Scripture to Read: John 6:7–9
We know Jesus was testing Philip and the rest of His disciples when He asked Philip where they could buy enough bread to feed the huge crowd that was following. Philip did not hesitate to answer Jesus, for he told Jesus in John 6:7, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” To understand the weight of Philip’s response, we must understand that two hundred denarii in Jesus’ day was about eight months of wages. To give us perspective, according to the average national income across our country today, eight months’ wages would be around $40,000. Imagine how overwhelmed Philip and the rest of the disciples must have felt at that very moment. They knew there was no way possible to feed such a large crowd. Through his response to Jesus, Andrew made it perfectly clear how all the rest of the disciples felt. Andrew said to Jesus in John 6:9, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Andrew felt like he needed to point out that even if they tried to gather all of the food others may have brought with them, there was no way they could ever come up with enough food to feed everyone who was there. We also can sometimes feel overwhelmed as we walk through tests and trials. We must be ever mindful, though, that our Lord is teaching us to trust Him, even when it makes no sense to us at all.
Challenge & Application
• What went through your mind when you realized how much money it would take to feed the crowd?
• What test or trial have you faced that would compare to the test Jesus gave the disciples?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!