We
are now nearing the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, and a new phase in
Jesus’ ministry begins in Luke 9. With many more places needing his message,
Jesus commissions His twelve disciples, empowers them to preach and to heal,
and sends them out (Luke 9:1-6). As they travel, they hear a great deal of
speculation about who Jesus is (Luke 9:7-9). Jesus feeds thousands with just a
few loaves of bread and fishes (Luke 9:11-17).
Key Truth: Luke
wrote Luke 9:1-17 to teach believers that trusting Jesus involves
sending us out and gathering many in.
Key Application: Today I
want to show you what God’s Word says about trusting Jesus.
Pray and Read:
Luke 9:1-17
Sermon Points:
1. Trusting
Jesus results in sending us out (Luke 9:1-9)
2. Trusting
Jesus results in gathering many in (Luke 9:10-17)
Exposition: Note
well,
1.
TRUSTING JESUS RESULTS IN SENDING US
OUT (Luke 9:1-9)
a.
Luke 9:1 – (|| Matt 10:1-15; Mark 6:7-11). Up
to this point, Jesus’ disciples have been observers, accompanying Jesus as he
preaches and heals. Now Jesus gives his disciples miracle-working power
(dunamis) and authority (exousia) to do what He has been doing – casting out
demons, healing the sick, and proclaiming the message of the kingdom of God.
Their mission is a further demonstration that God’s Kingdom was breaking forth
into the world and a foreshadowing of the apostolic mission in Acts where the
Apostles continue Jesus’ work through the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit. The term apostolos simply
means “one sent out” with a delegated task. The Twelve represent the twelve
tribes of Israel (like the 12 spies of Num 13:2; Luke 22:28-30), the righteous
remnant of Israel and the foundation of the church. Jesus will send out 72 more
at the beginning of chapter 10, signifying the evangelization of the Gentile
nations.
b.
Luke 9:3 – Take nothing. No staff for walking and
self-defense in the event of attack, no bag to receive alms or carrying one’s
possessions, no extra tunic, a long shirt worn next to the skin. Why did Jesus
do this? (1) One suggestion is that since the Jewish Mishnah prohibited a man
from coming to the Temple Mount with staff, sandal, wallet, or dust on one’s
feet. Jesus may be saying that this is a sacred task and they must leave behind
anything that might defile them. This explanation in my opinion is weak. (2)
Others have suggested the command was meant to distinguish these Messianic
missionaries from the wandering Greek philosophers who carried a purse to
receive donations. That explanation, though, fits better with later missionary
work. Since these instructions are altered later under different circumstances
(Luke 22:35-38) it suggests Luke was not setting down missionary guidelines.
(3) The simplest explanation may be the best. Jesus wants his men to travel
light and live in complete dependence on God, totally committed to their
mission, not tied down with worldly concerns. The principle is universal, but
the details are for this mission of the Twelve.
d.
APPLICATION: The Lord calls us to total
commitment and complete dependence on God. Are you living simply, or are you
tied up with worldly concerns and demands? Is it time to sell some things, to
let go of some commitments, to make room for more time with Jesus or more time
to do what God has called you to do?
e.
Luke 9:5 – Shake the dust off your
feet: Jewish
travelers returning home typically shook the ‘unclean’ dust of their journey
through pagan lands off their feet. It was a statement that the place was
heathen and had no status among God’s people. By rejecting Jesus’ disciples, a
town placed itself outside the community of faith. This is, therefore, a formal
act of separation, leaving the town to the judgment it deserves for rejecting
the gospel (see Luke 10:13-15; Acts 13:5; 18:6).
f.
Luke 9:7-9 – Who is this? Herod the tetrarch here is Herod
Antipas, a son of Herod the Great (Luke 3:1, 19-20). The reference to Elijah
may be an allusion to 2 Kings 2:1-12 (cf. Mal 4:5) where the return of Elijah
is expected in the person of Jesus “before the great and terrible day of the
Lord comes.” This would explain why John is mentioned here and connected to the
Messianic figure Jesus. At the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee the people had
all the evidence they needed to answer this central question. The failure of
the crowds to recognize Jesus as the Messiah was in fact rejection (John 1:10).
g.
APPLICATION: Who
is Jesus to you? Do you have the information you need to make a decision about
Christ? Are you submitting to him or are you rejecting his leadership?
2.
TRUSTING JESUS RESULTS IN GATHERING
MANY IN (Luke 9:10-17)
a.
Luke 9:10 – Bethsaida: on the north shore of the Sea of
Galilee, east of the Jordan River, the hometown of Peter and Andrew (John 1:44)
and Philip (Luke 12:21). The largest town in the area would have had no more
than 3000 residents, so even feeding the crowd in the villages would have been
difficult
b. Luke
9:13-14 – Jesus
reply is designed to show them they have nothing to offer. Their only recourse
is to trust Jesus. It would have taken about 7 months hard labor of an average
man’s wages to feed this group. Jesus challenges Philip and Andrew, who had
grown up in Bethsaida, and Andrew found the little boy who offered his five
barley loaves and two fish (John 6:1-13) Organized in ranks of fifty, the
process facilitated the distribution of food alone, even if some speculated
that Jesus might be organizing a messianic army.
c.
APPLICATION: It is not enough for us to see the
needs of others. If we are aware of them, then we are responsible.
d.
Luke 9:16 – He gave thanks: Perhaps he prayed the familiar
Jewish prayer from the Mishnah: Barukh
attah Adonai Eloheynu, Melekh-ha ‘olam, haMotzi lechem min ha’aretz: “Blessed
are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the
earth.” Lifting one’s eyes to heaven was a common posture of prayer (1 Kings
8:22, 54; Mark 6:41; 7:34; John 11:41; 17:1). With Jesus taking the loaves,
giving thanks, and breaking them, there are clear verbal parallels with the
Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19), which has strong links to the OT promise of the
Messianic Banquet.
e.
Luke 9:17 – Twelve basketfuls left: One for each disciple, or perhaps
for each tribe, and the use of twelve is now becoming noticeable. And these
baskets are not small. They are waist high. Christ provides for all God’s
people.
f.
APPLICATION: One of the best lessons of the
Feeding of the Five Thousand is God’s provision. He not only provides, but
leaves us with enough leftovers to remind us that He is a provider. Are you trusting Jesus for your provision?
g.
Old
Testament background is important to this passage: (1) the manna and quail (loaves
and fish) in the wilderness (Exod. 16; Num 11; John 6:14-40); (2) Elisha’s
feeding of a hundred men with barley loaves and grain (2 Kings 4:42-44); and
most importantly because it is an important theme for Luke, especially in the
upcoming travel narrative, (3) the Messianic banquet, the End Time promise
where God will feed and shepherd his people (Isaiah 25:6-8; 65:13-14).
h.
The
feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle appearing in all four Gospels (Matt.
14:13-21; Mark 6:30-43; John 6:1-13). In all four this miracle is the climax of
Jesus’ ministry, and from that point forward there is a long march toward the
Cross. Like the calming of the sea (Luke 8:22-25), Luke uses this nature
miracle to provide a clue to the answer to Herod’s question (Luke 9:9). That
answer will come at Luke 9:20. The miracle also shows Jesus’ ability to
shepherd and care for his people, sustaining them on His provision. The
leftover food confirms the abundance of God’s blessings and is a parallel to 2
Kings 4:43, where the Lord promises “they will eat and have some left over.”
Invitation:
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