People Are The Purpose

In John. 6, we read, "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?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"'

Now, to set the context, we learn from Mark and Luke that the disciples had just been sent out by Jesus and they had performed miracles and cast out demons. We also learn that Herod had beheaded John and on that day sent would that he wanted to see Jesus (wonder if that meeting would be as productive???). Lastly, we learn that the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. And, initially, can you blame them? They went there to rest. Jesus was a marked man and wanted rest too. But, Mark gives us the insight and the key to understanding this dialogue (I think). Mark says, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."

Now, back to John (and the other accounts). I think, to be quite honest, the disciples knew exactly what Jesus could do. Heck, they just got done performing miracles themselves. But, Jesus wanted to "test" Philip. I used to look at this passage as a test into the belief that Jesus COULD feed them people. I don't think that was the main issue -- though it may have been an issue. I think he wanted to reveal to the disciples what the disciples had going on inside them. The disciples wanted rest. They wanted the people to go home. The didn't realize that people are the purpose. They lacked the key ingredient that Jesus had -- compassion.

They were not concerned at all about the people and the fact that the people were " like sheep without a shepherd." At least it is not mentioned. Now, I understand the balance that one must strike between our personal needs and the needs of others. But, to be honest, most of us do just fine looking out for ourselves. And, I bet you if Jesus said upon the disciples arrival, "hey, I'm gonna give you power over demons again go cast some out for the next hour" they would have jumped on it. But, this was less glamorous. People are there. No demos to be cast out. And, yet the most amazing gift to be given -- Jesus and his love.

Think about it. Are you motivated by compassion? Do you have margin in your life so that you can be "interrupted" be people? Remember, people are the purpose.