Luke 9:1-20

9 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.“Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”  So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him.

10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.

12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”

13 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?”14 For there were about 5,000 men there.

Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So the people all sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. 17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

19 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”

20 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”

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These are an incredible 20 verses!  The disciples have what might be called a “practicum” as they are being prepared for what they will do when Jesus leaves.  Then we have Herod’s curiosity about Jesus.  But amazingly, he can’t find Jesus.  And then you have the miracle–the feeding of the 5000.

All of this leads up to Jesus asking the disciples, “Who do you say I am?”  followed by Peter’s great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah!

What it must have been like for the disciples to go to the villages and do what Jesus had been doing–teaching and healing!   What it must have been like to be distributing the meager 5 loaves and two fish, and to watch it multiply as they broke it and gave it out to the people!  If I get this I will never minimize who Jesus is and what he can do through me!

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One Response to Luke 9:1-20

  1. Linda Mullin says:

    I find that particular passage very enlightening as we as ourselves who do we say Jesus is in our lives. As we exoerience His transformation personally He becomes more and more able to accomplish all we never thought possible and who I say He is today in and for my life increases everyday.
    From Savior to teacher to healer to Father Sister brother friend all sufficient on. Years ago I approached the Lord and told Him I was sorry but His Presence was ‘t enough and He told me He never intended for His Presence to be enough but evidence to those who exoerienced it thaf He exists and still is. But He did go on to say I would find though that His Grace was and is all sufficient. as I understand grace is His ability to do what I can not whether it ha opening understanding, granting me strength for my day and or bringing to mind those things I have forgotten. In understanding His ability to lead guide abd direct and merely admitting God I need Your help here His Gracd becomes available.
    Perhaps the greatest gift for me is in recognizing my need for His help abd direction and that I am not alone in my thoughts heart and prayers and having one whose heart is for all and who understands all I can depend on His help in how to pray for myself and others.
    So I have concluded He is right His Grace is all sufficient and the more aware I am of may trying to do what is only within His power the more I turn it over to Him and am able to exoerience His ability for me and others.
    See for years I didn’t know how to access His Grace ability in my life although I was saved beyond a shadow of a doubt, now in becoming aware of it being as simple as me going to Him and telling Him I need His help and understanding and draw me abd others to things that will help them personally I become freer and freer in my relationship with Him.
    I also learned that in the flesh is anything I try to do in my own ability which is not in my ability to do not being aware I was trying to change the way I felt and thought that in healing and understanding take care of.
    And I began to wonder how many like me were trying to change their feelings and thoughts not understanding in healing and relatiinship with Him He takes care if it.
    I began sharing years ago and began sharing again on face book not for those who understood but for those who through circumstances and situations became lost and pain inside so deep but yet continued to believe. For those who sought help and their help didn’t understand who now is knowing how to seek God and His ability to guide and direct them personally will recieve the freedom and healing within that they have been searching for and longing for understanding God will earn His trust as He knows their pain, God will build their faith in what He personally brings them through so in this they will be able to say like me who Jesus, the Father and His Spirit has become for them. They will proclaim He is the Alpha and Omega the all sufficient one in spirit and truth to His Glory in their lives. They will know His love and help that is available for them personally abd be able to draw what is needed from Him.
    This is God’s desire all along , and this is what the Disciples and Apostles gave their life for not a religion but a relationship with a power and help in their lives that they wanted others not just to know but experience personally
    So with this I will close asking God our Father in Heaven to lead guide and direct all to answers abd understanding they personally may need to walk in the freedom He has desired all along in Jesus name I ask. Amen.
    In Christ,
    Linda Diana Mullin.

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