# 108 Bothering Jesus

 

# 108 Bothering Jesus

 

Joh 6:5 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?"

 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."

 

Flabbergasted. That’s how the disciples must’ve felt as the 10,000 plus people head up the mountain toward them, and the Master asks Phillip, “Where should we buy bread, that these may eat?”

 

But John tells us here, that Jesus asked this one question for the benefit of Phillip, to “test him.” Phillip needs to be tested, (don’t we all) especially in the area of taking initiative. “Hey Phil, where can we get bread for these people?” “Forget it Jesus, we don’t have enough money.”

 

This is not the only time we see Phillips lack of initiative on display. In John 12:20-22 we read of the time that some Greeks came to the feast to worship. Of all people, they came to Phillip to ask for an audience with Jesus. Listen how Phillip handled this: 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.”

 

A seemingly simple matter, yet Phillip lacked the initiative to set up the meeting himself. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to bother Jesus.  And I think that’s one of the lessons we have here.

 

Instead of lamenting the lack of money to buy food for the 5000 plus, why not bother Jesus with the problem? We get so bogged down sometimes in the physical improbabilities, that we forget the supernatural possibilities through faith in Jesus!

 

Jesus will have still another faith strengthening conversation with Phillip, shortly before He would go to the cross. It takes place in Joh 14:8-14, “Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

 

Did you catch that? “For the sake of the works,” like the feeding of the 5000 Phil!

No need to give up because of physical improbabilities! No need to “not bother Jesus!” Bother Him! He wants you to bother Him! It’s called prayer and supplication!  Those who bother Jesus with prayer and supplication are miracles waiting to happen!

 

Will all be miracles? That’s really not our concern. But why not bother Jesus anyway and believing, see what happens?