When Jesus Tests Us

Scripture: Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. John 6:5-6

Observation: Jesus initiates the question about how to feed 5,000 people as a stated test to Philip. Of course, Philip will go on to provide a logical, human, earthly response ... that they couldn't possibly have enough money to buy enough bread. From there, Jesus will use a handful of food provided by a young boy to perform his most famous miracle.

However, the juxtaposing of Jesus' actions and intentions in this preparatory passage is interesting. Jesus asks a question, yet already knows the answer. Jesus knows what he himself is going to do, yet he asks Philip to first evaluate the situation and provide input. In writing this gospel account, John says he did this as a test of Philip.

Application: Jesus tests his believers, allowing us to think through challenges, even though he already knows what he will do.

The question is, what do these tests look like in my life? I believe they look like ... earthly problems. They look like questions about what to do about home finances, or job status and movement, or weekend chores. The questions look like challenges set before us in our daily lives - challenges that do not obvious solutions. The challenges might be trivial, but some will be so large that solving them will seem impossible.

This is the test of Jesus: How do I respond when tested by these challenges? The correct response is to turn to Jesus and trust in what he already has planned. Personally, my likely response is to try to figure out how to solve the issue using my earthly thinking and strength. Sometimes I am more like Philip, just shrugging because it's impossible and doing nothing.

I need to be a little more like Andrew, who brings what he has and just hands it to Jesus. I do have skills, intelligence, knowledge, and ability. I don't have enough to solve every problem, but I were to give Jesus what I have clearly he can use it to overcome the test.

Prayer: Lord, this very day I will put this into practice. I have challenges ahead of me today and in the next couple weeks. I have been trying to figure out how to solve them. Instead, I lay my resources at your feet for you to solve these challenges. You already have a plan. You know what you are going to do. So I place myself into your hands, and look forward to your instructions. Amen.