Seventh Sunday after Trinity Mark 8:1-9

  Our Lord says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Three whole days have passed, and four thousand men have not left Jesus’ side to find food or to take shelter. The people seek nothing from him but to hear his word. Though food will calm the stomach and shelter will preserve the body, the word of God satisfies the soul and raises the body eternally. In the people’s listening, they seek first his kingdom.

How easy would it have been to leave the crowds? There were undoubtedly 20,000 people, including their wives and children, who came to hear Jesus teach. To return to the farm to tend to the livestock, or to go home with a crying baby, or to go to the market to find some food, but none of the people leave the teacher. And when Jesus comes to bring them into a desolate place, a place without vegetation or water, the people remain steadfast. Jesus Christ, the Word of God in flesh and blood, is with them. For the people, why would they leave food and shelter that is the word of God? Gathered at the feet of Jesus, the crowds are unlike their forefathers, the ancient Israelites, who in the wilderness groaned against God. 

After the Israelites left Egypt, when they became hungry, they lost faith in God and his servants Moses and Aaron. They cried out to Moses, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, where we were fed with pots of meat and we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly of hunger?” Even as they saw the mighty hand of God bring them across the Red Sea, they were led by the very presence of God to the land of promise by the pillar of fire and cloud. They who were set free from the bondage in Egypt now become slaves to unbelief. 

Israel did not put their trust in the Lord; The Lord still had compassion on them.  As God said to Mose, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. And the people should go out and gather certain quail every day that I may test them.” The Lord puts the people to the test, and yet they fail. Later in their journey, the people resume their groaning. Telling Mose, “For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” How can the people call worthless what God has provided? 

The people in Israel are blinded by sin. They cannot see beyond their own hunger. And when God provides, they become sick and tired and call the bread of heaven worthless. They become weary of God’s word and his mighty and gracious acts. This leads them to more hunger as they refuse to eat the bread and quail. Our old sinful nature has also fallen prey to this delusion. When our own desires and vices trap us, can we see the gift of God rightly? The word of God can be so easily pushed aside. Do we regard the word of God as essential, equal to our need for daily bread? We would not go an entire day without food. Then, why would we go a day without prayer, reading the scriptures, or singing a hymn? 

But dear friends in Christ, you are not the old man trapped in sin and bondage to Satan. You are the new man—the man who has been raised with Christ daily. For by his word, you have come to believe in your Lord Jesus Christ. And now you are like the people in the desolate place. The people who laid aside all needs for three days to listen to the words of Jesus. For you come to this place week after week, not seeking to be filled with earthly things, but to be filled with heavenly ones in his words and in the sacrament. 

The words of Jesus are the power of salvation. Belief comes with hearing the word of God that clings to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In faith in Christ, you continue to seek God first, knowing that he will provide all things that you need. For God cares, not only for your eternal needs, but also for your needs and your desires here and now. As Christ did not abandon those 4000 men in the desolate place, our Lord provided them with a meal that not only satisfied them, but there was an overabundance. Seven baskets remain full.

The Lord’s provision is immoderate. The abundance of the Lord is not contractual. The Lord sends rain upon the just and the unjust. God did not abandon the people of Israel. No matter how neglectful of God’s word we may become, God still provides for every need of body and soul because of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ, who has died for sins, that we are reconciled to God. Our sins of doubt, unbelief, or unthankfulness are paid for on the cross. And from his open side pours forth the word of God and our daily bread. 

Look to the people in the desolate place and imitate them. Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness first and foremost, and everything else will be added onto you. Seek His kingdom through His word. For Jesus Christ is in the preaching of his word, he is in the water of holy baptism, and he is in the bread and wine that is his body and blood. Christ Jesus is in His word for sinners to hear, and by his word, he gives forgiveness and pardon from his father, by his own suffering and dying. The word of God is Christ, who has paid for all your sins.

Through his word, he gives you his righteousness and brings you into his kingdom of grace and blessing. He seeks after you and cares for your needs. The Lord will not abandon you to the desolate places of this life, for he is eager to provide. So, wherever he leads, seek his kingdom and his righteousness, and all things will be added to you.