Nothing Left to Give (sermon 2.24.19)

"Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes"

Have you ever found yourself thinking, "I have nothing left to give." Burnout is real. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age or profession.

This week's story, the miracle of the feeding of the multitude, appears in every gospel. (Twice in two of the gospels!) Even if you know this story well, you may not have considered the disciples' perspective in this passage. In Matthew's gospel, when the disciples are asked to get food for the crowd, their first words are: "We have nothing."

Considering all that has recently happened (Jesus' rejection in Nazareth, John the Baptist's execution), their response may not just have been about the lack of food. Maybe they were burned out?

Could Jesus' miracle here (a miracle of making something out of nothing) be as much for the disciples as it was for the hungry crowd? This week's sermon asks that question. Hope you'll take a listen...

(Top image from Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Art in the Christian Tradition. "Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes" by JESUS MAFA, 1973. "JESUS MAFA is a response to the New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings were selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings.")