Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Matthew 14. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Virtually all of us enjoy eating. I guess as we get older it becomes somewhat less enjoyable, but still almost all of us enjoy a good meal.
- In the Old Testament Lesson, God calls everyone to “come and eat.” It almost sounds like the dinner bell! Further, even though He says “buy and eat,” He adds: “without money and without price.” Kind of sounds like a “free lunch.”
- Ordinarily, we have a multitude of appetites for a wide variety of things – and we labor and spend our money on things that “do not satisfy.” We always seem to have a long “wish list,” things that we think will bring us contentment and even great pleasure. But the list grows rather than going away. God directs us to the “food” which He supplies to us freely and graciously – His Word of forgiveness, mercy, life, and salvation!
- In our text we see Jesus supplying real earthly food to people in need. He demonstrates that He can provide us with what we need – and this includes, most importantly, what we need to have peace with God and eternal life.
- This is so precious – that people receive and “eat” this food from God, that Paul experienced “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” for his fellow Israelites’ rejection of the Gospel. In fact, He wrote: “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ” if only somehow his fellow men would believe and be saved.
- This is something for us to consider – for we seldom value God’s love this much, and at times, we forget to come here and eat, or we find other things that are more pleasing to us. But just as earthly food is critical, so also is the food by which God nourishes our souls and our spiritual life! It is certain that:
I. We Have Need Of Rich Spiritual Food
A. There Is Much Sin In The World – And In Each Of Us
Text: Consider the death of John the Baptist
B. Consider The Narrow Thinking Of The Disciples, Nearly Faithless
Text: “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
C. Consider The Many People Who Dismiss And Reject the Precious Food God Gives For Our Souls
Epistle: The unbelief of the vast majority of Israelites in Paul’s time.
Statement: Paul goes on to mention the blessings that God poured out upon the children of Israel: the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and physical relationship to Jesus, the Christ Who is God over all! Yet they rejected these gifts and blessings prior to the coming of Jesus, they rejected Jesus when He did come, and they rejected Him even after His suffering, death, and resurrection for our salvation!
Application: So, how about us? I have often observed people who have become aged or very ill – who subsequently have little appetite. But when they can’t eat, neither can they exercise. But if they could exercise it would improve their appetite, and slowly they would get stronger and better.
It is much the same when it comes to God’s food and our spiritual health, strength, and vitality. They more we eat the more moved we are to live by faith and to exercise our faith. The more we do this the more we crave the food of the Gospel, of God’s Word. The more we eat, the more we are able to do, and the healthier we are.
The obverse is also true: when we eat little of God’s precious food we become weak in our faith and in our spirit, with the result that we do little to exercise our faith. Then it is as if we were glutted and sated – we have even less desire for God’s food, with the result that we become even weaker. Just as with people who can’t bring themselves to take in enough physical sustenance to grow stronger, so it is with those who refuse God’s food. The result is dismal – death.
Transition: It’s not that we can’t afford the food God is offering us, and urging us to eat! It is free to us – “without money and without price.” And the blessings are immense, for:
II. As We Eat God’s Food We Are Strengthened And Empowered To Feed Others
A. Jesus Authorizes Us To Make Disciples Of All Nations, Feeding Them His Love And Salvation In His Word And Sacraments
Matt. 28:19,20 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”
B. Jesus Miraculously Blesses Our Efforts As We Implement His Instructions
Text: Just as the 5,000 plus people were fed with only five loaves and two fish
Statement: The disciples were no doubt incredulous that Jesus would ask them to feed the multitude with such a paltry amount of food. But once Jesus has blessed the endeavor and given His Word, our efforts are sure to succeed. It is no different when it comes to inviting people to join us in feasting on the food that God has given us – His gracious forgiveness, mercy, and love. There will be some who refuse to eat, that is certain. But there will also be some who will eat, some who will believe, and they will be strengthened and nourished and empowered to do great things by faith. This is the blessing that God wills for each of us, and to which He invites us.
Application: People are often looking for miracles. There is no greater miracle than the church, believers in Christ. And there are no greater miraculous gifts than God’s Word and His Sacraments – Baptism and Holy Communion. There is no greater miraculous activity that we can participate in than to invite others to join us for the food God has given to us! It is as Jesus promised: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” To this day His church is growing throughout the world, and overcoming the darkness.
Conclusion: How much do I value this reality – the food God gives and what it accomplishes? Not nearly enough. But thanks be to God, this food takes away my sin and guilt, and strengthens my faith in God and my love for God. This is the blessed and rich food of God that enables our souls to live, and to live abundantly! The more we eat the stronger we are and the more active we become. And the more we exercise, the more we hunger and thirst for His Word, the food for our souls.
May God grant each of us such recovery of spiritual strength, spiritual health, and spiritual vitality – as He supplies the food and sustenance we require! Amen!
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.