8.7.20 - God the Father II and a Recap of Jesus feeding 5000

God the Father II

Last week in God the Father I, we talked about God, Yahweh, the I AM of existence. God is not a being, but all beings have their existence from Him. We also talked about how God is not within time as we understand it – he sees, the past, present, and future simultaneously. We also talked about the prayer not being limited by time, either. Even if you pray for something after the fact, since God knew you would pray, He will apply it accordingly. Lastly, much anxiety lies in the past and most of the future is anxious because we don’t control the future. We must remember, we aren’t expected to control everything but instead learn how to lean on God. The past and future are tools to serve better in the present. Also remember what Jesus said, “So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil”. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Next we will try to understand God better by looking at his attributes. Just like you can tell a lot about a person by what he says and does, we will take a similar approach. Since we can’t see Him directly, we will try and see Him indirectly through His attributes and His effects.

We can start by thinking of God’s attributes as the principles that flow from Him, such as justice and love. Just as the physical laws of nature effect everything in the material universe, you can think of these attributes or principles of God as spiritual laws of non-material nature. Only free will beings have access to the spiritual laws of nature and, although these attributes of God are perfectly conceived, humans possess them imperfectly because of our free will and the Fall. For instance, every human from age 2 to 100, from the beginning of civilization to the present, want’s justice. We are big on this. In fact, we demand justice. And when we don’t get perfect justice, we complain, get upset, get in bar fights, protest in the streets, and go to war. Where does this justice come from? Does it exist by itself in the material universe? It’s not in the forest, it’s not in the rivers, it’s not in the animals, and it’s not on the moon; so, it’s not “out there” somewhere. Perhaps humans are the source? If so, we wouldn’t be looking for it so hard all the time. Besides, have you ever seen perfect justice in any human?

All that’s left is God. Ah, yes, we have God’s spirit in us and God is perfect justice, so that must be why we know what perfect justice is; and why we want it so much. God is in us: like parent, like child.

Yet, humans have justice imperfectly because, although we demand justice for everyone else, we don’t want justice for ourselves. For ourselves, we’ll take a free pass, thank you. Our perfect duplicity in this matter is the perfect description of our fallen nature. We will find this same condition applies to all of God’s attributes that humans possess.

Before we move on to God’s other attributes, let’s clarify the differences between the physical laws of nature and spiritual laws of nature.

Q: We have a good idea of what the physical laws of nature are but how can we define them?

A: Physical Laws are finite, meaning they are material or physical, observable, and entropic (breaks down/dissipates/expires with use and over time). The things we make – from clothes and cars to soap and toilet paper – break down or are depleted with use. We never have enough of anything. Money is finite – if you give it away, you have less; if you spend it, you have less; and everything you buy disintegrates over time. The things we grow are dying as soon as we harvest them. For that matter, we are on a death trajectory the minute we are born. This is why human economies are based on finite/shrinking resources and supply and demand. They are naturally a part of our material existence.

Q: How do spiritual laws compare?

A: Spiritual laws are infinite in nature and they are enhanced, improve, or expand as they are used or mastered. Take love (the verb). Love never runs out. In fact, the more you give it away, the more you get back, and then, on top of that, the more you have to give away.

What about gratitude? Works the same way.

So does humility. Is humility a God attribute? God gives us endless examples of this, the greatest being Logos emptying himself of his pure Godhood to become one of us, especially considering He know what was in store for Him. Why would anyone do such a crazy thing? There is only one answer: love. This is 100% spiritual content.

Next week, we will continue to fill out this picture of God.

About Isaiah

Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets who received his call to the prophetic office in the Temple of Jerusalem in 742 BC. The Book of Isaiah is considered to be an anthology of poems composed chiefly by Isaiah, but also by disciples, some who came many years after he died. The Book is organized into 1, 2, and 3 Isaiah, with First Isaiah mostly from the great prophet. Legend has it that King Manasseh executed Isaiah by having him sawed in half. He is one of the reason that the Southern Kingdom did not fall to the Assyrians as the North did in 722 BC.

• First Isaiah (Chapters 1-39) 742-675 BC – before and after the North/Israel fell to the Assyrians (722 BC)

• Second Isaiah (Chapters 40-55) 550-535 BC – last part of the Babylonian Exile

• Third Isaiah (Chapters 56-66) 500-525 BC – post Exilic period

Therefore, when reading Isaiah, for context always ask yourself if you are reading First, Second, or Third Isaiah, because that will tell you if you are before the Babylonian Exile, during their exile in Babylon, or after the exile when they return home to rebuild Jerusalem. Today’s reading is near the end of their exile. The passage is an urgent appeal to return to God with fidelity and participate in the Lord’s banquet in celebration of the covenant made with David.

Isaiah 55: 1-3

Alas, all you who are thirsty, come to the water!

You who have no money, come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost!

Why spend your money for what cannot nourish; your wages for what cannot satisfy?

Listen to me and you shall eat well and delight in rich fare.

Pay attention and come to me; listen, that you may have life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

In fulfillment of my promise to David.

Q: How is the divine invitation to "come" (mentioned 3 times) similar to Jesus' invitation?

A: Jesus promises to come to the people's aid like the Isaiah oracle. He will take the people's burden upon Himself when He said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light." – Matthew 11:28-30

Speaking of the Old Testament… one of my favorite readings is a passage from Jeremiah. God tells Jeremiah to go to the town to see the potter and he will explain something to him then:

The Lord’s word came to Jeremias, bidding him betake himself to the potter’s house; there a divine message awaited him. So I went to the potter’s house, and found him working at his wheel; just then, the thing of clay he was a-fashioning broke in his hands, and he, as the whim took him, turned it into another thing of clay.

Then it was the Lord’s word came to me: You are in my hands, men of Israel, as the clay in the potter’s; why may I not do as the potter did? - Jeremiah 18:1-6

This is what God is doing with the chosen people. He is molding them (think Genesis, molding man from the dirt/clay), but he cannot make them perfect because he gave them free will. So, like with the potter above, sometimes the clay mold doesn’t turn out – so he remolds it; or it breaks, so he starts over; and then perhaps he remolds again and starts over again; and again. That is the synopsis of Genesis to

If you stop and consider what’s happening, God is accomplishing a couple of things:

First, He is trying to mold a primitive people into an advanced people. Everything He is teaching them is hard, but necessary. He was doing this to create a light unto the world. One God, a personal God, a God of love who demands the pinnacle of His creation – us – also love.

Second, he had to pave the way for coming here. How? By teaching mankind that they couldn’t do it by themselves (undo the fall/save themselves). How could God accomplish that? He gave them the Ten Simple Commandments. He spelled it out and even wrote it down for them. If the “chosen people” have shown the world anything thing since then, it is this: they absolutely, positively, 100% without a doubt, cannot do it. Conclusion: mankind, absolutely, needs God’s help or we will never, ever be saved.

About Paul's Letter to the Romans

The Letter to the Romans was written by Paul during his third missionary journey, probably 57-58 AD. Rome was the Imperial Capital of the Roman Empire and the most highly populated metropolis of the Mediterranean world. Although mostly pagan and notoriously corrupt, there were at least seven Jewish synagogues in the city. The exact beginning of Christianity in Rome is uncertain, but the good news probably first reached the city through Jewish pilgrims returning from Jerusalem. Tradition (per the Church historian, Eusebius) also places Peter in Rome during the 40's. However it grew, by the time Paul wrote this letter in 57-58, there was already a sizable and growing Christian community in Rome.

Romans 8:35,37-39

“Can anything cut us off from the love of Christ—can hardships or distress, or persecution, or lack of food and clothing, or threats or violence? No, we come through all these things triumphantly victorious, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Q: This is a pretty awesome list of powers in the physical and spiritual universe that cannot come between us and the love of God. However, there is one thing that can rupture our union with God, which shows the power humans were given that we so often take for granted. What is it?

A: Free will. As long as we hold onto the love of Christ, nothing can separate us. But as free will beings, we can choose to let go.

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21 - The Feeding of 5000

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But the crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”

Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over— twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

After Jesus hears about the death of John the Baptist, he wanted to go off alone but the people follow him. When he disembarks and sees them, he “cured their sick.” You have to imagine these people lining up with their ill or maimed family members and friends.

As the day is winding down – and Jesus probably still has a line – his apostles are ready for a break! They suggest Jesus send them away. Jesus says to feed them and they reply they only have five loaves and two fish. Jesus says to bring them to him. Although the text is not explicit, we can safely assume these crowds were made up of the common and poor people of the land, not the wealthy elite. Already we hear the themes from our reading from Isaiah 55: Jesus is about to provide a free meal to the hungry and thirsty until they were satisfied.

5000 men could easily mean 10-20,000 total when counting families who may have been with them.

Have you ever fed that many? I have. You have to be organized! The Mark Gospel account says Jesus had them sit down in groups of 50 or 100. That would mean roughly 75 groupings of 50 to 100 each. Can you picture that?

Q: Is there a point to there being 5,000?

A: One possibility is that this way there would be no question it was a miracle and not an illusion. It was also a giant leap from what the prophet Elisha did in 2 Kings 4:42-44, which his Jewish audience would have been familiar with. Finally, notice that every time Jesus beaks bread, a miracle happens (the multiplication of loaves for this 5000, also for 4000 for the Gentiles, the Last Supper, and in Emmaus).

Q: Before Jesus distributes the food, how is his language similar to the Last Supper?

A: It is repeated. The bread of the Last Supper is the culmination of history, man’s eternal door opens.

Q: How is what Jesus did similar to the Bread of the Presence that began in the Tabernacle during the Exodus?

A: Three times a year from the Exodus to Jesus’ time (1300 years) the priest was allowed to being the Bread of the Presence out from the Tabernacle/Holy of Holies and hold it up for the people to see, while the priest said, Behold, God’s love for you.”

Q: Was there a similar multiplication of loaves anywhere in the OT?

A: It was to 4000 Gentiles. Matthew 15:23-39 and Mark 8:1-9.

Q: What’s the meaning of 12 baskets of leftover fragments of food?

A: The prophecy was that Messiah would come back to gather the 12 tribes of Israel which had been dispersed, mainly by the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. Fragments is exactly what they were.

Maranatha!

Ron