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Are you currently facing a need that is insurmountable, or a challenge that is impossible? Is the situation beyond your capability or the solution beyond your reach? If so, are you trying to solve it, or overcome it, or meet it on your own? Or have you turned to the One who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you and asked Him to do what only He can?
The disciples had just returned from their mission, having been sent out two-by-two into the villages. They were excited to tell Jesus everything they had done and experienced.(1) If you have ever been a part of a short-term mission team that has been sent out to carry the Good News to another part of the nation or the world, you can probably relate somewhat to the disciples. Like them, you probably saw the transforming work of the gospel and the leadership of the Spirit.
You may have witnessed miraculous healing just like they did. But one thing is for sure, you experienced the awesome privilege of joining with God in His activity – and now, you wanted to tell everyone about the experience. And hopefully, you and your team had an opportunity to debrief the experience. That’s how it was for the disciples. They wanted Jesus to hear all about their time, and He wanted to debrief them.
So Jesus pulled away from the crowds with His disciples to do just that. He climbed a hill and sat down with His disciples and began to hear about their experiences.(2) But the masses kept following, and a huge crowd had regathered. Jesus “welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and He healed those who were sick.”(3) Late in the afternoon the disciples said to Jesus, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”(4) But Jesus had a different plan – His perfect plan. He always does!
Jesus turned to Philip and asked him, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”(5) John tells us that Jesus was testing Philip. Why Philip? To this point, all of the disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles – most recently the calming of the storm and the healing of the demon possessed men.
But Philip had been one of the handful with Jesus that day at the wedding feast in Cana. He had been one of those who “believed in Jesus” as a result of that miracle.(6) John also had been there. And that’s why i believe he records this conversation between Jesus and Philip – whereas none of the other Gospels make mention of it. Philip had seen Jesus transform water into wine. Couldn’t that same Jesus transform anything into food? Had Philip learned a truth that day? And could he apply it here?
This was Philip’s big opportunity to shine. But alas, he missed it! Instead of trusting in Jesus’s unlimited ability, Philip responded using his own limited human reasoning. He had already worked out how much money would be needed to buy enough bread (even “two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient”(7)). Apparently, Judas (the keeper of the money) had given the treasurer’s report that morning and reported that they had two hundred denarii in their treasury.
But then Andrew, who had also been at the wedding feast, stepped up and said, “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish.” Andrew would have been the prize pupil if he had stopped there. But he went on to say, “But what good is that with this huge crowd?”(8) He forgot to Whom he was speaking. And that is an important reminder for us. Whatever God entrusts to us is sufficient for His purpose – no matter how inconsequential it may appear to us.
Jesus told the disciples to have the crowd sit down – so they could all watch and see the difference a little can make in the hands of the Master! After thanking the Father for the provision, Jesus took the young boy’s lunch and transformed it into a feast for five thousand men, plus women and children – probably fifteen thousand or more people. And everyone ate until they were full! The Master’s provision will always be more than enough when it is presented in His way for His glory!
And to further solidify the lesson in the minds and hearts of the disciples, Jesus had the leftovers gathered. Imagine their reaction when they saw twelve baskets filled with barley loaves and fishes, having earlier seen a “tiny sack lunch”. And the people who had come that day to see Jesus perform miracles were by no means disappointed. They were ready to declare Him King! They envisioned a kingdom filled with all the food you could eat that they would never need to work for! Regrettably, however, they weren’t ready to follow Him as Lord and Savior. They witnessed the miracle, but totally missed the Miracle Worker. And John writes that Jesus “slipped away into the hills by Himself.”(9)
What went through the disciples’ minds that day? Specifically, what went through Philip’s and Andrew’s minds? Were they focused on what Jesus had done? Or were they again reminded of Who He was? Did they see Jesus based upon what He had done – that day – and in days past – or Who He was? Did the memory of what they had witnessed in Cana suddenly come back to them, causing them to realize how much they had underestimated their Lord?
And what about us – as we walk with the Master? Are we looking at Him and expecting Him to respond within the limits of our finite thinking? Or are we expecting Him to “accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”?(10) What He does will constantly be changing. He rarely did the same thing the same way. But He always seemed to know what was best . . . and He still does! But Who He is – the Almighty God – will never change. He is trustworthy! And He is worthy to be followed – no matter what we are walking through! Trust Him to do more than enough . . . because He is . . . more than enough!
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Portions of this post have been taken from chapter 32 of my book Walking With The Master.
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(1) Luke 9:10
(2) John 6:1-15
(3) Luke 9:11 (NLT)
(4) Luke 9:12 (NLT)
(5) John 6:5 (NLT)
(6) John 2:11
(7) John 6:7 (NKJ)
(8) John 6:9 (NLT)
(9) John 6:15 (NLT)
(10) Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Copyright © 2023 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.
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