Very often I hear people say God is testing them to see how strong their faith is. I personally do not believe this because in saying so, one is saying God does not know one's heart. Scripture clearly tells us God knows our hearts. If Jesus knew the hearts of men, he certainly knew the heart and faith of Philip. Jesus did not have to see how strong his faith was.
The word used here in the original Greek was used four times in scripture. Once it was used to describe Satan as the Tempter. The second was used to describe a lawyer coming to test Jesus. The third is here in this verse, where Jesus tests Philip. And the fourth, where St. Paul speaks of the Tempter testing us.
Looking at the context of how the word was used, we can get a sense of what this word means. In the case of the Tempter, he wanted Jesus to change the stones to bread. The Tempter wanted Jesus to act in a way that would lead him to fall. In the case of the lawyer, he was also leading Jesus to say what he wanted to hear.
In this case then, Jesus was testing Philip to lead Philip to do what he wanted Philip to do. So, this testing is not to see how strong Philip's faith was. He was teaching Philip a lesson in trusting God. The next verse proves this by saying Jesus “himself knew what he would do.”
What Philip saw was a lot of people. What Jesus saw was the lack of food. Jesus did not tell the people to leave. Instead, he multiplied the food.
Lord, may I see your hand when you 'test' me. May I respond in trust. Lead me to a deeper understanding of who you really are. |
Give Everything to Jesus
The sign happened, not only because of Jesus. It happened because someone cooperated with him. God performs signs with the cooperation of people. The sign started with the boy giving Jesus the five loaves and two fish. From there, Jesus passed the food to his disciples.
The multitude wanted to see the signs but not believe. The important thing is to believe in Jesus - if not for his words, then for his works. Jesus is able to take what we have and multiply it. What matters is not the quantity we give but what we give and how we give. We give all in trust.
Lord, may I give you my all, in trust. Take Lord and receive. Use them all for your glory. |
Jesus Is
The crowd wanted to make Jesus king, but Jesus withdrew to the mountain by himself. The people wanted to mold Jesus into their image, but Jesus knew what the Father wanted. The only thing Jesus wanted was to do the Father's will. No one can dictate to God. Jesus is God so he does things his way.
The disciples left without Jesus and went to the other side of the lake by boat. They were going against strong wind. Jesus came to them walking on the water and they did not recognize him. They were afraid. They took him in only after he called to them and identified himself and they immediately reached their destination.
When he called to the disciples, he said, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The words translated as “It is I” literally is “I AM”. God revealed himself to Moses as the I AM. With this, Jesus was revealing himself as God.
When Jesus comes, we will not recognize him and will even be afraid. We will recognize Jesus only when he calls to us. In our difficulties and storms in life, Jesus will reveal himself as the I AM.
In my life Lord, there will be storms. I will struggle against these on my own and still not be able to conquer them. When you come, I will be scared because I will not see this as your hand. Yet, if I trust and accept you, let you into my situation, you will lead me to where I need to go. My courage comes from faith that Jesus is God. When I believe Jesus is God, then everything falls into place. Let me hear you tell me you are God! |
Bread from Heaven
People looked for Jesus because they wanted something from him. They did not come to him because they believed. Jesus knew this. He told them not to work for what can perish. According to him, “this is doing God’s work: to believe in the one whom he sent.”
Many people mistakenly think good works will save them. The Pharisees were ritually pure. They were blameless. Yet, according to Jesus, this was not enough. They were not doing God's work. According to Jesus, doing God's work is believing in the one whom he sent - Jesus himself.
Jesus leads to eternal life because he gives food that lasts. Jesus is the bread out of heaven. Come to Jesus and not be hungry. Believe and not be thirsty.
The people asked Jesus for a sign - one similar to what Moses did - where he gave them manna in the desert. Jesus said, “Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.” Notice the tenses in the words.
Jesus said, “it wasn't Moses who gave you bread.” This happened in the past. Then he said, “My Father gives you the true bread out of heaven” - in the present tense. The food their ancestors ate in the desert stopped when they entered the Promised Land. But God continues to bless us every day by giving us the bread from heaven. God's blessings never end because his love never ends.
The people then asked him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” The tone from the people changed. At first, they called Jesus “Rabbi”. Now, they called him “Lord”. From there, Jesus started to give them the bread from heaven.
He revealed himself. “He who comes to me will never be hungry, he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
We shall be satisfied only if we come to Jesus, approach him in humility and trust.
Jesus my God, I will trust in you. I need to trust in you because you are my only hope. I can trust no one else but you. Only by trusting in you can I have the life of the Father. Living in obedience is the key to living your life. |
Jesus will not lose those the Father gives. Jesus will not throw away those who come to him. In the midst of trouble and hardship, Jesus is ALWAYS there!
Understanding Jesus is a gift from the Father. The Father draws people. Without this, we will not know Jesus. However, we also need to respond through repentance. I must listen to Jesus. When I listen to Jesus, the Father will raise me up.
From here, Jesus revealed himself as the Bread of Life. He started giving the Living Bread. When Jesus reveals himself, he gives himself.
Eat the Flesh
The Father gives us Jesus. He gives us his flesh. Eating the flesh of Jesus appears five times in this chapter. This is a critical point John wanted to make. We need to eat the flesh of Jesus. Manna gave life, but it did not give eternal life. Now, the Son of God comes down from heaven and he gives eternal life. What does it mean to eat the flesh of Jesus?
“He who comes to me will not be hungry” - because he will eat the flesh of the Son of God. To eat the flesh of Jesus is to come to him. To come to him is to hear the voice of the Father and learn from him.
“He who believes in me will never be thirsty” - because he will drink the blood of the Son of God. To drink his blood is to believe in him.
When we come to receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist, we are not coming to receive bread and wine. As Catholics, we believe this is literally Jesus himself - his Body and Blood, soul and divinity! We come so Jesus can feed us. We come because we heard the Father's word and had learned from him. We come because we believe in Jesus!
Lord, help me to hear the Father's word so I can learn from it. Help me to believe in you. Let me not receive you in vain or disrespect. Instead, let me know the greatmess of the gift you give me: the Body and Blood of THE Son of God! |
God gives the grace, people respond. Many of his disciples left because they did not understand. They did not respond to God's revelation. One interesting thought is Jesus did not call them back nor did he change his teachings. Which means one thing: what he taught was and still is true. There is no compromise to the teachings of Jesus.
It is quite sad to see communities compromise the truth in the interest of attracting more people. Sadly, these communities die rather than thrive.
For the Twelve, they stayed even if they did not understand. What they knew was Jesus spoke the words of eternal life. Faith is not a matter of understanding. It is a matter of believing the person because we know he speaks the truth.
This does not mean we should not use our minds. Our human capability can only take us so far in understanding Jesus. There has to be a decision to believe and trust in Jesus - even if one does not understand what he says.
Lord, indeed, your teachings are hard to accept. Yet, you have the words of eternal life. To whom should I go? Even if I do not understand, even if what you tell me is hard, I will believe because this is true life. I will obey you because it unlocks your power. This is the only way to see you my God. |
