Luke 9:10 - Meaning and Application

Here we have, first, the report the twelve gave their Master about how their work had gone. They had not been away long, but when they returned, they told him everything they had done, as servants should when they are sent on an errand. They told him what they had done so that, if they had done anything wrong, they could do better next time.

Second, we see their rest for a little while. He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place, so they could have some relief from work and not always be under strain. The one who has appointed rest for servants and workers wants his servants to rest too. Those who serve in public and do the most public good must sometimes go away privately, both to rest their bodies and to refresh their minds through meditation for more work.

Third, we see the people coming to him, and the kind welcome he gave them. They followed him, even into a deserted place, for it is no desert where Christ is. And though this disturbed the rest he had planned for himself and his disciples, he still welcomed them (Luke 9:11). Good zeal may excuse a little discourtesy. It did so with Christ, and it should with us. Though they came at an inconvenient time, Christ gave them what they came for.

He spoke to them about the kingdom of God, its laws, which they must obey, and its blessings, which they might receive. He also healed those who needed healing and came to him knowing their need. No matter how old the disease was, or how helpless the doctors were, or how poor and lowly the patients were, Christ healed them. There is healing in Christ for all who need it, whether for soul or body. Christ still has power over bodily disease, and he heals his people when they need healing. Sometimes he sees that we need sickness more than healing, because our souls need it, and then we must be willing to stay in sorrow for a while, since there is a need for it. But when he sees that we need healing, we will have it. Even death is his servant, used to free the saints from all disease. He heals spiritual sickness through his grace and comfort, and he gives what each case requires. He gives relief for every need.

Fourth, we see the full provision Christ made for the crowd that stayed with him. With five loaves of bread and two fish, he fed five thousand men. We have this story three times already, and we will meet it again. It is the only miracle of our Savior recorded by all four Gospel writers. From it, we may notice several things.

Those who faithfully follow Christ in the path of duty, even when they deny themselves or lose worldly comfort for the sake of God’s house, are under his special care. They may trust Jehovah-jireh, which means “the Lord will provide.” He will not let those who fear him and serve him faithfully lack anything truly good.

Our Lord Jesus had a free and generous spirit. His disciples said, “Send them away, so they can get food.” But Christ said, “No, you give them something to eat.” In other words, let what we have go as far as it can, and they are welcome to it. In this way, he has taught both ministers and Christians to show hospitality without complaint (1 Peter 4:9). Those who have little should do what they can with that little, and that is the way it often grows. There is one who scatters, and yet increases.

Jesus Christ has not only medicine, but also food, for all who come to him by faith. He not only heals those who need healing and cures the soul’s sickness, but he also feeds those who need food. He supports spiritual life, meets its needs, and satisfies its desires. Christ has made provision not only to save the soul from dying because of sin’s sickness, but also to nourish it for eternal life and strengthen it for every spiritual duty.

All Christ’s gifts are to be received by the church in good order. “Make them sit down in groups of fifty” (Luke 9:14). Notice that the size of each group is given, because Christ appointed this for a better distribution of the food and for an easier count of the guests.

When we receive the comforts of life, we should look up to heaven. Christ did so to teach us to do the same. We must admit that we receive these gifts from God and that we do not deserve them. We owe them all, and all the comfort we find in them, to Christ’s mediation, that is, his coming between God and us to remove the curse and establish peace with God. We should also depend on God’s blessing to make these gifts useful to us, and we should ask for that blessing.

Christ’s blessing can make a little go a long way. The little the righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked people. A simple meal of herbs is better than a fattened ox.

Those whom Christ feeds, he fills. To those he gives, he gives enough. As there is enough in him for all, so there is enough for each one. He fills every hungry soul and satisfies it richly with the goodness of his house. The leftovers were gathered up to show us that in our Father’s house there is bread enough, and more than enough. We are not limited or shorted in him.