Power, Authority and Feeding the Masses

Here are the verses for my meditation today - Luke 9:1-2,10-17 NIV:

[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.

[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.” [14] (About five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” [15] The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. [16] Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. [17] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."

A couple of things caught my eye today as I was reading through this familiar chapter in Luke.

First, I included verses 1 & 2 for I believe they are important for context.  Jesus gave them power and authority in verse 1.  We know that they must have received something when He gave them this power and authority for they went out and did the very things Jesus directed them to do.  The Greek word that is translated power is the word dunamis:

Definition: (miraculous) power, might, strength
Usage: (a) physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works.

HELPS Word-studies

1411 dýnamis (from 1410 /dýnamai, "able, having ability") – properly, "ability to perform" (L-N); for the believer, power to achieve by applying the Lord's inherent abilities. "Power through God's ability".

It is my belief that this was given to them in some convincing way, for the word exudes power and strength, and this is something we feel and cooperate with in our ministry.  I believe this was a pre-cursor to the actual filling of the Holy Spirit, for they were changed and able from that moment on to cast out demons and cure the sick.  Until Jesus came and started ministering, only a few prophets had been able to do such works, so this healing ministry was not something that the apostles would have thought common nor something they were capable of doing.  The fact that they went out and had successful ministry trips, healing the sick, casting out demons, meant they were actually operating n the power and authority Jesus gave them.

Secondly, I think Jesus' statement in verse 13 is related to verse 1, in that they were given power and authority, and Jesus was inviting them to press beyond what they had previously done, into something new.  They were given power and authority in both spiritual (demons) and natural (healing) realms, and the need to feed many people clearly falls into the second category. However, it was something new to them, and they didn't make that jump in faith.

Jesus tells them to give them something to eat, then takes their loaves and fish, giving thanks to the Father, breaks them and gives them back to the disciples to distribute.  Interestingly, the fish and loaves were now in the hands of the disciples and that is where the miracle occurs, from the hands of the disciples to the people.  They were all satisfied, including the disciples.  I find it interesting that Jesus enabled the disciples to do exactly what He told them to do, "you give them something to eat." 

I find it very encouraging that the Lord directed and then enabled them to do that very thing.  We don't find Jesus giving them any other directions, speaking about how the miracle was going to unfold, instead just handing the fish and loaves to the disciples to distribute.  He certainly might have said something else, but in my experience, He doesn't always provide a super clear explanation, instead he invites me to step into a place of faith. 

I think that Jesus was demonstrating and teaching the disciples that their power and authority was more extensive than they thought, and included such things in the natural realm, that they had not even thought possible.  I think there may very well be a connection between these verses, where the they gave Jesus everything they had, and the stories in Acts where people shared everything in common and no one had any needs.  Luke records the following - Acts 4:31-35 NIV:

[31] "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

[32] "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. [33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all [34] that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales [35] and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need."

I find it interesting as well that at the time the verses above were written that the Church in Jerusalem had grown to about 5000 (see Luke 4:4) roughly the same number as were fed in Luke 9.

This morning I am encouraged that the Lord has authority over both the spiritual realm, as well as the natural realm, and as His followers, who are hidden in Him, we should as well!  None of this comes from our own effort, but rather it is the Lord who gives both the power and the authority.  I believe that the Lord is encouraging us to think differently, to listen to Him when He tells us to do something that is impossible in our own abilities.  I believe that He wants to broaden our understanding of His power and authority, given to us, that we might step into more effectively representing His ministry to the world! 

Oh Lord, increase our faith!  Oh Lord, pour forth Your Power and Authority to Your Church.  Help us to listen to You and follow Your directions!  Help us to embrace all that You have for us!  Help us to give You everything we have, trusting that You will do great things through us, when we do!

Amen and Amen!