This Sunday we’ll be exploring the events described in Luke 9:10-17. The astute reader may worry that I’ve skipped verses 7-9 in our studies…but we’re just putting those aside, and we’ll be dealing with them next time. Our focus this week will be on the miracle of the loaves and fish.
This appears to be an important miracle, because all four gospels recount the story of it. Early Church art often used the imagery of loaves and fish as symbolic of God’s provision, and even the gospel itself. We have been exposed to the telling of this miracle so much that it tends to get lost in the shuffle of telling the story of Christ, but it has a very important message contained it.
There are several parallels to the Old Testament that are most likely intentional. Jesus in the wilderness, providing food for His followers, like Moses in the wilderness providing Wonder Bread (manna) for the children of Israel; or the multiplication of resources yielded to God like the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.
As you read this story, what distinctions do you see between the way Jesus responded to the people and the need and the way the disciples responded? Consider the overall setting and circumstances, that the disciples had just come back from their own ministry tour and were probably worn out…does this possible detail impact the story in any way? If you apply this story to your own life as a servant of Christ…what lesson can you glean about meeting the needs of the world around you?
Should be interesting…hope to see you Sunday!
WONDERWHAT 
The biggest distinction between J.C.’s reaction and the twelve’s is that J.C. never stops. Humans get tired and lazy.
I think this story is a great example of giving it a 100%.
My wrestling coach used to tell us that the only part of practice that mattered was the last 30 minutes. When we asked why, he told us that the last 30 minutes is when you see what kind of character and person you really are. Are you going to fold like a deck of cards or are you going to dig deep and give it a 100% to finish strong.
This story reminds me of that. Like you said, the twelve just got finished with there gruling day and just thinking about a giving heart at that point was the last thing on there mind. They probably wanted to sit back on the recliner and watch some 24. But JC didn’t think that way. He saw people in need and another chance to win people to him.
I think the lesson in this for our fellow brother’s and sister’s is that we always need to keep our eyes and our hearts open. Always give 100% and never give up. We never know when we will get the next chance to share gods word with someone.
I learned a new term the other week from a book I was reading. Its called the “popcorn theory”. The basic concept of the theory is that people in need pop up all the time. The problem is that we get caught up in the daily grind and forget to notice the needs of other people. This story is a perfect example of that theory.
I agree this story does show up in all the gospels and I can’t recall how often I have heard it told, discusses, preached or mentioned. But for the first time I have focused on or just noticed what the 12 say in V12. Their instruction to Jesus is to send them away so they can be PROVIDED for because they are in a deserted place. Deserted from whom, from what?
Boy the learning curve is steep for the 13 isn’t it. The 13 includes the 12 and me. You see there are many times that life outside of the stimulus, pleasures, temptations, etc of this city, world, news, culture, or you name it to be deserted.
We are so limited in our thinking as human beings. We forget that “with God, ALL things are possible” and He is more than able to meet our needs. This story reminds me that there are no limits to what God can do in my life and in the lives of others. I am learning that just when I think I have figured out God’s will, He surprises me with something so much more amazing!!!