Our Limitations Do Not Limit God
In our last article concerning this topic, we studied the verses preceding those of Jesus feeding the five thousand to understand the many important facts that are stated in each of the four gospels, such as Jesus’ plans of going away with the apostles, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31, which did not happen because of the “large crowd” (Mark 6:34) that was seeking out Jesus.
Another point regarding the large crowd we noted, which probably indicated the apostle’s frustration concerning the crowd was what they told Jesus. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Mark 6:35-36. Were the disciples really concerned about the well-being of the crowd? Or, were these comments really expressing their frustration and desire of wanting to get away to finally go to a “quiet place and get some rest”?
In many challenging situations that we might confront, and in spite of our frustrations and disappointments, Jesus always wants to help us first to understand how the unpleasant situation is influencing our hearts and attitudes. When we do not stop and look at the motivation of our hearts, most of the time, we will want to force the situation so we can selfishly have things our way, “Send the people away”. Many times, we will even try to justify or “sugarcoat” our selfish point of view with reasonable facts, as did the disciples. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” However, when we do stop, take the time and seek out Jesus (not to tell Him what we want) to find out what He wants to do, many times He will ask us something that will seem totally illogical. Then if we listen, trust Him and submit to what He asks us, we will experience something that we could have never imagined.
Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us how Jesus addresses the disciple’s comments. “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” Matthew 14:16. Jesus could have very easily reprimanded them for making the request to send them away, but He did not. Instead, He demonstrates His patience and love for them involving them with how he was going to deal with the situation and at the same time His concern for the needs of the crowd.
Jesus’ reply, “You give them something to eat.” was not sarcastic nor intended to be incongruous (“Not in keeping with what is correct, proper, or logical.”). John in his account of this event makes it very clear that Jesus was going to use this situation as a learning opportunity for the disciples. “5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” John 6:5-6.
The same spiritual lessons that Jesus taught His disciples are the very same ones we need to learn in our relationship with Jesus. “In this challenging situation, what do I need to learn about myself?” “I might not be able to change the situation, but what is it that Jesus wants to change in me?” “What does Jesus want to teach me about himself if I trust Him?” “I might know what Jesus wants me to do but am I willing to do it no matter how illogical it seems to me and what others might think of me?”
To some, it might seem that the question that Jesus asked Philip was illogical, ridiculous and unfair but many times when we answer Jesus’ questions such as these to ourselves, it exposes the lack of faith that we have.
The gospel of John gives us Philip’s and Andrew’s answers to Jesus’ question, which displayed their lack of faith, which was limited to what they saw, what they knew, and what they had. In challenging situations, it is easy for some Christians to acknowledge what they do not have and recognize impossibility to even try to do something about it. John 6:5-9, “5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus alone took care of the many spiritual needs of the crowd before feeding them. Mark 6:34, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Luke 9:11. “He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.” However, the need for the crowd to eat something was still present. The way Jesus took care of the crowd’s need for food was, He involved the apostles, first by asking them a seemingly impossible question to answer. Then He allowed them to answer and not ridiculing them, no matter how ridiculous their answer was.
Philip’s answer to Jesus’ question was based on an exaggerated amount of money of which he admitted was still insufficient to meet the need, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” John 6:7. Andrew’s answer to Jesus’ question was also acknowledging in a somewhat sarcastic manner, that it was impossible to feed the large crowd, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9.
According to Philip’s and Andrew’s answers, in their minds there was no viable answer to Jesus’ question “You give them something to eat.”.
When we do not include Jesus in our difficult situations, the options we have to find the solution are limited to what we see, what we know, and what we have and many times that is not enough.
There is nothing wrong to acknowledge that we do not have an answer, that we do not know what to do or what we have is insufficient to be the solution to what is needed. Understanding our insufficiencies helps to see God’s love, concern and the greatness when He does provide the solution to our need. When we trust and depend on Jesus and the promises we find in God’s Word, we will always be amazed to see how God uses us to accomplish His purposes for His glory to bless others and increase our faith in Him.
Pastor John
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20
