John 6:1–15 - 1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
What does today’s passage say?
In today’s passage, Jesus and His disciples are followed by a large crowd looking for signs and healings. Around dinner time, Jesus asks his disciples what they plan to feed these thousands of people (vv. 1-6). His disciples see an impossible situation where they have neither the food nor the money to purchase the food to feed all the people. But they obey Jesus each step of the way and He miraculously takes the few fish and loaves they have and multiplies it until everyone is fed (vv. 7-13). As the disciples gather the leftovers, there is an abundance. The people are overwhelmed by His power and want to make Jesus their earthly king, so He slips away to be alone (vv. 13-15).
How can I apply John 6:1-15 to my life?
Life hits us with impossible situations - moments when we just do not know what to do next. Jesus faced such a scene by the Sea of Galilee. Thousands of people had tracked Him down, hoping for more miracles and healing. The crowd grew restless as dinner time approached near Passover. Yet in this chaotic moment, Jesus saw a teaching opportunity for His disciples. He gave them what seemed like an absurd task: "You feed all these people." They had nothing but a few loaves and fish. Jesus already knew the miracle He would perform, but this moment was about more than just feeding hungry people. Through this impossible situation, He taught His disciples to turn to Him first. The same holds true in our lives today. Every situation - the good, the bad, the overwhelming, the enjoyable - becomes a classroom where Jesus teaches us to be more like Him. Sometimes we face seasons of plenty, other times seasons of desperate need. Jesus wants to be our first call, not our last resort. He does not promise to magically solve all our problems. Instead, He invites us to bring our impossible situations to Him. When we do, He shows us solutions that point others to Him and bring glory to the Father. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Let Every Moment with Jesus Be a Teachable One (vv. 1-6): The disciples found themselves stuck. A massive crowd needed dinner, and Jesus posed an unexpected question about feeding them. What seemed like an impossible puzzle to the disciples was actually a divine teaching moment - one they did not even notice at first. Their eyes saw a crisis; Jesus saw a chance to show His power and draw people to Himself. Life often hits us with similar situations. We stare at what looks like a brick wall while Jesus sees an open door for growth or ministry. Following Jesus was never meant to be simple - He told us straight up that choosing Him would make life harder. Yet alongside that truth, He promised something amazing: a full, rich life marked by His presence. If we really grab hold of His sovereignty, then nothing will catch us off guard. Not a single tough spot exists where He is not fully in command. Those impossible moments? They are actually opportunities packaged in problems. Through each one, God shapes us more into the image of His Son. Sometimes we create our own messes through bad choices. Other times God allows hardship to enter our path. But in every case, He uses these moments to teach us trust, build our faith, and make us more like Jesus. The key is staying open - open to His wisdom when everything looks hopeless, open to His direction when our plans crumble, and open to His Spirit's work in our hearts through it all (James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Food for Thought: Think about your last big challenge - did you jump straight into fix-it mode, or did you stop to ask what lesson God might have tucked inside that situation? When life throws you a curveball, what is your first move: grabbing the problem-solving toolbox or dropping to your knees to listen for the Holy Spirit's voice?
2. Trust Jesus to Use Even You Meager Circumstances in Extraordinary Ways (vv. 7-13): When Jesus asked the disciples about feeding thousands of people, they stared at their tiny lunch of bread and fish in disbelief. The task seemed absolutely impossible. We face similar moments - those times when doing what God wants looks completely out of reach. Maybe the Holy Spirit nudges you to increase your missions giving, but your bank account is already stretched paper-thin. Or that gay friend who has totally shut down any talk about God suddenly needs someone to talk to about life's big questions. Sometimes it hits at work - that new job seemed perfect until your boss started pushing you to fudge numbers and lie to clients. Life throws these curve balls at us. Yet God makes an incredible promise - He will not let us face situations we cannot handle in ways that honor Him. Just like those disciples watching Jesus multiply their measly lunch into a feast for thousands, God wants us to lean completely on Him. The real breakthrough comes when we grasp this truth: we will never fulfill God's supernatural calling on our own strength. Sometimes finding yourself in a spot where only God can pull you through is exactly where He wants you - as long as you are following His will. His promise rings true: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." God always supplies everything we need to accomplish what He calls us to do (Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Matthew 19:26, 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Food for Thought: What "impossible" situation are you facing right now that you need to surrender to God's supernatural provision? When was the last time you stepped out in faith to do something for God that you knew you could not accomplish without His help?
3. Seek Jesus for Who He Is Rather Than What He Can Do for You (vv. 14-15): Watching Jesus feed thousands with just a handful of food left the crowd stunned. Their gut reaction? "Let's crown Him king!" It's a response that hits close to home. We've all felt our faith surge when we see God's power on display - that healing that defied medical odds, or the unexpected financial provision that saved the day. These moments matter, but they should not be what drives us to Jesus. Let's be honest - we often treat Jesus like a supernatural problem-solver. Life gets messy, and suddenly we're on our knees. Yet He is so much more than our emergency backup plan. He's the One who spoke galaxies into existence, who rules over every atom in the universe, who chose to die so we could live. Here's a hard truth: our broken hearts, damaged by sin, naturally drift toward treating Jesus like a cosmic assistant instead of the Lord He is. We have to face the question head-on - is Jesus just another part of our life, someone important to us, or is He truly Lord of everything? Sure, He's given us the freedom to make our own choices, but that freedom often reveals how quick we are to push Him to the sidelines until we need Him again. Jesus deserves our complete devotion, not because He can fix our problems, but because He is God. His love never fails, and His wisdom stands ready for those who put Him first - not first among many things, but first period (Matthew 6:33, Colossians 1:18, John 6:26-27, Psalm 27:4).
Food for Thought: If Jesus never answered another prayer request, would your devotion to Him change? Why or why not? In what areas of your life have you made Jesus prominent (important) rather than preeminent (supreme)?
Life truly is a series of challenges that often may seem to be beyond our abilities or control. Sometimes these challenges may seem small or insignificant. But God is faithful, and He will see us through every one of them. He will use every one of them to teach us how to live our lives in ways that honor Him and point others to Him often requiring us to depend on Him completely for a positive outcome. We need to recognize this and see every challenge for what it is: an opportunity to learn who and what God wants us to be. He will give us everything we need to do everything He wants us to accomplish. Often, it will not seem like it is enough especially when the task He calls us to is serving Him in some way, but His purpose is always the same: He wants to sanctify us, conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would help me to be a lifelong student of Your ways. Help me to surrender every situation and every circumstance to You knowing that You are using them to teach me to be the person You want me to be in my attitudes, my thoughts, my words. and my actions. Give me the courage to put selfish emotions like pride, frustration, anger, and jealousy aside so that I can see what You are teaching me, and I can respond by the power of Your Spirit. I pray that You would help me to trust that You will give me everything I need to do everything You have called me to do especially as I depend on You. Give me the wisdom to faithfully steward all that You give me so that I can use it for Your glory in the ways in which You want. I pray that You would help me to always make You preeminent in my life rather than just a part of my life. Help me to seek after You in all things and to remember that You are always with me. Teach me to fully surrender every aspect of my life and not compartmentalize it into parts where I need You, parts where I want You, and parts where I think I can handle it or that I actually want to hide from You.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
John 6:6 – “This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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