Luke 9:10-17: Serving a God Of Miracles
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
In this passage we see the biggest and most climactic miracle in Jesus’ ministry among the people of Galilee
Actually, this is the most climactic miracle in all of His ministry outside of His own resurrection
This miracle is registered in all four gospels
But it’s important to realize that Jesus has changed the focus of his ministry
We see very clearly at the beginning of chapter 9 that He is now focusing on His disciples
In v. 10 we see that the 12 have returned from their successful mission where God used them greatly
They’ve told him about all the great things that have happened on their journey
I’m sure it was a really exciting time as well as extremely exhausting at the same time
Jesus took them on a “leadership retreat” so that they could rest and spend some time alone
In Mark 6:31 it tells us that they were taken away to rest
31 El les dijo: Venid vosotros aparte a un lugar desierto, y descansad un poco. Porque eran muchos los que iban y venían, de manera que ni aun tenían tiempo para comer.
But Jesus’ fame had grown to a point where multitudes were following Him wherever He went
I’m sure the disciples might’ve been a little disappointed to see their vacation planes ruined by the crowd
But Jesus received them gladly
Jesus always has time for you v. 10-11
Jesus always has time for you v. 10-11
It’s so interesting that Jesus received them
Jesus wasn’t too busy or too tired
They “ruined” his plans for rest, but He received them gladly
Many times we think that Jesus doesn’t have time for us
Or that our needs aren’t important enough to bring to His attention
But He’s always available and always receives us
His time was dedicated to teach them about the Kingdom of God
This is the kingdom that was announced to them in Luke 4:18-19
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
He preached a message of salvation
He preached to give them life and life more abundantly John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
He preached to give eternal life to Him who believes John 3:16; 18; 36
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
He not only preached to them about their spiritual health but He also healed them physically
But in the midst of all the crowd and chaos we see that He turns to a private conversation with His disciples
Sadly, even though the disciples have seen so many miracles and have been with Him for so long, they still didn’t have the faith to see God work again
This miracle is more for the 12 than it is for the multitude
Jesus wants to show His power and He also wants to use them
1. God Wants To Use You v. 12
1. God Wants To Use You v. 12
It’s interesting how the disciples tell Jesus wha to do
They tell him that he ought to dismiss the crowd
They don’t tell Him it would be a good idea
They don’t tell Him to consider sending them away
They order Him to send them away
But Jesus turns around and says “you feed them”
The emphasis is on “you”
This brings us to a great dilemma
5000 men with women and children out in the middle of the desert
There’s nowhere to eat
There’s no money
The little food that they have wouldn’t be enough to feed more than two people
In all of this Jesus’ command is that they feed the multitude
Jesus gave them an impossible task
And the reason is because He intends to do all the work
The disciples were getting the chance to be a blessing to the people in need
it’s interesting to see in v. 10 that Jesus tells them to give them to eat but in v. 16 He is the one that is giving the disciples the food to feed them
The disciples “technically” fed the 5000
And Jesus is in the background focused on His disciples and their ministries
Jesus later on tells them that they will do greater works than Him John 14:12
12 De cierto, de cierto os digo: El que en mí cree, las obras que yo hago, él las hará también; y aun mayores hará, porque yo voy al Padre.
Jesus give His great commission to His followers Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
19 Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo;
20 enseñándoles que guarden todas las cosas que os he mandado; y he aquí yo estoy con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo. Amén.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Jesus is the one who wants to use us in preaching the gospel and taking His message around the world
We are salt and light Matthew 5:13-14
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
God wants to use us in His work to be a blessing to others
2. God Wants To Use What Little You Have v. 13
2. God Wants To Use What Little You Have v. 13
The problem with the disciples is that they use logic
But you can’t only use logic when Jesus is part of the equation
We see the disciples dilemma
They have only 5 loaves and 2 fish
This little amount of food comes from the hand of a child that had given it to Andrew
The dilemma:
Not enough money
Not enough food
But Jesus is able and willing to use what little you have if you would only put it in His hand
Warren Wiersbe said: “Jesus taught the Twelve an important lesson for their future work: no situation is impossible if you take what you have, give it to God with thanksgiving, and share it with others.”
I believe one of the greatest struggles we have is that we think God could never use us
We don’t have enough talent
We don’t have enough time
We don’t have enough money
We don’t have enough influence
But the truth is that it has nothing to do with how much you have but what God can do with what you do have
many people don’t want to start giving because they think it’s too little and their offering would be insignificant
But God can multiply what you have to be a blessing to many people around the world
We believe that we could never sing like someone else
We could never teach like someone else
We could never give as much as someone else
We don’t have the abilities to share the gospel like someone else
But God isn’t expecting you to have the solution to the problem. He only expects your disposition
God’s work is not based on our resources but on our faith
It is quite often that we see God calling us to do something impossible 2 Corinthians 3:5; 12:10
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
3. God Wants To Do More Than You Could Imagine v. 16-17
3. God Wants To Do More Than You Could Imagine v. 16-17
We see that the final verses of the story are filled with abundance
Jesus took the bread and fish, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and they distributed them to the crowd.
The passage says that everyone ate
They were filled
There were leftovers - 12 baskets
It’s amazing what God can do when we put our lives in His hands and we simply allow Him to do what He wants with it
I wonder how the disciples felt while holding their basket, knowing they had just told Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they could go eat
This was Jesus’ way of shutting their mouths
Jesus never finishes a job halfway
In all this He allows us to see things happen way beyond our imagination
It’s Jesus who can multiply bread and fish
It’s Jesus who can raise the dead
It’s Jesus who can change the life of a demon possessed man
Jesus is the one who can calm the storms
It’s sad that after seeing all the things that Jesus has done in the gospels and in our own lives and churches that we would still doubt Him Ephesians 3:20
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
4. Jesus Wants You To Believe In Him
4. Jesus Wants You To Believe In Him
The whole purpose of this miracle was that the disciples would see and believe that Jesus was the Messiah
He is the one who can heal, raise from the dead, feed, etc.
Isn’t it interesting that this story happens immediately after Herod asked the question “but who is this, of whom I hear such things?”
This miracle puts all questions to rest
This is a Christological passage
This means that it points to Christ’s deity
It teaches us who Jesus is
Throughout the passage we see the unbelief of the disciples
But by doing these miracles Jesus as shown that He is sent and approved by the Father Acts 2:22
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Jesus is leading the disciples to look at Him at all times throughout His ministry
They need to see how He can provide, feed and save
It’s the disciples’ own unbelief that blinds them to the person of Jesus Christ
This whole passage shows us that it’s not about the disciples ability
It’s not about the need of the multitudes
It’s about about the disciples’ resources
It’s not about a logical solution
It’s about the deity and power of Jesus Christ to be able to work through His disciples Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
It’s holding onto Him because without Him we can do nothing John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
God wants to work in your life
God wants to work through your life
It doesn’t matter how small you are
It doesn’t matter how poor or rich you are
Your past doesn’t matter
God first of all wants to save you and then use you for His glory
It’s all about Him
How are you limiting God by telling Him what to do or how to work?
How are you limiting God by thinking He couldn’t use the little bit you have?
