Scripture reading: Psalm 145:15-22.

Sermon text: Matthew 14-13-21.

Introduction

What do we miss that we should see? What do we not anticipate that we should expect?

This week, I heard a story of God’s provision that reminded me of the sermon passage today. The story reminded me of the times that God provided for my family during my seminary years. Time and again, when we wondered how we’d make it through the next month, something always happened that helped us through the trial.

As I thought about God’s work in our lives, and as I re-read the Psalm for today, I remembered that history reminds us over and over that God has always provided for His people. The Old Testament records God’s work in the history of the Jews, from the time He called Abraham to leave Ur to the prophecies of Malachi over 1,500 years later. The stories of the saints remind us of God’s work in the New Testament era and beyond to our present age.

Then, the thought occurred to me: Why do we count it miraculous when God fulfills His promise to provide for us? Why do we ever doubt that God will work for us as He worked for His people in the Scriptures?

When the sun began to set on one of the most storied days in history, Jesus knew the needs of those who had listened to Him that day. Jesus provided for those in His lives even though they couldn’t have known even that He would, much less how.

I strongly suspect that God works in our lives every day, but we somehow managed to miss it. I also suspect that most of our fears consume us because we fail to expect God to help us in our lives. Guess what? God still cares about us. God still cares for us. Whatever you need in your life, God knows and wants to help you, now and for the eternity to come.

Sermon

Jesus’ life and ministry had reached a crossroads at the opening of Matthew 14.  His cousin, John the Baptist, had just been executed by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Antipas carried Herod’s reputation for cruelty into the second generation, but without Herod’s resolve. Antipas killed John because he feared his wife’s rage if he didn’t.

When Jesus heard of John’s death, He took His disciples to Bethsaida, a town across the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum. Bethsaida was in the territory ruled by Herod Antipas’ brother Philip. Unlike Antipas, Philip had the reputation of a just ruler. Philip often traveled throughout his territory, carrying a portable throne with him. Any subject could ask for his judgment, upon which Philip would order his court into session on the spot.

Philip’s territory was also predominantly Gentile. This explains why Jesus would often go to his tetrarchy when He crossed the Pharisees.

Jesus had gone to Philip’s territory primarily for a time of spiritual retreat with His disciples. However, Jesus was followed by thousands of Jews who wanted to hear His teachings. In a typical demonstration of His compassion, Jesus both healed the sick and taught the crowds.

The day passed, and the crowds remained. Apparently no one but one boy thought to bring any lunch. One boy had brought a typical childhood lunch of 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish.

At the end of the day, Jesus’ compassion focused on the physical hunger of the people. Most people in Jesus’ day lived literally day to day. If someone didn’t work one day, or wasn’t paid at the end of the day, his family went hungry the next day.

When Jesus saw the hunger of the crowds, He saw an opportunity to teach both the crowds and His disciples an important lesson. Could He provide for the people in their time of need? Would Jesus do the impossible by feeding this many people at once?

The other Gospels fill in a detail or so in the story. St. John recorded that Jesus turned to Philip, His disciple, and asked him, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Notice that Philip is a Greek name, not a Jewish name. Most likely, Philip was a Hellenistic Jew, one whose ancestors had adopted Greek culture while maintaining their Jewish identity. Philip may well have been from the tetrarchy of Philip, Herod’s son. Regardless of Philip’s origin, he knew full well the disciples could not afford to feed this crowd.

St. John also recorded that Andrew found the child with the lunch and brought the child’s lunch to Jesus. Jesus asked His disciples to seat the crowds. After blessing the lunch, Jesus asked His disciples to pass out the food to the crowd.

Can you imagine the crowd’s delight when they realized the miracle happening around them? Can you imagine the joy as the reality began to sink in?

Some people will scoff at this miracle. Some would ask, “Do you really believe Jesus fed 5,000 people at once?” I’d have to answer truthfully: “No, I don’t believe Jesus fed 5,000 people. The Scriptures tell me He fed 5,000 men, besides the women and children. I believe Jesus fed at least 10,000 to 15,000 people total and used 5 loaves and 2 fish to do it.

Why should we think this impossible? Why should we doubt that Jesus, the Son of God, would provide for those He came to redeem? If He cared enough about them to die for them, what would He do to help them?

Again, St. John provides another detail. According to St. John, the people tried to crown Jesus as king. I suppose we’d do the same if we thought someone could provide our daily bread every day with no effort on our parts.

What about us today? What does this story about Jesus’ provision say to us?

First, we need to realize that Jesus cared for the people as He saw their needs, not necessarily as they saw their own needs. First, Jesus taught them; He gave them words they could carry into eternity. Then, Jesus provided for their physical needs by healing and feeding them. In modern, materialistic America, we often get carried away with our physical needs and desires to the detriment of our spiritual lives. When you come to God for a physical need, don’t be surprised when He first fixes your spiritual need.

What is our greatest spiritual need? We all need a relationship with God. Jesus fed the crowds on that day outside Bethsaida, but He didn’t come to earth to feed people with food. He came to earth for our salvation. When we do wrong against others — the Scriptures call it “sin” — we put ourselves at odds with God; we break any hope of a relationship with our Creator who created us for a relationship that transcends anything you can imagine. The Scriptures tell us the penalty for the wrong is death. Fortunately, the Scriptures also tell us that Jesus paid the penalty with His crucifixion in Jerusalem. Even better, Jesus provided for our victory over death with His resurrection. When we confess Him as Lord of our lives, believing in His resurrection, we begin a relationship with God that provides for our spiritual needs.

We also need to see the compassion of God in this story. When His people needed His provision, He provided. God had done so in the past, especially in the time in the Hebrews’ wandering in the wilderness during their journey to the Promised Land. What God had done before, He could and will do again. If God can provide for those in Jesus’ day, He can provide for us.

We need to explore this lesson further. Like those of Jesus’ time, we often see only what we care to see and miss God’s blessings as a result. How often have you prayed for God to deliver you in some way and then wondered if He would come through for you? Personally, I find myself in the disciples’ shoes: I tell God the problem, then I suggest a solution. I’m still learning to ask in faith and know that God can fulfill my needs in ways beyond my understanding.

I wonder if the Jews in Jesus’ crowd that day remembered the passage from the Psalm we read today. “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”  We spend our time worrying about what we can’t control and forget that God controls everything in His creation. When we have needs in our lives, we need to ask Jesus to provide for us, believing in faith He will meet our needs as is best for us.

Lastly, Psalm 145 also gives us a great lesson from Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000. Look at the last verse we read today: “My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” When we experience the provision of God, we need to tell someone. In the Old Testament, the Jews would perform the peace offering in the sanctuary when God answered their prayers. As the sacrifice cooked on the altar, the person making the offering would stand beside the altar and tell everyone in the sanctuary what God had done for them. When we tell others what God has done for us, we increase their faith in God and also give them hope that God will work in their lives as well.

When you have a need in your life, I have 2 suggestions. First, when you ask God for help, begin looking in your life for His work as He solves the problem His way. Secondly,  when you ask God for help, expect Him to begin working in your life. The same Jesus who fed the crowds on the shores of the Sea of Galilee continues to provide for us today. Trust Him to care for you as well.