I spent this past week at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan at the 67th biennial convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. It’s always an honor and privilege to attend as a delegate. One of the comments that delegates frequently make about convention is how well they feed us. And that is no small thing!
Last week when Sue and I were traveling, we listened to a book about the Vanderbilts of New York. Cornelius Vanderbilt acquired a massive fortune in the shipping and railroad industries in New York in the 1800’s. When he died in 1877, he left a fortune of $100 million dollars. That would be about $2 billion in today’s money. His son doubled the fortune to $200 million dollars.
Jesus was a renowned story-teller. He didn’t tell fish-stories and tall-tales. He told serious, instructive, thought-provoking little stories. We know these stories as “parables.” Perhaps you have heard this definition of a parable: a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”
Today’s worship and Bible study is led by Pastor Jerry Ewings. He served at Lord of Love from 2006 – 2017.
Pastor Ewings is preaching on Isaiah 55:6-11.
One of my favorite things Jesus said is something that might easily be overlooked because it is just an incidental detail to a larger story. But in Mark 6, Jesus’ disciples have just returned from their little mission trip when Jesus had sent them out two-by-two. When they return, Jesus says this to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31) I like that!
The Israelites had been waiting…and waiting…and waiting. Moses has been up on Mt. Sinai now for forty days. They have not seen him or heard from him this whole time. They finally give up on him.
This was now the second time Paul was in prison in Rome. The first time, Paul had written a letter to the Philippians while in prison. At that time, Paul was under a sort of “house arrest.” Visitors could come and go. Paul confessed to the Philippians that he fully expected to be released and even be able to come and visit them. And all that turned out to be true.
When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. (v. 36) This is indeed an endearing description of Jesus. Can you picture what it describes? Wherever Jesus went, large crowds would gather. The sick and the diseased and the crippled would come, hoping to get their moment with Jesus. When Jesus saw these suffering people, his heart went out to them.
Do you have a dining table in your house? Years ago, almost everybody did. If you do, think for a moment about who gets to sit at your dining table and eat with you? Have you ever stopped to think about that? Not too many, is it? That table is special. It is used on days like Thanksgiving. Your family gathers at that table. Dear, close friends are invited to sit at that table. It’s kind of a special place.
There are a number of very significant “commissionings” recorded in our Bible. On this Trinity Sunday, we might think of the commissioning of the prophet of Isaiah when he sees the Lord on the throne and the holy angels flying and singing, Holy! Holy! Holy is the LORD Almighty! (Isaiah 6:3) Or we might think of the commissioning of Moses at the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Whenever the Lord commissions, it’s a big deal!
