A DAY IN THE LIFE

If you were picked out of the crowd to meet the Queen at a Garden Party you might be nervous, but it would surely be a privilege. For Philip to be picked out of this great crowd and the other disciples by Jesus, was to be put on the spot

It was late in the day, they were out in the hills above Galilee, and droves of people were converging on Jesus, when he expressed concern about what they were all going to eat. This he shared with Philip, is such a way as to make him feel, 'What are you going to do about this?'

You can read the story in chapter 6 of The Gospel of John, and about the significance of the timing near the Passover, the great founding miracle of God providing for his people, and how Jesus fulfilled all God ever promised to them

You can also read the comment of John who was there that day, and learned that Jesus already had in mind what he himself was going to do, about catering for this vast number

This is an important story in many ways, most of all in what it teaches us about the glory and power of the Lord Jesus, but there is a message too about what it is like, not only to follow him, but also to get involved in serving him

John says Jesus wanted to test Philip. This is how Jesus wanted to teach Philip, why he was drawing Philip into the situation, making him feel his own lack, so he would long remember it, and so it would build up his faith

Before he made the picnic of one boy stretch to thousands of families, Jesus wanted to make sure that Philip and the other disciples were paying close attention. He also wanted them to learn that day, in doing his work, that they must depend completely on him to supply the power and resources, and they were unable to do anything without him

Look up the story in the first dozen verses of John chapter 6, and think how we too need to learn and live by this same lesson, that all our resources come from God in Jesus

As you read you will discover that as soon as Jesus had got Philip to see the situation, and state the obvious, he went on to do what he had planned all along, and multiplied a snack into many, many meals, with more still left over

God may bring about circumstances in our lives and in the work of our fellowship which make us feel our limitations, but we should welcome it, because we know this story

The whole point of Jesus in putting Philip on the spot, was to show him the limitless grace and power which works with those he draws to follow and serve him. That is a certain kind of testing, unforgettable for the best of reasons

Gordon