Mark 6:30-34
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Decatur, IN
It's more than enough
One of life’s major mistakes is being the last member
of the family to get the flu – After all the compassion has run out.
It is often true. That most of our compassion is
wasted on ourselves.
Or, that we are
compassionate. If it costs us nothing. In our Gospel lesson, we learn of
someone who is not like us. We see Christ who has a passion for compassion.
Jesus - His heart goes out to you. He is
compassionate. Because He knows all your needs.
Your Lord knows His sheep. You are His. You are a
sheep of His fold. A lamb of His flock. A sinner of His own redeeming. He knows
your needs. He knows what you want. And how you demand it.
Jesus said, “Do
not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor
about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothing? Look at the birds of
the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you, by
being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you
anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they
neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
But if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown
into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we
drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to
you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious
for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – [2]
He knows you personally. David prays, “Search my O
God, You know my heart.”
O
LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I
rise up;
You discern my thoughts
from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down.
And are acquainted with
all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, you know
it altogether.[3]
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
In your book
were written, every one of them,
The days that were formed for me,
When as yet there was none of them.[4]
Jesus knew His disciples were tired. He directed them
to go to a desolate place. Where they could be alone and rest. He was looking
out for them. Giving them rest. So they could continue to minister to the
world.
While wandering in the desert. The Father provided
manna. He gave them water that flowed from the rocks to His chosen people, the
Israelites, so they would not perish in the desert.
In the Garden of Eden. He provided Adam and Eve. With
a garden full of food.
These blessings do not stop. We live in this modern
world. True. We no longer have bread falling from the sky. The LORD our Creator
has given us the ability to harvest the very earth to produce food that will
nourish and sustain us.
Many of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen by trade. They
lived off what the sea provides them. We have been endowed with the ability to
manipulate our surrounding environment to best suit our needs. A packet of
seeds sown in May. Has now produced - 50 marigold plants in our flowerbeds! One
kernel of corn planted in the spring. Produces
bushels come harvest!
This is the world of our Great Creator. Jesus had such
compassion that he feed them all. 5,000 men. Plus women and children. With
leftovers to spare. It was more than
enough. He fills their stomachs. He nourished their souls. (vv.31, 35-44)
He has come with divine compassion to save
us from sin and death and to feed us with Himself. As our Lord Jesus once took
bread. Said a blessing. Broke the loaves. And gave them to the disciples. And
the disciples gave them to the crowds.
He also now takes bread. Blesses it by His Word. Declares
it to be His very body. And distributes it to His Church by the hand of His
called and ordained servants.
Just as “they took up twelve baskets full of
the broken pieces,” there is more than enough for His whole Church to eat
and to be satisfied.
When He saw the crowd, He felt compassion.
In settling His accounts. Our LORD acts not with anger.
But with compassion. He does not imprison us as we deserve. But He forgives all
our debts. And releases us.
Therefore. Our Lord bids each of us to have “mercy on your fellow servant.” And “forgive your brother from your heart.”[5]
He saw them as lost sheep. In need of a Shepherd. His
heart went out to them. This compassion moves Him to action.
He shepherds His flock. Then, He saw the crowds who
were seeking him. He taught them. They needed Him and His teaching. He revealed
Himself as their true Shepherd by proclaiming Good News. By leading with His
Word, “He began to teach them many things.” (v. 34)
Jesus said, “I
am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The
hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the
wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the
flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares
nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me.” — [6]
The Lord suffers in all the afflictions of His people.
Because of His love He feels what you feel. He hurts when you hurt. He suffered
when you too suffer.
When the Lord called Moses. He said that He heard the cries
of His enslaved people in Egypt. No one ever suffers alone.
No one ever walks alone. Remember and recall the very last
words the Savior spoke while standing on this earth.
On the day of His glorious Ascension. He reminds you of such
a wonderful promise when He said, “I am with you always!’ That is not an
idle wish. It’s a reality you have come to know by faith.
It’s more than enough. He saves you. By going to that
glorious and blessed cross. Bearing your sin. Behold the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world. Redemption by crucifixion is the Savior’s supreme
act of compassion – for you.
Christ’s forgiveness – Purchased and won for you at
the cross – This is Christ’s compassion for you. The forgiving king cancelled
the liability of his debt. And out of pity for him, the master of that
servant released him and forgave him the debt.[7]
The waiting father. Had compassion for his son. – But while he was still a long way off. His father saw him. And felt compassion. And ran. And embraced him. And kissed him. [8] And who would do such a compassionate thing as this? Your LORD! That’s who.
Compassion. What a beautiful description of Christ’s attitude
toward you. To sheep who are prone to wander. And often find themselves lost
and hurt. It is good news. That you have a Shepherd who pours out His heart to you.
And who poured out His blood for you.[9]
[1]
Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2]
Matthew 6:24-34
[3]
Psalm 139:1-4
[4]
Psalm 139:16
[5]
Matthew 18:33,35
[6]
John 10:11-14
[7]
Matthew 18:27
[8]
Luke 15:20
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