In today’s Gospel we are told that Jesus had compassion on the crowd as they came to Him in the wilderness. It is that same Greek Word from Matthew 9 which I preached on back on June 14. He had a deep visceral pain deep within Himself for the sake of the people; this time it is because they left all that they had to come to Him once they heard where He was.
Why is that significant? Because Jesus could have told them, “not now. I am grieving.” I need to time to pray and reflect upon what awaits Me. Why was Jesus grieving? The verse immediately preceding today’s Gospel reads: “And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.” The body belonged to none other than John the Baptizer. Then in today’s Gospel, “Now when Jesus heard this, He withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by Himself.” But any grief He had, anything else He may have been thinking took a backseat when He saw the crowds from the towns around coming to Him with their sick and their desire to hear Him preach. So He had mercy and He served by healing and preaching as the day wore on. At the end of the day, the disciples wanted Jesus to dismiss the people to go buy their own food. But Jesus would not unceremoniously and callously dismiss them. Why?
In Matthew 6 Jesus in the sermon on the Mount said this: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?… “if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25, 30-33)
The crowd of people came to Jesus having been led by the Holy Spirit to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. They heard Jesus was there and rushed to Him who is the kingdom of God in His righteousness in one person. They left their homes to go into the wilderness to Jesus before worrying about their suppers that evening. Therefore, Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” This last remark to the disciples was Jesus telling the disciples that the massive crowds were following His words better than they. It reminds me a little of that account of Mary and Martha in Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus said. “Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
By faith they came out into the wilderness to Jesus to be fed spiritually the bread of life through their ears by His Words from He who is the bread of life come down from heaven. Jesus and the Heavenly Father knew that even as they hungered for the Word of God, they would also become physically hungry, therefore He already knew what He would do. He would not turn those who came in curious faith empty away, and certainly not with empty stomachs.
Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, had the people sit down on the grass, took the food, blessed it, broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute them. The people ate until they were satisfied. There were 12 baskets of leftover food fragments, and there had been 5000 men there not counting women and children. In other words, there many thousands of people.
We could ponder upon every detail in this text for its great significance and meaning and be rewarded. So what do we focus on in this account? The fact that He had them sit on the grass? Sure. The fact that Jesus as the Son of God was able to feed thousands with only two fish and 5 loaves of bread in the middle of a wilderness? Yes. The fact that Jesus blessed the food before breaking and distributing? Definitely. The fact that the people came out where they were to be gathered around Jesus? I think so. Jesus having compassion and mercy? For sure. That seeking God’s righteousness by trusting and living by faith means valuing above all else the Word of God and His presence? Absolutely! The fact that God in Jesus Christ satisfies both body and soul, that He provides more than is needed? And with that ponder the significance of the 12 baskets left over? Yes. Yes and Yes.
The wilderness, is a biblical image and symbolizes spiritual isolation, temptation, and trial. It represents the world and its wearisome troubles where true spiritual food and drink are scarce. Yet in the midst of the wilderness comes our Lord. He comes to gather, protect, feed, and lead. As the Pillar of fire and cloud led Israel out of captivity in Egypt through the wilderness feeding them with manna and quail, so Jesus who was that OT pillar gathers and leads His people through the wilderness and temptations of this world; temptations to eat what is not good and be consumed by the animalistic lusts of the flesh and fall into spiritual death. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has His sheep lie down in good pasture as upon the grass of the wilderness. He has compassion for them as they struggle with the plagues of this sin filled world. He feeds them and gives them life and strength for the journey home.
And this whole flock of believers is represented by the crowds that came to Jesus that day because they did what all true Israel does, and that is listen to the Word of God and flee to where He is. They hearken to the voice of God in Jesus Christ as He calls out in Isaiah: “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel…” This flock, this true Israel shall be and is made up of many nations. Which is why we even today, in the Church must ever be on our guard. We do not believe in once saved always saved. As St. Paul said in today’s Epistle “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring.” So too we are not saved because our parents or relatives were believers. We are not saved because we come to church when it is convenient.
We are saved because the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ has had compassion upon His people and yes even for the world. He died upon the cross paying the total price for the sins of all people throughout time. His mercy is superabundant, but sadly many people reject it. Even many who call themselves Christian do not value this sacrifice. There are even times where you and I have not valued it. We have allowed our attention to turn from the voice of our loving Redeemer and hearkened instead to give priority to the cares of the world and our anxieties as we struggle with trusting God and seeking first the kingdom. In this and many ways we have sinned, and we must repent.
Take heart, Jesus has compassion upon you. He died on the cross for your sins, and as you repent and hope by faith in Jesus Christ know that you are given forgiveness and His righteousness once more. He calls and gathers by the Ministry of His Word and Sacrament you and people of every generation. He converts you even as He baptized you and declared you His own. Do not run from Him and He will bring you safely to heaven. If you fail and sin, return to your baptism, repent and be absolved in Jesus Christ, for He is quick to forgive and slow to anger. The basket of fragments reminds us that none of those who believe will be lost or forgotten by our Lord but will be gathered together with the whole Church.
Where will the whole church be gathered? Around Christ. Around Him crucified and raised, in eternity, but even here on earth where He continues to speak, to heal, to feed. To the place where the Bread of Eternal life for body and soul is distributed. Where the bread is blessed and Christ’s body and bread are given along with the quenching drink of His sacrificed blood in the wine. This we drink for the forgiveness of sins, for the strength of our faith, for the preparations of these weak bodies for eternal life. This is a feast of victory because of what He has done for us in His death and resurrection. It is a promise that He will be with us in the troubles of this life, that He will not leave us, nor turn us hungry away. And dear friends know that He cares about our whole self. As we continue to look to Him for salvation, mercy, and help by faith, He will help and provide for us spiritually and physically because He loves us and continues to have compassion with and for us.
We rejoice in His salvation and ongoing providence of body and soul. We are eager to listen to His Words, and receive with ears and mouths that which He gives for our good and our salvation. Let us delight in the rich food of forgiveness and life He gives of Himself in Jesus Christ, and having eaten the food given freely and having drunk the water and wine without price, let us be satisfied in Him so that our souls and bodies may live forever with Jesus Christ our Pillar, our Good Shepherd, and Redeemer. Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas