God's Care for His Followers (Luke 9:10-17)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
2 October 2022
God is compassionate. This compassion was revealed perfectly through Jesus as seen in the feeding of the multitude (Luke 9:10-17).
Compassion is magnetic. It attracts people which is why they ran to be with Jesus. He received them with compassion. He taught them about heaven, healed their sicknesses and fed them with bread.
In so doing Jesus met the needs of the whole person — body and soul. When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden they and their children were affected, body and soul. Jesus is the divinely appointed Saviour to restore body and soul. No one else can.
Concerning the salvation of the soul Jesus did this by preaching the kingdom of God. Entry into God's kingdom is through repentance and faith. Jesus preached this message.
Concerning the healing of sickness Jesus possessed divine power to do so. The fact that people ran into the wilderness to be healed by Jesus indicates that this was a special season of healing. It was a unique moment. It was not the norm.
Concerning the feeding of the multitude this was a miracle. The people stayed with Jesus rather than go and seek food. Such was the magnetism of our Lord. People had an abandonment when Jesus was with them.
Jesus' compassion is comprehensive. Those who follow him shall have every need met. Psalm 23 teaches this. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” The Psalm reveals that the shepherd's care is all embracing. It is comprehensive.
The question arises does Jesus still work miraculously today? He certainly does, but it is crucial to understand that today he uses ordinary means for the effecting of his purposes. This is not a denial of the extraordinary but an acceptance of the ordinary as the norm. What are the ordinary means?
In preaching the kingdom he has sent his apostles and the church to proclaim the gospel and to baptise and teach believers (Matt.2816-20).
In healing he has ordained the elders of churches to minister by prayer and anointing of oil for healing and forgiveness (James 5:14,15).
In feeding people he instructs the church to care for the needy — to meet urgent needs (Titus 3:14).
Rejoice that the Lord is compassionate and that he satisfies the needs of all who wholeheartedly follow him. Jesus never fails followers.
He never failed Israel in Egypt and Babylonia. In Egypt Israel was kept miraculously. It was fed. Its garments were never worn out. Its diseases were healed.
In Babylon Israel was preserved. Its captivity ended and Israel returned to the promised land.
Trust in the Lord for all your needs. No need to be anxious about life. Jesus has taught us to seek God and his kingdom and all life’s needs will be met (Matt. 6:25-34).
Praise the Lord for his care and compassion Run to him; he will receive you. Feed on his goodness; you will be satisfied.