Lent 4 - 2003

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM

Messiah Lutheran Church

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Laetare – Lent 4 (March 30, 2003)

John 6:1-15

TITLE: “Heavenly Manna”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel lesson just read from John chapter 6, Jesus’ feeding of the 5000.

The children of Israel were hungry. God had visited His people, and He had delivered them with a mighty hand from the cruel power of Pharaoh. Ten plagues he had sent to the Egyptians. The very finger of God was upon Pharaoh. And God delivered the children of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea into the wilderness of Sinai. They were on the mountain, and they were hungry. How would they eat? How would they live?

God provided for them. He sent manna from heaven, and quail in the air. Manna, this little bread like substance, sweet and yet strong and healthy. They didn’t know what to do with it, frankly, but they knew it was from God. He had provided for them in their time of need. Notice, though, that God is the one who determined when, where and how they were to receive His blessings. In the morning, they were to gather enough for the day, and no more. They were to go into the fields. They were to gather just enough for themselves and their families. There would be no greed or hoarding of God’s gifts. It was a question of trust. God would provide for them, every day of their lives.

In one way, this is about stewardship of the gifts God gives to you, His children. How do you receive the gifts God gives to you each day of your life? Do you receive them with thanksgiving? Do you receive enough for now, and give to others, or do you hoard and become greedy about what God Himself has given you? We all fail when it comes to managing the gifts that God gives to us. The economy is slow, I’d better cut back my giving. There’s a war on, so I had better keep what I have and let someone else worry about my family, my friends, and the people God puts in my path. It is very easy to receive the gifts that God gives to us each day and treat them as if they are not gifts given, but wages earned.

How you handle the things of this life, how you treat the gifts which God gives to you, really shows you and the whole world what is important to you. Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. Looking at such things always makes us uncomfortable, because we frankly want to live and believe that God and my faith are in one box, and the rest of my life is in another box. They never intersect. It would be a lot easier that way. But that is not the way of God. The Ten Commandments show us that the way of God, the path He would have you and I take, is always the way of service toward others, giving, sacrificing, and caring for others more than ourselves. That’s pretty unpleasant at times, but it is true nonetheless.

It should not surprise us, then, that the children of Israel grumbled at God’s gifts to them. They became tired of manna from heaven. It didn’t fit their appetite. They longed for the slavery of Egypt, because at least they had meat in their pots. No matter what Moses would give to them, they would never be satisfied, just as you are never satisfied with the Law. It galls you. You chafe under its rule, even though its rule is for your good.

There was another people with another Prophet on a mountain. They had come to hear Him preach, and to feed their bellies on His miracles. Jesus knew it. They came to Him because they wanted a wonderworker, a break king who would satisfy their every lust and whim and desire. Where will they eat? Jesus asked? The disciples didn’t believe Jesus could really feed all these people, and so one points out that a fortune wouldn’t cover the cost, and another says that their only resource is five loaves of bread and two small fish.

But our God specializes in making miracles on mountains. Jesus, the greater Moses, does what no one else could do. He feeds them all. He feeds them so much that they can’t take anymore! He gives and gives and gives so that there is more leftovers than they could possibly imagine!

This is how God works in your life. He will take care of you. Trust him. He will always be there for you.

But this isn’t really about stewardship of money or possessions or whether you’ll be able to pay the bills. God will take care of all of that in His own time and in His own way. That is really the easy part.

What this is about is how God is going to take care of you forever. This is about the Lord’s Supper, the living bread from heaven, or our priceless treasure, as our hymns confesses. The Jews used to have a saying that God’s Word is God’s Bread. God feeds His people with His very Word. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, in the flesh. When you feed upon His Word made flesh in the Lord’s Supper, you are receiving the very Word of God given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.

Sounds strange? I suppose it is in some ways. But in a very real way, this is how God comes to you and feeds you. He feeds you with His very body and blood, given and shed for you. Traditionally at the Altar, the congregation at the communion rail bows before kneeling to receive Christ’s body and blood. You bow because you are recognizing God is present in the bread and win of His Sacrament. But after you receive Christ’s Body and Blood, the pastor bows to you. Why? Now you have the very Bread of Life within you. You have eaten holy food, and that holy food makes you holy in God’s eyes.

This life can be weary and exhausting. As long as you look to yourself and the Law, there is never enough. But that is precisely what God’s Law seeks to show you. You cannot provide for yourself. You need Him.

You need refreshment for your Christian journey through life. This life weighs you down and holds you back, and sometimes it may seem as though there is no rest for your weary soul. That is why Christ gives you His body and blood in His Supper. This is rest for your soul. This is real food and real drink that feeds not only the body but your very life itself. It is, as the ancients called it, the medicine of immortality, for this food doesn’t just keep you alive for a little while longer. With this heavenly manna you receive eternity itself on your lips and in you mouth.

That is real food and drink. That is a meal to strengthen you on your journey. So come and eat at Christ’s heavenly table. Everything is ready for you. He bids you come and eat with Him in faith. You will never go away from His Table hungry. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

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This page was created on 02/18/2007 and last edited on: 02/18/2007

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Lent 4 - 2003


Main Menu Sitemap Recent Home Beliefs Liturgy and Preaching Parish Education Articles History Links Contact Pastor * Pastor's Blog Calendar Directions Photobook This Section Lent 4 - 2001 Lent 4 - 2002 Lent 4 - 2003 Lent 4 - 2004 Lent 4 - 2006 Lent 4 - 2007	Lent 4 - 2003 Todd A. Peperkorn, STM Messiah Lutheran Church Kenosha, Wisconsin Laetare – Lent 4 (March 30, 2003) John 6:1-15 TITLE: “Heavenly Manna” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel lesson just read from John chapter 6, Jesus’ feeding of the 5000. The children of Israel were hungry. God had visited His people, and He had delivered them with a mighty hand from the cruel power of Pharaoh. Ten plagues he had sent to the Egyptians. The very finger of God was upon Pharaoh. And God delivered the children of Israel through the waters of the Red Sea into the wilderness of Sinai. They were on the mountain, and they were hungry. How would they eat? How would they live? God provided for them. He sent manna from heaven, and quail in the air. Manna, this little bread like substance, sweet and yet strong and healthy. They didn’t know what to do with it, frankly, but they knew it was from God. He had provided for them in their time of need. Notice, though, that God is the one who determined when, where and how they were to receive His blessings. In the morning, they were to gather enough for the day, and no more. They were to go into the fields. They were to gather just enough for themselves and their families. There would be no greed or hoarding of God’s gifts. It was a question of trust. God would provide for them, every day of their lives. In one way, this is about stewardship of the gifts God gives to you, His children. How do you receive the gifts God gives to you each day of your life? Do you receive them with thanksgiving? Do you receive enough for now, and give to others, or do you hoard and become greedy about what God Himself has given you? We all fail when it comes to managing the gifts that God gives to us. The economy is slow, I’d better cut back my giving. There’s a war on, so I had better keep what I have and let someone else worry about my family, my friends, and the people God puts in my path. It is very easy to receive the gifts that God gives to us each day and treat them as if they are not gifts given, but wages earned. How you handle the things of this life, how you treat the gifts which God gives to you, really shows you and the whole world what is important to you. Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also. Looking at such things always makes us uncomfortable, because we frankly want to live and believe that God and my faith are in one box, and the rest of my life is in another box. They never intersect. It would be a lot easier that way. But that is not the way of God. The Ten Commandments show us that the way of God, the path He would have you and I take, is always the way of service toward others, giving, sacrificing, and caring for others more than ourselves. That’s pretty unpleasant at times, but it is true nonetheless. It should not surprise us, then, that the children of Israel grumbled at God’s gifts to them. They became tired of manna from heaven. It didn’t fit their appetite. They longed for the slavery of Egypt, because at least they had meat in their pots. No matter what Moses would give to them, they would never be satisfied, just as you are never satisfied with the Law. It galls you. You chafe under its rule, even though its rule is for your good. There was another people with another Prophet on a mountain. They had come to hear Him preach, and to feed their bellies on His miracles. Jesus knew it. They came to Him because they wanted a wonderworker, a break king who would satisfy their every lust and whim and desire. Where will they eat? Jesus asked? The disciples didn’t believe Jesus could really feed all these people, and so one points out that a fortune wouldn’t cover the cost, and another says that their only resource is five loaves of bread and two small fish. But our God specializes in making miracles on mountains. Jesus, the greater Moses, does what no one else could do. He feeds them all. He feeds them so much that they can’t take anymore! He gives and gives and gives so that there is more leftovers than they could possibly imagine! This is how God works in your life. He will take care of you. Trust him. He will always be there for you. But this isn’t really about stewardship of money or possessions or whether you’ll be able to pay the bills. God will take care of all of that in His own time and in His own way. That is really the easy part. What this is about is how God is going to take care of you forever. This is about the Lord’s Supper, the living bread from heaven, or our priceless treasure, as our hymns confesses. The Jews used to have a saying that God’s Word is God’s Bread. God feeds His people with His very Word. Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, in the flesh. When you feed upon His Word made flesh in the Lord’s Supper, you are receiving the very Word of God given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. Sounds strange? I suppose it is in some ways. But in a very real way, this is how God comes to you and feeds you. He feeds you with His very body and blood, given and shed for you. Traditionally at the Altar, the congregation at the communion rail bows before kneeling to receive Christ’s body and blood. You bow because you are recognizing God is present in the bread and win of His Sacrament. But after you receive Christ’s Body and Blood, the pastor bows to you. Why? Now you have the very Bread of Life within you. You have eaten holy food, and that holy food makes you holy in God’s eyes. This life can be weary and exhausting. As long as you look to yourself and the Law, there is never enough. But that is precisely what God’s Law seeks to show you. You cannot provide for yourself. You need Him. You need refreshment for your Christian journey through life. This life weighs you down and holds you back, and sometimes it may seem as though there is no rest for your weary soul. That is why Christ gives you His body and blood in His Supper. This is rest for your soul. This is real food and real drink that feeds not only the body but your very life itself. It is, as the ancients called it, the medicine of immortality, for this food doesn’t just keep you alive for a little while longer. With this heavenly manna you receive eternity itself on your lips and in you mouth. That is real food and drink. That is a meal to strengthen you on your journey. So come and eat at Christ’s heavenly table. Everything is ready for you. He bids you come and eat with Him in faith. You will never go away from His Table hungry. In Jesus’ name. Amen. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.
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