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When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him,  He said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?”   Jesus said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. –John 6:5-6

Dear Friends of the living Messiah,

HEY! WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? will be the title of a Game Show in the June 9th world premiere of the children’s musical, Light of Life: Signs of the Savior.  The subject in that scene is The Feeding of the 5000, the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four Gospels.  In the Game Show, five contestants compete to give the best answer to the question…

Music Camp

This Sunday! June 9th at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Light of Life: Signs of the Savior wll be presented by this year’s Messiah Music Camp participants!

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL in Jesus feeding all those people with just 5 loaves and 2 fish?  It must have been a big deal to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John because each thought this miracle speaks a Word from God for disciples like us.  Here is a preview of the answers of the contestants in the children’s musical–

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Basilica di Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna ITALY. 6th century » 01 Anonymous. Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.

THE FEEDING OF THE 5,000 IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE...

1.) It was a miracle!  Jesus fed all those hungry people with just two fish and five loaves of bread.  (In MLC’s many missions of feeding hungry people near and far, we do it the old fashioned way–We buy food and share it.)

2.) Over 1,200 years before the day Jesus fed 5,000 in the wilderness, the Lord fed His whole wandering nation of Israel for years with manna bread and doves in the wilderness.  Long ago the Lord saved Israel from slavery and hunger.  Then through the Lord Jesus not just Israel is saved, but Gentiles like us are saved from sin and death too.  (We teach that in Sunday School and proclaim it by word and song in worship.)

3.) Jesus showed God’s love for all hungry people.  The big deal is God is love!  (These days our Loving Lord fills hungry stomachs, and also hungry hearts and minds.)

4.) Jesus is our future.  After Jesus fed everyone He said, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.”  So, Jesus is our life for the days ahead.  (That is central to our celebrations in the season of Easter.  It is resurrection season for Jesus and for His disciples.  Resurrection is for you too!)

5.) Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.  God’s people waited over a thousand years since King David for the promised Messiah.  (That is why Messiah is in our name.  We are named by this Lord and our most important mission is to make disciples of the Messiah.)

JUNE, JULY, AUGUST are high months for GUESTS in WORSHIP.  Many of them come looking for a church home.  What do we have to offer them?  Our Lord has given us bread to share, deliverance from sin, death, and the devil, salvation, love that fills stomachs, hearts and minds.  Our future is promised by the Bread of Life.  Above all else, we have God’s Word who became flesh.  Jesus is the Messiah for us, and for us to share with guests.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  (Hebrews 13:2)

Grace and peace,

Pastor Scott Peterson