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And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:1-2
How long has it been since this all began—a year? Two? There comes a time in every ministry when its effects must be multiplied. The word and its power bubble up and spill over, or as Jesus said earlier, “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.” The twelve hit the road with a message and instructions to live off the land and its bounty. What does Jesus do during this time? He’s due for a retreat, I would think: time alone in the hills? Withdrawal to the villages? Given what he will say later on in this chapter, this might have been a time for coming to terms will his full mission. I hope he got some rest. I hope his body was restored and his spirit refreshed, because the time is coming closer and the days are short . . .
The mission of the twelve was apparently successful, however long it took. On their return the apostle told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him . . .
This is a huge bunch of people—at least 10,000 if we assume about as many women and children as there are men. Where did they come from, these 5000 men? How far have they traveled? The average “town” of that day is what we would call a village, of no more than a couple hundred people. So they’re not all from Bethsaida. They may have been drawn by the apostles who visited their towns and have come to see for themselves, or else they’re just part of the “crowd” that always collects around him, a breathing body that expands and contracts. They have to take time off work to follow him this far—most of them must be at least a day’s journey from their homes. What are they thinking? They can’t merely be driven by what he can do, but who he is—his very person draws them, not just his healing power. It’s a spontaneous event, like a little Woodstock, when the numbers swell far beyond anyone’s expectations. But look: He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.
It takes a long time, and the day is wearing away. Man does not live by bread alone—but he doesn’t live without bread, either. They’re hungry. Jesus is hungry too. Didn’t anyone have the forethought to bring some food? I’m guessing a lot of them did, but the few loaves of bread scattered among random robes and bags won’t be near enough. Looking around him, does Jesus remember the devil’s taunt about commanding stones to be bread? If so, he rejects it now, as he did then. Stones are stones. Bread is bread. In his fruitful hands, lifted up for blessing to his Father, it becomes lots of bread—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.
He doesn’t do magic, he does creation. It’s a throwback to In the beginning: Let the earth produce, let the waters swarm, let the simple necessities of bread and fish be revealed for the marvels they are, and feed this multitude.
For the original post in this series, go here.
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