Context No. 4231 of 4322 · John
Context · Reflection
John 6:1-6: in context
1After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. 3Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Jesus therefore, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
Seeing a great crowd coming and knowing they need to be fed, Jesus turns to Philip and asks, where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat? It is an impossible question; there is no way to feed thousands. But John adds a crucial note: Jesus said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do. The question that stumped Philip was no dilemma to Jesus; he already had his answer.
What stands out is that Jesus brought Philip to the edge of impossibility on purpose, though he already knew the outcome. He was not at a loss; the feeding of the crowd was already in his mind. The test was for Philip's sake, to stretch and grow his faith, to bring him to the end of his own resources so he might see what Jesus could do.
When we come to the end of our resources, staring at a problem with no solution we can see, we may feel God is as stumped as we are. But like Jesus with Philip, God already knows what he will do; the situation that overwhelms us is no dilemma to him. Sometimes he lets us reach the edge of impossibility precisely so that our faith may grow as we see him provide what we could not.
When I face a situation with no solution I can see and feel I am at the end of my resources, can I trust that God, like Jesus who already knew what he would do, is not stumped as I am, and may be stretching my faith to show me what he can provide?