Feeding Family, Feeding Neighbors

Stomachs growl.
Shadows lengthen.

The sick are healed.
People are amazed.
No one leaves.


The disciples are getting nervous. Evening is approaching and there are 5000 men and their families who need to eat. They had an idea.  They asked Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could go to the nearby villages to get something to eat, Jesus had a better, seemingly impossible, idea."You feed them." Was there a bit of sarcasm in their tone when they told him they only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? It was a kid's meal. Literally.  A small boy's lunch.  Did the boy watch in amazement as Jesus blessed the food and broke piece after piece off the bread until the entire crowd has been fed? Did his eyes widen as the disciples gathered up 12 baskets of food after everyone had had their fill?

Once again the crowd gathers. 4000 men and their families this time. It has been 3 days of miraculous healing.  The people are praising the God of Israel. This time, Jesus approaches the disciples. The people are out of food. He has compassion on them. They need to eat or they may collapse on their way home.  The disciples look around. The place is remote. No nearby villages, No farmer's market. No corner convenience store. Where could they possibly get enough food? Jesus asks them to take stock.  What do they have? Seven loaves and a few fish will feed this crowd. After the crowd had their fill, there were 7 baskets of food left over.

Two similar miracles.
Two different groups.

When Jesus fed the 5000, he was feeding mostly Jews. He was feeding his family. They would have understood the significance 12 baskets of food left over. The 12 sons of Jacob were their patriarchs whose descendants became the 12 tribes of Israel. Each of the 12 disciples picked up a basketful of leftovers.

When Jesus fed the 4000, he was feeding mostly Gentiles. He was feeding his neighbors.They had heard of his miracles.  They came bringing their lame, blind, crippled, and mute to be healed by this Jewish man. It was a long shot but he didn't turn them away.  He had compassion on them and healed them. In return, they praised the God of Israel. Jesus' Kingdom was big enough for everyone. When the disciples asked where they could get enough food, maybe they assumed the miracle of feeding such a large crowd would never be extended to Gentiles. But it was and as a result 7 baskets of food were collected after everyone had their fill. As the disciples gathered these baskets, did they think about Jesus including the Gentiles in his miracles, in his mission? Did they see the 7 baskets and gasp as they counted realizing 7 is the number of completion?

Feeding Family.
Feeding Friends.
Feeding Family.

Matthew 14:13-21
John 6:1-13
Matthew 15:29-38

30 Pieces of Silver

30 pieces of silver  
The price paid to an owner of a slave gored by an ox.

If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty pieces of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death. Exodus 21:32

30 pieces of silver
The price paid to Zechariah for taking care of a flock of sheep.

I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay, but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.  Zechariah 11:12

30 pieces of silver
The price of a slave. God noticed.

And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter"--this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord. Zechariah 11:13

30 pieces of silver
The price paid to Judas for betraying Jesus.

Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you? So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.  Matthew 26:14-15

30 pieces of silver
30 pieces of silver

The price in human terms.

30 pieces of silver
30 pieces of silver


Christ's death on the cross
The ultimate price.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Straight From the News--612 BC

How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
    But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,
    but you do not come to save.
3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?
    Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
    I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
    who love to argue and fight.
4 The law has become paralyzed,
    and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
    so that justice has become perverted.

1 Angel 2 Questions 2 Very Different Ourcomes

Luke 1:18
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Luke 1:34
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

Unbelievable!

Both were given news.
Both were astounded.
Both questioned.
Zechariah was left mute.
Mary was blessed.

Gabriel is one of two angels named in the Bible.  This time his job was to deliver news of two unbelievable pregnancies.  Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, was beyond child bearing and Mary was a virgin. Obviously, both Zechariah and Mary were overwhelmed and confused. Both questioned.

So why did God accept Mary's question and not Zechariah? I believe the answer is in the questions themselves. Zechariah looks at Gabriel.  The angel sent by God.  The angel who just said God had heard his prayer.  The angel who said this boy would be filled with God's spirit. And Zechariah asks, "How can I be sure?"  Since an angel from the Lord wasn't enough, Zechariah was struck mute.  This wasn't permanent.  After the baby was born and Zechariah confirmed that his name was "John," instantly he could speak again.  The first things out of his mouth--praises to God!

Then there was Mary. She, too, was given unbelievable news. Unheard of news! The difference between her question and Zechariah's is very subtle. "How can this be?"  She was a virgin.  This was incredible, unbelievable.  "How can this be?"  She needed to know how it was possible.  Zechariah needed to know how he could be sure. Both questioned "how." Mary--How can this be?  Zechariah--How can I believe? Both got their answers.  Mary was immediately willing and was blessed. She wrote a song of praise, probably while visiting Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah's praise came after 9 months of silent reflection.