St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 15, The Needs of the people: The Disciple's inability.

Our paragraph topic is: (Hunger of the crowd) Part 2.   

And the people were lost.  The people needed a leader.  John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod and Christ was there to fulfill their needs.  For when he arrived from the boat, the people were waiting.  The people were in need.  The people had come from all around to hear his words, to see his face, to be near him that they may be comforted.  For chaos had come.  Fear had come.  Doubt had come since the word spread of the murder of John the Baptist.  For John was their beacon.  John was their voice.  John was their inspiration for the things that were to come.  John baptized the people.  John called the people to repent.  John told the people of the coming of the Messiah.  And then he was gone.

And Christ came ashore and saw the crowds.  And Christ came ashore and saw the people waiting.  And Christ came ashore and saw the need in the hearts of the men, women, and children. And Christ came ashore and he cured the sick that they may believe.  But then the disciples came, the disciples that followed Jesus and knew of his teachings.  But then the disciples came, the disciples that knew of the power and majesty of Christ.   But then the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not see.  The disciples did not understand the truth of the Christ they followed.  For they were concerned about the people.  They were concerned about the needs of the people that they did not believe that they could fulfill.  They did not understand that they followed Christ who could fulfill all needs.  They did not understand that they followed a Christ who was the fountain of satisfaction.  They did not understand that they followed a Christ that was filled with the spirit of fulfillment and they did not know.

So they came, with their concerns of their own needs for feeding the people.  They did not believe.  They did not understand.  Their needs were pressing upon them so they brought them to Christ.   Now when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, "This is a desert place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."

So often today we see the same scene repeating itself.  Many, come to a place of spiritual worship, seeking.  They come seeking hope.  They come seeking faith.  They come seeking relief.  They come seeking truth.  They come, with their needs, seeking fulfillment.  And what do they find?  They find momentary relief.  They find momentary hope.  They find momentary faith.  But they do not find lasting peace, they do not find lasting fulfillment.  For we do not give them what they seek.  We only give them a daily piece of bread, we give them something that will only last for a moment.  For we do not know.  We do not understand.  We do not believe that Christ is our satisfaction.  Man is not our satisfaction.  Pastor is not our satisfaction.  Priest is not our satisfaction.  Apostle, nor preacher, nor minister, nor anyone can be our satisfaction.  God is our satisfaction and through Christ we have the opportunity to find eternal satisfaction, eternal peace.  But man does not lead us to Christ.  Man turns us to himself.  

Preach the gospel!  Preach the word!  Tell all the nations about the Christ who came down from heaven to save the world.  Be the shepherd!  Lead the people!  But where do you lead them?  Do you lead them to the church?  Do you lead them to the synagogues?  Do you lead them to the temples, the places of worship?  Resoundingly, we say yes.  But why do they still need?  Why do they return again and again to hear the same sermons, the same preachings, the same words without having some relief.  Christ saw the need in the people.  Christ knew the satisfaction that would fill the hole in their hearts.  Christ was their need.  If you do not know Christ how can you lead someone to him?  If you do not know Christ how can you show someone how to find him?  If you do not know Christ how can you tell someone how to find the satisfaction they seek?  If you do not know Christ how can you demonstrate hope and faith and love?  Is Christ in you?  Can you show the people the way to Christ.  Words will not get them there.  Only your example of knowing him will show the people the way to their satisfaction.  If you do not now the way how can you lead?

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 13 - 14, The Needs of the people: Christ's compassion.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Hunger of the crowd) Part 1.  

And so it was.  John the Baptist was murdered by Herod, Herodias and her daughter, agents of evil.  They had planned their plot with the advice of evil and carried it out.  John had warned the people of the evil of Herod.  John had spoken to them about his lies and deceit.  And John was imprisoned for speaking out against evil.  For evil wanted to silence John the Baptist.  Evil wanted to put John to death.  Evil wanted to stop John from winning souls to Christ.  John baptised the people.  John preached to the people of repentance.  John won souls for Christ and turned people against the evil that existed in the kingdom.  And evil wanted him dead.  And so it was.  John was murdered and sent home to his father.  His mission accomplished on this earth to prepare the way for Christ.

And the disciples of John came and removed his headless body from the prison and gave him a proper burial.  For Herod and Herodias were gloating over the head of John the Baptist.  They were rejoicing to his lifeless head how they had triumphed over him.  And evil watched on the sidelines as they became embolden in their merriment of their power.  For the people did not revolt.  The people did not cry out in shame over the death of John.  But the word spread how Herod was against his death and how he swore an oath to Herodias' daughter to give her anything that she asked for her reward to dance at his birthday party before the people.  Their plan was crafty.  Their plan was deceitful.  Their plot was carried out flawlessly.  And they rejoiced over the death of John the Baptist.

And the word spread of the death of John the Baptist.  The people were lost.  The people were in need and without a guide.  The people were in chaos.  For John was their leader.  John was their prophet.  John was their sign, pointing to the Messiah.  They were in need.   When Jesus heard this, he withdrew by boat to a desert place apart; but the crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the towns.  And when he landed, he saw a large crowd, and out of compassion for them he cured their sick. 

Jesus traveled by boat and the crowds traveled by foot.  And they were in need.  A great loss had taken place here on earth and a new beginning was unfolding.  And the people were in chaos.  They new not where to go.  They knew not what to do.  They knew not any more of John the Baptist so they turned to Christ for their answers.  And the word spread of the loss of John the Baptist.  And the word spread of the whereabouts of Christ.  The people were in need and when Christ landed and saw the crowds he was moved with compassion because of their need for direction, their need to believe, their need for hope, their need for guidance.  And he gave them their direction.  He gave them their hope.  He gave them their belief.  He showed them that God was still with them and he cured their sick.

The time is coming and is almost here.  Chaos is coming.  Unbelief is coming.  Doubt is coming.  Fear is here.  And the people are lost and without direction.  With the uncertainty in the world today, people are feeling uncertain.  People are loosing faith.  People are loosing hope for themselves and their God.  For the evil one is bringing about uncertainty that the people will know doubt.  The evil one is bringing about uncertainty that the people will loose their belief.  The evil one is bring about uncertainty that the people will loose their hope and open the door to fear. 

There is no fear in Christ.  There is no doubt in Christ.  There is no uncertainty in Christ.  For all things are in Christ.  There is no impossibility in Christ for all things are in Him.  Those who know will stand tall in this time of uncertainty.  Those who are rooted will not be moved by uncertainty.  Those who believe will see the truth come forth in spite of the fear and doubt in the world.  And those who practice perfect patience in the Lord will see the certainty of his love.  Christ is Lord of all and he sits at the right hand of God our Father in heaven.

St Matthew, Capter 14, verses: 9 - 12, Herod's murder plot: The Act of Murder committed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Herod murdered John) Part 3.  

Herod was a murderer.  He was a liar.  He was possessed of evil.  John the Baptist spoke to the people of the many evil acts committed by Herod.  John made the people aware of the evil that was in the heart of Herod.  John spoke to the people of Herod's evil with Herodias, his wife, and Herodias wanted to have him killed because he spoke against her, the queen.  Many a lesser person would have been killed on the spot.  But John was a prophet.  John was loved by the people.  John was the messenger of God.  He baptized the people and prepared the way for Christ. 

Herod heard about the John's popularity.  Herod heard about the message that John preached to the people.  And Herod heard that John spoke of him to the people.  John had not committed any crime so Herod had no reason to exact justice against him.  But Herod and Herodias were agents of evil.  John was baptizing souls for Christ.  He preached repentance to the people that they may be saved.  And people came from the neighboring countrysides and many far and distant districts. They wanted to be baptized.  They wanted to repent of their sins.  But evil did not like John.  Evil wanted John dead.  And evil worked through Herod and Herodias to have John murdered.

They plotted and planned and created a scheme to murder John the Baptist.    Evil and Herod and Herodias came together and hatched a plan to have him killed.  On Herod's birthday an oath was given to Herodias' daughter to have her dance for Herod.  Anything she asked for would be her reward to dance for Herod and his guests.  So the plot was planned and the dance was given and the request was made, "Give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  was her request.  And this was the plan.  But Herod had to appear grieved before the people as if he was against the plan.  If he did not show that he was grieved the people would not believe that he did not want to have John beheaded.  So he had to feign grief before the public so all would see that he was tricked into the act by Herodias' daughter.  But in actuality it was the plan of evil to get rid of John the Baptist and it was carried out by Herod, Herodias and her daughter.  

And grieved as he was, the king, because of his oath and his guests, commanded it to be given.  He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  And his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

And so it happened.  John the Baptist was murdered by Herod and his wife and evil.  They completed the plot.  They carried out the plan.  They committed the act.  The evildoers acted as agents for evil.  They committed the act.  They carried out the plan.  They became evil.  And so it was to be the same with Christ.  Evil plotted and evil planned.  They wanted to kill Christ.  So they planned with the evildoers and crucified Christ on a cross.  Do not become an agent for evil.  Evil wants you.  It seeks you.  It plans for your enlistment.  Christ calls you from evil.  Christ saves you from becoming an evildoer.  Christ gives you new life in himself.  And the Holy Spirit will teach all to you that you may know the truth of who you are.  Be not an agent of evil.  Become an agent for Christ and he will give you your reward.