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The key word in this chapter is “bread.” It appears 19 times in the text. The episode begins in a remote place where people gathered to hear Jesus. After He had spoken the people felt hungry.  What called my attention, in this passage, is the way that Jesus tests His disciples before multiplying the bread:

He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
But this He said to test him… John 6:5,6

God always knows exactly what He is going to do. He already knows all the days of our life. His plans for us are always good, but many times He “let’s it ride” to see what we do, how we react. Thats when many people lose faith, become desperate, and try to work things out by themselves.

Philip quickly brought out the calculator and started to calculate. Five thousand men, plus women and children… Not even 10 thousand dollars would be enough for that multitude to eat.
Andrew on the other hand was more proactive. He found a boy who had five pieces of bread and two fish, but quickly pointed out how that wouldn’t be enough for the multitude.

Philip represents those who calculate things; they want proof of everything in order to believe. It was this same Philip who after walking three years with Jesus, asked Him: “show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”  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’?” (John 14:8,9)

These people take longer to believe because they are so attached to what they can see, understand and touch. They hear about God their whole lives, but they have never known Him personally.

Andrew represents those who believe in a limited way. They see the size of a problem more than the power of God.

Sometimes we are like Philip, and sometimes Andrew.

Sometimes, we are like the hungry multitude who only came to Jesus when they were hungry. Sometimes we are like the Jews, who ate Jesus’ bread but still abandoned Him when He asked them to make a bigger commitment, to make Him their daily bread in life.

Open your eyes. Look beyond the physical. Trust in God while in the midst of need. In the moments of trial react in the right way.

Whoever eats from this bread will never lack anything – plus they will gain eternal life just to make the deal even sweeter.