THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 13 & 14, 1999

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church - Watertown, WI

WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP, THEY NEED HELP Luke 9:10-17

A year of so ago one of our shut-ins gave me a framed plaque that he had picked up at an auction or household sale. It was a remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the Lutheran Church Charities Fund. I would like to read it to you.

I was hungry and you formed a club to discuss my hunger.

I was in prison and you crept off quietly to pray for my release.

I was naked and you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and you thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and you preached to me the shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for my comfort.

I was hungry and cold. You are holy and close to God.

You discussed, debated, thanked, preached and prayed.

Where did your prayers go? What have your prayers done?

What profit a man if he discusses, debates, thanks, preaches and prays - - -

but does not act and live accordingly - - when the rest of the world is crying for help?

Read Matthew 25:31-46. Live it!

Matthew 25:31-46 are Jesus' comments on the judgment when he recounts all the works of kindness which the believers have done in faith for their fellow human beings. In our reading for today, we see Jesus reach out and help people in need. As we consider the familiar account of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, we want to consider this thought - WHEN PEOPLE NEED HELP, THEY NEED HELP. As we watch our Savior's actions we learn that I) Jesus Helps. As we observe the reactions of those who are helped, we also see that II) Miracles Often Go Unnoticed.

JESUS HELPS

Just before the events of our reading our Savior Jesus had received some very upsetting news and also some exciting and exhilarating reports. Jesus had sent his disciples out to preach the good news. They returned from their mission trip and they were thrilled. They had the joy of proclaiming the good news about Jesus the Savior of the world. They had received the ability to heal people and drive out demons. They were overwhelmed with the power of God and they came back and had to tell Jesus what had occurred. Before they returned, Jesus had received the news that his good friend and relative, John the Baptist, had been beheaded by King Herod. Of course, Jesus was saddened by the loss of the man who had been his advance and pr man. John was the one whose voice was calling to the people, "Prepare the way for the Lord." It was John who had pointed to Jesus and told the people, "Look! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) And now John was dead. Jesus was filled with sorrow and grief. His disciples return all charged up and excited by what God had been doing through them as they were preaching the Word.

Jesus needs to get away. He needs to tell his disciples what has happened to John. So Jesus and his disciples get into a boat and attempt to go to a quiet and deserted spot for some time for rest, communication and reflection on all that has been happening. Jesus and his apostles get in a boat and travel about six miles from the west shore of the Sea of Galilee to a remote and deserted region near the city of Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the Sea. When the people saw Jesus get into the boat they ran along the shore to get to the area where Jesus was heading. When the Lord and his followers finally landed, they did not have the chance to be alone and reflect. Jesus did not have the opportunity to instruct and teach his disciples. Again he was confronted with people who needed help. What did Jesus do? Did he say, "You don't fit into my schedule. I have an appointment with my apostles and I can't take care of you right now? Go away. Come back some other time when it is more convenient for me?" No! Luke tells us that "Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing." (v. 11) Why did Jesus do that? Mark in his account of this event tells us that "Jesus had compassion on them. because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." (Mark 6:34) Jesus cares. He saw the need and he immediately did what he could to help.

That's the kind of Savior that we have. He is a Lord who is compassionate and sympathetic. As the writer to the Hebrews states, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Our Savior Jesus understands. He has been there, done that. He knows and the exciting news is that he has compassion and is able to help. Look at what he does for the people who have followed him. Luke says, "he spoke to them about the kingdom of God." (v. 11b) These people had needs. There were those who were sick, those who were blind, paralyzed, deaf and afflicted with all kinds of diseases. Why does Jesus talk to them? What good is talk? Luke tells us that Jesus talked to them about the kingdom of God. He reminded these people that they were only traveling through this world. There was a greater and more wonderful kingdom and place where they could live someday. These people needed to hear just as we do that we have a Savior who has prepared for us a home in God's heavenly kingdom. They needed to hear that Jesus is the promised Deliverer of the world. They needed to have their thoughts focused on what is most important. So Jesus took time to do that as he talked to them about God's kingdom, his plans and the wonderful future that he has prepared for his followers. But Jesus was not oblivious to these people's physical needs. He realized the importance of helping the people with their physical problems also. As James wrote, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16) Jesus dealt with their spiritual needs first but he did not neglect their physical needs. For Jesus cares. He is concerned about all of our needs. And he does something about them.

What comfort as you and I go through life to know that our Savior Jesus cares about us deeply and he takes care of us. Just recently one of our families lost most of their belongings in a fire. After the announcement last week, people have come forward and offered help to this family. That's how Jesus works. He works through us, his disciples. Not only does Jesus provide for our physical needs, he also prepares you and me for our eternal home with him in heaven. It is Jesus who speaks to us through his Word and in the Sacraments to create faith in our hearts and to preserve and keep us in that faith as we face challenges, temptations and trials. It is Jesus who cares enough to seek us out when we are lost and wandering far from him and his Word. He may use some incident in our lives or another believer to tap us on the shoulder and to bring us back to him and his Word. It is Jesus who takes us in his arms when we are overcome with grief and sorrow and says, "I am with you. I will help you." When we are overcome with guilt and shame over the sins that we have committed, the Lord Jesus, says to us, "Cheer up! Your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2c) Just as Jesus had compassion and cared for the people who followed him around the Sea of Galilee, so our Savior Jesus has compassion on us and cares for us. But often what Jesus does goes unnoticed.

MIRACLES GO UNNOTICED

Why doesn't Jesus perform miracles today like he did while he was on this earth? That question is often asked. Why isn't God performing miracles? He is. But just as in Jesus' ministry the people often missed the miracles that he performed, so today we often miss them and credit them to good luck or being in the right place at the right time.

In our reading Jesus had been teaching and healing the people. The hours had passed quickly and it was getting late in the day. Since they were in a remote region and the people had traveled a long way, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked him to send the people away so that they could go to the surrounding farms and villages to buy food and find a place to spend the night. Jesus' comment to his disciples seems rather strange. He says to them, "You give them something to eat." (v. 13) The disciples were surprised by Jesus' command. They quickly respond, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish - unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." (v. 13b) Luke tells us that there were five thousand men not counting women and children. Jesus knows what he is going to do. He tells the disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty." (v. 14). The disciples did as Jesus instructed them. Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish and gave thanks to God for this food and began to distribute it to his disciples and they in turn took it to the hundreds of groups of fifty people sitting on the ground. Luke tells us that all the people ate until they had enough. Everyone was satisfied. No one was left hungry. In fact, Jesus had his disciples pick up the left overs and they had twelve basketfuls of broken pieces, one for each of the apostles. The people were filled and Jesus then dismissed them and sent them back home. Many were unaware of what Jesus had done. They had been fed, but they were not aware of the miracle that our Savior had performed by multiplying that food so that it was able to satisfy thousands of people and still have leftovers. In fact, John tells us that the people wanted to take Jesus by force and make him a king. They liked this that Jesus was able to heal their illnesses and feed them. But our Lord quickly sent them away and he went into the mountains to pray and be alone. Even though many of the people misunderstood Jesus' miracles or did not even recognize them, they had a purpose. They had a purpose for Jesus' disciples.

This miracle of feeding so many people with such a small amount of food, caused the Apostles to understand that Jesus is the mighty God. He is the God of the universe and he controls all things. He controls the food supply. Immediately after this miracle, when Jesus went to the mountains to pray, he sent his disciples back out onto the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Later that night a storm rose and almost sunk the boat the disciples were in. But Jesus came walking out to them on the water and he calmed the storm. Jesus was teaching his disciples, "I have power over nature. I am the Almighty God." Through this Jesus was revealing himself to his disciples as the promised Savior of Israel. He was proclaiming to his disciples, "I am the seed of the woman who will crush the serpent's head." "I am the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who will be a blessing for all the people of the earth."

The miracles that Jesus still perform remind us that he is the Lord of the universe and of our lives. He is guiding and directing our lives and working all for our good. Jesus is still providing for us and protecting us. Normally he does that through natural means, but at times he still is performing miracles. This past May as we were going to our daughter's college graduation I was driving my father-in-law's car and my wife was following in our car. As I glanced in the rear view mirror, I saw the rear tear blow on our car and watched as my wife and her mother headed for the median and the westbound cars on I-94. Just as quickly I saw the car turn and head for the right side of the road, go airborne and flip over. Then I lost sight of the car because of the embankment of an overpass. I pulled to the side of the road and ran back to the car. When I arrived the car was sitting of its four wheels and my wife and mother-in-law were standing outside of the car. My mother-in-law had a few scratches from the glass that had shattered and broken out of the windows. The car was totalled, but neither my wife nor her mother were harmed. The state police officer who investigated the accident just marvelled that no one was killed in that accident. Was this good luck? I think not. This is an example of the miracles that the Lord is still performing for his people.

What comfort to know that the Lord Jesus is still providing for the needs of his people today. When people are in need, they need help. Thank the Lord that he does help us in all our needs.

Amen.