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.