Entering the Weekend with Christ

Hi everyone,

This Sunday we hear John's version of the multiplying of loaves and fishes as a physical manifestation of God's love for God's children.  May we be instruments of God's multiplication, sharing God's love and grace with the world around us.  And may we always come to the table with hearts open to receive the nourishment that only Christ can provide...and not be "too picky" when accepting God's grace.

Pastor Tim

"God has led you to the desert, and spoken to your Heart."

Mount of Olives Lutheran Church

3546 E. Thomas Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85018

602-956-1620 office

Jesus: The Bread of Life

Siblings in Christ,

This Sunday, we gather around the table of God’s Word, nourished by stories of abundance amidst scarcity and empowered by the promise of divine presence. Our journey begins with a simple meal, multiplied miraculously, and culminates in the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

2 Kings 4:42-44: During a famine, Elisha commands his servant to set a meager amount of bread before the people. And what happens? A miracle. The meager supply is stretched to feed all who are present, and there is even bread left over. This story is a powerful reminder how, when our resources seem limited, God can multiply them beyond our imagination. Just as the bread was multiplied to feed the hungry, so too can God provide for our every need.

Ephesians 3:14-21: Paul prays for believers to comprehend the immeasurable love of Christ. He desires that we would be filled with the fullness of God and that the church would be Christ’s dwelling place through the Spirit.  Just as the bread in 2 Kings was multiplied, so too is God’s love and grace multiplied in our lives. We are rooted and grounded in this love, capable of experiencing the fullness of God’s presence.

John 6:1-21: Jesus, seeing the multitude hungry, feeds them with five loaves and two fish. This miracle is a foreshadowing of the greater miracle to come. It is a tangible sign of Jesus’ provision and compassion. The people, amazed by this miracle, seek to make Jesus king. But Jesus knows that true kingship is not about earthly power but about spiritual nourishment. He leads them to a deeper understanding of Himself as the Bread of Life.

To receive Jesus as the Bread of Life is to be filled with His presence, to experience His love, and to be transformed by His Spirit. It is to be part of a community nourished by His grace, just as the multitude was fed by the multiplied loaves.

As we gather around the Lord’s table, let us remember the stories we have heard today. Let us be filled with gratitude for God’s never-ending grace, for His immeasurable love, and for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.

May we be instruments of God’s multiplication, sharing His love and grace with the world around us. And may we always come to the table with hearts open to receive the nourishment that only Christ can provide.