More Than Bread, More Than Fish – Doing Work Aside Challenges (Part I)
Sermon Title: More Than Bread and Fish – Doing the Work
Good News Statement: Jesus needs us to do something
Preached: Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC
Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.
Scripture (NRSVUE): Luke 9:12-17 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Luke. The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 people on the shore of Galilee from two little fish and five loaves of bread is more than a miracle focused on bread and fish. It’s miracle of work, fellowship, restoration, and preparations. Our exploration of this text begins with reminding us that we have work to do for Christ. Our scripture reading is Luke Chapter Nine, verses Twelve thru Seventeen. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life.
Feeding the 5,000 People
12 The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside to lodge and get provisions, for we are here in a deserted 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 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 blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And all ate and were filled, and what was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”
The following Sermon Series will be drawn from the words of Biblical Scholar Charles R. Swindoll, who offers commentary and thoughts on the Gospel of Luke in his book ”Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke” published in 2012 by Zondervan Publications in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012.
Introduction: [1]
The Twelve Disciples had followed their Master, Jesus, to Bethsaida[2] and then beyond, into the hill country, eager to report their experiences and—and best of all—to enjoy a period of much-needed rest. They had returned with mixed emotions: exhausted after long days of ministry but energized by their experience. After watching Jesus exercise divine authority over the dominion of evil, healing the sick and commanding demons to release their victims, they never dreamed of having that kind of power themselves. They had contented themselves with the privilege of assisting the Messiah, perhaps one day ruling under his administration. But then they received power and authority from Jesus. For several weeks, the Twelve fanned out across Galilee proclaiming the arrival of God’s kingdom and validating their message with Messiah-like miracles. While physically demanding, those weeks on the road must have felt absolutely amazing!
They were starting to see a pattern, the beginning of an agenda, and it made perfect sense. Jesus came to eradicate evil by reestablishing the kingdom of God on earth. He trained twelve deputies and delegated his power and authority to them so they could wage war just like their Master. They would, in turn, train disciples of their own, and when they were ready, pass on their divine power. Generation by generation, an ever-increasing army of disciples would proclaim, heal, cast out demons, and recruit yet more disciples. It was brilliant! Their idyllic thinking left them dreaming that within a few generations, evil wouldn’t stand a chance.
But before they could process all what had happened, before they had a chance to regain their strength, a sea of people surged, bringing with them waves of human need. Suddenly, for all their divine power, the Twelve Disciples found themselves powerless to meet the most basic human need of all: the need to eat. Before long they realized they didn’t understand the agenda nearly as well as they thought. They were now challenged to find a way to feed 5,000 people on the shore of Galilee from two little fish and five loaves of bread.
This famous miracle, which appears in all Four Gospels[3], is a true testament to not only the work of Jesus, but also to the work that Jesus calls us to do. Believe it or not, there is more to this miracle than bread and fish. As a matter of fact, when examined closely, one can see that there is an element of Jesus needing us to do something for him, an ingredient of fellowship, a task to let Jesus restore our lives, and lastly a call to consider what we do with what Jesus gives us. The people are not just fed with bread and fish on the shore of Galilee; they are given the tools to keep Jesus’ ministry alive. Are you on the shore of Galilee?
Body:
Work: it’s something that few people enjoy doing and many people try to avoid. Work: it’s tiresome, burdening, and not always what one expects, but it could be rewarding and lead to success and at times be exciting and fun. Work: it’s part of everyone’s life whether they realize it or not. Work: it’s a measure of one’s abilities and reveals much about one’s character. Are you someone who enjoys doing work or are you someone who is perfectly fine with allowing someone else to do the work for you?
Personally, I don’t mind doing work. Work keeps me busy: it keeps me on my toes, it keeps me thinking, it keeps me seeking a better future today for tomorrow, and it pushes me to pursue something new, complete a task, and get things done. I have my dad to thank for this “work-gene.” He is always looking for something to do, whether at his job or around the house. Even when he comes down to visit Emily and me, he usually asks me, “What can I help you with?” When he and my mom travel to my sister’s in North Carolina, he ends up mowing and cleaning up the yard and taking out the trash. Like I said, some people enjoy doing work and others try to avoid it.
This past week, I got curious to see how Americans view work. In the process, I came across an article, published by a website known as Lifehack Method in January of 2025, which gathered statistics focused on “work-life balance.” Some of you may be asking yourself, “What is work-life balance?” For those asking that question, this may be something you need to hear. According to Lifehack Method, work-life balance is “all about finding harmony between work and personal time. It’s how people fulfill the demands of their jobs while prioritizing their lives away from the office.”[4]
The article points out that “the idea that work hours should be limited dates back to the late 1800s, when the work hours of women and children were restricted. And the concept has changed significantly over the years.”[5] While people used to work far more than the standard 40 hours each week, they could truly disconnect when they left the office. But with today’s technology, we’ve become a workforce that’s always connected. The lines between our personal and professional lives are more blurred than ever. And even though 60% of employees worldwide have managed to strike a healthy work-life balance, it’s a challenge for most. In fact, 33% work on Saturdays, and another 68% admit to working on vacation.
The article then lists a few statistics. For example, 66% of Americans don’t have work-life balance, 48% of Americans say they’re workaholics, and 77% have experienced burnout at their workplaces. Furthermore, 94% of employees think work-life balance is important, which is probably why the survey suggests that 73% see work-life balance as a core factor when job searching, with 61% saying they wouldn’t accept a job if it impacted their work-life balance. And the percentage of those who quit their job because their job made in impossible for them to enjoy life was 48%. Lastly, that article noted that “the country with the best work-life balance is Italy, where only 3% of employees work 50 hours or more each week, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance provides free care and entertainment for employees’ children.[6] The US ranks 29th out of 41 countries represented in this survey, with a work-life balance score of 5.2 out of 10 due to long work hours and lack of parental leave policies.”[7]
As I mentioned earlier, work is part of our life. And we do some sort of work-related thing every day. The message today is not to persuade you to stop doing work or even to make you feel guilty if you are someone who likes to work and therefore has a poor work-life balance—but if you do, this may be a good to time to do some deep examining of your work ethic. Rather, the message today is for you to think about the work you do and how the work you do, if any, is the work Jesus needs you to do. Because, in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, Jesus specifically tells the disciples, “you give them something to eat” indicating that Jesus has some work for us as disciples. Are you willing to do some work for Christ?
Movement One: Understanding the Text…
The story or rather the miracle of Jesus feeding the crowd of 5,000 on the shores of Galilee from two little fish and five loaves of bread, is the only miracle—out of 37 recorded miracles in the New Testament besides the account of Jesus’ resurrection—that appears in all four Gospels. Now, I know what you are thinking: “That’s not true.” What about the miracle in which Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana? That miracle only appears in John 2. What about when Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets into deeper water? That miracle only appears in Luke 5. What about the paralyzed man who is lowered on the mat through the roof and told to get up and walk? That miracle appears in Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5 but not in the Gospel of John. What about Jesus calming the storm? Surely that’s in all four Gospels…. You would think; but that miracle is recorded in Matthew 8, Mark 4, and Luke 8. What about Jesus walking on water? Jesus walks on water in Matthew 14, Mark 6 and John 6 but is not recorded in Luke. And before you even ask, the Gospel of John is the only account in which tells us that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany in the presence of Mary and Martha. It’s that miracle that we recall those famous and heartfelt words, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
There must be something special about this specific miracle if Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John mention it as they recalled the life, ministry, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although, each Gospel writer recalls this miracle in their own way—creating both similarities and differences—the meaning of the miracle is the same. But what is the meaning of this miracle—a moment that caused wonder and astonishment in the people and disciples gathered because it exceeded beyond normal standards by God’s intervention. What does this miracle teach us about work and about overcoming challenges?
For starters, it’s important to consider what the text is saying. Luke 9:12-13, “The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to [Jesus] and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside to lodge and get provisions, for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’” When the Twelve Disciples had returned from their travels—being set out by Jesus with very little except power and authority—Jesus invited them to join him on a retreat to Bethsaida, a small village four miles northeast of Capernaum (Luke 9:10). According to John 1:44, Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 8:22–26), Jesus reportedly restored a blind man’s sight at a place just outside the ancient village of Bethsaida. So Bethsaida is not just some town: it is a town that was part of Jesus’ circuit, a place that the good news was heard and witnessed.
From there, they withdrew into the hill country along the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. But why? Why would Jesus lead his disciples into a place where no one occupied? Because, in the remote yet relatively fertile wilderness, camping under the stars, Jesus and his disciples spent time in reflection about their recent travels and ministerial work among the people. Jesus was curious to know what the disciples had been up to—to see if the twelve he selected were living up to their calling of following him. Jesus also wanted to give them a moment of rest: to endure a proper work-life balance so-to-speak. However, word had spread of their whereabouts, drawing thousands of followers into the wilderness after them.
At this point, it is the disciples who say, “Send the crowd away…” (Luke 9:12). However, Jesus graciously receives them. “After all,” notes Swindoll, “ministry is rarely convenient.”[8] And after a long day of teaching and healing, the crowd needed provisions. This, of course, handed Jesus a teachable moment he was not about to waste. There are two important topics that Jesus teaches on, if you pay close attention to what is happening even before the miracle takes place. The topics are: what do we do when we are challenged with a task and what sort of work is Jesus calling us to do so that we are better prepared to “go, and make disciples of all nations”?
Movement Two: “Send the Crowd Away…”
First, notice that it is the disciples who tell Jesus to send the crowd away. Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples to send the crowd away. As a matter of fact, Jesus never indicates that he wants the crowd to be dismissed—which reflects his ministry. If you have noticed, Jesus very rarely, if at all, tells anyone—a believer or non-believer—to directly leave his presence. Jesus accepted dinner invites from Pharisees, Sadducees, Tax Collectors, Religious Leaders, the Sick, and even Sinners. He answered questions from anyone who asked. (His response may not have been what they wanted to hear, but it was what they needed to hear.) He healed as many people as possible, even giving authority to his disciples and a group of 70 elders to do the same. Very rarely was Jesus the one dismissing people. It was more likely that the people were dismissing Jesus.
Unfortunately, not too many people could say the same about themselves. We live in a culture and society by which dismissing people is almost common practice. We dismiss people because they don’t think the same way as we do. We dismiss people because they don’t like the same things as us, or look like us, or act like us. We dismiss people because we can’t see past disagreements to form a sense of unity. We dismiss people because they challenge us. We dismiss people because they upset us. We dismiss people because we feel as if that is the best thing to do at that moment. We dismiss people before we give them a chance. Let’s face it: we are much like the disciples at times, spending more time dismissing people rather than inviting and spending time with them like Jesus did.
As the sun began to set, the Twelve Disciples urged Jesus to send the crowd away. Why? Luke informs us that it was getting late; the day was “drawing to a close” as the text says, and the disciples understood that the wilderness was not a safe place for the people to be. Luke also informs us that the people were getting hungry, and the disciples couldn’t provide for them so sending them home would allow the crowd to retrieve to a place where there was food. Perhaps, the disciples were just tired and needed rest. They had reached their physical and emotional limits being out in the “world” doing the work of Christ. No matter the real reason to why the disciples wanted to send away the crowd, we can see, possibly, that they were thinking only about their own needs rather than the needs of the people. Of course, all people have their limits, including the disciples and so many others. You may have limits. Even the Son of God during his earthly ministry had physical limits. He regularly pulled away from the crowds to pray and to rest on the Sabbath, even falling asleep in a boat. God even rested on the Sabbath. The disciples, much like us, had limits, and this crowd certainly wasn’t going to intrude on what the disciples needed after working many hours and days.
The disciples wanted to send the crowd away to take care of themselves, to establish a healthy work-life balance. But Jesus saw right through them. It wasn’t so much that the disciples were tired, but it was the fact that the disciples were about to be given a challenge, a task, a job, a project that they didn’t want to do. When I read the disciples told Jesus to “send the people away,” I often think about my own life. Throughout my life, I have asked Jesus to send something away because it seemed challenging, overwhelming, and maybe uncomfortable. I simply didn’t want to do what Jesus wanted me to do; so I said, “Jesus send it away.” I didn’t believe in what Jesus was calling me to do because it wasn’t what I wanted to do. Have you been there?
When it comes to being challenged, or being asked to do something new, people tend to shy away, to take a step back, and develop some sort of excuse. “I can’t do that. I don’t have time for that. That seems like a lot of work. I bet so-and-so would do a lot better. I’ll get to it tomorrow. Just send it way.” I don’t know if you have ever said anything like that in your life, but I certainly have, and sometimes I don’t realize I am saying it until it comes out of my mouth. What would your life look like if Jesus responded to us how we respond to him? What would your life look like if you didn’t take the risks that you took to get to where you are today? What would your life look like if you constantly said send it away? I bet some of you wouldn’t be here today. You all took a risk, faced a challenge, when you chose to follow Jesus. You all took a risk choosing, or feeling lead, to attend this church. You all took a risk on the person sitting next to you. What sort of risks and challenges has this church faced throughout its history to be the church that it is today? What sort of challenges are still before us as a church that we want to send away but Jesus wants to invite in?
The disciples are challenged and they want this challenge to be sent away. But Jesus has other plans. The disciples don’t know it yet, but because Jesus sees their faith and strength he knows that what they are about to face is something that is going to change their life. Paul tells us, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). What God is calling you to do now, may seem like more you can handle, but know that God is with you. So don’t send it away, but receive it and ask God, “What do you need me to do?” We are people who receive; not people who send away.
Movement Three: “You Give them Something to Eat…”
The disciples had been proclaiming, healing, and casting out demons for weeks, but they knew their limitations. However, Jesus surprised them with a challenge to feed the crowd, recognizing the task exceeded their ability. According to John, Jesus in response to Philip said what he said to “test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do” (John 6:6).
As I mentioned earlier, this miracle is recorded in all four Gospels with some similarities and some differences. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible records the same command from Jesus to the disciples in all four Gospels. Jesus commands, “You give them something to eat” (Luke 9:13). I don’t know about you, but I can picture Jesus, sitting in a chair or lounging against a rock or possibly a fig tree with the glow of a fire against his face, taking in the concern and worry and tiredness of his disciples—who don’t want to be around people at the moment—and saying, right before he takes a sip of water through a straw, “You give them something to eat. You take care of the people. I’m going to sit right here until you figure something out.”
Now you can probably envision the shear panic and fear on the faces of the disciples as they are caught saying, “But Jesus, we are too tired. But Jesus, it’s too late to do anything. Can’t you just take care of this for us like you did with the demon we couldn’t cast out the child (Luke 9:37-43)? But Jesus….”
I’m sure we have all said something similar when Jesus told us to do something. I’m sure we have all said, “But Jesus…” I’m sure we have all acted like we didn’t hear Jesus laying something on our heart. Jesus knows the disciples are tired, he knows that they are still trying to figure out who he is; he knows that their faith still isn’t at its full strength and capacity; and he knows that the disciples will do and think of whatever they can to get out of doing what he needs them to do at this very moment. But, yet he tells them, “You give them something to eat.”
What Jesus needs them to do is not something by which will deplete the disciples, it’s not something to cause the disciples to feel defeated, it’s not something by which will push the disciples away, and it’s certainly not something that will cause the disciples to fail and lose faith. Rather, what Jesus needs them to do will make them stronger and grow deeper in their faith. What Jesus needs them to do is work for him and not against him. If Jesus told you “You give them something to eat,” what would be your response? Would you be eager to follow through on his command? Would you be hesitant? Would you get up and go to your neighbor’s house and seek assistance (Luke 11:5-8)? Every day Jesus gives us work to do for him; and yet, every day we create some sort of excuse. I’m as guilty as the next person.
Sometimes in life the work that Jesus needs us to do is not the priority on our list. We have things we want to do, things we need to get, places we want go, tasks we need to complete. What Jesus needs us to do keeps getting pushed further and further down on our list, almost to the point where we forget that it is still on the list. Have you ever thought about what this world would be like if we put the work of Christ before the work of humanity? Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if the work of Christ was first and foremost? What would our church be like today if we put the work of Christ into all that we did both inside and outside the church? Jesus is calling the disciples to do some work because he knows that the work he needs them to do is work they can handle, its work that resembles the ministry of himself, and its work that they will need to do once he is no longer physically by their side. There will come a day when he will commission his disciples to “Go, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20). There will come a day when they will need to feed the people instead of sending them away.
Church, friends, if Jesus looked at us and said, “You give them something to eat,” could we do it or would we come up with some sort of excuse? Are there ministries we need to improve or grow or expand or even start? Are there projects that we should be doing or considering? Are there people out there that need to know that they can worship here? What do we need to do to make sure that we can feed the people not just today but every day? I know we have what it takes to overcome challenges and to do the work of Christ because I have seen it not only in the physical improvements but in the people that attend this church, that’s you. You all have what it takes to do the work of Christ.
Although you may be tired at times, I have seen you put Jesus first. Although you may have been frustrated at times, I have seen you put Jesus first. Although you may have contemplated and shrugged off different ideas for ministry expansion or church improvements, I have seen you put Jesus first because those ideas are still with you today. And I am proud to say this, you all have what it takes, even if you don’t believe it yourselves, to give the people something to eat—to do the work of Christ. My question for you is, what other work is Jesus commanding us to do?
This command from Jesus is not to scare the disciples. This command from Jesus is not to cause the disciples to panic. This command from Jesus is not meant to discourage the disciples. Rather this command from Jesus is an acknowledgement that he has faith in his disciples just like he has faith in each of you and he has faith in our church. Are you willing to do the work that Jesus is commanding you and us to do? Are you willing to give the people something to eat, physically or spiritually? What does it look like in your life and the life of this church to feed the people?
Conclusion:
As I said, we all have work to do and we do some sort of work every day. Some of us have a healthy work-life balance and some of us have yet to commit to that idea. Work is part of our life. But can we say the same about the work Jesus needs us to do? Do we have a healthy Jesus-work-life balance?
Out of the work that you do on a daily basis, how much of that work is God centered? How much of that work is making sure that you are able to give the people something to eat? And church, is the work we are doing now Jesus focused or could we be doing more? Is the work we are doing now work that is geared toward taking care of those both within and outside these walls? Is the work we are doing creating means that overcome challenges so that we are here tomorrow? What sort of work is Jesus calling us to do?
The miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 on the shore of Galilee from two little fish and five loaves of bread is a miracle that is more than bread and fish. It’s a miracle, out front, that challenges us to take risks and to find ways to feed the people, physically and spiritually. It’s a miracle about realizing that Jesus needs us to do some work. It’s a miracle that invites us to do what we can today so that our mission, our church, is here tomorrow. And it’s a miracle by which we realize that Jesus sees something in us that we may not see in ourselves. If Jesus didn’t see something in you, then he wouldn’t give you tasks to do that grows your faith and impacts others. You may not feel worthy to do the work of Jesus because of sins and past decisions, but trust me even if you don’t feel worthy Jesus knows you are.
Work: it’s part of our life, it’s part of being a disciple, and it’s part of what is needed to be the best church we can be. What sort of work is Jesus commanding you to do? What sort of work is Jesus commanding our church to do? And what sort of work should be done to make sure that we are able to give the people something to eat and not send them away hungry? Are you willing to do some work? I’m proud of what we have done so far, but I know there is still more work that we can do. So, what does Jesus need us to do? What sort of work has Jesus laid upon your heart?
Let it be so…
Closing Prayer:
Let us Pray… Dear Jesus, may we not shy away from the challenges that are before us and may we not develop excuses when you call us and the church to do your work. Jesus, you see something within us and we ask that you give us what we need to fulfill your work as we give your people something to eat. Amen.
Benediction:
Are you willing to do some work for Christ? Are you willing to overcome challenges to continue the mission of Christ? Are you prepared to seek ways to feed the people? Jesus is needing your help, to do his work, so that people are not sent away but feel welcomed in the presence of Christ. And I know you all have what it takes to do what Christ is calling you to do. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth not being afraid to do the work of Jesus. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.
[1] Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012, pg. 225-226.
[2] According to John 1:44, Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 8:22–26), Jesus reportedly restored a blind man’s sight at a place just outside the ancient village of Bethsaida. In Luke 9:10–11, Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand near Bethsaida.
[3] Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; and John 6:5-14
[4] Demir and Carey Bentley, “Top Work-Life Balance Statistics in the US and Worldwide (2025), Lifehack Method, published January, 7, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://lifehackmethod.com/blog/work-life-balance-statistics/#:~:text=66%25%20of%20Americans%20don’t,work%2Dlife%20balance%20is%20important.
[5] Demir and Carey Bentley, “Top Work-Life Balance Statistics in the US and Worldwide (2025), Lifehack Method, published January, 7, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://lifehackmethod.com/blog/work-life-balance-statistics/#:~:text=66%25%20of%20Americans%20don’t,work%2Dlife%20balance%20is%20important.
[6] The country with the worst work-life balance is Mexico with a score of 0.4 out of town.
[7] Demir and Carey Bentley, “Top Work-Life Balance Statistics in the US and Worldwide (2025), Lifehack Method, published January, 7, 2025. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://lifehackmethod.com/blog/work-life-balance-statistics/#:~:text=66%25%20of%20Americans%20don’t,work%2Dlife%20balance%20is%20important.
[8] Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2012, pg. 226.