Matthew 14:13-21

            {Prayer}

            Never stop dating your spouse. That is one of the many things I talk about with couples in our pre-martial sessions. Never stop dating your spouse because you need that time together away from the kids, you need that time to grow in your relationship together, you need that time to keep that spark lit within your relationship.

            I came across a story of a couple who was out on their date night. Jaycee and Jake, they were sitting at a table at their favorite restaurant. Jaycee asked Jake, “What’s on your mind?” But Jake didn’t say anything. Jake sat there in silence because he was processing things which happened at work. Jake’s co-work had cancer. His co-worker was about the same age as him. His co-worker had two boys, just like him. Jake couldn’t help but think, “What if that was me?” And even though it was on his mind, he didn’t want to mention it and ruin this wonderful evening with his wife.

            Isn’t it strange how circumstances can shape the way we experience a meal? Jake didn’t want to bring up his co-worker’s situation because in a way, mentioning it would be like inviting death to the table. Bringing it up would more than likely change the whole outcome of their meal, their conversation, and possibly their whole evening.

            And yet, when we look at our Gospel reading from Matthew today … that is exactly what Matthew does. Matthew offers us the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand and in this meal, Matthew bring death to the table. I think when we see this, it will change our appreciation for what is going on.

            Matthew begins by telling us, “When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (14:13). Jesus withdrew … that’s not something we usually hear about him. Usually, Jesus is advancing, Jesus is going toward places. But here, Jesus is withdrawing. This withdrawing, it isn’t like Jesus is just going a few steps away to pray like He has done in the past. No, Jesus gets in a boat by Himself and goes off to a desolate place where no one else should be.

            But why? What would cause Jesus to go off by Himself to a desolate place of all places? What was it that Jesus heard that would cause this? What is it that would trouble Jesus that much?

            The death of John the Baptist. That’s what happened.

            You see, right before our reading, Matthew tells us how this great prophet was put to death. Before his death, John the Baptist was imprisoned by King Herod. Herod threw him prison for speaking against the fact that Herod had married his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. Herod wanted John dead, but he was afraid to kill him because the people considered John to be a prophet. And even though Herod wouldn’t kill John, the political plots within the palace were brewing.

At Herod’s birthday party, probably after a few drinks, Herodias’ daughter danced for Herod. Pleased so much by her dancing, Herod promised by an oath to give her whatever she wanted. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Not being able back out, John was beheaded.

            Matthew intentionally tells us this wretched story right before Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand for a reason. And I would like for us to see why.

            When the feeding of the five thousand is mentioned, it is usually done in connection with the feeding of the Israelites in the wilderness. Both accounts take place in a desolate place and both times a miracle with food stretching out to amply feed everyone happens. With the account of the Israelites being fed in the wilderness in the background, Jesus looks like the prophet Moses as Jesus is the One who is leading and teaching God’s people. Jesus is the One who sustains them when they hunger.

            But with the reference to the death of John the Baptist right before our reading, Matthew asks us not to think back to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. Instead, Matthew wants us to reflect on a different story. When meditating on the feeding of the five thousand, Matthew wants us to think about Herod’s bloody birthday party. When thinking about that event and the feeding of the five thousand, we can see that we have two kings, two meals, and two different kinds of kingdoms. Jesus is definitely a different kind of King than that of Herod, and by thinking about this difference, we are led to rejoice in the Kingdom that Jesus brings.

            So let’s compare the two shall we? King Herod creates a meal for himself. It’s his birthday, and so he planned a feast to celebrate the special occasion. He had fine food, fine wine, fine music, and fine girls who danced so fine. Herod provides a grand meal for himself, where people could come and bring him well-wishes.

            The meal King Jesus has though is different. No fine food, just five loaves of bread and two fish. Bread and fish, the meal of a common every day worker. There is no fine music, just the cries of the sick. No dancing girls, just people who could not walk, much less dance, being brought to the feet of Jesus seeking healing.

            And yet, Jesus prepares a meal for this large crowd. Why? Because Jesus is bringing a different kind of kingdom. Jesus doesn’t come for Himself, He doesn’t come in order to receive any sort of well-wishes. He actually comes for the people there before Him, for us, and all others in need of healing. Jesus’ Kingdom, it’s not filled with palace intrigues that lead to death, but rather, Jesus’ Kingdom comes with divine mercy that leads to eternal life. Dancing will be done, but it will be done by those who have been healed by Jesus’ mercy.

            Like Herod’s meal, there will be death. There will be the death of a prophet. There will be the death of someone who is more than a prophet actually. There will be the death of Jesus, the very Son of God. His death though, it will not just be the result of some petty power games played among the religious leaders. No … Jesus’ death will be the result of God the Father’s gracious plan to use His power to end all sickness and death on this earth.

            The power of God which comes in Jesus is present at this dinner, it’s present here today on this altar. Jesus comes to bring healing to the sick, food to the hungry, forgiveness to the sinner, and salvation to all who live under the reign of death. Jesus has come to us, to you individually in, with, and under this ordinary bread and wine to forgive you, to give you the promise of eternal life, and to strengthen you in your faith in Him.

            The Kingdom of God … it is filled with the poor, the weak, and the suffering. It’s filled with these types of people because Jesus came to bring such people to Himself. Herod celebrated his birthday … Jesus celebrates yours! Jesus celebrates the day you were born by the water and the Spirit into the Kingdom of God. The table Jesus has set in the midst of the wilderness overturns the kingdoms of this world and extends the Kingdom of God, even to our congregation, to you.

            In our world, it’s so easy to get immersed in the petty power and politics of the ruling kingdom. These politics have fractured our country and divided our families like never before. We all long to get away, to withdraw, to wander out into some desolate place by ourselves. A place where we can find rest from the stress and pressure of the constant conflict.

            This morning … Matthew tells you that when you enter that desolate place … you will find Jesus. Jesus is there, waiting for you, waiting for you in a desolate place on a patch of green grass. Jesus came to bring the weired salvation, the wondering a sense of purpose, and the weak a source of strength for the struggles of life. Come this morning to the green pastures, to the table of Jesus set before you. Come to Him and feast in and on His everlasting goodness and love, given for you. Amen.

            The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.