Sufficient with Jesus | John 6:5-13

“Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” John 6:5

Jesus asked this question of Philip regarding the great multitude that stood before them. Jesus knew what He would do, scripture tells us that He said this to test them.

Phillip answered,“Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient that every one of them may have a little.” John 6:7

“One denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer or field hand (Matthew 20:2). Two hundred denarii would have been almost two-thirds of a year’s wages.” NNKJ

The crowd was so large that two thirds of a year’s wage would not be sufficient for everyone to have just a little bit. Andrew, points to one young man with 5 barley loaves and two small fish.

(NKJV) “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

(CEV) “There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?”

What difference could one person make that had so little?

Answer, a really big difference with the help of Jesus.

Jesus had everyone sit down and the number totaled about 5000.

“Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So, when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost. Therefore, they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:11-13

Not only was there enough to fill everyone, but there was also plenty left over.

One boy, 5 loaves, 2 small fish…

Do you ever feel as though you are alone with 5 loaves and 2 small fish? Meaning, do you sometimes find yourself overwhelmed with a situation, and what you have simply does not seem like enough? Alone, I cannot, what I possess, is not enough, if left up to me the multitude will go hungry, but I am not alone. With Jesus on our side, He can take the most hopeless of situations and bring resolution.  Whatever you have or do not have in the darkest of days will always be sufficient with Jesus.