?We? not ?You? ~ Bob Coy

"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" John 6:5 (NKJV)

Pretend you're Philip for just a moment. The hillsides are overrun with men, women, and children. It's late in the day and you're a good distance from anything that resembles a town or village. The crowd was so compelled to follow Jesus that plans for provision were passed over. But you and every other disciple knows that the basic need to eat will soon set in and change everyone's mood considerably.

Jesus knew it too, and He raised the issue by asking, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Now the Bible is very deliberate in telling us that Jesus already knew how He was going to handle the situation, but He asked this question in order to test Philip and the other disciples.

Philip responded as any of us would have. "We can't do that! We don't have enough to feed everyone!" He was half right. Yes, it was an impossible situation for Philip and the rest of the disciples. But notice that Jesus used the word "we," not "you." He included Himself in the equation, and as we know, He is the God of the impossible!

But getting back to the question...Jesus threw it out there so Philip and the others would acknowledge they didn't have the resource or means to feed everyone. It was a way of bringing them face to face with their inability, which then set the stage for Him to demonstrate His capability.

The take-away truth from this incredible event is that we can accomplish the impossible when Christ is involved in what we're doing.

Discuss and share with your group a recent time when you realized your inability and God’s capability. What hope did this give you? How did you see God’s power in this situation?

Dig into John 6:1–14. Why did Jesus test the disciples the way in which He did? How was the lad’s willingness to share a true act of simple faith? What other places in Scripture remind you of God’s ability to meet your need?

Decide to pray for the homeless in your community. Intercede, asking God to care and provide for them as only He can. As a group, be ready and willing to respond as God provides opportunity to minister to these who are in need.