In this chapter we see Jesus at a wedding in Cana and in Jerusalem cleansing the temple. Both of these stories are told to draw out of us a response of complete, committed faith.
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This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
The works of Jesus do not bring about the same response from everyone. Two people can experience the same thing, witness the same event and participate in the same activity. One believes and one does not. The difference is in the person, not in the sign, which is one and the same for both.
“His disciples believed in him.” These are the true learners, the real followers, the ones who are receptive to the signs. The effect of the signs on the skeptic will be negligible.
This was the first of the signs that John recorded. He will of course record several more, and as he tells us in John 20:30-31,
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The result is life for those who believe. For those who remain unmoved after exposure to the works and words of Jesus, there is no other hope.
Up until now, Luke has shown us the ministry of Jesus in and around Galilee. This week will arrive at a turning point. Christ will allow his identity to sink in with his disciples and then turn toward Jerusalem.
10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
The Gospels are wonderfully informative when it comes to understanding what it is really like to follow Jesus. Here they were before a vast crowd of thousands and it was getting late. The disciples were concerned. “Hey boss, maybe it’s time we send them away. We don’t want it to get dark before they can make it to a nearby village. What do you think?” After a day full of Jesus teaching and healing, they understandably thought their day was done. The big event was only just beginning.
“You give them something to eat,” is Christ’s response. “Uh, we don’t really have that much food here, unless we go off and buy it. But then again, we don’t have that much money either.”
Following Jesus means that he is going to give us work to do that is beyond our ability. He does this mainly so that we can learn to trust in him, and then see him remarkably provide.
Jesus had the disciples gather the people into groups of around fifty. He then began to multiply the food. I find it interesting that he worked with what they had. There is a lesson in there someplace. He fed the people with bread and fish, not with, say, vegetables and sacrificial lambs. Somehow he used what the disciples could find and remarkably, miraculously provided for the multitude. No doubt he does that kind of thing still, through people like us in our present circumstances.
Central Reflections 