Marc Lloyd's Miscellanies

If you might be at Warbleton or Bodle Street Green churches tomorrow, look away now but otherwise here are some jottings on the feeding of the 5000 from Mark 6:30-44. If you are snowed in tomorrow morning, please feel free to preach my sermon notes to yourself:



You don’t need me to tell you about the needs of theworld.And in our Gospel passage, the people have obvious, overwhelming,real and pressing needs (vv35-36).V44 – 5000 men, + women and children: a great needycrowd.The disciples must have felt surrounded and swamped.The needs of our world are great – physical, mental, social,political, economic, moral, spiritual.We can feel helpless in the face of such needs – and we’renot so wrong!
This passage, is, of course, first of all, all aboutJesus.But the disciples are mentioned at the beginning and theend and often in between.The disciples had a lot to learn, and so do we.There’s lots we can learn from this passage, not onlyabout Jesus but about being his disciples too.
Jesus’ disciples are completely unable to meet the needs ofthe crowd on their own (v37).“200 denarii” (v37) maybe £15000 – on lunch!
In fact, Jesus’ disciples have needs of their own.The disciples couldn’t even feed themselves (v31)!They need a meal and a rest.They can’t cope with the needs of all these others.
Food and rest and refreshment are real and legitimateneeds. Sometimes it’s right to seek a break (v31-32) – even whenthere are other good things you could be doing.Jesus had decided that his disciples needed some timealone with him, and we need time alone with Jesus too.
Jesus has compassion on people in their need (v34) – evenwhen it’s not convenient (vv31-33).How must the disciples have felt (vv33-34)?How might we have reacted?!
Jesus was graciously willing to overturn his perfectplans when met by pressing need / striking opportunity (v34).We need wisdom to respond to circumstances. We should make plans but we should also be ready tochange them sometimes.Serving Jesus won’t always be easy or convenient.We need wisdom to take sensible care of ourselves, but weneed to put others first.If we’re to follow Jesus, we can’t always look afternumber 1.We can’t always please ourselves.Sometimes Jesus calls us to do what seems impossible tous – in fact, what would be impossible on our own.Jesus serves the people, even when he’s tired and hungryand when he’d made other plans – and he calls his followers to do the same.
Jesus is not always what we might call “reasonable”!(v34, vv35-36, v37, v38, v39ff).What the disciples are saying (v35-36) is quite right andreasonable, it just doesn’t take account of Jesus!And, of course, Jesus makes all the difference.The disciples know what they think is best, but Jesus hasother plans.Jesus knows what he’s doing but he challenges hisdisciples and puts them to the test here (vv37-39).Jesus might stretch us too.Sometimes Jesus pushes us beyond our comfort zone.Sometimes we find ourselves doing things with Jesus thatwe never imagined we could do.
Jesus’ ways can sometimes seem very odd to his disciples.Sometimes he seems to ask the impossible (v37).Sometimes what he asks us to do doesn’t seem to result insuccess (v38).Sometimes we might not understand what Jesus is up to orwhat he gets us to do (v39).I wonder what the disciples made of all this.Perhaps they were worried they might have medicalemergencies or even a riot on their hands.Wouldn’t it have been much better to have legged it atthe first sight of the crowds, or to have sent them away at a reasonable hour?What was Jesus thinking?But the disciples know enough to know that Jesus is incharge!They manage to trust Jesus’ better judgement.Jesus is the Leader, the Master, the Teacher, the Lord, weare the disciples, the followers, the learners, the servants.We’re to do what Jesus says, even if we don’t completelyunderstand what he’s up to (v40). We’re not to challenge his orders.Jesus knows best.We can trust him.
The disciples know that the people need a meal – and they’reright, they do.But Jesus diagnoses people’s real deeper needs (v34): They need a Shepherd-King, they need to hear the Word ofGod taught, and they need to eat.Much of the Bible is about a search for a good king, aking after God’s own heart. The people need a king.That’s who the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one wouldbe.
Jesus had compassion on them, v34, “so he began to teachthem many things”.They needed Jesus’ teaching.Jesus said: “Man cannot live by bread alone but by everyword that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). The Word of God is real bread – hearing it is ourgreatest need. The Bible is food for the soul.
Where the disciples’ priorities are physical (v35), Jesus’are spiritual (v34). Jesus prioritises preaching the gospel (1:38) and theforgiveness of sins (2:5), though he wonderfully meets all our real needs.
Jesus perfectly meets all his people’s real needs.“They all ate and were satisfied” (v42): Jesus can really satisfy and only Jesus can reallysatisfy.Jesus is the perfect Shepherd-King, the Messiah, a newMoses / Joshua (Num 27:15-18).Jesus is the perfect leader of God’s people.He will conquer all their enemies: the enemies of sin anddeath. Jesus (Joshua) is God to the rescue – that’s what thename “Jesus” means. He saves the people – provides, delivers, protects, keepsthem safe. He has the (new) creative power of God Himself. Only God could do this kind of amazing miracle.Jesus can give all God’s people their “daily bread” –physical and spiritual.Jesus is bread from heaven, Manna in the wilderness. 12 baskets (v43) recalls the OT people of God, 12 tribesof Israel.Here is a new people of God, a new Israel, organisedaround Jesus (vv39-40, Ex 18:17-26). Jesus is going to bring a new Exodus, a new deliverance,like the rescue from slavery in Egypt (wilderness, v32; v39, green grassimplies springtime, Passover time). Jesus is the true Bread of Life, he can bring them out ofslavery to sin and safely all the way to the Promised Land. Jesus can bring us safely through our earthly pilgrimageall the way to heaven and the New Creation.Jesus sustains us with the Bread of his Word and of theLord’s Supper and will bring us at last to the Heavenly Feast.(v41 recalls Last Supper / Lord’s Supper).Jesus was always talking about a heavenly party, a meal,that he invites us to.Jesus himself is the food we need.(We feed on his spiritually, by faith, in our hearts, aswe hear his Word and in the Supper).
We should look to Jesus to graciously feed us, trust inhim, listen to him, take him as our shepherd-king.That is no doubt the main burden of this section of Mark,which focusses on who Jesus is.And yet we learn here something of what it means tofollow Jesus too.
Jesus graciously chooses to use his disciples despitetheir weaknesses and inadequacies and lack of understanding and although, ofcourse, he doesn’t really need them.Jesus could have fed the people all on his own, or calledon an army of angels but he deliberately involves his disciples (v37, v38, v39,v41, v43). Even Jesus’ miraculous work requires organisation andteam work (v39).
We should offer whatever we have to Jesus, even if itseems pathetic and ridiculous (v38) and see what he can do with it. When we give to Jesus we can expect to get back so muchmore than we give. The left overs here are far more than they started with(v43)!
Will you join Jesus in what he’s doing?Will you offer him your service and all that you have,and see what he’ll do – perhaps to meet the needs of others in a more amazingway than you could possibly imagine?
* * *
Cf. 2 Kings 4:42-44 – Elisha feeds 100 men with 20 loavesand they eat and have some left over Numbers 11 – the people are in the desert and Moses isworried about where 6000 people are going to find food
Exodus 16:1-18
Ps 78
Is 55:10-11
Sheep without a shepherd – num 27:15-18; 1 k 22:17; ez34:5, (22-23); zech 10:2
Loaves = more like our rolls
Moses organised the people into 1000s, 100s, 50s and 10s– Ex 18:17-26

Marc Lloyd

The following Prayer, written at The Queen's direction bythe Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, will be used in the JubileeThanksgiving Service in St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday, 5 June. The Archbishops ofCanterbury and York have commended it for use throughout the Churchof England. Other churches are also welcome to use thisprayer.

God of time and eternity,
whose Son reigns as servant, not master;
we give you thanks and praise
that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories
with Elizabeth
our beloved and glorious Queen.
In this year of Jubilee,
grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace
as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord andGod
and in devoted service to her lands and peoples,
and those of the Commonwealth,
now and all the days of her life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.It seems a shame to me that the prayer says Jesus reigns as servant "not master". Of course, Jesus is the servant king. He came not to be served but to serve. But he is also our Lord, King and Master. In fact, Jesus re-defines what real, legitimate rule looks like: to lead is to serve. Marc Lloyd

“Mark contrasts the godless feast of King Herod Antipas,at which John [the Baptist] is killed, with the desert feast of theShepherd-Messiah of Israel, at which the people are fed in their minds by Jesus’teaching and in their bodies by simple peasant fare which he generouslyprovides.”
Paul Barnett, TheServant King: Reading Mark Today (Aquila, 1991) p98Marc Lloyd

You are warmly invited to the...
EvangelicalRural Ministry Seminar 2012Thursday 8thMarch 201211am (for 11:30am) – 3pmWarbleton Church Rooms, Church Hill, Warbleton, EastSussex, TN21 9BDopposite the Black Duck Pub
11am Coffee and biscuits11:30am Welcome, introductionsand opening prayer11:45am Revd. Jon Hobbs –reflections on ministry at Maresfield & Nutley12:45pm lunch (notprovided – bring your own or please let me know if you’d like to be included inour lunch booking at the pub)1:45pm Discussion: issuesin rural ministry (please feel free to email with any issues you’d especiallylike to talk about)2:45pm Prayer3pm Depart
Jon Hobbs worked inbusiness and as a policeman and then spent five years in student Christian ministrywith UCCF before theological training at Oak Hill Theological College in London.Following eight years of local church ministry, first in Lindfield, and then inMaresfield and Nutley, he has just been appointed to lead Grace Church, anindependent church plant in Haywards Heath. He is also taking on a new part-timerole with the Sussex Gospel Partnership, teaching on the training courses andspeaking at training events.
The day is particularlyintended for evangelical ministers but others are very welcome to attend.
Cost: £5 per person
The church rooms are inthe church yard behind the church. There is a small church car park and ampleparking on the road.
Bookings / enquiries: marc_lloyd@hotmail.com/ (01435) 830421
Please feel free to inviteothers and spread the word.Marc Lloyd

The Rectory,Rookery Lane, Rushlake Green, Nr. Heathfield, TN21 9QJ01435 830421M:07812 054820 Y:07729 557835 (mobile reception poor at home)marc_lloyd@hotmail.com/ yvonne-lloyd@hotmail.co.ukmarclloyd.blogspot.com
Friday 30th December 2011 AD
As I (Marc) failed to write a single Christmas card thisyear, and at the prompting of Mrs Lloyd, I thought I’d attempt a New Yearletter. You’ll be pleased to hear that despite their undoubted brilliance, itwon’t consist entirely of boastsabout Jono (4), Abigail (1) and Matthew (0)’s many achievements. I’ll beblowing my own trumpet a little too!
MatthewZechariah Richard Lloyd’s greatest achievement of the year so far was probablybeing born, weighing 8lbs 11oz at 15:32 on 23rd December. (There aresome snaps on The Face Book). Apart from Our Lord, Matthew was the greatestChristmas present of all and is overshadowing much else, just at the moment.Both mother and baby are doing well and are considering venturing out of thehouse for the first time today. Daddy is rather exhausted but just about bearingup. I’m glad paternity leaves only lasts 2 weeks as I can’t possibly keep upwith producing 3 meals a day and putting the dishwasher and washing machine on.Thank the Lord for the olds and out-laws!
We moved to the countryside last January and so far thenatives have proved reasonably friendly for the most part. I think I’ve onlyreally upset a few batches of locals a few times and clashed with The RushlakeGreen Mafia once. It is true that “Sussex Won’t Be Drove”.
So all is going tolerably at Warbleton and Bodle StreetGreen parish churches as far as I can tell. They were stuffed to the gunnels atChristmas but there remains room for growth week by week, especially at BodleStreet. The plans to add Dallington parish church to my fiefdom are grindingon. “Like a Mighty Tortoise Moves The Church of God”. I’ve been doing a primaryschool assembly there every week which taxes my creativity. Please send ideasand outlines. Progress on my PhD has been similarly speedy.
Mrs Lloyd isenjoying being a more than full-time Mum, wife and unpaid Vicar’s help. Verymuch above and beyond the call of duty she has heroically launched The Little Warblers Toddler Group, whichhas been great. Some weeks there’s been a small band and lots of good chats;other weeks we’ve felt rather overrun with customers and in need of some extrahelping hands.
Jono is verymuch enjoying Daisy Chain Nurserywhere he is learning all about the real meaning of Christmas: Santa! He’s notslow to correct them when they get something wrong! For much of the year he hasinhabited the parallel universe of Octonauts(as Captain Barnacles) but just lately he has become Mike The Knight. All this produces great courage and heroism in hisbetter moments.
Abigailcontinues to be a very live wire, in to everything and not to be left out.
Well, that’s more than enough of that. A very happy newyear to you all. We’d love to get a boastful letter from you too! With our loveand prayers and every blessing for 2012,
Marc, Yvonne, Jono,Abigail, Matthew, Caleb the Dog and Esther the Cat.Marc Lloyd

Someone who I don't think I've ever met commented on Twitter to someone else that some other people I've probably never met had said to him on his blog that it is dangerous to say that God is love because if you do you'll end up as some kind of dreadful liberal inclusivist universalist like Rob Bell.

Although the idea is refuted by its own absurdity, I thought I'd dignify it with a response here:

(1) You know you are in danger of losing the plot if Biblical language gives you the willies. 1 John 4:8. Enough said. Incidentally, this argument ought to make us realise that Baptism is a big deal too and much more than getting wet.

(2) Any statement is open to misunderstanding. Sure, if you are going to say God is love you must know who / what God you are talking about, what real love is (that it is jealous, for example) and indeed the nature of being and predication, along with everything else in the universe. Of course. What is is is a jolly good question. It is dangerous to say anything. We only know something completely if we know everything so we cannot totalise the statement "God is love". Or rather, if we said that properly we would say everything. We get in to deep waters whenever we say anything. Our speaking is always different from that of God the Word who spoke and created the world. For us, there is always more to be said. We always lisp. At our best we merely echo God's perfect speech. It is perfectly true that in some circumstances, God's love properly understood implies his wrath since the loving response to sin is holy anger.

(3) Yet, whilst we must not pit God's love againts his wrath and so on, God is love is a statement more proper to God than God is wrath. God's wrath is what we might call his strange, alien work. From all eternity, in His Very Self, the Father has loved the Son and the Son has loved the Father in the bond of the Holy Spirit. Where and when there was no sin there was no wrath. But there has always been love since The Triune God is Love in Himself. And that love overflows to the world. And, yes, love wins.


Marc Lloyd

I have the joyful opportunity and the regular responsibility of writing a page of A4 for our church / parish magazine every month. I've been at it for a year now. Here are some idea starters:

Recent or prospective events in:

the locality
e.g. the Sussex Marathon, the Heathfield Show, the shop up for sale

the church
e.g. mission plans, The Year of The Great Parish Visitation

amongst your family and friends
e.g. the birth of a new child, a friend emigrates

national life
e.g. the royal wedding, the Olympics

the media
e.g. what some rock star said, the death of a celebrity

something topical

the church year / feast & festivals
e.g. Valentine's Day

the secular calendar
e.g. New Year, Guy Falkes night

the seasons

a bible passge you've been reading

introduce or review a sermon series

summary, extract or overflow from a sermon

review or reccomend a book, film, play, ballet, opera, theatre production etc.

something from the blogs

something arising from occasional offices of weddings, funerals, baptisms etc.

say thank you, sorry or please about something

find something in a dictionary of quotations to agree or disagree with

write in the form of a diary, letter or notes (i.e. a number of paragraphs as mini articles)

Marc Lloyd