Daffodils and the Gospel

Luke 9:14–17

Luke 9:14-17 

English Standard Version 

  The disciples were ready to send people away -- there was simply not enough food.  There was too much demand, not enough supply.

  But the economics of the Kingdom of God don't work the same way that our worldly economics work, because we worship a God of abundance.  Where there was once a shortage, we discover abundance.  Christ opens his heart and blessings flow.

  Such abundance leads to obedience.  Jesus gives the abundance to the disciples, and through their hands, the abundance of God is distributed to the world, with plenty left over.  God is simply showing off at that point! 

  Christ's role is to create abundance.  Our role is to be obedient and share what is put into our hands as a demonstration to the world of the abundance of God.

Luke 9:10–13

Luke 9:10-13 

English Standard Version 

  So the apostles come back, thrilled with all they have accomplished, and they're withdrawn to tell Jesus all the news.  The crowds tag along, and when the apostles encourage Jesus to send them away to the nearby villages for foods, Jesus challenges them to feed the crowds.  Remember -- Jesus sent them away and told them to take nothing, so they're not resource-rich, and now Jesus has challenged them with what seems like an impossible task.  The high they have from their achievements must have ended quickly.

  Jesus is always challenging us to grow.  Even on the back of huge achievements, Jesus is looking at what comes next for us.  If we get comfortable, Jesus reminds us that our purpose is to constantly grow closer to Christ.  It's not because he doesn't love us, but because he wants to challenge us to always draw our hearts closer to God and closer to a life of service to one another.  Jesus sees so many needs -- these crowds are hungry, and he uses the church to serve and to show the love of God.

Luke 9:7–9

Luke 9:7-9 

English Standard Version 

  It's not enough just to have questions about Jesus.  It starts there -- but it needs to move deeper.  We go from asking who Jesus is to asking who Jesus is for us.  The transition matters -- even Herod asks who Jesus is.  But he doesn't ask deep enough questions to be transformed by the grace and presence of Jesus.  He doesn't let the teachings of Jesus challenge what he believes.  He simply lets Jesus be an intellectual curiosity.

  May we be sure we ask deep questions and let Jesus get personal.  May we let Jesus challenge our beliefs and grow our faith so that we'll be transformed by the love of Christ from the inside out.