According to Luke: Secret Hero

According to Luke: Secret Hero

Opening Illustration:

The other day I was watching the news and came across an interesting story about a football player from Kansas City. Check it out.

Play Video:

Jeff Allen plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. On his way to the game, his truck got stuck. An unlikely hero stepped in and helped him get to where he needed to go. Oddly enough, when Allen was dropped off at Arrowhead Stadium, the Good Samaritan drove off without leaving his name or a way to contact him. 

As you saw in the story, Allen tweeted out the story looking for the man. Finally the man’s identity was revealed and Allen rewarded him with tickets to the next week’s game. 

This secret hero rescued not only Jeff Allen but chances are the Kansas City Chiefs season. The hero was a poor homeless man living out of his truck. He didn’t have much but he possessed the right spirit and the correct attitude. He was unlikely helper turned hero. 

When I saw that story I was immediately reminded of the scripture from Luke 9 and the feeding of the 5 thousand. The disciples have found themselves in a tricky situation. You might even say that they are stuck. Then, suddenly out of no where, provisions are made that save the day. When you pair the story in Luke with the Gospel of John, we discover that the unlikely helper is a small boy with meager supplies. This boy did not have much but he possessed the right spirit and the correct attitude. He was an unlikely helper turned hero. 

Remember, Jesus Takes Our Meager, and Does Something Massive!

Background:

Bethsaida lays on the friendly side of the Sea of Galilee. It was, and still is a very fertile place. It also set up nicely for people to travel, witness, and hear the teachings of Christ. When Jesus arrived back from the Decapolis, a massive crowd gathered around Him, He did many amazing things including: teaching, and healing all sorts of diseases. Remember that Jesus has just sent the disciples out and given them authority to perform miracles in His names. The disciples have returned to their master no doubt with terrific stories of amazing work. Remember the pattern of ministry that we see in the Gospels?

Stage One: Jesus Ministers, Disciples Watch

Stage Two: Jesus Ministers, Disciples Assist

Stage Three: Disciples Minister, Jesus Assists

State Four: Jesus Watched, Disciples Minister

Again, we see Jesus allowing the Disciples to work and minister in His name as He watched. However, a problem is about to arise that seems to be larger than the disciples faith. 

By the way, we see the feeding of the five thousand recorded in Luke, but we also see it in John (which I will refer to in just a moment), Matthew and Mark. It is considered to be one of Jesus’ most astounding miracles. So, let’s read together from Luke 9:10-17. 

Scripture:

Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:8-9 ESV

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 had need of healing. 12 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.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” 

John 6:8-9 ESV

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Luke 9:14-17 ESV

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 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. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

3 Lessons From The Feeding of 5000

I. The Mission vs. 10-11

Luke 9:10-11

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 had need of healing. 

Point:

Jesus has got away with the 12 to debrief on their first tour, but of course the crowds find out where they are and join them. So Jesus taught on the kingdom of God and healed people of everything that prevented them entering it, so they are ready to dine in the Kingdom of God. That healing is physical and spiritual - ailments, illness, oppression gone.

The disciples had received hospitality as they had travelled about proclaiming the kingdom and healing the sick. They are now going to learn about extending hospitality miraculously!

Point:

You cannot separate the miracles of Jesus from the mission of Jesus. We often talk about the mission of Christ. We go on mission trips throughout the year here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. We do our best to share the Gospel, we pass out our Peace With God tracts, and we pray that all this energy and effort will lead someone to salvation. We talk a lot about the mission of Christ but we never seem to understand that we are also to deliver miracles to the masses. Don’t you think that if Jesus called the disciples to preach the good news (our calling as well) and that He also called them to perform miracles in His name (we don’t know about that one) that we are called to do the same?

Yes, you are on mission and you are a miracle worker! You have been bestowed with the same life giving power to heal, love, lift up, and encourage that the disciples had. 

Point:

Preacher, are you telling me that I can make miracles happen? Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you. How? How do you do it? Well, you don’t do it. Apart from Christ you can not perform miracles. You must have Christ working in you and His power moving through you. 

I have seen miracles in my life. I have seen them performed and I have heard the reports of those that have received them. I have talked with people who are suicidal and Christ intervened and rescued them. I have seen raging alcoholics give it up in an instant because of the work of Christ. I have first hand witnessed people lay down their lives and submit to God and in a blink of an eye transition from hell to heaven. 

I have seen the cynic become joyful.

I have seen the lonely find family.

I have seen the spiritually blind, crippled, and broken given sight, motion, and healing. 

Quote:

"Thankfully, God gives us a miracle like Jericho from time to time, but far more often, he asks us to strap on our swords, pick up our shields, and courageously enter the battle...When this happens we see a miracle there too--the miracle of men and women staying faithful to God in the midst of conflict in their lives."

Point:

How do these miracles take place? They took place through normal everyday people embracing their role in the magnificence of the mission of Christ. They boldy went out, saw needs, and trusted Christ to minister through them. 

Sometimes healing can be instantaneous. From death’s doorstep to full health, in the blink of an eye. Other times the progress of the arrow turning back from sickness to health is almost imperceptible. Sometimes the “miracle” is performed through the hands of your doctor. But never doubt that God has heard our prayers for healing. “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Continue in faith! Believe in the God of miracles!

John 14:12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

3 Lessons From The Feeding of 5000

I. The Mission vs. 10-11

II. The Method John 6:8-9 ESV 

John 6:8-9 ESV

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Point:

Remember that Jesus had given all authority to the disciples to perform miracles but this one seemed to mystify them. Instead, a small boy with an active faith steps up to the plate for Jesus to use. How can this be? Why did the disciples miss out on being the conduit that Jesus worked through and this unnamed secret hero is used?

Jesus even tells them, instructs them “you give them something to eat”. It is as if Jesus is saying, you guys have this handled, go for it. Still, the thick headed disciples are catching Jesus’ drift. 

Point:

The only thing I can think of is that the disciples were waiting for Jesus to do something. Think about what Jesus had recently done. He had calmed storms. Raised people from the dead. Driven out demons. Delivered miracles to the blind, the deaf, the mute, the broken. He had healed diseases. In the midst of all of that He managed to find time to teach. This was an amazing ministry. 

The one thing that He had not done was feed the people that were following Him. 

The disciples managed to find the hole in Jesus’ ministry. Now we all know that Jesus did not have a hole in His ministry, the disciples just thought that it did and we know that Jesus corrected them quickly. 

The reason that the disciples missed out on the miracle is because they stopped participating with Jesus and started pointing out the problems with Jesus. Jesus we know that you have done all this but you’ve not done that.  

Point:

We see a stark contrast with this little boy. Clearly he knew of the problem but instead of reacting critically or cynically, he becomes a part of the solution. He talent was his attitude and his gift was his lunch. 

Point:

We still see this attitude reflected in the church today. Notice what is happening at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. In the month of January we have seen 5 baptisms. We have had a family join the church. We have new teachers teaching in ESBCU. Our tutoring ministry kicked off along with English As A Second Language. We are preparing to send people out on mission to Miami, Haiti, Vermont, Alaska, and Paris. Our church participated in Hurricane relief just a few weeks ago. We have an active group of church members who visits nursing homes, hospitals, and rehab units. It seems almost daily that someone is walking in the doors of the church needing help and we always assist them, pray for them and provide for them. We have a staff that is totally committed to growing God’s Kingdom. Just this weekend, I and several other families hosted members and guests of our youth ministry for Disciple Now. At each house our youth were taught about Christ and encouraged to follow Him boldly. Last year our church baptized more people than the year before. Last year we saw more than 100 people give their lives to Jesus Christ. 

Good things every where and God moving every day. 

Point:

Is our church perfect? Heavens no. Do we have holes? Absolutely. Is it easy to find the problems? As Bill Browning, our new senior adult director would say, You Betcha! Inevitably, in churches across America, God is moving while people complain and are critical towards their church while doing little to fill the hole they complain about. 

Friends, Jesus is not satisfied with that sort of behavior. It does not please Him when we simply find a hole in ministry. It pleases Him when we pick up our shovel and get to work filling it. 

Jesus, these people are hungry. You’ve not fed them. Sure, you’ve done a lot but this is a hole. 

Jesus respond, well FEED THEM! 

The disciples see the hole and Jesus gives them the shovel to fill it. 

Point:

Brothers and sisters we miss out on the miracles of God because often times we are waiting for others to the work. We point fingers and play the blame game when all the while we possess the one skill to make the biggest difference. 

May it never be said of us. 

Point:

Don’t be the disciples in this story. They were outfitted for ministry but missed out because of a critical attitude. Be like the little boy. He was available. He was armed and equipped. He was accommodating and wiling to give!

Isaiah 6:8 ESV

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

3 Lessons From The Feeding of 5000

I. The Mission vs. 10-11

II. The Method John 6:8-9 ESV 

III. The Miracle vs. 14-17 ESV

Luke 9:14-17 ESV

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 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. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Point:

Luke noted that there were about five thousand men (9:14a). Matthew notes in his Gospel, “And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (14:21). That means that there could have been as many as twenty-five thousand people in attendance that day.

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down (9:14b-15). Picture the twelve apostles moving through the crowd and telling them to organize themselves into groups of about fifty each. That could be as many as five hundred groups!

Well, the crowd did what they were told. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them (9:16a). Jesus lifted his eyes to heaven and probably gave the traditional blessing that is preserved in the Mishnah: “Blessed be you, O Lord our God, king of the world, who causes bread to come forth from the earth.”

Then, Luke said in verse 16b, that Jesus broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. The Greek word for “gave” is in the imperfect tense, which literally means that Jesus “kept giving.” The apostles each got a massive handful of loaves and fish, they rushed to the group for which they were responsible, handed them out, and then rushed back to Jesus for more food! Every time they went back, Jesus always gave them more. Alexander Maclaren said, “The pieces grew under his touch, and the disciples always found his hands full when they came back with their own empty.”

This was a marvelous miracle of creation. It demonstrated that Jesus is able to create food. He can do that of course because he is fully God and fully man.

Point:

Luke said in verse 17 that they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

After every person there that day ate, they were all fully satisfied. And, there was plenty left over. In fact, there were twelve baskets of broken pieces left over. There was one basket for each one of the twelve apostles. I suspect that Jesus wanted each apostle to carry around a big, heavy basket of his wonderful bread and fish to remind him in a dramatic and vivid way the abundance of his provision.

Let us remember that Jesus’ provision is always abundant. Jesus is always able to meet our every need. There is short and memorable poem that captures this truth:

Yesterday, God helped me,

Today he’ll do the same.

How long will this continue?

Forever – praise his name.

Point:

Brothers and sisters, do you believe that Jesus is enough for you today? Jesus is sufficient for us and will provide for us our deepest needs. We need not worry because He is in control. Today, praise Him that He has invited us to be on mission with Him and we have the authority to bring the miracle of love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and healing through His power. You can be a part of the miracle. 

Philippians 2:13 ESV

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Be On Mission For Christ Today!