The Miracle Meal Lk. 9:10-17 All art is Henry Martin. Free use for ministry purposes.
A teachable moment difficult times natural disaster a lingering illness a family tragedy an economic downturn When we feel the most vulnerable we are then (often) the most teachable.
an impossible moment, followed by an incredible miraculous solution! For far too many the moment is lost the message is missed the miracle misunderstood
re. miracles! absolutely unique events supernatural intervention defy nature A miracle is an impossibility, made possible by an infinite God.
re. the Christ-child the conception of the Christ-child in young Mary by the Holy Spirit, that s a miracle; the succeeding birth was quite NATURAL. But the conception was miraculous. (Mt. 1:20; Gal. 4:4) the feeding of over 5,000 by Jesus was/is a miracle. ( an absolutely unique event; involving the supernatural intervention of God; an act that defies nature)
re. miracles! Moses and the Exodus fed thousands for 40 years clothes never wore out cloudy & fiery pillar
re. miracles! prophetic period Elijah and Elisha Elijah and the prophets of Baal
re. miracles! the time of Christ and His apostles proof of their message validated the message & the messenger(s) of God attesting miracles
Lk. 9:10-17 teachable moment to inspire His Apostles to a greater faith beyond them his disciples (1 st century) beyond them you and me.
last week Jesus and the 12 returned from their limited mission debriefed Does that mean He took back the power He had given them? when?
reengaged Lk. 9:10b-11a And taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida. like locusts hundreds, (actually) thousands begin congregating at the shoreline
Lk 9:12 And [as] the day began to decline, the twelve came and said to Jesus, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.
Lk 9:13a 13a - But Jesus said to them, "You give them {something} to eat! In essence; ["I gave you the power and authority I ll keep preaching.] You 12 men, You give the 5000 {something} to eat!"
what was He expecting? He was expecting them to use their gifts He hoped that they had learned something on their limited mission namely that with God, the impossible is possible, that when we trust God and when we believe in His promises, (that IF it is within His will), God will provide His solution! AMEN!
it s a FAITH check I used to hear only that Jesus fed the 5,000. I never thought about the Apostles and their missed opportunity to exercise their faith.
Lk 9:13b-14a YOU WANT US TO DO WHAT? "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we (could) go and buy food for all these people, (For there were about five thousand men.)
a meal for ONE by this time Jesus had performed many amazing miracles including healing the sick and even raising the dead had ALL of that been lost on the 12? didn t they KNOW whom they were with? even if THEY thought that THEY couldn t perform a miracle, couldn t JESUS do it? That is my question.
what have YOU learned? I don t know how long YOU VE been a Christian, but I do believe that the 12 had been with Jesus for at least a year, and yet (It s my opinion) that in Luke 9:12, Jesus daily pupils had still not come to faith in Jesus or their own role in His Kingdom.
what was Jesus thinking? Jesus wasn t concerned about the food. He was just thinking about how important it was that the 12 learn to trust God and how valuable it will be for the 5000+ to eat God s provisions, and confirm that the message He (and his 12) had just preached was indeed from God. FROM GOD
Lk. 9:16-17a 16 And Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke {them,} and kept giving {them} to the disciples to set before the multitude. (The Great Multiplier) 17a And they ALL ate (including the Jesus and the 12) and (they) were ALL satisfied.
chortazo (khor-tad'-zo); (generally) to gorge ; supply food in abundance.
the purpose to teach ALL of us that just as physical food satisfies our need for nutrition, so the Word of God satisfies our need for salvation (John 6:34) that God is able to care for our every need (Mt. 6:25-34) specifically our soul s needs (Lk. 5:31; 19:10).
Lk. 9:17 the evidence
Have you obeyed His Gospel? He wants you to believe in Him and in His promises. He wants you to be baptized today, and receive His forgiveness. He wants you to consume His Word and be Spiritually filled. Our God IS able to care for your every need Will you join Him at His table today?