The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
John 6:5
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
The Lord Jesus sometimes used questions to prove His followers, meaning He wanted them to think and believe. So, He used probing questions. In today’s verse He asked Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? Jesus already knew the answer, the next verse in John 6 verifies it: And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. (John 6:6)
Jesus proves His followers. Sometimes with questions. It’s interesting that later in this chapter we read From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66) Between John 6:5 to John 6:66 Jesus said some unbelievable, deep, thought-provoking things. Because of these things, which most failed to contemplate, pray about, study the Scriptures about, or believe, they departed from Him, and walked no more with Him. They went back; to where we do not know, but back is never a good thing. Not when Jesus is going forward.
When questions come to you about spiritual, or physical matters, consider this, the Lord may have put those questions to you via the Holy Spirit to prove you. Will you learn and continue on as a “Philip” or will you be one of the many who depart from Him, walking no more with Him. That problem, that issue, that misunderstanding, that hurt, or that situation may be nothing more than the Lord putting you to the test. When faced with this knowledge remember this:
The Lord already knows what He will do. You may not know, but He does! Just trust Him.
Until next time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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