strength, efforts, and imagination, there’s Jesus, the Shepherd King. Full of compassion. Abundant grace. Mercy that overflows. He fed the crowds. And he feeds you. He cared for them in body and soul, as he does for you too. As they all sat down – crowds and disciples alike – he fed them all. They all ate. All were satisfied. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He restores my soul.
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
Follow the verbs. Mark leaves us a trail of bread-crumbs back to Jesus the bread of life himself. On the night Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and when he had given thanks, he blessed it. Broke it. Gave it to the disciples. And set it before his people.
Our Shepherd King does the same for you today. Bread and wine are blessed. Broken. Given for you. The Lord who fed the crowds on that Galilean wilderness, feeds you his body and blood in our wilderness. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
Jesus’ presence and provision reverse everything. The desolate place overflows with abundance. 12 baskets of leftovers. The hungry crowds and disciples are fed and satisfied. Weariness is overcome by rest. Worry, doubt, despair, and fear – yes even as we face those things, our Lord is compassionate. Merciful. He will never leave nor forsake you. Sure his goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.
In the face of our sin, shame, guilt, and death itself – Jesus our Shepherd King – doesn’t ration his grace. He doesn’t limit his generosity and mercy. He doesn’t count his compassion like we count carbs or calories. His divine hospitality knows no end. His mercies are new every morning. Here in the wilderness of this fallen world, all we have to rely upon is Christ our Shepherd King. And he is all we need. For he gives us what we need: his water, word, body and blood. Food for body and soul.
Out of love for you, and the crowds, and for all, this Shepherd King left the green hills of Galilee for the desolate hill of Calvary for you. Jesus, your Shepherd King is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world for you. Jesus, our Shepherd King went to the lonely place of the cross and endured the wilderness of grave for you. And then, three days later he did the unimaginable. Jesus our Shepherd King rose from the dead and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
So, come to the table of our crucified and risen Shepherd King. Eat. Drink. And be satisfied.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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