MidWeek Lenten Service

  

Bethany Lutheran Church, 

Springdale, Arkansas

MidWeek Lenten Service

7 PM Central Daylight Time

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #142          A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth                                 
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody               Psalm 23
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #153       Stricken, Smitten                   

I AM the Gate. John 10:1-10

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #562            Round Me Falls the Night

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Callie.
• Pray for our country as major trials continue.

I AM the Gate. KJV John 10:1-10

KJV John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

The Good Shepherd part of this passage starts at verse 11 and is part of the Easter Sundays. This analogy is from the well known (at that time) method of fashioning a pen so multiple flocks could be protected by one shepherd who positioned himself at the gate, a narrow opening or door. Thieves would look for a way to climb over the wall of the pen rather than mix it up with the shepherd. Jesus is saying there is only one way to salvation, which is through Him alone. This is another way of pointing out faith in Him as the only way of forgiveness and everlasting life.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Jesus is the door (the way) and also the shepherd of the sheep. Far from becoming confusing, this is a picture easy to grasp and told in simple words and grammar. As editor Virginia Roberts said, "God doubtless made John's Gospel the simplest in language so anyone could follow it." It is also the most profound. The Shepherd has no trouble going to the entrance, because He is welcome and loved by the sheep, just as He loves them.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

The guard shepherd (notice how shepherd dogs - German Shepherds, Australian Shepherd, Malenois, Cattle Dogs, and other similar dogs have the same attitude in protecting their owners and animals!) The name and the voice are very important. "Every Christian soul has a name." Believers know the voice of Christ and find comfort and delight in that voice. Jesus knows His flock and protects it.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

When the shepherd takes out his sheep for food and water, He walks before them. The sheep follow His voice because He gives them safety.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

When we had three dogs at once, I called them "Girls!" and they came inside together. Not knowing this, the daughters of friends, who were swimming there, all got out of the pool to come in. Believers do not follow strangers, who may promise a lot but are false. Millions have been misled by false shepherds who only wanted to fleece their flocks, not feed them.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Jesus taught this parable so it would be preserved by John and the Apostles. The fake scholars scoff at it and tell people it had no historical contact with the Apostle John, who took care of Mary the mother of Jesus, after His crucifixion and resurrection.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Some though Judas Maccabeus was the Messiah. Other messiahs came after Jesus, plus many false prophets. There is only one way, one door, one Shepherd.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

There is an enormous gap between the thieves (false teachers) who steal, kill, and destroy. As Luther wrote, God uses false teachers to punish the people who had the truth but followed falsehood to please themselves and reject Christ.

Judica Sunday, 2023.

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Sunday worship, 10 AM

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #12     This Day at Thy Creating Word                                     

The Absolution

The Introit p. 16

Judge me, O God: and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man: for Thou art the God of my strength.

Psalm. Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation p. 19

The Collect, p. 19

We beseech Thee, Almighty God, 

mercifully to look upon Thy people, 

that by Thy great goodness 

they may be governed and preserved 

evermore both in body and soul; 

through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #67     The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us - Loy Translation

The Word We Have

The Communion Hymn #307      Draw Nigh

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #410    Jesus Lead Thou On    

       

Prayers and Announcements

• Dr. Kermit Way, Pastor and Mrs. Jim Shrader, Callie.
• Mid-Week Vespers, 7 PM
• Palm Sunday Holy Communion, 10 AM
• Holy Week - Maundy Thursday, Holy Communion 7 PM. 
• Good Friday 7 PM. 
• Easter Sunday  Holy Communion, 10 AM.
• Edersheim - Bible History - Look for Exodus.

       

KJV Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 Norma A. Boeckler

KJV Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

6 Moreover he said, I AM the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

KJV Genesis 15:6 And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that of Thine infinite mercy Thou hast instituted this Thy sacrament, in which we eat Thy body and drink Thy blood: Grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not receive this gift unworthily, but that we may confess our sins, remember Thine agony and death, believe the forgiveness of sin, and day by day grow in faith and love, until we obtain eternal salvation through Thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Word We Have

KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

This shows the union of 

1. the divinity of Jesus Christ and 
2. His miracles.

The two belong together, which confronts the apostates as well as the blasphemers. They want a Messiah who is only human, not divine. Philosophy majors delight in ignoring Jesus as the Son of God, and that has a great impact on everything they say and do. The truth is - Jesus performed many miracles far beyond the expectations of the doubters, so they were left with no argument about His claims about truth. Even today there is truth as debated by us humans and the divine truth that never changes. The daffodils will grow at the right time, no matter what we think, so we must subordinate our opinions to the revelation of the truth. 

His miracles prove the eternal truth of everything He says, and that is still true today. The lack of belief comes from the opponents who dare not accept the Word of Jesus Christ, much like today. Every day I can pick up news articles on the collapse of the denominations, which once were vibrant and healthy, but now are diseased and conflicted - working against their own charters so they can undermine the Word of God.

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Individuals either belong to God or not. Belonging to God means listening to His powerful, always effective Word. Hardened hearts hear the words but oppose them, and the effect of opposition is to worsen the hardening effect. People get confused because the effect of God's Word is in the Scriptures but seldom taught. Many assume a neutral position that only needs the addition of faith, or "making a decision." But Jesus is speaking of the divine Word, the eternal truth, that necessarily removes the falsehoods that accumulate. No deals can be made - it is all or nothing.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

This is a doubly insulting attack, first accusing that Jesus is really a Samaritan in spirit and even a devil. The attacks show the fury of opponents. Those who follow their Father Below are quick to show their holy outrage. They point from the pulpit as false ministers, or do the same to ministers as faithless laity. 

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep [GJ - guard] my saying, he shall never see death. 

The verb keep is used for guarding a treasure or an item locked up. We do that all the time with objects - important documents, keys, credit cards, cash, children's keepsake items, like the tiny palm print from kindergarten. Divine truth is what we guard to keep the ways of the world from oppressing us. Today's sermon from Luther is very good at that. All the wisdom of this world is nothing compared to the power God gives us in trusting His Word.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

People need to remember that the Gospel was not foreign to the Jews at this time. They were well aware of the signs - the Star of Bethlehem 30 years before, the preaching of John the Baptist directly quoting Isaiah 40, the miracles of Jesus. Two leaders of Judaism helped in the burial of Jesus, risking their lives. Did Jesus visit the Temple and have no effect? 

The purpose of the Talmud is to enclose the Word of God (center, just a few Biblical words), "to build a fence," - their object - using many layers to obscure the Word. For modern examples, see Concordia Publishing House, Northwestern Publishing, and Fortress Augsburg Press.

Fears of the fossilized leaders caused them to start up the Talmud, much like what we have today in Lutherdom. Why is something so? They have layer upon layer of "experts" from the past who all agree on their false doctrine, and these hardened, blind leaders force this on the rest, using the money of laity to promote anti-Christian doctrine (Unitarianism, Universalism, Calvinism, evolution, Marxism, and crimes against the family, along with associations of Lutherans who are even worse).

The opponents in this passage are using their own history to prove that Jesus is evil and crazy, and they cite the evidence  to Jesus who was not that old at the time.

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

Did these Jewish leaders know the Trinity - which is all over the Old Testament. This is clearly a case of the Son declaring His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit conveying this truth to us through the Apostle John. We still have nominal Christians (often the professors and clergy too) who do not comprehend the Trinity or openly oppose it. Do not be shocked - I sat with a Calvinist minister on the plane who was indifferent about the Apostolic KJV New Testament and could recite the worst examples of passages removed - but did not care. However, he said, "We must reach the next generation." I thought - "We"? I responded by saying, "You only need to preach and teach the Word of God. That is the only necessity. God works through His Word alone."

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

This reveals that Jesus was revealed to Abraham, long before Moses, Genesis 15:6. At the same time, the Son has always existed, just as the Holy Trinity has. We are finite - God is infinite. 

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

This is only confusing if we assume or imagine Jesus was human alone and not divine. As Luther would say, that old harlot Human Reason, is always fooling us with anti-Biblical notions.

We can look at it another way - where everyone agrees that Jesus was gentle, kindly, loving, and gracious. Why would anyone want to execute Him? Roman and Jewish authorities agreed on doing this heinous deed and cooperated with each other in doing it. This horrible penalty can only be explained by both parties being terrified of His divine power, the proof in the raising of Lazarus just a few miles away, everyone knowing about it and seeing him with Jesus.

I AM is God's Name and the present tense, rather than "I was" reveals to us that the Son of God is eternal, so the tenses we use as humans are far below the meaning we find in the Triune God.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

This is another example of His divine nature not being hindered by His human nature. The appearance in the locked room twice (the doors blocked) are two more examples, plus the time the crowd wanted to throw Him off the cliff. Luke 4:28-29. "His himself" can be interpreted as not making Himself seen - He certainly did not need to "hide."

Therefore we can see that revealing His divine power also enraged those who feared and hated it. Thus the final episodes in Holy Week teach us the difference between faith and opposition.

Mid-Week, Hebrews 9, 2023

 

Mid-Week Lenten Service, 7 PM Central

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson 

The Hymn #159                    Go to Dark Gethsemane        
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody   Psalm 23                                       p. 128
The Lections                            The Passion History

                                                                   

The Sermon Hymn #149           Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain

 

The Sermon –   The First and the Final Temple

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #552              Abide with Me

Sermon -The First and the Final Temple

There is no other New Testament book which is so eloquent - and is also the most difficult one in Greek. One pastor told me he was going through the Greek New Testament fast - until he reached Hebrews.

The first Temple is described in this chapter of Hebrews. This is especially important in the union of the Old and New Testaments. Everything about the Temple was a foretaste of Christ, which is why Jesus made His opponents so angry about Him. He spoke as the Son of God and they only thought of their history and the building itself  (Herod's Temple).

That seems strange to us, that the Jewish people would sacrifice animals for their sins, over such a period of time. Yet, the Promises began with the Garden of Eden and the Promise of a Savior. There was so much to teach so each item of the Messianic Promises was written into the Scriptures over centuries. They begin with Genesis 3:15 and continue until the last OT book. 

Hebrew 9's chapter has covenant taught 3 times and testament 9 times. The difference is that covenant is a mutual term, each party does something. Zoning covenants mean that the seller must obey limitations on the use of property when sold. That keeps people from a residential area from having a junkyard. A testament is one-sided, so the other party has no say in what is written - a will, and not a covenant. Calvinists only speak of covenants even though Paul in particular and Hebrews speak of the Testament. With a will, called a Last Will and Testament, I can designate any person to receive something without them knowing it.

KJV Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

All those centuries of worship in the Tabernacle and the Temples - they were a foreshadowing of the One Great Sacrifice, accomplished for us. We can see how many ways God prepared us - just a few of them:

1. The matter of sin, the Garden of Eden.
2. The first Gospel in Genesis 3:15
3. The sacrifice of Abraham, changed to a substitute sheep, Genesis 22.
4. The Psalms and Isaiah 53.

Anyone who claims to ignore the Gospel in the Old Testament is a fool. The Word of God, which always at work with the Spirit, brings Christ to us - and us to Christ. That is the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ being "access to grace" in Romans 5:1-2. Forgiveness of sin comes only through faith, and that gives us access to the Savior and removal of sin from Him alone.

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

This simply means that there was one true sacrifice - Jesus' death on the cross, where He represented the ultimate and only sacrifice for sin - only one time and never to be repeated. Crawling or walking on glass or any kind of self punishment is a mockery of the sacrifice of Christ. Those Protestants who covet the papacy must necessarily fall into such foolishness that suggests, even declares that faith in Him is not enough but must be supplemented by self-punishment and financial offerings.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The KJV is a work of incomparable beauty, so we should not entrust the Scriptures to illiterates who want to make the Bible as tone-deaf as they are. The theory about "modern" Bibles is confused, because all the English-speaking peoples of the world used the KJV, and that -- with Shakespeare (the Earl of Oxford) - shaped the language we use today. No one forced the KJV on anyone. It was designated the official pulpit Bible of England - only - but its excellence simply left the others on the shelf of former English Bibles. 

Those who used apostate politics to "revise" the KJV in the 19th century produced something so bad that they could not fix it or keep printing that lame duck. The worst of the Greek New Testament experts (Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort, Nestle, Kurt Aland) took over to erase as much of the New Testament as possible, so the modern versions are a travesty of the English language and the precision of the Greek New Testament. The smart-alecks and snake oil salesmen mock the KJV and push their profitable, and expensive apostate Bibles.

Hebrews is difficult, and yet its eloquence makes us spend much more time in getting its message from the Holy Spirit. The work is quite visual and poetic and stays with us.

Announcements and Prayers

• Sarah Buck's birthday is tomorrow.
• Holy Week will include Maundy Thursday Holy Communion and Good Friday Vespers.
• Easter Sunday - with Holy Communion - is April 9th.

KJV Hebrews 9

9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Laetare 2023

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Sunday worship, 10 AM

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #156      Not All the Blood of Beasts - Watts
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her:  all ye that love her.

Rejoice for joy with her: all ye that mourn for her.

Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me: 

Let us go into the house of the Lord.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #316    O Living Bread from Heaven - Rist

 Jesus' Commentary on Moses' Miracle

The Communion Hymn #388   Just As I Am (Elliot)
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50          Lord Dismiss Us 

 By Norma A. Boeckler

Prayers and Announcements

•  For healing, strength, and patience - Dr. Kermit Way,Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and Peggy.
• For our country and DEP Trump, as the major trials continue.
• 
  

KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Fourth Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.

Jesus' Commentary on Moses' Miracle

KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

Introduction

The Gospel of John is best understood as a commentary, as the fulfillment of the Five Books of Moses. The content and structure of the Fourth Gospel is different in many ways from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but also in harmony with the first three. John's Gospel gives us more of the meaning of Jesus' ministry, with the assumption that we know the other three Gospels. The sermons and sayings of Jesus are prominent in John and so is the impact of very simple words and grammar, but profound and easily remembered.

If the Five Books of Moses are the foundation of God's work, from Creation to the Promised Land, then the Fourth Gospel fulfills what the Torah scrolls predicts. When we read all of John, we are not just learning about the Son of God in those days but also about the Trinity going back to Genesis 1:1 - the only other place where the book starts out the same as John - "In the beginning..." As Luther wrote, the divinity of Jesus is mined from the gold of the Torah - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Those raised in Judaism can see how the Old and New Testaments are unified, not two different Testaments. Those brought up without the basic truths of the Old Testament are assured that Jesus' ministry was already predicted - not just in the prophetic books - but all through the 39 books, starting with Genesis 1, John 1 together teach us that Jesus is the Creating Word...in the beginning. If the Holy Trinity is invoked in Genesis 1 and John 1, then it is taught in both Testaments, too.

John 6:1 reminds us that the Israelites followed Moses, such a multitude that they needed food (manna) and water (from the rock) - also referenced in John.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Because Jesus went up the mountain, the disciples could see the multitude following Jesus - because of the miracles He had performed. Jesus asked Philip and therefore the disciples - How can we buy enough bread for this multitude - knowing what was about to happen. That would make everyone follow Jesus' own observation and end conversation about this or that. It places us in the same place, imagining what it would be like to have this enormous crowd coming to Jesus.

Luther wrote about poverty and Jesus, since the Messiah and His disciples had very little. In this case, some loaves and fishes. Our tendency is to find comfort in money rather than in faith that God will care for us. The richest church in America is in NYC, Trinity Wall Street, worth a billion or so. Yes, the parish is torn up by conflict.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

I consider Philip the chairman of the finance committee. Every church has one. I nicknamed one The Bad News Bears, because they started every council meeting with doom and gloom. A consultant said these committees made everyone depressed before they got going. "They should end the meeting, not begin it."

Philip said - A large amount of money is not enough! Hopeless!

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Andrew clinched the fears by saying they had a little but not enough. During high interest times, a congregation told the synod they would build a new addition for cash. And they did. Years later they dissolved as a congregation and sold the property to a social agency. What was missing? Faith. How could I know that, so far away? It is because faith in Christ and attention to that singular purpose will take care of matters. 

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

They had all the water they needed - we know because grass was growing. Jesus first gave thanks, which is another sign today, whether faith or no faith. The more rationalistic people are, the less they give thanks, the more they despair and get angry. There is a major difference between Moses and manna from heaven - and Jesus the Bread of Life. Moses asked for a miracle from God. Jesus performed the miracle before 5000 families. Moses prefigured the fulfillment of this great miracle, and Jesus displayed its completion, which made His opponents furious. This is like Holy Communion in many ways, but is not. Both are miracles and both are given by the power of God's Word.

Those who deny this miracle lack faith, and ultimately they reject most or all of the treasures of the Bible. 

One anonymous reader sent this  -

"I notice that they treat Jacobs much like they treat the King James. They say we just cannot read English from a 100 yrs ago. Maybe somebody should ask "Does 1 plus 1 equal 2? It did a 100 yrs ago. As far as I know still does."

Those who deny the faith simply wear themselves out proving their denials are valid. They are like the Calvinist minister in the plane who dismissed the corruption of the Westcott-Hort-Nestle-Aland Greek text. And - he said, "We have to reach the younger generation." I replied, "The only have to is teaching the Word. That accomplishes God's will." But he kept saying we have to, we have to, we have to. (Conferences to show how to have to are expensive.)

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Clearly they had more at the end of the miracle than before. God does not waste anything. We can see that in God's Creation all around us. I put orange peels outside after I am done with the fruit. The next morning, the peels have been cleaned completely of all the leftover pulp, thanks to Possum Pete. Apple cores disappear completely. Pineapple, mostly the triceratops hide, is placed outside with some pulp on it. A squirrel will sit on the barrel and delicately remove the pulp from woody outer label. The large birds (grackles, crows, cardinals, blue jays) take the peanuts in a shell. The tiny birds take the fragments - sparrows, chickadees, etc.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Some self-made experts like to pick away at the titles of Jesus. I found one source that listed 150 titles of majesty. Another has 200. These are all encompassing, not to pit one against another. Prophet, preacher, Son of Man, Son of God. 

KJV Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It does not take long to find out what the skeptics have done with the titles of majesty. 

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Knowing the minds of people following Him, Jesus realized that they would work to gather a force to make Him king and take on the occupying forces. This is exactly what happened after His death and resurrection. The people had a skirmish with local Roman forces and thought they won. Then the Roman Empire marched down with slaves and profession soldiers to surround them with a wall, starve them, and tear down the Temple, the source of their pride.

The Believers Sought Jesus without Food

We should not forget that this enormous group followed Jesus for the spiritual food He offered. They saw His miracles, which built upon the Star of Bethlehem 30 years before, the prophecies of Isaiah 40, and John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord - crying out in the wilderness (desert).

We live in an impoverished time. The basics of human life are ridiculed and a reason for suing and jailing citizens. The WalMart funded/owned public schools here were teaching "34 genders" to elementary school children 10 years ago. That is perhaps the ultimate disgrace, but more could be named. 

God still protects believers and brings down the proud and deceitful. As it was in Jesus' time, so it is today.