The fourth Sign... part 2...

We looked at the compassion Jesus showed to the crowd, and now we need to look at a different quality of His exceptional leadership skills.  This one relates to the 12 that followed Him everywhere, and it is something that every great and inspirational coach has.  He seeks the input of those He teaches.

"Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, 'Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?'"

John 6:5, HCSB

The passage goes on to discuss that Jesus knew what would happen already, and that this was a test.  It is not a test in the manner of asking something like the sum of 1 and 1, but rather a test to see if the 12 with Him (Philip being singled out for this purpose) were able to believe that God would provide.  Wait... that's not exactly right, is it?  Of course they were able to believe that God would provide.  But would they truly BELIEVE that He would?  Like I said earlier, there is a difference between believing IN Him and BELIEVING Him.

Another thing to notice here is that Jesus knew the answer, but still asked the question.  And you think, "Gee, you said that in the previous paragraph."  And I respond, "Yes I did, but it's worth repeating."  The point here is that Jesus could have literally thought it, and a banquet would've appeared with tables and chairs and servants and even the not-yet-invented and currently world-famous fast food menu items that we all eat today.  It could have been instant, and complete, and no work would've been required.  I would ask you to ponder a point, though, that ties to that: "what if the road to the goal were the easiest road, and I never learned what I know?"* 

And this test, as we know from the passage, was not passed by Philip.  He remarked, in fact, that there isn't enough money to buy them food (6:7), leaning only on the worldly understanding that he has.  One side of this, though, is that everything here is backdrop for the glorification of the Father, so the statement that there isn't enough money to buy food for the crowd is an important one.  People who heard Philip say that, and others who heard about later (including you and I) have all been baffled at the sheer amount of money that would be necessary to feed the group, from an earthly perspective.  It makes it all much more powerful!

Next we'll get to the best part of this Sign, but for today I would ask that you ponder on how you think of things.  Approach things like a Christian, knowing that God is more than able to handle any and all situations, and recognize that you (and I) don't always need to understand what will happen... we just know that whatever happens is for our refining and testing, all to the glory of God the Father.

God bless you all!!!

*Lyric from "For the Heartbreak," by downhere©, from the album "On The Altar of Love"