[1] When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. [3] He told them: “Take nothing for the journey---no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. [4] Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. [5] If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” [6] So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
[10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
[12] Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
[13] He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish---unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”
I love these verses where we are told that Jesus gives them power and authority and then tells them to go use that power and authority. I believe this is the invitation and expectation for all Christians, for we are all His followers.
I had two reflections while reading these verses this morning. First, my thought was that Jesus' statement to the Apostles in verse 13 was actually an invitation for them to grow in their faith and experience of God's provision and character. The Apostles had just come back from an miracle tour, where they had seen the power of God flow through them to heal all those that needed healing. They had experienced God's provision of health through healing, and now Jesus was inviting them to go to the next logical step, provision of health through food.
It is interesting, I have always read this verse like Jesus was giving them a challenge, but never intended them to actually feed the crowd. This morning though, the thought struck me that this was likely exactly what He was inviting them to do, to step out in belief now that they had seen God do miracles through them, and apply the same principles in a new way. God was the one who provided healing, why wouldn't He also provide food?
Specifically, I think there are those that believe that we are limited only to those things we see Jesus demonstrating in scripture, and then probably never as effectively as Jesus ministered. My problem with this thinking is two-fold - first God is not about diminishing returns, but rather is always about increase. If we only limit ourselves to what is revealed and expect to be less effective than Jesus, that would be diminished returns. Secondly, Jesus Himself told His followers - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12NIV) That does not sound like diminishing return, but rather increase.
So, my thought this morning was that Jesus was giving them the invitation to step into greater Godly provision, but because they couldn't wrap their minds around the opportunity they didn't. Please note, that Jesus didn't slam them for their lack of faith, but rather stepped in and demonstrated what was possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am encouraged today to try to believe for new ways and new provision, believing that God wants me to grow in my expectation of His provision.
My second reflection was about how Jesus gave them power and authority (verse 1). I was trying to imagine how this would have occurred, wondering what Jesus said or did that convinced them that they had received power and authority? It is clear that they were all convinced, for they went out and effectively ministered, so we know they understood and demonstrated that power and authority. I think we see later in some of the teaching of the early church, the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18, 1 Tim 5:22, 2 Tim 1:6, Heb 6:2) as a likely candidate for what Jesus did here. Also, in John 20:22, He breathed on the disciples and said "Receive the Holy Spirit", again I think they had experienced this previously, when He sent them out. I think they probably felt something, some transfer of power when Jesus laid His hands on them and breathed on them. By this point they would have seen Jesus ministering in power, saw the effects of power flowing out of Jesus, and been instructed by Him in ministry. They were able to recognize the presence of the power of the Holy Spirit, and because of that were able to recognize when Jesus gave them power and authority.
My point in this reflection is that we need to learn to recognize this in our lives as well. The Lord, if His words in John 14:12 are true, intends for us to minister in power and authority, doing even greater things. We are only capable through the Power of the Holy Spirit working through us. Jesus didn't give them some diploma saying they had completed the 6 week course in ministering healing and deliverance, He gave them real power and authority. In the same way as He did then, He gives us power and authority to minister effectively, except now the laying on of hands is done through others, His representatives, just as was demonstrated in the early church (see the references above). We must learn to recognize His impartation, and believe that this power and authority was given with a purpose that includes ministries of healing and deliverance. The purpose of His impartation is the increase of the Kingdom of God! Let us be encouraged today that if He has poured out His power and authority into our lives, then He intends for us to step out and minister His provision to others, whether it be healing, deliverance or sustenance.
Amen Lord! Give us faith to see increase in our own effectiveness and in our experience of Your provision and glory!
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