John 6:7

The Lord raises the question with Philip as to where to buy bread for the need of the crowd. It is a question that tests not only Philip, but everyone. Where is there enough grace to meet the crying need of all mankind? But Philip fails the test: his faith did not simply depend on the greatness of his Lord, as it should have. He does not even consider "where" to buy, but only sees how little money they have (v. 7).

Philip's reply proves that he thought such a thing impossible. "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, that every one may take a little," he said. He had no thought of the power of his Master.

As a test of faith, He asked Philip where they could find bread to feed so many. Philip replied that two hundred denarii — about eight months' wages for a labourer — would only be enough to give each one a little.

The question brought out Philip's sense that feeding them was impossible. "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little" (7) — much less enough for a satisfying meal for everyone. And where in that deserted place could they buy so much bread? It is also unlikely that the apostles had that much money to spend. They often depended on others to supply their bodily needs (Luke 8:1-3).

Does it not teach us for the hundredth time how little human accuracy and careful thought can do here? Such matters must be discerned spiritually. For we have evidence that Philip was exact and observant as a man, and perhaps we might add, as a believer. He was the one who so clearly described the marks of the Messiah to Nathanael. He was the one who was sure that two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for the hungry crowd. He was the one who urged Nathanael to come and see for himself the wonderful Person he had met.

The Gospel writer is careful of His glory. He tells us at once that the question came from no uncertainty in Jesus' own mind. He asked it to test Philip: He knew what He was going to do... Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saw the Messiah even before his brother did. Yet he could think of a little boy with five barley loaves and two fishes, not of Jesus. And where was Peter? Where was John, the disciple whom He loved? Nowhere in faith.

Philip can only think of the power of money to meet the case; though he has to admit that his plan would only provide the crowd with "a little". How different the Lord, who, when He acts, gives "as much as they would".

Philip's way would have been to provide enough bread for the meal, so that each might take "a little". The Lord's way was to provide far more than enough, so that everyone might have "as much as they wanted". We must not think the extra came from the Lord over-estimating the need. He increased the small supply by His almighty power, and He knew exactly how hungry the crowd was, because He knows all things.

God allows difficulties to arise among His people that no human power can overcome. They come in order to test us... But we are told, "He himself knew what He would do." Those words assure us of this: no difficulty will ever arise in our own path, or among the people of God, that He cannot solve.