You give Them Something to Eat

Communion                                                                                        08/06/17—Highland—Meute

“You Give Them Something to Eat”

Psalm 17: 1-7, 15; Matthew 14: 13-21

 

Focus: Through Christ his followers always have something to share.

Function: To empower worshippers with confidence that the gospel of the kingdom is a resource which is never in short supply.

 

Jesus had just learned of the gruesome murder of his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus was devastated so he left the crowds and sought out a “lonely, deserted place” to be with his disciples. Who was John to Jesus?

1. John was Jesus’ cousin so he lost a close family member.
2. John was perhaps Jesus’ first follower who believed in him and likely encouraged him in powerful ways.
   1. When John was arrested and imprisoned Jesus heard of it and commenced his public ministry taking up the precise message and ministry for which John was known (Mk. 1: 14, 15): “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
3. John was Jesus’ friend.
4. So Jesus needed a quiet place to grieve and to be consoled by his heavenly Father. He and the disciples departed by boat on the Sea of Galilee.

Upon arriving at their “deserted place” they quickly learned that it was not so “deserted or lonely.” A large crowd of people correctly predicted where they would land and arrived to meet him.

1. Jesus saw the crowd. The disciples watched Jesus. Perhaps they readied themselves to disperse the crowd saying something like, “The Master needs some R & R; please come back at another time.” Perhaps they asked Jesus if he wanted them to get rid of the crowd.
2. Jesus looked at the crowd and scripture says that he “had compassion for them and cured their sick” (Matt. 14: 14).
3. Jesus was looking for his own consolation in the deserted place; God provided for him by giving him others to console.

Oftentimes your consolation as a follower of Jesus will come through sharing what you have with others or simply acting on behalf of others.

As a follower of Jesus you have access to a depth of resources in the gospel of the kingdom which always provides.

1. Like Jesus’ disciples, when you believe you are at the end of your resources, for example…
   1. You are at the end of your patience;
   2. You no longer have words for prayer;
   3. You cannot find an answer to a problem;
   4. You barely have any more hope;
   5. You cannot conceive how you might address a need in front of you.
      1. It is time to look to God if not for the first time, then again, as Jesus did.
   6. The disciples clearly saw that they did not have enough food to feed this large crowd and it was getting late in the day so that it was the right time to instruct them to go into town to find nourishment. They reported this situation to Jesus. He surprised them by saying, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
      1. They reported that they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus instructed them to bring the five loaves and two fish to him. What then did Jesus do?
         1. He looked to heaven;
         2. He gave thanks;

• And he blessed and broke the loaves…

1. He gave them to the disciples who in turn gave them to the crowd.
2. All ate and were filled and they took up twelve baskets left over…one for each disciple!
3. Jesus, who was God on earth, did not rely on himself to provide. How much more then should we look to heaven first when confronted with the needs God places before us?
   1. Ministry is God-originated.
   2. Ministry and mission is God-driven.
   3. Christ followers are sent. You are where you are for a reason.

4. What are the needs that God is placing before you?
   1. You have what you need to respond. Do not be discouraged or dismayed by what is in front of you. Look to God; give thanks; and then share/serve/act. It is when we obey Christ’s command that the miracles follow.
   2. This incident with Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd was in part to remind them of God’s previous provision of manna in the Egyptian desert.
5. God provides for his people. Do you believe this?

 

Being a pastor all the years in which our children grew up I only heard stories of what happened in the pews from Nancy when the congregation celebrated communion.

1. Nancy had her hands full. It isn’t easy being a parent with children who are too young to take part in communion when those delicious looking elements are being passed along. It requires unique and passionate theological discussions quietly in the pews in the midst of all the action of the sacrament. Caleb must have accepted the facts of his non-participation but it didn’t stop him from lamenting to his mom as the elements were going by, “Mommy, I sure am hungry,” thus playing upon his mom’s motherly empathy.
2. Josh had just completed his class on communion preparation as a 1st grader. The children were joining in with the congregation for their first time and it was Holy Week. The Hampton congregation held a Maundy Thursday supper around tables in the Fellowship Hall and held worship right there in the hall that night. We would serve each other communion around the tables. An elder was dispersed to each table to begin the ritual. Josh was the first to receive the bread. Holding a small loaf in his hands out toward Josh, the Elder, Mr. Bauer said the words, “This is the body of Christ broken for you, Josh; eat ye, all of it.” Josh looked at him with eyes bugging out. Josh, a first grader, taking him at his word, thought he had to consume the entire loaf!
3. This communion meal is meant to remind you month after month of the provision of God.
   1. It reminds Jesus followers month after month that when God places needs right in front of you, you have what it takes to respond out of compassion. You may not immediately think you have what is needed to meet the need but you follow the One who provides.
   2. The Spirit will creatively lead you to respond out of God’s boundless resources.
   3. Consider the “Solidarity Fridges” that are being placed around communities throughout the world. One café in Buenos Aires has a sign on it that says, “Take freely, only what you need.” These are there for the homeless masses. They allow those in need to help themselves rather than always begging people for food.

Filled with compassion for the needs that God places before you, share what you have and see the provision of God. You are sent by God to extend the gospel of the kingdom.

Undaunted by the size of the massive crowd in front of him and the perspective of scarcity within his disciples, Jesus looked to heaven; he gave thanks; he blessed and broke the bread and he gave it to his disciples who in turn gave it to those who were there that day. All ate and were filled…those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children—so upwards of 10,000 were actually fed!

Moved by the compassion of God, act to respond to what God places in front of you, and watch God provide!