Devotion - Wednesday, October 27

Luke 9 is a study in contrasts. The chapter begins with the disciples being sent out; it ends with the great crowd being fed.

Jesus calls the twelve together and sends them to the villages to heal, to cast out demons. Upon their return, they report of all the amazing things that had happened as they spoke the Word of God. There is no explanation given, but it seems that as they return, so does a great crowd. The story tells us there were about five thousand persons. You know what happens next. There is the discussion about sending them away, and Jesus instructs the disciples to feed them. With a few loaves and fish as a start, the great crowd is fed.

Returning to my original sentence, this chapter is a contrast between going out and a great crowd gathering. What impressed me this morning was the mere presence of the crowd, this gathering of five thousand who are fed.

We will fed a crowd (or a group) this evening. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they numbered five thousand? Somewhat less than that, it remains an impressive gathering of persons. We pay close attention to how many come, continually asking ourselves if we are faithfully offering ministry in a way which meets the needs of our community. We hope they will come; we want them to come.

Luke 9 would remind us that they come, they gather, only after we have first gone out. That the work of Christ’s disciples begins with going to them, and then feeding them when they follow us back to the place where eat our meals. The call from Christ is not merely to gather them together; it starts with our reaching out. Luke 9 would suggest that when we reach out, they will follow us as we seek the place where we can once again be in the presence of our Lord.


PS: I begin my Fall Break a bit early, leaving this evening for a few days of vacation. The next day of classes at CU is Wednesday; I will write to you then.