Power 102

I started studying Greek in the Fall of 1984. My class was at 6:45 a.m., an ungodly hour to learn a new language. In those days, we didn’t have computer-aided learning; we memorized everything. I thought Greek 101 was difficult until I entered Greek 102 the following semester. Again, at the same hour, with the same teacher, but with a lot of coffee and sleepless nights. I learned about terms I had never heard of –substantive, subjunctive, optative, imperative, discourse features, etc.

The Lord Jesus had empowered the disciples to heal illnesses and diseases, overthrow demons, and send them on their missions (Luke 9:1–6)., They went from village to village, town to town, and did just as he empowered them, even raising Herod Antipas’s curiosity (9:7–9). That was Power 101.

Now, it was time for Power 102, miracles on a large scale.

A crowd of over five thousand men gathered around Jesus (perhaps with their wives and children). The Lord has been declaring God’s rule over them and healing them of all their illnesses and diseases. The day was ending, the evening was beginning, and the disciples said to him,

“Send the crowd away so they may go to the surrounding villages and places, lodge, and find food since we are in a deserted place.” (9:12)

That was a logical conclusion. People needed food and rest. The disciples didn’t wonder if the neighboring villages and lodges had enough places to rest and find food. It wasn’t their problem!

Jesus, however, knew it was his and their problem. He said to the disciples,

“You give them to eat.” (9:13a)

The disciples replied,

“There isn’t more than five bread and two fishes here unless we go and buy food for all the people.” (9:13b)

The disciples knew simple math – five thousand men and five bread. There was no way they had enough food for them unless, of course, they went and purchased food from the neighboring villages. Ignoring math, the Lord said,

“Seat them in groups of fifty” (9:14)

(Jesus’s words were rhymical and rhythmic in Greek). The disciples obeyed and seated the men (9:15). As they did, the Lord Jesus

“Took the five bread and the two fish, looked to the heavens, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd.” (9:16)

Years later, the disciples would remember this scene as the beginning of yet another important scene where he took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Eat. This is my body.” The feeding of the five thousand was a pre-figure to the feeding and nourishing all those who believe in him with everlasting lives.

The disciples took the bread and fish and fed all those people sitting in groups of fifty until they could eat no more. Then, they gathered the leftover bread and fish, filling twelve baskets, one per disciple.

Power 102 was feeding thousands with bread that Jesus provided. It would have reminded the Hebrews of Moses, who fed millions with manna every day. Someone like Moses was with them. He was more than a magician, a simple miracle worker. He was God’s messenger like Moses, who could feed thousands with five pieces of bread.

Centuries later, we still proclaim that the mighty servant of God, Jesus, can provide for thousands, not only with physical food but also food that lasts. It is our problem to feed the people, but we do it with his help. Power 102.