Luke 9:1-221Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. 7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. 10And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. 13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. 18And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? 19They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. 21And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; 22Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. (Luke 9:1‑22)
Jesus sent His disciples to the towns about the land to tell people about the time of God’s kingdom or rule on earth. This time was written of in the scriptures, and the prophet John had told them to confess and leave their sinful ways, to be ready for God’s time of blessing.
In that time all must be done righteously, there would be none poor or in pain or trouble, and Jesus gave the disciples power to do great miracles to show the people the power of God’s kingdom. He said the people should receive them to their homes and do for them as God’s messengers.
It is not here told how they were treated by people where they went, but that they told Him all when they returned. After that, Jesus had them go with Him to a wilderness land for a time of quiet. But people heard where they had gone and ever so many followed them.
Jesus taught them again and healed all who needed healing. When it came near evening, the disciples thought the people should start for their homes. But Jesus did not like them to go without food, as no doubt it was a long distance to walk, and He said for the disciples to give them food.
The men said all the food was only five loaves of bread and two fish; that would feed only a few of the many people. Yet Jesus said to have them all sit down. Perhaps you know the rest of this wonderful event, how Jesus gave thanks to God for what they had, then broke all in pieces, and in His hands the pieces became many, for there was plenty for all.
Do you know how many thousand men were led that meal, from the five loaves and two fish? And there were twelve baskets of pieces left. We do not know the size of the loaves, perhaps quite small, as a boy had them (John 6:99There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:9)), but we know it was a great miracle that many were fed.
This showed the people how surely they would be provided for, by Jesus as their Messiah; all were cared for alike and enough for all. They had all heard how God had sent the small flakes from heaven, called manna, to provide food for all their nation for forty years in desert lands; and this would teach them it must be the same care and power of God, that day. It was a promise of God’s rule that Christ would satisfy the poor with bread (Psa. 132:1515I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:15)).
The people wondered which one of the great prophets Jesus was; his disciples were certain He was greater than any prophet. He asked them, “Whom say ye that I am?”
“The Christ of God,” Peter answered.
There was no doubt to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, or The Messiah, (which means the same), the Anointed One from God.
Jesus did not tell them that He would soon take the throne as Israel’s King, as they expected Him to do. Instead, He told them sad words, that He would suffer many things from the “elders, chief priests and scribes”, who were the leaders of the people. Jesus told His disciples plainly that He would die. but that He would rise the third day. He knew that He was to be refused as the Messiah.
ML 04/22/1945