In many life situations, we tend to see only the barriers and the impossibilities that lay before us. Reality can be hard, but it can also be deceiving. In the Gospel of John, we read about Jesus calling His disciples to see the reality before them before He does something that defies that reality.
John 6:2-14 describes Jesus feeding the 5,000. In this passage, it says, “This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.” Jesus was specifically talking to Philip although other disciples were around. They were being followed by a large crowd who wanted to see the miracles Jesus was performing. So, Jesus asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these may eat?”
There was a quickness to the answers given by the disciples. They, too, saw the large crowd coming and assessed the situation before them. Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” Philip was quick to point out their lack of resources to meet the needs before them. Andrew added, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Andrew identified some available resources but questioned their sufficiency. This was the reality they saw and believed.
Jesus’ question was intentional. He made them look and assess. The Scripture says He asked this question because He wanted to “test” them. A crowd was coming due to the miracles of Jesus. The disciples had seen these miracles but still struggled to grasp what Jesus wanted them to see. He tested them to walk in a faith that would defy what they saw with their own eyes.
Jesus already knew what He was intending to do. Doesn’t that strike a beautiful cord? Jesus was going to do something. I have struggled under the weight of life circumstances wondering what Jesus was going to do. Given my reality, I have focused on the absence or insufficiency of resources. I have failed to see that the question of what to do is not because I have to figure it out but because Jesus wants me to see the impossibility of what He is about to do. Jesus Himself knew what He was intending to do. He already had a plan and the power to make it happen. He does in our lives too.
We are often led to a place where the question of what to do creates anxiety or fear. Our focus turns too many times to what we believe is our reality. We begin to assess our resources and look anxiously at their lack. Oh, but Jesus never intends for us “to do” in our power aided by our resources. Jesus always knows what He intends to do. And what He intends to do is the impossible.
Jesus fed 5,000 plus people with the few resources available to Him because He had a resource the disciples did not completely understand. The all-powerful Christ provided food for thousands and had leftovers. Reality for the believer is the truth that says, “Now to Him who is able to DO exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20 (emphasis mine).
We can trust in Jesus despite what we see and lack. He always knows what He intends to do in our lives. Sometimes our circumstances are a “test” to show us the power of Christ. What are you seeing that is causing you to fear and doubt? What are you lacking so that you can see His resources? Are you trusting in the truth that Jesus intends to do something?
We will never have what we need within ourselves to do what Jesus calls us to do. His plan has always been to show us our lack so that we can more clearly see His sufficiency and power. Jesus told His disciples to “gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing would be lost” (John 6:12). This was after they were all filled. He knows what He intends to do in all of our lives as believers. As we allow Him, we will be filled and nothing will be lost.
Jesus knows what He intends to do. Let’s let Him do it!