“The Training of the Twelve” Pt. 2
Luke 9:12-17
December 21, 2025
Christmas brings anticipation of many good and encouraging things. We anticipate worship (Christmas Eve), and music (the Messiah!), and fellowship, and reconnection with friends who have moved away, and time with family.
And yet there is also the conundrum of the gifts. What do we get…? More than once I have whined to Raye Jeanne in the past month, “You’ve got to help me; what can I get you for Christmas?” How pathetic is that?!
This week I read some letters of requests for Christmas gifts:
- Dear Santa, please text my dad — he has my whole list. I love you. Xoxoxoxo Tennessee
- Dear Santa, I wanted to tell you I am fine. I don’t know, but if you can could you possibly make it so I can turn into a dragon Pleeeaaase!!!! Or a pet dragon. Either one will do though I would like it if you could make me turn into a Dragon. 😊 ❤️ 😊 ❤️ S. Have a happy valitins day.
- Dear Santa, if you bring presents with batteries, please bring batteries.
- Dear Santa, 16 in bike.
The passage in front of us this morning isn’t a classic Christmas story; it’s a story about Jesus training the Twelve. But it is also the story of God’s provision and Christ’s gift(s) to His disciples. It is a remarkable story so well known that most unbelievers will have heard of it. It is the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000. It is one of only two miracles that are recorded in all four gospels (the other miracle is the resurrection of Christ) — we are meant to see that this miracle is remarkable. And it is revelatory —
When the Son of Man sends His people on a mission, He gives them what they need for that mission.
As the title to my sermon indicates (and I borrowed it from A. B. Simpson), this passage is about Jesus training the Twelve (most of the chapter is about training). The disciples have been with Jesus for about two years and these are the first times that they are given tasks to do — they are being prepared for what to do and how to trust Christ in the work He gives them. So this chapter is about the One who sends the Twelve on a mission; it’s about the sufficiency of the Sender; and Jesus uses a most remarkable miracle to demonstrate that He is sufficient…
- It’s a Problem: When Circumstances are Unexpected
- It’s a Miracle: What Jesus Did for the 5000
- It’s an Opportunity: What Jesus Taught the Twelve
Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 9:12-17.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.
“tiny cute Christmas gifts” by PetitPlat – Stephanie Kilgast is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Words of Grace 