John Chapter 6: Verses 5-9 (NIV)
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Jesus knew what He was going to do in this situation but He was giving His disciples the opportunity to exercise their faith in Him. They had already seen Him do many miracles, including turning water into wine. Philip is put off by the size of the crowd. This would be much bigger than anything he had previously experienced, and he didn’t see how the need could be met.
Along comes Andrew with a wee laddie who is willing to share his own food if it would help. Although
Andrew appears doubtful, I wonder if perhaps there is a wee seed of faith there. After all, he didn’t dismiss the boy’s offer, and he did bring him to Jesus to give the food to him. I think perhaps there was hope in his heart.
Sometimes we are faced with situations that are much bigger than we have come across before, and like Philip, we wonder what Jesus could possibly do for us. But maybe, like Andrew and his young friend, we bring the little bit of faith and hope we have to Jesus to see what He will do with it.
And Jesus knows exactly what He will do. He has everything in hand, and He wants to give us the opportunity to trust Him.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that no matter what situation I find myself in, You know what I need and what to do. Help me to trust You to multiply the little bit of faith I have. May I be as willing as that young boy to bring what I have, even if it seems so little. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.