Day 17: Luke 9:1-17
Listen to God’s word…
9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.
Jesus sent His disciples out into surrounding areas to continue the acts of ministry they had seen Jesus doing - driving out demons, curing diseases, healing the sick, and proclaiming the kingdom of God.
What was it that made these disciples suddenly able to do these miraculous works on their own? Had they studied under Jesus long enough that they finally could do it themselves?
No.
Remember the first verse that was read - “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority…”
The disciples were able to do the miraculous works of Christ’s ministry specifically because Christ gave them the power and authority to do so.
Followers of Jesus today have been given this same power, the very power of God, the Holy Spirit, who dwells within each of us. Spend some time thinking now about the Holy Spirit inside you at this very moment; empowering you to continue this needed work today.
Ask the Spirit, are there any acts of God’s kingdom I can do today?
The scripture continues…
10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
In this passage of scripture, often called “The feeding of the 5,000,” we see the beautiful image of a Jesus who provides for the needs of those who follow Him.
This crowd followed Jesus to the town of Bethsaida (a great distance), sat and listened to His teachings, and sought to experience healings. Now, late in the afternoon and the warmest part of the day, the disciples had a very real concern for this large group. How will they eat and find shelter for the night?
But Christ doesn’t send the crowd away. Instead He miraculously provides for the physical need of hunger with very little resources that was present.
The disciples’ five loaves of bread and two fishes, a meager buffet for themselves, was enough to feed more than 5,000 people. With the little they had, offered to the hands of Jesus, it would be enough.
What resources, however small, do you have to offer to Christ to be multiplied out for others in this season of your life?