Feeding of th 5,000

At biblestudy we are continuing to work through the book of Luke. This week we read chapter 9 which had a number of great stories including the feeding of the 5,000 and the transfiguration of Jesus.

One thing that we really discussed about this chapter was how it was a time of teaching for the disciples. If you notice the words carefully, when Jesus feeds the 5,000, he actually doesn't do the work. He tells the disciples to "feed them." He blesses the bread and then the disciples go out and give it to the people.

In this story, the disciples go from passive observers of Jesus's ministry to active participants who share in the work. What would you do, if Jesus turned to you and asked you to feed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread?

...and they were amazed at his teaching...

This week's lesson came from Mark 1:22 "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law"

Have you ever had a teacher that amazed you? that changed your view of the world? I think of my first year of college. I became an assistant for my art teacher who was this incredibly wise man (think Morgan Freedman and James Earl Jones roles) He was for me - my sensai. Long hours I would work in his studio, listening to the jazz, watching him paint and wondering what my place in the world would be. He would rarely speak to me, but I hungered to learn from him. I wanted to become wise and to figure out who and what I should become.

I thought of him when Jeff preached about Jesus's teaching and how he likened it to those amazing teachers we have had who have shaped us. It reminded me of how my professor would use metaphors with me but not explain them and let me think about them all day while I cleaned his studio. As we've been reading through John, it seems that Jesus taught in this way too - giving small bits to his disciples to ponder. It takes time and desire to grow for these kinds of lessons to sink in.