Luke 9:10
And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
The apostles had returned from their first missionary tour and gathered to Jesus to tell Him openly all they had done and taught, with their joys, sorrows, faults and failures. He took them by boat across the sea from Capernaum aside privately into a desert place belonging to Bethsaida, a quiet secluded spot away from crowds where they could rest, fellowship with Him, and learn how to make their work more effective, for they had no leisure so much as to eat and grieved the death of John. The retreat was brief near the Passover, for people saw the boat leave and gathered from city to city to meet them where they landed. Seeing them coming, He was moved with compassion because they were as sheep without a shepherd, so He left His retreat to minister to them through the day, teaching the way of salvation. The verse belongs to the account before the feeding of the five thousand, in which preaching and healing are connected and each must take up the cross and follow Christ.
Return and Quiet Retreat
Luke 9:10 belongs to the account before the feeding of the five thousand. In that account preaching and healing are connected, and each person must take up the cross and follow Christ.
The apostles had returned from their missionary tour, their first missionary effort, and gathered together to Jesus. They told Him openly all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. They laid before Him their favorable and unfavorable experiences, their joy at seeing results from their labors and their sorrow at failures, faults, weaknesses and errors committed in their first work as evangelists, and their frank report showed they needed much instruction. Their close relationship with Him made them open with Him. After they reported what they had done, He took them aside privately.
He took them by boat across the sea from Capernaum aside privately into a desert place belonging to Bethsaida. It was a lonely district, a quiet, secluded, wooded spot beside the water, a grassy hillside away from the cities, the crowds and accusations. He led the twelve away by themselves there to rest awhile, for there were many coming and going so they had no leisure so much as to eat. There they could have private fellowship, hear His teaching, discuss how to make their gospel work more effective, and gain hope and courage. They also grieved John's death.
The quiet retreat was brief. It was near Passover, as pilgrims traveled toward Jerusalem. People searching for Jesus saw the boat leave shore and gathered from city to city to meet them where they landed. Their intended privacy was broken and their retreat interrupted, so Jesus spent only a little time apart with the disciples before the multitude reached Him.
Seeing the people coming and still coming, He was stirred with sympathy and moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, receiving no help from the priests and rulers. Seeing their greater necessity demanding His attention, He was not impatient but left His retreat for a convenient place where He could minister to them. He ministered to them throughout the day until evening, and the healing waters of life flowed from Him as He taught them the way of salvation. The people thronged Him as the fountain of all blessings, anxious to be healed and eager to hear His words. Many who then crowded to receive health accepted Him as Saviour, while many others who were then afraid to confess Him because of the Pharisees were converted at the descent of the Holy Spirit and before the angry priests and rulers acknowledged Him as the Son of God.
Feeding and Its Lessons
The place itself made the feeding a miracle, for it was a deserted wilderness on a barren shore belonging to Bethsaida, far from home and near nightfall where food could not be obtained nearby and many had no means to buy. Jesus knew the people would be hungry and would not send them home fasting, sharing their human need, and God's providence had placed Him there to meet their need. That dependence on the Father went together with wisdom, sound judgment and use of the means provided, following God's directions in genuine hardship.
About five thousand men besides women and children were seated in order wondering what would be done, amazed beyond bounds to see food portioned out to the vast assembly. The supply was five barley loaves and two small fishes, a slender store scarcely sufficient for twenty persons. Jesus gave thanks, broke and divided the food and gave it to the disciples to distribute, and the disciples served the people and ate from what was provided. The food did not diminish but a fresh supply was furnished as often as they returned to Him, increasing as they handed it out until all were satisfied. At His direction they gathered the fragments so nothing would be lost, and the broken pieces filled twelve baskets.
After the miracle the multitude left Jesus on that shore with no boat left by which He could depart while He watched their departure with compassionate eyes. News of the wonderful miracle spread far and near. On the following morning the people returned to the spot where they had last seen Him, arriving at an early hour in large numbers by land and water.
The miracle illustrates God's creative power in producing the harvest that multiplies seed and feeds people from the earth every day. That agency is obscured when human work in caring for grain and preparing bread leads people to credit nature or human effort alone, so God's gifts are to be recognized as expressions of His kindness and received as blessings, not turned to selfish use. The grace of God on a small portion makes it all-sufficient, for from His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness for more than a million people and by the touch of His hand increase scanty provision a hundredfold until all eat and leave some. What appears hopeless or far too small can become more than sufficient, and Jesus can bless and multiply resources given with cheerful unselfish love to supply many and advance His work. The same benevolence gives knowledge that helps people obtain food in different places.
The feeding shows Jesus as a man preaching the gospel in lowliness and poverty yet acting as the divine Coming One, the I AM greater than Moses, who wrought for five thousand in the wilderness a wonder like that for one hundred men in Old Testament times, supplying bread with clear flowing streams and casting His glory on those He guided and educated. It is a sign He is the world's Redeemer with omnipotent power, the Messiah and promised Deliverer. The people with the disciples wanted to make Him king on David's throne, but He did not seek earthly rule and prevented their plan because it would hinder His work of teaching and mercy.
His awareness of weariness, hunger and fainting and His command, Give ye them to eat, is a promise backed by the same power that multiplied the food, bidding His workers to deal bread to the hungry, satisfy the afflicted soul, cover the naked, house the poor and preach the gospel to every creature. Those softened, subdued, sanctified and dedicated to study Christ's works will be given the Holy Spirit to communicate to those in necessity, and those who labor with God receive grace to give what they have received, trusting temporal and spiritual blessings accompany such giving. Those who have should share with those who lack and help spread the truth, and gaining means by gambling or schemes that deprive others is wrong. Gathering the fragments teaches economy, self-denial, sacrifice and using what is saved to supply wants and help the needy. Work for Christ must lift up, encourage and restore with unselfish spirit and sense of each soul's value, and disciples should compassionately help those seeking salvation especially when weary or hungry and remove obstacles that make coming burdensome. God can provide tact, skill and understanding to those in line with Him, the methods of the feedings of the five thousand and four thousand are to be studied in food work, prayerfully and faithfully used gifts are multiplied to share the bread of life with the spiritually hungry, and His miracles express love by providing bread and freeing those possessed and tormented by demons.