Doing the impossible

‘After this Jesus went across Lake Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias, as it is also called). A large crowd followed him, because they had seen his miracles of healing those who were sick. Jesus went up a hill and sat down with his disciples. The time for the Passover Festival was near. Jesus looked around and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, so he asked Philip, ‘Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?’ (He said this to test Philip; actually he already knew what he would do.) (verses 1-6)

Read John 6:1-15

‘You’ve got to be kidding!’ Philip must have thought. He’d seen Jesus perform some amazing miracles but, boy, he sure couldn’t add up. There was no place in all of Israel that could cater for this crowd, and even if there was, who was going to pay for it? Philip tried to be tactful as he explained that Jesus was asking the impossible. Meanwhile Jesus must have smiled. He was planning to do just that—the impossible.

Is God asking you to do the impossible? Be home by six so you can spend more time with your children? (But that’s impossible—I’ll lose my job!) Increase your contribution to an aid agency? (But that’s impossible—I’m strapped for cash already!) Find fifteen minutes each day to read your Bible and to pray? (But that’s impossible—do you know how busy I am?) Meanwhile Jesus just smiles. Trust in Jesus, he’ll do the rest. He’ll do the impossible.

Dear Jesus, when you ask me to take a step of faith, big or small, teach me how to follow you. Teach me to trust you to do the impossible. Amen.

by Linda Macqueen, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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