Jesus miracle of 5000

Compassion

Compassion, what does it mean? Can you give an example of compassion?

Compassion (N):sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

We finished last week with Lk9:11

Luke 9:11 NASB95

11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

Jesus spoke compassion by sharing the kingdom of God

Jesus showed compassion by curing those in need of healing.

Are we a compassionate people, does it come easily or is it more intentional?

(Transition) So, this morning we are going to look at a great story that many know of the feeding of the 5000 men, not counting women or children. We will see compassion, we will see provision, but yet we will see something else too for us to learn from.

Our Passage

Luke 9:12 NASB95

12 Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd 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.”

Luke 9:13–14 NASB95

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.”

Luke 9:15–16 NASB95

15 They did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He 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 people.

Luke 9:17 NASB95

17 And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.

Anything amazing stick out to you in this passage?

What day was ending (v.12) and how do you know?

It was the day Jesus had compassion and spoke, and showed compassion to the crowd that met him after the sending of the twelve (Lk9:1-11).

What deduction can you make about the situation from (v.12)?

They were in the wilderness, or away from any means of provision

The Apostles wanted to send the people away to get place to stay and eat.

Jesus gave instructions in (vv.13-14), what were they?

You give them something to eat

Have them sit in groups of about fifty.

Side note; it is here we see there was about 5000 men.

So, now, what things transpire in (vv.15-16)?

The apostles listened to Jesus instructions and did what He said.

Jesus took the little provision (5 loaves, 2 fishes) blessed them, broke them

Gave to the disciples to give (set) before the people.

Finally, what more do you learn (v.17)?

Everyone ate, were satisfied

There were twelve baskets of broken pieces picked up.

(Transition) I really need to start back at (v.11) which we actually did to get the better picture of the compassion, provision and ? ? ?

Jesus serves the multitude

Luke 9:11 GNB

11 When the crowds heard about it, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed it.

The plan had been to take His disciples and slip away to Bethsaida (Lk9:10)

Luke 9:10 NASB95

10 When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.

The plan was to minister to those who just got back from ministering to others.

Yet the plan was heard about and the crowds followed them there too.

In this verse (v.11) we see the attitude of Jesus (welcoming them)

In this verse we see the teaching of Jesus. He taught them about the kingdom of God.

In this verse see the power of Jesus and compassion by curing those who needed to be cured.

Disciples desire, Jesus compassion

Luke 9:12–13 GNB

12 When the sun was beginning to set, the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the people away so that they can go to the villages and farms round here and find food and lodging, because this is a lonely place.” 13 But Jesus said to them, “You yourselves give them something to eat.” They answered, “All we have are five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy food for this whole crowd?”

Luke 9:14–15 GNB

14 (There were about 5,000 men there.) Jesus said to his disciples, “Make the people sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 After the disciples had done so,

A day what was to be a get-away ended up like many others a long day.

The disciples wanted to send the people away, not serve them.

The Lord said “serve them.”

I do not know about you, I think I would have thought like the disciples we have nothing for them, looking out for them, send them to get provision for themselves.

But Jesus was one with true compassion in actions more than just words (consider Jm2:16)

James 2:16 NASB95

16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

The disciples had not yet grasped the compassion that Christ had, but they will in the future, this was a training ground for them.

Think about what Jesus told them to do, “you feed them.” Can you draw a conclusion on what Jesus wanted them to do?

Jesus was going to make a way for the little provision they had to feed the multitude

If you were to join all the accounts of this story (Jn6:1-12; Mt14:13-21; Mk6:31-44) and you are invited to read all accounts on your own. Here is what more we learn.

In the John passage we see that the suggestion to send away was by Philip, and Philip was told to feed them. Though Jesus knew what He was going to do.

I like what Wiersbe said about this little provision.

“In the crisis hours of life, when your resources are low and your responsibilities are great, it is good to remember that God already has the problem solved.” (Wiersbe)

It was more in this passage for them to grow in faith, and in compassion. Something they truly would need in ministry work.

It was the compassion of Jesus (Mt14:14) and his awareness of the power of God that led him to feeding the multitude.

I found this interesting and thought would share this from Jon Courson:

The people are hungry, and the atheists and skeptics try to convince them that they aren’t hungry at all.

The people are hungry, and the empty religionist offers them some ceremony or empty words that can never satisfy.

The people are hungry, and the religious showman gives them video and special lighting and cutting edge music.

The people are hungry, and the entertainer gives them loud fast action, so lout and fast that they don’t have a moment to think.

The people are hungry and Jesus has the bread of life to offer to them.

That is what we should offer to people, the living water and the bread of life that satisfies the hungry soul.

Davis in his commentary said:

“When people come to you asking for help with a hard situation or an answer to a troubling question, do you sent them away, saying”Call the church office. See if you can talk to one of the pastors because I can’t help you.” The problem is, you and I don’t think we have very much, “what good will my few sardines and couple of wheat things be in the light of this huge need?”

That was only a part of what is said it went on to say:

“Jesus told His disciples ‘you feed them,’ Even though your understanding may be limited and your resources seem scant, put them in My hands and watch Me multiply them miraculously to touch someone else deeply.”

The Blessings and the provision

Luke 9:16–17 GNB

16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over.

Jesus gave a prayer of thanks for the provision He had there, God did the multiplying of it.

When we pray a blessing when we eat we are really offering a thanksgiving for the One who provided it for us.

The food is the blessing from above like the manna from heaven to those in the wilderness with Moses (Jn6:31-35), or the few loaves that fed hundreds under Elisha (2Kings4:42-44). Jesus was greater than Moses and the prophets!

Jesus was the producer, the disciples were the distributors. All ate, all were full.

God calls us to be His distributors with whatever provision He has provided us with.

Leftover baskets, twelve baskets, twelve apostles, provision for them too. And a strong reminder that the Lord always provides for His.

While we have seen the teaching on compassion, the act of mercy in feeding the multitude, we also see God’s gracious, miraculous provision for the people and the trust and faith He calls for from the disciples.

It would be just after this that Jesus would teach about He is the bread of life and to receive him (Jn6:22-59) but the people were still more interested in the physical feeding vs. the spiritual feeding that would feed them forever.

Wiersbe: “This teaches us to have compassion, to look on problems as opportunities for God to work, and to give Him all that we have and trust Him to meet the needs. If we do all we can, he will step in and do the rest.”

We may think we have little to offer, we are in over our head, we do not have the words to say. But as Courson says: “See what the Lord does because you simply took time to pray or share the word with someone, you’ll get back a whole basket for yourself.”

One last thought from Guzik:

“What we have in ourselves to give others is insignificant, but when we put it in Jesus’ hands, He can do great things with our gifts and talents to touch the lives of others.”

(Prayer) (Exit)