Never Enough
Listen.August 3rd, 2008
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been caught attending a meeting that lasts longer than it should. The meeting stretches into my lunchtime and my stomach begins to growl. How embarrassing this is when others hear the growling. Although, I suppose that this type of interruption might help the leader of the meeting realize that it has gone on too long! Hunger pangs set in when we don’t eat according to our habitual schedule.
Of course, there are other times when I have become so focused on a task that I forget what time it is and continue to work over the lunch hour. Interestingly enough, at those times, my stomach fails to remind me that it’s time to eat.
The crowds in our lesson for this morning are so focused on Jesus, so caught up in his presence and in his healing of people that they fail to realize what time it is and perhaps even where they are. The time has slipped away and it is evening. The crowds had not had supper and had failed to bring any food with them.
The feeding
Our passage today does not really begin with the feeding of the 5,000 men plus women and children rather it begins with Jesus wanting to get away from the crowds. He was looking for some solitude. Jesus had heard about the murder of John the Baptist and he wished to be alone for a while to take some time for prayer and contemplation.
Jesus gets into a boat and sails to a deserted place; this sets up the situation for what will follow. The crowds heard that he had gone away and they follow him! They find him! As soon as Jesus arrives at the landing sight the crowds are waiting. Jesus, instead of telling the crowds to leave because he was in mourning for his friend and relative John, has compassion on the crowd and begins to cure their sick.
Working well into the evening, Jesus appears to be oblivious to the time and so his disciples come to him and suggest that since the hour is late Jesus should send the crowds into the villages to buy food for themselves. Evidently the gospel writer Matthew did not worry about the crowd being unable to afford food. The crowd does not seem to be composed of poor people. In spite of the where-with-all to purchase food, Jesus tells his disciples that the crowd need not go to the village, instead he tells the disciples, “You feed them.” The disciples were amazed and respond that they only had two fish and five loaves of bread. Surely this is not enough for the crowd that was assembled?
Jesus proceeded to take the food that was available, he blessed and broke the loaves of bread and then gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. The crowd ate and was satisfied; hunger alleviated. With Jesus participating there is always enough and even more.
As we meditate on this passage, one of the impressions that continue to strike us is that Jesus cares about the physical well being and health of his people. We note that he was involved in curing people of their diseases, even when he was tired and needed solitude. He was always available and his care. Compassion and love moved beyond the spiritual and touched people in a physical way. His mercy and blessing goes way beyond what people actually need. The crowd not only ate and was full but there were 12 baskets full of leftovers! It would be nice to make a connection between the 12 baskets full and the twelve disciples, or even the 12c tribes of Israel as being a complete number; the completeness of the kingdom of God. However, most commentators do not suggest that this was Matthew’s intention.
We do know, however, that the feeding of this large crowd is mentioned in all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This means that along with the resurrection the story of the miraculous feeding is one of the most important stories in our gospels. Jesus’ blessings are abundant and beyond what we think are possible. The disciples felt that there were not enough resources to provide even a scrap of food for the hungry people; yet we know that Jesus used the meager amount to feed them abundantly.
Where do we fit?
In our interpretation of this passage we can find ourselves entering into the story in a variety of places. Our first point of contact comes as we realize that the entire story is one that highlights Jesus mercy toward people. Those that are sick and hurting come to Jesus and he cures them of their diseases. He also feeds those who are hungry. He cares for people in physical need.
Perhaps we find ourselves at this juncture when we pray to the Lord for healing, help, encouragement or even our daily bread. Jesus loves us and has compassion for our situation; for our struggles, hurts, illnesses and discouragements. When there never seems to be enough help, Jesus is present and his presence and love and mercy is more than enough for all of our issues. When we feel like we’re running on empty, Jesus fills us and encourages us in our ministries. This fall we will emphasize the theme “Living the Mission.” This will encourage us to invest ourselves more fully in our Lord as disciples and as believers. The spirit will fill us and expand our understanding and grow our faith.
Another area where we might enter into this text is as we read about the disciples distributing the food to the large crowd. As God’s people we are called and challenged to feed God’s people who are hungry; both spiritually and physically. We are called to share God’s story with others who need to hear the good news of the gospel and who need to feel the love of Christ coming through those of us who call ourselves believers.
Again we can do this in our small groups as they reorganize for our fall campaign. We do this through our PADS ministry and through our gifts to the food pantry. Working and giving together we provide spiritually and physically for God’s people. Together we can do much more than simply if we are alone. With the Lord there is more than enough for all people.
A third area and one that is perhaps more difficult for us to hear is the complaint of the disciples to Jesus request to feed the hungry. We have only two fish and five loaves of bread – that’s not enough! How often do we respond similarly? Do we look around at all the ministry to be accomplished, all the good things we see that need doing, all the opportunities that are before us for the building of the kingdom and we respond by suggesting that we do not have enough resources to do everything God is asking? This is one of the main sins of many believers and even congregations.
When we respond to the Lord by suggesting that there is not enough resources, gifts, talents, abilities etc., we are limiting what God wants to do in us and through us. Our passage is a prime example. We say there never is enough and yet the passage reminds us that if it is of God the resources will be provided and the people blessed. Do not limited God by our own selfish orientation. For when we give our lives and our resources to the Lord great things will happen. I need only think of the mission trip when we had so much work to be done but with the resources available and working together great things happened to people in our three work sites.
Jesus’ mercy
Ultimately this passage is about Jesus’ mercy toward those who needed him. He was unselfish in his ministry and in his personal life. Even though he wanted time apart the interruption afforded him the opportunity to show God’s love. This is such a wonderful thing; to know that our Lord always loves us and cares for us. We can approach our Lord any time with concerns, problems, difficulties, pains, illness and the Lord hears our requests.
In response, the answer that is best comes to us and we pray that we are open to the answer and see it as from God. Jesus mercy and compassion is more than enough for his people.
Jesus mercy also overrode the concern of his disciples that there was not enough food to feed everyone. The love and mercy of our Lord; the blessings of Jesus should not be limited by our self-concern; by our hoarding of the resources God has given us. This passage calls us to be open to the work of the Lord in our lives and through us to others bringing God’s love and mercy to others.
This passage finally suggests that we need not be afraid to extend ourselves; to move away from a spirit of timidity and to be unafraid to tackle those opportunities for ministry that may appear to be unattainable. God works miracles and with God nothing is impossible – unless sabotaged by our fear! Rather than suggesting that there is never enough resources, perhaps we should say with faith that there are never enough opportunities to share the gospel and to do great things for our Lord.
Conclusion
There was a man called Mr. Freeman who came to California seeking his fortune in the gold rush. He owned several mills back in the East. When he went to California he left half of his enormous wealth and left half safe back home. He bought the best geological research and staked out his claim. He began to dig. He toiled for months and then running out of money and refusing to wire for more, he sold his claim. The new owner began digging and within 12 feet hit the mother lode. Over $500 million of gold and silver were removed from the Comstock Mines. Half committed, he made half an effort. Jesus wants us to commit ourselves, not half way but our entire life to him. Anything else and we limit our Lord and the great things and blessings he has for us will also be limited. We may think there is never enough of the resources we need seize the opportunities that God places before us, but our Lord performs miracles even with just 2 fish and 5 loaves. Praise God! Amen.