“When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.” (John 6:5-6)

As new creatures in Christ, we should look forward to being tested by our Creator. God often asks us questions that cause us to try answering them only to show us who we are and who He is.

He knows that, like Philip, we will go to great lengths to answer these questions by going to sources other than Him, and other than ourselves, as well. He knows that we will try using our logic to answer the question that needs no logic. He knows that we will begin to make comparisons that seem accurate to our way of thinking. God want us to expect the supernatural, since we have now been Born-Again.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13)

God also tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His way (Isaiah 55:8). He continues in verse 9:

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

But the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:15-16, that we have “the mind of Christ.” And having this mind, we should have Faith to know that God can do the impossible. It may be impossible with man, but all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26).

Back to our text verses – almost immediately, Philip began to weigh the amount of money they had against the amount of the multitude of the crowd.

During the first stage of this journey (prison), I did not think it was possible for God to forgive me for what I had done. And I pray now that the Lord continues to help my unbelief, because I have not been told verbally by the victim’s family that they have forgiven me.

This is a question I deal with often. The answer is to bring back to memory that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man to remove unforgiveness. When the compassion is manifested in our life and realized by the eyes of others; then it begins to be passed on by some, because they will be seeing the “God-in-you” above the “old-natural-you.” Thank God!

Our text verse says, “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do” (verse 6). That is, Christ said this to prove Philip, for Christ knew what Philip would do, the reaction Philip would have to His question; just as He knows what we will do, the reactions we will have to His questions.  And He also knew what He Himself would do and will do!

And Paul encourages us, as he encourages the Philippians, by actually telling them that God will remain faithful to His Promise, no matter how we appear to fall short:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)

Jesus said Himself that He knows what is in the heart of man. He may not have said it verbally; but He said it by way of not committing Himself to those who needed proof in the form of a miracle, instead of having faith that He was who He claimed to be. (Read John 2:23-25.)

And Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:11:

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

Simply put, by the Authority of the Word of God, Jesus said in John 10:14:

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

He goes on to say in John 10:27:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Yes, He knows me better than I know me! That is a perfect reason to allow Him to rule our lives!