Lent Day 9 :Testing Philip (John 6:5-10)
Lent Day 9
Testing Philip
John 6:5-10
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,
9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).
◇ Jesus asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread to feed this crowd?" Philip pointed out that even two hundred denarii would not be enough to buy bread for everyone. Two hundred denarii was about the equivalent of two hundred days' wages for a laborer at the time—a substantial sum. Jesus and his disciples did not have that kind of money. Hearing Jesus' question, Andrew brought forward a boy who had five barley loaves and two small fish and added, "But how far will they go among so many?"
Philip spoke of the impracticality of buying enough bread for the crowd, and Andrew presented the meager food they had, highlighting its insufficiency. Both disciples expressed their belief in the impossibility of the situation through their circumstances.
What do you think about the disciples' responses to Jesus' words? Do you consider them to be disciples lacking faith?
There is an Indian proverb that says, "The one who wants to do something finds a way, the one who doesn't finds an excuse." Doesn't this seem to describe the disciples? Does it appear that they have more of a desire not to do something than to do it? Are they not seemingly searching for a legitimate excuse?
Mark 6:30-33 also recounts the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, describing the situation of the disciples. Before this event, Jesus had sent the disciples out in pairs for a missionary journey (6:7-13). Upon their return, Jesus intended to take them to a quiet place to rest for a while, knowing they were tired from their journey. However, a large crowd followed Jesus and his disciples.
The disciples, weary from their missionary work, likely wanted to rest rather than feed the crowd. They might have felt resentment towards Jesus for asking them to give food to the crowd and might have wanted to express their sense of injustice. Perhaps they were using legitimate reasons to express their inability to fulfill the task.
But isn't this often how we behave? The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoners (Matthew 25:35-36). We know the Lord's will, but are we acting on it? Or are we finding excuses, talking about our situations, and saying we can't do it, either legitimately or under the guise of legitimacy?
Verse 6 clearly states Jesus' intention: "He asked this only to test him." Jesus wanted to see what the disciples would do. He listened to Philip and Andrew, then instructed the people to sit down in the field. With the insufficient loaves and fish, he fed them all, solving the problem and filling the lack.
The Lord knows our deficiencies well. He is fully aware that we cannot solve everything on our own. Yet, Jesus tells us to go ahead and do it. He wants us to try, to look for ways rather than excuses. When we seek solutions, the Lord will fill our lack and fulfill his purposes. The Lord, who gave himself up for us, will not ignore us as we obey and follow God's will.
God, help us to be those who seek ways to fulfill your will! Though our circumstances may be lacking, let us be those who strive to find solutions! Instill in us a deep faith in you, who fills our lack! Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth!
Testing Philip
John 6:5-10
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,
9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).
◇ Jesus asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread to feed this crowd?" Philip pointed out that even two hundred denarii would not be enough to buy bread for everyone. Two hundred denarii was about the equivalent of two hundred days' wages for a laborer at the time—a substantial sum. Jesus and his disciples did not have that kind of money. Hearing Jesus' question, Andrew brought forward a boy who had five barley loaves and two small fish and added, "But how far will they go among so many?"
Philip spoke of the impracticality of buying enough bread for the crowd, and Andrew presented the meager food they had, highlighting its insufficiency. Both disciples expressed their belief in the impossibility of the situation through their circumstances.
What do you think about the disciples' responses to Jesus' words? Do you consider them to be disciples lacking faith?
There is an Indian proverb that says, "The one who wants to do something finds a way, the one who doesn't finds an excuse." Doesn't this seem to describe the disciples? Does it appear that they have more of a desire not to do something than to do it? Are they not seemingly searching for a legitimate excuse?
Mark 6:30-33 also recounts the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, describing the situation of the disciples. Before this event, Jesus had sent the disciples out in pairs for a missionary journey (6:7-13). Upon their return, Jesus intended to take them to a quiet place to rest for a while, knowing they were tired from their journey. However, a large crowd followed Jesus and his disciples.
The disciples, weary from their missionary work, likely wanted to rest rather than feed the crowd. They might have felt resentment towards Jesus for asking them to give food to the crowd and might have wanted to express their sense of injustice. Perhaps they were using legitimate reasons to express their inability to fulfill the task.
But isn't this often how we behave? The Lord tells us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoners (Matthew 25:35-36). We know the Lord's will, but are we acting on it? Or are we finding excuses, talking about our situations, and saying we can't do it, either legitimately or under the guise of legitimacy?
Verse 6 clearly states Jesus' intention: "He asked this only to test him." Jesus wanted to see what the disciples would do. He listened to Philip and Andrew, then instructed the people to sit down in the field. With the insufficient loaves and fish, he fed them all, solving the problem and filling the lack.
The Lord knows our deficiencies well. He is fully aware that we cannot solve everything on our own. Yet, Jesus tells us to go ahead and do it. He wants us to try, to look for ways rather than excuses. When we seek solutions, the Lord will fill our lack and fulfill his purposes. The Lord, who gave himself up for us, will not ignore us as we obey and follow God's will.
God, help us to be those who seek ways to fulfill your will! Though our circumstances may be lacking, let us be those who strive to find solutions! Instill in us a deep faith in you, who fills our lack! Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth!