This is a Test 

John 6.1-14 

“A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick…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.” 

Back in chapter 5, Jesus ripped the Pharisees and religious leaders a new one. He wasn’t subtle. He didn’t use allegories or parables. He was straightforward and blunt about who He is and how they are foolishly ignorant and willfully defiant against the Messiah’s claim as the Son of God.  

The religious leaders wanted a political and military Messiah who would work miracles to free them from Roman tyranny and place the Pharisees in leadership roles to rule over the people. Jesus sums up their sad state of insolence with the following words: 

“And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent,” 5:37. 

Retreat 

Jesus has set in motion a movement of momentum that would eventually lead to His crucifixion. But for now, as we see here in chapter 6, it’s time to get away from the heat and hatred of the Pharisees in Jerusalem and go to the countryside. He moves north to and around the Sea of Galilee.  

Large crowds continue to follow Him. Verse 2 says “a large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He Was performing on those who were sick.” Jesus was aware of their motives, but He still had compassion on them and chose to reveal His creative power by feeding them. This is the story of the feeding of the 5000. By this act of multiplying the bread, He was creating an object lesson on the topic of “the bread of life” which comes later in this chapter.  

The Lord tests his heart 

Jesus’ disciples have been with Him for a while now and they’ve seen a lot of miracles thus far. Mostly miracles of healing. Jesus, seeing the large crowd of thousands said to Philip “where are we to buy bread, so these can eat? This He was saying to test him“. Philip responded and said, ‘the little money we have is not enough to feed everyone’. This reminds me of a verse I read yesterday in Proverbs 17.3 “the refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart”.  

Intense heat is used to test and refine silver and gold. The Lord is the source of heat that tests man’s heart. In this case, He is testing Philip. Therefore, in this story, one of his disciples (Phillip) who will someday will preach Jesus with boldness and be willing to die for Christ, is now being strengthened with a test.  

Ultimately, Phillip’s faith will be rock solid. But for now, he sees through his eyes of flesh and he lacks faith. His spiritual sight is not yet formed and developed. This test is more of an object lesson to reveal his lack of faith and not so much a fiery trial. Personally, I like learning from object lessons rather than the fiery trials. But, the Lord can use both.  

Abundantly beyond! 

Lord, am I more like Philip than I want to admit? Do I believe that your work in me is limited to the earthly resources that I can “see” and “touch” around me? Do I see all things through fleshly eyes rather than spiritual eyes? Does my faith only go so far as to what I can imagine you could do based on the resources at hand? How many times have you tested me like you tested Philip and I missed the point? 

Open the eyes of my heart to learn from you.  Expand my faith that I might seek and pray for your will and not be limited in my mind to only pray for what I can comprehend You could do. May the words of Ephesians 3.18 permeate my soul…   “now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory…” Amen!