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John 6 – The Bread of Life

Nov22

Good day everyone, and welcome back to our journey through the book of John! 😊 Today we’re diving into chapter 6, and my prayer is that as we reflect together, God’s Word will bring encouragement, guidance, and fresh revelation for our daily walk.

This chapter opens with one of Jesus’ most well-known miracles — the feeding of the 5,000.

“Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?’ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, ‘Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!’” — John 6:5–7 (NLT)

Jesus went up a hillside with His disciples, and the crowds followed Him to hear Him teach. Seeing their hunger and exhaustion, He turned to Philip and asked where they could buy bread to feed the people. Verse 6 tells us Jesus already knew what He planned to do — the question was meant to test Philip.

This caught my attention. Why test Philip? What was Jesus expecting from him? Was there a deeper lesson in this moment?

As I read different translations, I especially loved how the TPT expressed it:

“Now Jesus already knew what he was about to do, but he said this to stretch Philip’s faith.” — John 6:6 (TPT)

Jesus wasn’t asking for information; He was creating an opportunity for growth. God doesn’t want us to remain where we are spiritually. He invites us into maturity, deeper trust, and deeper revelation of who He is. And often, He stretches our faith through situations that feel overwhelming or impossible—not to shame us, but to draw us into greater dependence on Him.

Philip’s response was logical, and honestly, I think many of us would have reacted the same way. Yes, he had seen Jesus perform miracles — turning water into wine, healing the man at Bethesda — but multiplication? Feeding thousands with almost nothing? That was new territory. Philip didn’t yet realise he was standing in front of the Bread of Life Himself. This was an opportunity for him to see Jesus in a completely new way.

Jesus didn’t rebuke Philip for his limited perspective. Instead, He revealed what was possible with God. I’m sure this moment changed Philip’s understanding forever.

The Life Application Study Bible puts it beautifully:

“Philip started assessing the probable cost. Jesus wanted to teach him that financial resources are not the most important ones. We can limit what God does in us by assuming we know what he can and cannot do. Is there an impossible task God is calling you to? Don’t let your estimate of what can’t be done keep you from taking on the task. God can do the miraculous; trust him to provide the resources when he gives you a mission.”

So let me ask you: are you facing a challenging situation right now?
Could it be that God is stretching your faith, inviting you to trust Him in a deeper way? Don’t give up. Hold on to faith and you will see Him come through for you.

“Jesus then took the barley loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to the disciples to distribute to the people. Miraculously, the food multiplied, with everyone eating as much as they wanted… The disciples filled twelve baskets of fragments… All the people were astounded.” — John 6:11–14 (TPT)

Jesus took what little they had — five loaves and two fish — gave thanks, and multiplied it until everyone ate and was satisfied, with leftovers overflowing.

This reminds me that God will always use what we offer Him. Nothing is too small, too insignificant, or too ordinary for Him to transform. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus took the jars that were available. To servants at the wedding, they were ordinary jars but to Jesus they were tools in their hands that he could use to perform a miracle. Here, He used a little boy’s lunch. What seems small and ordinary in your hands can become extraordinary in His.

So I ask: What do you have in your hands?
What gift, resource, skill, or opportunity have you dismissed as “too little”? Could it be the very thing Jesus wants to use to work a miracle in your life? Today, ask Him to open your eyes to see the value of what you already carry that He can use.

But beyond the miracle itself, Jesus wanted the people to believe in Him — not simply chase after the signs.

“You came looking for me because I fed you by a miracle, not because you believe in me… Don’t strive for food that is perishable, but seek the food of eternal life.” — John 6:26–27 (TPT)

Miracles are wonderful, but they are not the goal. Jesus is the goal. Relationship with Him is what sustains us. That’s why He later said:

“I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty.” — John 6:35 (TPT)

My prayer today is that we will not limit God by what we can see or understand, but that we will trust Him as our source. May we not get carried away by the miracles and miss the Miracle Worker Himself. May our hearts seek to know Him more deeply—in spirit and in truth. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today in our study of John 6. I’d love to hear from you—what stood out to you most in this chapter? Share your reflections in the comments below so we can continue growing together.

John 5 – Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.

Nov18

Good day everyone, and welcome back to our journey through the book of John! 😊 Today we’re diving into chapter 5, and my prayer is that as we reflect together, God’s Word will bring encouragement, guidance, and fresh revelation for our daily walk.

“Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool called in Aramaic, The House of Loving Kindness, surrounded by five covered porches. Hundreds of sick people were lying under the covered porches—the paralyzed, the blind, and the crippled—all of them waiting for their healing. For an angel of God periodically descended into the pool to stir the waters, and the first one who stepped into the pool after the waters swirled would instantly be healed. Among the many sick people lying there was a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, he knew that the man had been crippled for a long time. Jesus said to him, ‘Do you truly long to be well?’ The sick man answered, ‘Sir, there’s no way I can get healed, for I have no one to lower me into the water when the angel comes. As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the pool, someone else jumps in ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!’ Immediately he stood up—he was healed! So he rolled up his mat and walked again! Now Jesus worked this miracle on the Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw the man walking along carrying his sleeping mat, they objected and said, ‘What are you doing carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the Sabbath!’ He answered them, ‘The man who healed me told me to pick it up and walk.’” — John 5:2–11 (TPT)

This chapter opens with Jesus returning to Jerusalem. Along the way, He passed by the pool of Bethesda, where many sick, disabled, and hurting people were gathered—yet Jesus singled out one man among them all.

This man had been sick for 38 years. Although he was close to the pool, he never managed to receive the healing he hoped for because he had no one to help him get into the water at the right time. Perhaps, like every other day, he sat there hoping that maybe today someone would have compassion and assist him. Little did he know that on this day, he would encounter the One who is the living water and the Great Physician Himself.

I’ve often wondered why Jesus chose him out of the many. Scripture doesn’t tell us explicitly, but perhaps Jesus saw his desire, his helplessness, or simply decided to show him mercy. Whatever the reason, this reminds us that no matter how long a situation has persisted in your life, whether sickness, challenge or any burden, one encounter with Jesus can change everything. Just as Jesus singled out this man, he can single you out and transform your life.

Jesus approached the man and asked a very direct question: “Do you truly long to be well?” Instead of simply saying yes, the man explained why he couldn’t be healed. His response made sense, he answered based on the only method of healing he knew. He couldn’t imagine another way.

How often are we like this man? Jesus offers us new life, mercy, and freedom, yet we look at our circumstances through a purely logical lens. We say, “I’m not qualified… I haven’t done enough… I don’t have the help I need.” We limit God to the methods we’ve seen before, forgetting that He is sovereign and can work however He chooses. Our role is simply to trust Him.

Jesus didn’t address the man’s excuses. He simply said, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk!” And immediately, the man obeyed and was healed. No hesitation. No doubt. After 38 years of weakness, he stood on legs he had never used and walked in complete restoration.

Maybe you, too, have been crippled emotionally, spiritually, or physically for far too long. Maybe hope has faded. But Jesus is still speaking today: “Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.” Rise from that situation. Trust Him. Let Him carry the pain, the hurt, the burden, He has already borne it for you.

Today, do not harden your heart. Open it to Jesus. Let Him in. He will guide you, instruct you, restore you, and make you whole.

But notice what happened next. As soon as the man received his miracle, opposition came. The Pharisees weren’t celebrating his healing—they were criticizing him for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. Imagine that! After 38 years of suffering, they chose tradition over compassion.

This teaches us something important: there will always be naysayers who question, doubt, or try to diminish your testimony. But like the healed man, it is essential to keep your focus on Jesus and what He has spoken. He said, “The man who healed me told me to pick it up.” He chose obedience to Jesus over the expectations of others and tradition

What situations or voices do you need to choose Jesus over today?

Remember: Jesus is willing and ready to make you whole—you only need to believe and trust Him.

Thank you for joining me today in our study of John 5. I’d love to hear from you—what stood out to you most in this chapter? Share your reflections in the comments below so we can keep growing together.

Here are some reflection questions

Reflection Questions

  1. What area of your life needs Jesus’ healing touch today?
  2. How might you be limiting God by relying only on what seems logical or familiar?
  3. What “mat” is Jesus asking you to pick up — what step of obedience is He calling you to take?
  4. How can you keep your focus on Jesus even when others doubt or question your testimony?