Day 245: Seeing the significance - Luke 9 vs 10 - 22

10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he  welcomed them and  spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who needed healing. 

12-13 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.”  But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. 14-17 And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”  And they did so, and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

18-20 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say,  Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21-22 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Luke 9:10-22 English Standard Version

The fact that this miracle is in all four gospels tells us the impact it made on the disciples and that it must have important significance. Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus took the disciples to a quieter place for some rest. He’d sent them to surrounding villages to preach and heal and they returned excited, but also tired. Mark says they hardly had time to eat. Yet what happened? (vs 11)

The crowds soon flocked to where Jesus was. How do you react when people make demands of you when you desperately need some rest? Yet we see that Jesus welcomed them and healed all who needed it. And then Jesus went even further. He provided a meal for over 5000 people from a basket of five loaves and two fish. Some have tried to give logical reasons to explain what took place. But it was obviously a marvellous miracle. John’s gospel tells us that Jesus said to the disciple named Philip,  “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” But then adds “Jesus said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” (John 6:5-6) So Jesus had a purpose in mind. What do you think that purpose was. What was the significance of this miracle?

I think it’s significance is seen in what happened in vs 18-20 where Jesus asked the disciples not only who the crowds were saying he might be, but who they thought he really was? It was Peter who took the lead in saying “You are the Messiah (which is what 'Christ' means) of God.” That was an amazing statement – and Jesus didn’t deny it's truth. (vs 21-22)

The importance of this is seen in what John's gospel says took place the following day. The crowds came looking for Jesus again but he said to them: “You aren't looking for me because you saw the signs I did, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Don't work for food that spoils - but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” The people said to Jesus: “What sign do you do that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness - as it’s written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  But Jesus replied “It wasn't Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:30-33) Take time to think about the significance of what Jesus had done, and now said.