Beginnings and Endings
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Beginnings and Endings
Beginnings and Endings
As we go through the Gospel of Luke we need to be aware of something.
Time is not necessarily a linear thing. The events have been organized to tell a theological story, but their location is important and can tell us something.
We are going to cover quite a bit today, and it may feel a bit disjointed, but it is in here to tie back to some old stories.
This is the beginning of things...
And this is the ending of things...
In our life there comes a moment when we realize that we are going to have to take on some responsibilities.
Perhaps there was a time when you were working for someone, and one day they go on vacation, or they get promoted, or they retire, and you inherit their job.
Do you remember what that was like?
The thought that you could never do it the way they did or as well as they did. You were a bit nervous, because now, you have more responsibility. People are going to be watching you more closely to see how you do it, and they are going to judge your performance.
Maybe it is just me, but I remember those times, and it made me nervous. I felt:
Unsure if I could do it
Nervous I would fail
Resistant to change
Scared I would make mistakes
At this moment, in this section, we are going to see the disciples go through some of this. But it is linked to an old story.
Let’s see how it goes for them.
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.
Given what you know about the disciples, how do these two sentences hit you?
Think about it: What would you be thinking and feeling if Jesus just authorized you to heal disease and remove evil spirits from people?
(Note the separation of Power and Authority)
Couple of things to note: Luke puts cast out ALL demons and heal ALL diseases in a single sentence. This has led some to join the two. Where every disease is looked at an evil spirit.
I have heard people say, “I have a spirit of fear,” or “the demon of <insert name here> addiction.” Now, am I saying that evil never plays a role in that? No, it is possible for evil to play a role.
But, for Luke, for Jesus, these are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
NOTICE the POINT: Go out and tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
This is a change from the previous sentence where Jesus told the parents and people to NOT TELL ANYONE what happened.
So what has happened between the last paragraph and this one? My conjecture is that a bunch of time has passed.
It is possible that between the last paragraph and this one several years have passed while Jesus was traveling around the countryside.
We will see that in a moment. Let’s continue on.
“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.
I just am not sure how to have this kind of faith.
Can you think of another story in scripture that is similar to this, when twelve tribes were out on the move?
The desert wanderings. They had to rely on God for food. They had treasure, but it was mostly consolidated in the tabernacle, but where would you spend it? And their shoes never wore out during the 40 years.
The message is, when you are out telling everyone about the Kingdom of God, God will provide your needs.
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.
Shake the dust off your feet. Such a little statement, but it is packed with interesting things. Let’s put on our ancient Hebrew hats and see if we can tease this out.
Do we have any references to dust or dirt in scripture?
it can be a representation of what we were made from
but it is often represented as what we return to at death
things are reduced to dust
dust is used when you are in mourning
But also, dirt is something that is connected to foreign gods. Think of Naaman and Elisha.
Old Jewish writings said people returning to the land would shake the dust from their clothes so as to not make unclean the holy ground of the land.
What is going to happen!
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.
This is here because Luke wants to cover the event, but it also indicates that some time has passed.
Further, it goes along with the thought that people were NOT SURE who Jesus is. They seem to be trending along the lines that Jesus is like a prophet we find in the Hebrew Bible.
He is interested in meeting Jesus, which would be good for his publicity, but Jesus has no interest in meeting Herod. It is not on the agenda, and he does not seem to care. Jesus meeting with Herod would likely not go well since Herod killed John, the relative of Jesus.
Strange break though…how is the healing going? We don’t know.
When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. 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. 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.”
Beth: house Tsaida: Fishing, fishers
They told Jesus everything, but Luke does not record it. How did it go? We just don’t know.
Let’s tie a few things together quickly...
What was Jesus going to make the disciples fishers of, what kind of fish would they catch? People
What town do they meet in? House of Fishing
And the “crowds” figure out where he is going, so he is back together with his twelve who he has sent out. When you have been away, on a journey like this, what is the first thing you will want to do? Probably rest. You are home, you want a shower, you want to chill a bit.
But you also want to get with Jesus and talk about what happened, right? You were out with power and authority, healing and casting out evil spirits, I mean, think of the stories you have!
Jesus is setting up a great meeting with the crowds, himself and the disciples.
He welcomed the crowd, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed them. And now, they can hear stories from the twelve about them doing the SAME THING!
What is the best way to do that? Have a massive conference!
But, the disciples are not interested.
Late in the afternoon the twelve...
The disciples have no interest in helping any more crowds. Wonder how their mission went?
But what they say…it is strange. If they are in Bethsaida, then likely there is plenty of food. It is late afternoon, so maybe the market is sold out, but what have they just witnessed?
The left with no provisions…and they have returned okay, they have been fed and watered and sheltered.
And to say, with Jesus there, there is nothing to eat is a total lack of faith!
Am I reading too much into this? Let’s see...
Luke 9:13-14
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?” For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
You feed them! They have just seen what God can do when they are out and out, spreading the message of the Kingdom of God.
The point is Jesus has equipped them to do this.
But they fail to make the connection.
They answered…It is like they talked back to the Rabbi, to the Teacher. None of us have a credit card with enough funds to feed this whole crowd!
Notice how they are overwhelmed at the SIZE of the crowd.
It take a great amount of faith to trust in God for yourself.
But, when you add 5-10 thousand more people, you are instantly overwhelmed.
So, Jesus helps them understand what to do. Break this down into manageable groups.
What did I tell you about the linking of casting out evil spirits and healing, and the eating of food.
We need to celebrate the success of your mission out there and we have a great crowd that has been taught and healed. We need to eat.
Luke 9:15-17
So the people all sat down. 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. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!
I don’t have time to get into the five and two, but suffice it to say that Jesus is able to take what little they had and make it enough.
It is a beautiful image that you can bring what little you have and God can make it into something that satisfies you and many, many others.
Notice there were how many baskets left over? Twelve. The wage for their missional work was a basket of leftovers.
What has Jesus shown you can do with five leftover loaves and two fish? You can feed a huge crowd. So what can you do with what is in your basket?
Beginnings and Endings
For the disciples, those who were following Jesus, this marked a moment when their training was ending and their mission was beginning.
I appreciate that we start with this story, with this event.
They have already been out on the road without Jesus. They have healed and cast out evil spirits.
They have talked about the Kingdom of God to others.
Some have received, some have not. Some were welcomed, some were sent away.
But you kept on moving, you kept on pushing the message.
And your stories of what happened were likely the most amazing think that has ever happened to you in your lifetime.
Overshadowed by what Jesus just pulled off, and it makes it sound like you can take what is “left over,” give that to God, and it can be transformed into something that helps you (your own basket) and helps others.