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Snapshot

This was a sermon topic given to a friend to preach on in an Anglican church, which I was privileged to attend. Therefore, taking a bearing from Luke 9:11-17, in what follows, we shall dwell on this topic under the subheadings: salvation, sitting and satisfaction.

Salvation: “…and healed those who had need of healing v. 11.”

For the fed-men in Luke 9:12-17 to have reclined with Jesus, they began to taste something of salvation. Precisely, John rendered his version of this account in John 6. There, they were said to have been sadly backslidden because of Jesus’ teaching that succeeded the feeding. Many of them were tagged disciples. Thus, there was no debating that they had tasted salvation.

Furthermore, Numbers 25:1-15 presents us with an analogous story of salvation embodying wrath, zeal and compassion. We read how jealously angry God was over the idolatry and adultery of Israelites with the Moabites. God burned in anger, and in His anger, He bid many be killed. So likewise, the anger of God is burning on all sinners. His wrath remains on them.

Phinneahs displayed the height noblest zeal to spear through an Israelite who was tone-deaf. The defiant Israelite summoned the courage to introduce his Moabite girlfriend and took her in. His passion was so lauded by God Himself and rewarded with an everlasting priesthood lineage. This tends to be the highest form of zeal revealed in his day. Here was a covenant, and as God will have it, it was not without blood as usual. Moreover, the plague was stopped at that moment for Israel alone.

Who will stop the plague reigning and raining over a sinful world? Red may be your sin that makes you feel the weight of God’s wrath. Like a crimson tide may the torrent of your iniquities that makes you feel worthy of nowhere but hell. Like the angel bid, John desists from crying. May I bid you cease shedding tears? A slaughtered Lamb is able to roll away the already spread looming doom over the earth.

Phinehas was able to get rid of the sinner, Jesus became the sin. And if the evil that incurred God’s wrath was to be gotten rid of, Jesus became the one slated for slaughter. And He obliged to get killed! Secondly, Phinehas speared the offenders to the earth, Jesus offered Himself to be speared through on the cross. The blood that gushed out of the body of the adulterous was, in King David’s words, “on their own head.” Jesus’ blood became the stripe by which we are healed of all physical and spiritual ailments. An earthly order of priesthood became the reward for this zealous act. But Jesus became a heavenly priest who ushers us into the presence of God through His flesh. Would Jesus burn in a zeal to save you through these selfless services, and you take it for granted? God will be justified to treat you as an unworthy ingrate worthy of nothing but hell. Will you quit the shadows of hell and run to your saviour? You cannot do nothing about the sacrifice of Jesus. You either accept it as a propitiation for your sin or be damned for not accepting it. From this disastrous anger, I plead with you to be saved. Come unto Jesus. His priesthood is with an everlasting, eternal covenant cut by His sinless blood. Behold what manner of love!

For the Israelites, Adultery was the bait for idolatry. Is that any different from lust-leading possessiveness? How may you know you are idolatrous? Anything, any person, or endeavour that demands your time more than you give your heart, time and resources to God is an idol. The pillar of fire led them at night and that of cloud during the day. Suddenly, both were ousted by the burning fire of the Lord’s anger. That is, the wrath of God was the sky above them. Therefore, Satan could operate beneath the cloud; within them and possess these Israelites at will.

Are you a sinner yet unsaved, dear reader? The wrath of God is lying over your anger, malice, adultery, idolatry, gossiping, partying spirit and the likes. Come to Jesus and be cleansed. And the blood of Jesus which was shed for you will be spread on you as if you were the offender speared to the earth like Phinehas, and God will be appeased. When He sees this blood, while other sons of rebellion are ordered to be executed, the judgment of death will pass over you. Let it be known to you that either you, by faith, accept the death of Jesus for you on the cross, or you die unacceptably by yourself for yourself. Call for pardon while mercy prevails! Let the body of Jesus be the one spread out before God as a sacrifice for you so that you might receive the underserved pardon for your deserved punishment.

Sitting: “Make them sit down… v. 14”

A hungry man sitting at a table at his host’s command does so with anticipation and confidence that such host has a reliable prediction for his predicament. Jesus had, as He often does, described the beauty of the kingdom of God to His audience. He had healed the healing-needy without a medical degree. More so, He did all of this in a desert draught of access to medical supplies. So would such now say, “sit,” and will not expect to be richly fed by and satisfied by Him?

They had been following Jesus for some days, and He had met plenty of their spiritual needs. However, they also needed food to carry home these lessons. In other words, belly food was required to drive home the spiritual meal. But, alas, they were willing and obedient, and they ate the fruits of this wilderness – miraculous food provision. Thus there are some points to consider about these men.

Settlement

To be continued.