Series No 5 Son of man – Grace before meals
“The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven and he sighed and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? “Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation. . . . ” And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side. 14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”[b] 16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “We have no bread.” 17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
Mark 8: 11, 13-21. RSV Bible.
The Church today experiencing what Jesus experienced during his life on earth. Jesus found that his healing and miracles were dismissed, they were not recognised by the Pharisees and Herodians.
“Canon J John wrote an open letter to the BBC saying, “Many of us who are Christian leaders find sins of omission and commission at the BBC. “In terms of omission, we find that the role of a Christianity in the life of an individual or in history is, all too frequently conveniently overlooked ….More subtly in historic programmes there is all too frequently the airbrushing out of Christianity…Men and women attended church, said prayers, uttered grace before meals…To reject that role for Christianity is to deny history.” Extract from the Editor of Good News Newspaper July 2019.
Jesus cautioned his disciples to be aware of the leaven (sin of hypocrisy) of the Pharisees and Herod. Mark 8: 15. Luke 12: 1.
They sought from Jesus a sign that would have fulfilled their agenda: the Pharisees looked for the Messiah to administer the law and the Herodians for Jesus to acknowledge the dynasty of King Herod.
Jesus gave an example of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, he said that they lifted out a sheep that had fallen into a pit on the Sabbath day, but they accused Jesus of sin when he healed people on the sabbath day. Matthew 12: 11. Mark 6: 18, 19. 7: 6. 8:11.
The supporters of the Herod dynasty upheld hypocrisy of Herod’s son Antipas, he sought to kill Jesus, but he later wanted to meet him and see him perform a miracle. Luke 13: 32. “Introducing the New Testament’ by John Drane. Page 34.
They joined forces against Jesus, and they dismissed his amazing miracles.
Today when a person experiences something from God and then dismisses the experience and forgets about it, they are in danger of dismissing their opportunity to receive eternal life. One of the questions everyone faces: what happens when I die? Jesus taught the reality of their being an eternal heaven with continual light and an eternal hell with its’ darkness and fire. “ Mark 9: 43. Luke 12: 4.John 3: 16, 19-21. John 8: 12. Matthew 25: 30 Revelation 21: 23.
Prayer
Father God, we pray for those who have experienced a blessing from you and have put off a decision, to receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord, may they respond to your call sometime soon and may they know how much you love them and valued like the sparrow is not forgotten by God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus fed the people in the desert
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread after the 4,000 plus women and children were fed in the desert. Jesus’ remark about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. We read led them to think that Jesus was upset because they had only one loaf. They hadn’t understood his meaning that may be the disciples didn’t realise forgetting the bread indicated that they didn’t appreciate the importance of this miracle and they were in danger of becoming hypocritical like the Pharisees.
A picture of God’s kingdom where God feeds his people.
Jesus reminded them of the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples had nothing to give, their baskets were empty. the lad brought to them 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Jesus gave thanks and after everyone had eaten there were 12 baskets left over full of broken pieces.
The disciples had witnessed a great miracle where Jesus fed 4,000 plus people with bread from 7 loaves and a few fishes and there were 7 baskets left over full of broken pieces.
The significance of the numbers mentioned in these two incidents.
“Numbers in Scripture” by E W Bullinger
Feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 3 fishes. 12 baskets with broken bread left over.
12 the number – governmental perfection.
5 “ of grace
2 “ difference and division
3 “ triangle, solid, substantial. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5,000 “ multiples of grace
7 loaves to feed 4,000 . 7 baskets left over.
7 the numer to be full or satisfied, to have enough of. Perfection.
4 ” related to the creation: material perfection.
Seeking God’s kingdom.
The feeding of the 5,000 & the 4,000 fulfilled Jesus promise:
“Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put in your lap. For the measure you give, the measure you get back.” Luke 6: 38.
The disciples sought God’s kingdom and gave their all to Jesus and by his love, their twelve empty baskets were filled ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put in your lap.’
The Herodians who were far from seeking God’s kingdom, supported the line of King Herod. After Jesus fed more than 5,000 people, the people maybe identified Jesus with the Psalmist’s words and wanted to make him their King.
The Psalmist had prophesied, “I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David, I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster.” Psalm 132: 15-18. John 6: 15.
Jesus withdrew from the scene to a quiet place, the Herodians would have seen this incident as insurrection against the Herod dynasty.
In the desert Jesus had compassion for the people who had travelled with him for many hours that day so, he wanted to give them something to eat. But he also was revealing to them that he was a man like Moses: the Israelite’s travelling through the desert quickly ran out of food, Moses prayed to God and God provided them with ‘Manna’ bread. Every morning they gathered the manna, but it only lasted for one day before it went mouldy, but on the sixth day God doubled the quantity so they could rest on the 7th day. Exodus 16.
“For the measure you give, the measure you get back.”
Faith
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”
It’s by faith in Jesus we enter God’s kingdom
When we hear about Jesus the Holy Spirit convicts us of the truth about him and we make a choice or put off making that choice until later. God’s love means that he doesn’t discard us or forget about us, his love will continue to call us. For those who accept Jesus by faith find that God wants us to live by faith, trusting the Lord and being dependent upon God.
The Lord builds us up in his word and we learn to live by faith and trust God in small things; it’s like learning to swim. We learn the strokes that will keep us afloat and move us forward.
The Holy Spirit guides us in reaching out in compassion to those in need.
Grace before meals
On Sunday 28th July 19 at St Andrew’s morning worship Rev. Elle Trimble from the Apostles & St Cuthbert Church, Miles Platting Manchester England spoke on “The Lord’s Prayer” giving glory and thanks to God for God’s provision of food for the homeless in and around Miles Platting. Every Saturday the volunteers prepare the food for Sunday’s meal they open their doors to those currently homeless or only just managing to keep a roof over their heads. For a few hours the people gathered on Sundays are afforded the comfort of a sit-down dinner. The Church takes 60 trays of food from FareShare a week, paying a small charge per tray. It means as well as Sunday’s lunch, Elle and her team can provide a Friday breakfast and a night shelter twice a week. Food4all@apostles/Facebook
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for Elle and her team of Christians serving the people in Miles Platting. May this experience of God’s love not be forgotten as they many go from a place seeking food and shelter for their body, but to receive Christ’s love in their heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen