John 6 InterVarsity Small Group this week

I am starting to get ready for small group this week. So I want to spend some time in the scripture for myself. God speak to me and remind me you have something new and something real and a challenge for me in your Word!

We have been going through John in small groups and Large Groups and even Fall Conference in CU InterVarsity.

This week we will study the feeding of the 5000 in John 6

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages^[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

I am pretty certain I would have responded like Philip and seen the physical reality. Even when we plan events in InterVarsity my mind often jumps to reasons why that idea won't work or analyzing the details of an idea before giving it time to even blossom. 

Even thought I follow God and know he is the creator of the universe and not limited by anything I often live in a very limited reality. I limit what I think I can do or a group of Christians can do. 

Its amazing to me that Peter even offers and suggests this idea: saying here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. I imagine if I was there I would criticize Peter and judge his idea. Then Jesus probably would have had to rebuke me for my lack of faith. 

I find it so interesting the details John includes that we don't find in the other accounts. Am I sometimes looking for the same thing that Jesus would be king now of this world? How should I think about Jesus as king of the universe while also allowing the world to not know him for now and to pursue sin. 

God give me faith to believe you can perform miracles today through me and through Christian community. Give me understanding of how to follow you in the face of a world who ignores you. 

Amen