John 6

Posted on Apr 13, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Thursday

Did you ever wonder why Jesus singled out Philip to ask where they should get bread for the people to eat?

Well, the obvious answer is most likely logistics. Philip was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) a town that was about 9 miles away from where they were, so if anyone knew where there would be food it would be the local boy. But really, I think Jesus is testing Philip in order to help Philip understand what faith in God can bring you. I would imagine that in years to come, Philip will need to rely on this lesson to help him through his Christian journey. Tradition has it that Philip (because of his Greek name) was familiar with the Greek culture and language. Philip along with his sister Mariamne and Bartholomew were sent to preach in Greece, Phrygia and Syria, where he was later martyred.

So when Jesus presents to Philip this impossible situation, Philip reacts as most of us would, I think…. How can we do this?…

And the answer is “we” can’t, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). So Philip’s friend Andrew steps up and presents a ridiculous solution… “here is a boy with 5 small loaves and 2 small fish.” Not even big fish or big loaves. But the beginning of faith is being formed here. We don’t have much but we will share what we have, and then watch what God can do.

At our church, this lesson is experienced often. When we don’t think we have enough resources on our own, somehow miraculously, enough is there. God multiplies while Satan divides. God always has enough. We just need to remember that, when our faith doesn’t seem to be strong enough, God has a way of showing us that He will provide.

Jesus gave them directions, positive steps to take, which says to me, that we get to play a part in his miracles. We shouldn’t just sit around and wait for something to happen, but rather be willing to engage in what He wants us to do.

I find it also amazing that God uses everyday simple items to reveal to us the magnitude of His love for us. Something as simple as bread. We see bread as satisfying a physical need, yet God sees bread as fulfilling a spiritual need. Jesus is that Bread. As bread sustains physical life, so Bread sustains spiritual life.

Manna (bread) brought life to the Israelites wandering around in the desert and bread brought life to the five thousand on that hill near the Sea of Galilee. But most important of all, the Bread of Life (which we remember when we take communion) brings us eternal life.

I hope that you will remember how important bread is to us.

Blessings

Pastor Kathy