From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Apostles’ Faithless Remedy – Part 1

 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”     (John 6:5-7)

Today’s passage reveals in more detail how faithless two of the disciples were toward meeting a practical need. Philip and Andrew focused only on human solutions to the food necessary for 5,000+ people (Matthew 14:15).
The Lord, however, would demonstrate a very different solution. First, He asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” Jesus already knew what Philip was thinking. He didn’t need his input to develop a feeding plan. By asking, Jesus simply articulated the impossibility of their finding any place to obtain enough food for the people.
Further, Jesus’ question really had nothing to do with the specifics of buying bread. As He occasionally does with us, Jesus presented a dilemma so He could test and strengthen the apostles’ faith. As James encourages us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). Peter similarly states the challenge, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith . . . May be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Ask Yourself:
Can you look back at a recent event (or perhaps a current happening) and see that what appeared to be just a hard problem may very well have been a test from your Heavenly Father, trying to mature and develop your faith? How can you make the most of these opportunities?