Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 9:11-17 (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-14) "NOT MUCH OF A REST!"
Day 107 – Luke 9
Text: Luke 9:11-17 (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-14)
NOT MUCH OF A REST!
As much as Jesus wanted His Disciples to take a little bit of a breather, the demands of His vast ministry did not give them much of a rest at all. Still, the Disciples must have had a bit of a rest. To visit one’s hometown can be quite refreshing.
Jesus chose Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). This was the hometown of a number of the Disciples. Philip, Nathanael, Peter and Andrew probably grew up in Bethsaida (Cf. John 1:44 where Bethsaida was said to be “the city of Andrew and Peter”). It was here in Bethsaida when Jesus invited Philip to be His Disciple. It was here that Philip went to call on Nathanael to tell him about the Lord Jesus (Cf. John 1:43-51). Bethsaida was a city in the northern part of Galilee.
Before too long, “the multitudes knew it” and “they followed Him” (Luke 9:11). Knowing how tired the Disciples were, the Lord Jesus once again took on the task of ministering to the multitudes. He kept to His primary task of speaking to them of the kingdom of God. Invariably, He would also heal the many sick and suffering of their ailments. He “healed those who had need of healing” (Luke 9:11).
WHAT IS A “MULTITUDE”?
The Lord Jesus performed many mighty miracles. The different Gospel writers chose from a vast store of teachings and miracle-incidents to compose their gospel narratives. Thus you will find that some of miracles would be found in one Gospel, but not in the other Gospels.
This miracle of the feeding of the vast multitudes was the only one recorded in all four Gospel accounts. The only other event that was recorded by all four Gospel writers would be the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! Thus the miracles of the Feeding of the Five Thousand must have been very significant to all the Gospel writers, for all chose to record this particular miracle!
Luke tells us that there were five thousand men (Luke 9:14). He did not count the women folk, nor the children who were probably part of this crowd. Matthew recorded the same count, but added, the following words, “Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (Matthew 14:21)! Some scholars estimate that the actual number of people who formed the multitude would be at least ten thousand people! Not all the crowds that gathered to hear Jesus preach would be this size. However, it is fair to say that whenever we read the word “multitude” – we must think of very large number of people!
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THIS MIRACLE WAS RECORDED IN ALL THE GOSPELS?
Since all four Gospel writers recorded this incident, and commented on different aspects of the significance of this miracle, let’s take time to study the contribution of each Gospel writer. The simple and obvious answer must be that this miracle was of such a great proportion, it just had to be recorded by all! Other observations may be made:-
MATTHEW’S OTHER OBSERVATIONS
1. Matthew noted that Jesus “was moved with compassion” for the multitude and healed the sick. Matthew14:14
2. He noted the difference between the Disciples’ approach and attitude and that of the Lord Jesus. The Disciples wanted the Lord to send the multitude away. The Lord challenged them to feed the multitudes instead! Matthew 14:16
MARK’S OTHER OBSERVATIONS
1. Mark also noted that Jesus “was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).
2. He too noted that this opportunity allowed the Lord Jesus to put His Disciples to a great test. They were challenged to feed the multitudes! (Mark 6:37).
LUKE’S OTHER OBSERVATION
Luke noted only the second observation – Jesus wanted to see how His Disciples would respond to this situation that had arisen. Would the Disciples have the necessary compassion? Would they have the faith to attempt the impossible? Would they even understand what Jesus actually meant when He said, “You give them something to eat.” (Luke 9:13) ?
JOHN’S OTHER OBSERVATIONS
1. John made some observations which were very specific. The first thing he noted was why the multitude followed Jesus. It was “because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased” (John 6:2), rather than because they loved His teachings.
2. He specifically stated that He wanted to test His Disciples. He spoke to Philip, but of course he was also speaking to all the other disciples with him.
“Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
But this He said to test him,
For He Himself knew what He would do.
John 6:5-6
In all the Gospels, we read that the Lord Jesus was actually testing the Disciples. They had been with the Lord Jesus for some time now, did they really understand who He was, and the extent of His powers? The Disciples had just been sent on a highly successful mission, but what had they really learned?
This “surprise test” was a difficult one to pass. The Disciples exclaimed that it was impossible to think of feeding the multitude! The nearest village was too far away. They had limited funds. There was only one gift offered – 5 loaves and 2 fish (Luke 9:13)! How were the multitudes going to be fed?
“BUT WE SEE JESUS…”
Once again, the Disciples (and the multitudes) were surprised! Jesus organized them into groups and then actually fed the multitude! There were even leftovers – 12 baskets of leftover fragments (Luke 9:17)! Have we limited Jesus?