Jesus, Our Provider
Luke 9:10-17
Things shift in chapter 9 of Luke’s gospel. Up to now, the disciples have observed and listened as Jesus demonstrated and taught about the Kingdom. He healed and cast out demons; he taught the crowds but gave special attention to the disciples. Now it was their turn.
The disciples have been out on mission, not the sort of “Christian tourism” that short term trips can often be but doing what they have seen the Master do. Now they are tired and need to de-brief and rest. But it is short-lived.
The Master Disciple-maker seems to sense there is a new lesson for the disciples. They can move into new territory if, like Him, they see something of what Father is doing in the situation.
They have never seen a miracle of multiplication before, even though they would be familiar with the stories about Elisha. They were tired and had had enough. Maybe the crowd had too, or maybe the disciples just projected their feelings onto the others, as we humans so often do!
Jesus prompts, “You give them something to eat!”
Our first response when God calls us to something new is to say, “I can’t!” It is true. On our own we can’t. But Jesus demonstrates in this story that when we rely on the God who can we are able to do it with Him.
Jesus took the lead and did what He always did when sharing a meal: He gave thanks to the Father and blessed the food. Now when food has been prayed over, we can trust God that it will be a blessing to us and that He will give “our daily bread.” But sometimes there is a more dramatic and direct answer to the prayer! This food was multiplied, just as the bread was multiplied in 2 Kings 4:42-44 (there are other miracles recorded in that chapter which point to miracles Jesus did).
The most important feature of this miracle is not that food was multiplied and people were fed. It is not even that it led to some key teaching and a shift in Jesus’ ministry as He began to speak of His death and resurrection. The most important thing is that the food was only multiplied when the disciples obeyed and acted in faith, taking a few fragments, and distributing them. It was only then that the food multiplied.
When God calls us to do something, He does not leave us on our own but invites us to work with Him. Jesus is the Provider, but He says, “You give them something to eat!” The disciples did.
Will we?
Prayer for ourselves
Lord, thank You for speaking to us - please fill us with Your Spirit so we can follow wherever You lead and do whatever You command.
Prayer for others
Pray for revelation of what the Father is doing in the lives of your friends and family and how you can feed them spiritual bread.
- Chris Horton
Things shift in chapter 9 of Luke’s gospel. Up to now, the disciples have observed and listened as Jesus demonstrated and taught about the Kingdom. He healed and cast out demons; he taught the crowds but gave special attention to the disciples. Now it was their turn.
The disciples have been out on mission, not the sort of “Christian tourism” that short term trips can often be but doing what they have seen the Master do. Now they are tired and need to de-brief and rest. But it is short-lived.
The Master Disciple-maker seems to sense there is a new lesson for the disciples. They can move into new territory if, like Him, they see something of what Father is doing in the situation.
They have never seen a miracle of multiplication before, even though they would be familiar with the stories about Elisha. They were tired and had had enough. Maybe the crowd had too, or maybe the disciples just projected their feelings onto the others, as we humans so often do!
Jesus prompts, “You give them something to eat!”
Our first response when God calls us to something new is to say, “I can’t!” It is true. On our own we can’t. But Jesus demonstrates in this story that when we rely on the God who can we are able to do it with Him.
Jesus took the lead and did what He always did when sharing a meal: He gave thanks to the Father and blessed the food. Now when food has been prayed over, we can trust God that it will be a blessing to us and that He will give “our daily bread.” But sometimes there is a more dramatic and direct answer to the prayer! This food was multiplied, just as the bread was multiplied in 2 Kings 4:42-44 (there are other miracles recorded in that chapter which point to miracles Jesus did).
The most important feature of this miracle is not that food was multiplied and people were fed. It is not even that it led to some key teaching and a shift in Jesus’ ministry as He began to speak of His death and resurrection. The most important thing is that the food was only multiplied when the disciples obeyed and acted in faith, taking a few fragments, and distributing them. It was only then that the food multiplied.
When God calls us to do something, He does not leave us on our own but invites us to work with Him. Jesus is the Provider, but He says, “You give them something to eat!” The disciples did.
Will we?
Prayer for ourselves
Lord, thank You for speaking to us - please fill us with Your Spirit so we can follow wherever You lead and do whatever You command.
Prayer for others
Pray for revelation of what the Father is doing in the lives of your friends and family and how you can feed them spiritual bread.
- Chris Horton
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