When the apostles returned, they told Him all that they had done. He took them with Him and He privately withdrew [across the Jordan] to a city called Bethsaida. But when the crowds learned of it, they followed Him; and He welcomed them and He began talking to them about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be healed. Now the day was ending, and the twelve [disciples] came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging, and get provisions; because here we are in an isolated place.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” (For there were about 5,000 men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and had them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks] and blessed them, and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were [completely] satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were [abundant and were] picked up—twelve baskets full .

Luke 9:10-17 AMP

On this day, the ministry of Jesus was directed to a crowd. We don’t always know what to do with a crowd, do we? According to recent studies, about 20 million Americans are afraid to be out in a crowd. The fear affects women about twice as often as men. The fear is closely related to a general fear of being out in a public place.

The disciples knew what they wanted to do with this crowd. They offered Jesus a quick suggestion. “Jesus, dismiss this crowd. Finish your teaching. Offer a benediction. Send the crowd away.” The disciples had practical reasons for wanting to get rid of the crowd. It was getting late in the day. Many of the people were far enough from home they couldn’t make it home before dark. They were hungry. Something needed to be done before the crowd would get out of hand.

We don’t want the responsibility for what is going to happen to this crowd. We have provided for their spiritual nourishment, a foundation for their theology. We have helped provide for their spiritual conversion. We don’t need to provide for their social integration.

Instead of sending the crowd away, Jesus takes an action that presents a lesson for everyone who wants to be a disciple. “We won’t be sending anyone away. You feed them.” This is what is expected of a disciple. Jesus challenged His twelve followers to move beyond spiritual absorption and to join Him in ministry.

Jesus did not dismiss the crowd, allowing them to search for a solution. The disciples needed to understand followers of Jesus are the solution. The spiritual transformation of individuals is Jesus’ ministry, but the care and nurturing and connection of people is the concern of the disciples. Too often we behave like it is the other way around.

The disciples present the only food they had to Jesus – the lunch of a small lad. Jesus blesses their food. He breaks their food.

Jesus gives the disciples the provisions to pass out and every time they run out, they return to Him. He keeps giving them provisions from the meager first offering they gave to Him. After all had been fed and filled, there were baskets left over, far more food than what they had originally given.

On that day, the disciples worked the ministry. It is time for us to do the same.