Because we’ve been in our worship series, we’ve been hearing different texts each week, but in the Revised Common Lectionary, the gospel readings for five weeks from July 25 through next Sunday August 25 are all from Chapter 6 in the Gospel of John. This body of readings is known as the Bread of Life discourse and it begins with the reading we have today.
In his gospel, John doesn’t record miracles. Instead, the events where Jesus does the unexpected are called ‘signs’ because they point to who Jesus is. The description of what happens isn’t as important as what it says about the character of Jesus.
So, as I listened this week again to this familiar text, I tried to remember that it isn’t about a math problem – the multiplication of loaves and fish – and instead asked, “What does the sign point to?”
First, the text connects us back to Israel’s Exodus experience of being in the wilderness and receiving God’s manna. Manna was “like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:31 NRS)”. The Israelites complained to Moses while they were in the wilderness and God heard their complaints and provided them with manna that fell down and covered the ground like frost each day and they were instructed to gather only what they needed. There was enough for each person and nothing was wasted.
The second connection, as we hear Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and gave the food to the crowd, is to the meal that we gather for here at the Lord’s Table. That day, Jesus made an offering of bread and fish, but in the Eucharist or Holy Communion, Jesus makes an offering of his very own body and blood to sustain us in our life as disciples and as children of God.
The third connection is one that
I hadn’t noticed before. Verse 10 says,
“Jesus said, “Get the people to sit down.” Now the men numbered about five thousand, but there was plenty of grass there for them to find a seat.”
It feels like a throw-away verse. Why does it matter where people sat?
But then, I think about when we gather for a meal in the fellowship hall, and there might be thirty or even fifty of us. The best way I know to get everyone’s attention is to call out, “The Lord be with you!” It seems like in the crowd John describes that every time you’d get one group to sit down, another likely would wander off.
And exactly where can 5,000 people sit with plenty of space? To give you an idea, Keeter Stadium, where the American Legion ball games are happening this weekend, seats 5,200. And anyone who has sat in that stadium when it’s full knows it can’t be described as ‘spacious’ when every seat is filled.
So, we know this was a big crowd and a big space. The men numbered five thousand, and the synoptic gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke- say there were women and children there too. It would have been chaotic and messy, and there was probably some grumbling happening.
But with authority, Jesus and the
disciples get everyone seated on the grass.
So do you know where else in Scripture we hear about God and grass or pasture?
It’s in the psalms.
Psalm 23 says,
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;” (Psalm 23:1-2 NRS);
Psalm 95 says,
“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psalm 95:7 NRS); and
Psalm 100 says,
“Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3 NRS)
The shepherd made the people lie down in green pastures and Jesus sat the people down in the carpet of green grass. (The Message)[i]
Jesus is our Shepherd, Lord and King.
In John’s gospel we recognize that the same Shepherd who leads us through valleys of death is the one who leads us to places where we can rest and be fed.
That same Shepherd provides us with our
portion – just what we need – and sustains us for the journey of faith.
Following Jesus, we believe that God provides abundantly for us, without any
fear of scarcity. We may be tempted like Philip or Andrew, to focus on what we
cannot do, how difficult a situation seems or what our limits are, but God
reminds us that God is at work in the world, and discipleship isn’t about
fixing people or things. It’s about being present and trusting God to be the One
who we see all through Scripture. Steadfast and loving. Generous and merciful.
And then we are freed to see what else God is
doing and how we can participate, how we can help others feel welcome and know
that same blessed assurance of God’s abundant love.
Let us pray…
Good and gracious God,
Thank you for your Son Jesus who restores us
to life with you,
and through whom we know your abundant love
and mercy.
Help us watch for signs of your presence in
the world and ask how we can participate in what you are doing.
Fill us with your Spirit and send us into the
world to love and serve.
We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Amen.
[i] Karoline
Lewis discussing the Bread of Life discourse on the Pulpit Fiction Podcast
No comments:
Post a Comment