Nothing new on this partly sunny, 60 degree afternoon, so let's get right into it, shall we??

In scanning my notes just now for a Message Intro., I'm struck by the fact that the boy gave out of what little he had. My boyfriend, Mike, is that way. While he struggles to make his benefits and Food Stamps last the month, he gets all he can from the area Food Pantries so that he can give some away to friends, as well as to myself and my parents. Although they don't require it, he even gives money to friends who volunteer at one of the Pantries for chicken feed. He gets several dozen eggs per month in return. I tend to be more cautious about my resources, and therefore, don't generally need extras. At the same time, I don't have any friends who are worse off than myself. Andrea struggles on Matt's Disability; but she has a car and can go where she needs to go in order to maintain food supplies. Mike's generosity is inspiring, just as the young man's in our Scripture today.

Let's turn to it together --

Mark 6:30-44

New International Version

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

³⁵ By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. ³⁶ Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

³⁷ But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages^[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

³⁸ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

³⁹ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied, ⁴³ and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

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On August 10th, during the announcement and welcome bit, we had a couple who are Missionaries to Japan. Greg and Asa Swenson have recently founded a House Church ministry called "House of Grace". During their brief overview of this story, Asa shared an inspired thought about this in relation to the water bottle she was holding. She compared House Churches, and really, even regular congregations like ours, to "water bottles" of God's Love. Sizes and locations are nothing in light of the Gospel message shared within. Amen!!??

Now, in case you were wondering why we seem to have skipped 29 verses of Scripture, let me reassure you. We haven't. The rest is covered in providing the context of our passage above.

This chapter begins with Jesus having been rejected in Nazareth, and later sending out the 72 to minister around other parts of the region.* As our story begins today, Jesus was TRYING to get away for some rest. (Remember, even the best of us need a nap once in a while.)* 🥱 The problem at hand was that there was a large gathering of sheep with no Shepherd to guide them. (vs 34)

Before going on with his message, Pastor Matt asked for feedback on the passage after he had finished reading it. The points that were brought out were as follow -- 1. No qualifiers. All were fed. 2. There was an abundance of provision. 3. This was a miracle of Jesus. 4. It was a Sign of the Kingdom. 5. Jesus showed compassion by serving others and putting His own needs last.* 6. He was drawing the Disciples into His Deity. 7. The Disciples took their best shot at it and failed.

The major "takeaway thought" for this message is that "The Feast of the 5,000 launched New Creation from His abundance; and He invites us to join Him."

Another major event leading up to this one was the death of John the Baptist. (It occurs to me that His cousin's demise was likely the reason for Jesus' need to rest.) But our focus here is that the order of and timing of this in relation to our narrative above is significant.

Herod was half Jewish, and was offended at John the Baptist having denounced his marriage to his sister-in-law.* The bigger picture here is that, while Herod had hosted a Banquet for the Elite on the occasion of John the Baptist's loss of life, Jesus then hosted a picnic for ALL.

As we read through our passage above, there are observations other that those already mentioned. They direct our attention back to the Old Testament in some unique ways.

The first thing we notice is that, while this area was in the wilderness, there was green grass. (vs 39) This points us back to Genesis 2:8-9 where it talks about the abundance of trees and other plant life in the Garden. This brought flourishing to Adam's and Eve's lives. As we know, it was God's Creation Command to spread His love.

Next, we look at the bread that was provided. This points us back to Moses and the Israelites in the desert, and God's daily provision of mana. (Exodus 16:2-4)

Now, with all this talk of green grass and sheep, you may have already guessed where our pages will turn following this...

Psalm 23 is a test of the human heart, as was our story above. Both challenge us to trust God as opposed to our current lack of resources, or other dangers we may encounter in life. We find a Shepherd, leading people through green pastures, which indicates fresh water close by. Therefore, we see the abundance of God's provision in each place. There is food and water to restore our bodies, and peaceful surroundings to restore our souls. In Christ, the abundance of God's love in Salvation leads us to Eternal Life.

Looking further ahead in our Bibles, we find that Revelation 22:1-2 show a similar image. In that passage, the Apostle John is seeing the River of Life in the pictures God is giving him of the New Heaven and New Earth. This brings out the truth that is always worth repeating. God never gives up on His Plan for our lives. His love brings healing to the Nations.

As indicated before, the Feast of the 5,000 is a picture of New Creation. At this point Pastor Matt shared briefly about a 7 year old boy who asked, "What will "no more death look like??". The description of New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation 20-22 gives the answers, as did our passage in 1 Corinthians 15 yesterday. We will have familiar looking, yet indestructible bodies.

In looking back again at our Scripture above, we can also take note of how it begins with a mindset of scarcity. The people, including the Disciples, had no imagination for God's abundance. We can relate with this mindset of scarcity in how we may withhold what we have from others around us. This boy had only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes.* Yet he was willing to share it with as many as it would feed. We also find the story related in John 5. The boy offers his meal, and God shows up for those who trust Him. This reassures us that it's okay to share, even if we don't have much to give. It's not about our ability, but His. We are invited to join Him, as our "takeaway thought" reminds us. We notice at the end of the story, the fact that, the baskets were NEVER EMPTY!! He wanted the Disciples to participate with Him in the OVERFLOWING leftovers.

The truth is, many of us rail against inadequacy in ourselves. Pastor Matt admits here about his lack of "handyman skills". As those of you who are homeowners know, there are always repairs or updates that are needed/wanted. In this case, Heidi wanted a shower door installed. Matt went out and got one. Long story short, they went back to having a curtain.*

While we may feel badly about our weaknesses in various things, there is good news for all of us in these moments. This is when God reveals Himself as our Provider!!

In our passage today, we see Jesus instructing the Disciples to give the people something to eat. "You feed them.", is essentially the idea He conveys. When they argue that it would take "more than half a years' wages" (vs 37). Jesus replies, "Give me what you have." The point is that He just wants our hearts. He'll take care of the rest. Just as He did with the people in our story this afternoon, Jesus looks on us with compassion and says, "Come feast!!".

The bottom line is that our lack is actually a gift because it's the invitation from God to trust Him and see New Creation breaking into our lives. We lack time, money, energy, etc... but what do we see in it??

-- God Bless!!

Footnotes:

1. Growing up, one of my maternal great uncles was a member of a group like this. Based in NYC, they have no public name, but send willing men and women out in pairs. Either 2 men or 2 women per ministry partnership. They are sent with no extra provisions, relying on God just as the originals did. Once a year, they have regional gatherings to worship and feast together as members of the Body of Christ. If anyone in the Northeastern US is interested, contact Chappell Tractor in Milford, NH. They host the meetings for this part of the US and Canada. (At least last I knew, my great uncle passed away a long time ago now; but it's worth asking.)

2. As to the restorative powers of the nap, I am incapable of napping "on purpose". Once I'm awake for the day, that's pretty much it. The only exceptions being if I've been up for an excessively long time, or if I'm sick. That being said, I would sometimes fall asleep with a toddler on my lap during their after lunch nap. But isn't that pretty normal when you have "littles"?? 🤪

3. I put an asterisk on the point of Jesus' having put His own needs last because this need not be an example we embrace all the time. While there are other times in Scripture we find Jesus napping, it's never when anything is TRULY necessary in the moment. (Remember our recent story of His calming the waves?? He reprimanded the Disciples on their lack of faith in that situation, told the wind and waves to calm themselves, and most likely, went back to sleep. None of us can pour from an empty vessel. The important point here, I feel, is to understand that Jesus couldn't either.

4. I actually just looked up about why JtB had condemned Herod's marriage. Here's the scoop -- First of all, the brother was still alive. This meant that the relationship was Adulterous. Secondly, the woman was also Herod's niece, making it Incestuous as well!! Woah!! 😱 😬

5. Two things about the loves and fishes -- One, the Food Pantry hosted in the basement of Centre Congregational Church of Brattleboro is named for this miracle. I/we attend there when I'm around on a Sunday. Two, it occurred to me to wonder how big the boy's items were. The overview tells that the bread was described as "barley loaves". This would have meant they were similar to dinner rolls or pita bread. Certainly not comparable to the long, thick loaves we have today!! And the fish?? Probably about the size of the average sardine!! What!!?? God is good, right!!?? ❤️

6. As to the shower door vs curtain debate, I embrace the curtain. It's more decorative, and you can't get trapped like I did once at my former in-laws' place.

Music -- Never any rights in sights!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE&list=RDSc6SSHuZvQE&start_radio=1

During this time, or between songs, Psalm 145:1-3 was read.