John included seven attesting miracles – 7 signs – that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; so that readers of his gospel would believe in Jesus and believing, would have eternal life!
Problems are opportunities, in disguise!
Is this statement true?
Not, is it true for someone else? Do you believe it to be true for you?
This seems to be just the sort of saying we quickly agree with (without thinking much about it) and then go happily along our way! Until we personally encounter a problem. Then suddenly, we no longer are joyful and happy; and we no longer see the opportunities and possibilities before us. Instantaneously we become fixated, with great seriousness and concern, on the problem. Who can be happy and joyful at such a time as this?
Well, if the statement is true, then we can. We can be joyful and happy – perhaps you would rather say: even-keeled through the storm – no matter what problems come our way.
It is one thing to state belief about this statement. It is quite another to live as if it is true.
Perhaps you have heard the Chinese language’s construction for the word: crises. It is the combination of the symbols for danger and opportunity! How well that describes the problems in our lives. And how important it is to remember: though they may pose a danger, they also may provide great opportunities!
Once you truly believe this, then there are two fundamental questions to ask when facing a problem. The answer to these two will help you deal with it successfully.
(1) What is the correct focus? The key for each of us is a matter of focus. Our tendency is to focus on the problem
A 12-year old boy named David was born without an immune system. He underwent a bone marrow transplant to correct the deficiency. Up to that point he had spent his entire life in a plastic bubble. When asked what he would like to do if ever able to leave the bubble, he said, “I want to walk barefoot on grass and touch my mother’s hand.” David was not focused on the problem, but the possibilities!
Likewise, we should focus on the opportunities that our problems may provide. Appropriate questions to ask yourself when facing a problem would include:
· How should I be growing?
· How should I be maturing?
· What should I be learning about myself/others/life/etc.?
· In what way am I becoming a better Christian/person?
· How is my faith being strengthened?
· Am I depending on God more, or on myself or something/someone else?
You see, the focus is on the opportunity for personal growth and development. We are not to be focused on the problem alone.
(2) What is the appropriate approach? If I believe there is growth and development possibilities within each problem I face, then how do I approach the problem? How do I deal with it appropriately? The answer to this question is found in the fourth attesting miracle John uses to prove Jesus is the Messiah.
This miracle is the well-known account of Jesus’ feeding five-thousand people on a hillside by the Sea of Galilee. In this passage, you first encounter the problem and then four proposed solutions. In so doing, you will discover the appropriate approach to use with all your problems.
THE PROBLEM
The problem is simple: there are a lot of people, and they are all hungry!
And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing on the sick…Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him…The men numbered about 5,000. (John 6:2,5,10b)
As it got late in the day, the people had been following Jesus for a long time. Now they were tired and hungry. Here’s a question for you: How pleasant are you when you are tired and hungry?
Jesus turns to His disciples and instructs them to feed the people: “You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16b).
This is the disciple’s dilemma. And lest we forget, or think the problem an easy one, remember the crowd numbered approximately 5000 men; plus all the women and children. Would you want to prepare that meal, or be told it was your responsibility?
Admittedly, this is not the worst problem one can face; there are others much more serious. But it was a serious one for the disciples in that moment. How did they respond?
THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Imagine yourself standing on the hillside next to Jesus. From looking into His wonderful face – those eyes full of love and compassion for you – you turn and find yourself staring into the eyes of thousands of hungry and tired people. What would you do?
Solution 1: Send the crowd away.
Perhaps visualizing the scene helps us understand, as the other three Gospel accounts record, the disciples coming to Jesus and saying: “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” (Matthew 14:15b).
The disciples’ first solution was to send the crowd away. Let them go and provide for their own needs. In other words, they wanted to get rid of the problem; like a child saying: “Just make it go away!” This is what prompted Jesus to tell the disciples: “No, you feed them! You deal with the issue.”
Perhaps sometimes we need distance between us and our problems. Rarely, though, is this the appropriate response because problems almost never go away just because you try to send them away!
Solution 2: Spend more money.
This proposed solution might lead you to think the disciples had spent time in Washington, D.C. Actually, Jesus prompted this response when He asked Philip: “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” (John 6:5b). John tells us this was a test for the disciples. Jesus already knew what He was going to do (John 6:6).
Philip “counted the cost” and decided it would take more than two-hundred denarii worth of bread (John 6:7). That was equivalent to over 200 days’ wages! And even that amount of money would not fill the crowd’s stomachs, but only provide a snack.
The only thing worse than throwing money at a problem, is throwing money at a problem and it not being enough to make a difference. You spend the money, but the problem remains and perhaps even grows worse. Obviously, this approach does not work.
Solution 3: Determine the resources.
Unlike the first two proposed solutions, this one at least begins to make some sense. To attack a problem, you must know what assets or resources you have available for the battle. The key question is: What do you do when you determine your resources, and discover they fall far short of what you need? The danger is that we will give up, allowing the problem to defeat us.
What did the disciples do? They discovered a boy with a little sack lunch. That is all they had! But they didn’t quit; they brought what little resources they could find and gave it to Jesus. Now we are getting somewhere!
Solution 4: Dedicate your resources.
That is, dedicate your efforts to God. Let Him bless those efforts. In his commentary on this passage, Warren Wiersbe writes: [Jesus] took the little, blessed it, broke it, handed it out to His disciples, and they fed the whole crowd!1
The miracle occurred once the resources were placed in Jesus’ hands. He multiplied the food, the disciples simply experienced the privilege and joy of observing His work.
THE PROBLEM SOLVED
John, in this fourth attesting miracle, has not only continued to prove Jesus is the Messiah, but he had herein given us a pattern for dealing with all the problems and issues we face – whether large or small.
The lesson is clear. Whenever there is a need, issue or problem: Give all you have to Jesus and let Him do the rest!
Not only is He the Messiah, but He is a Messiah that cares for you. Be assured, He will do the miracle. He will provide. And Jesus may give you the privilege and joy of working through your efforts and hands to help bring about the solution! Chuck Swindoll comments about this so well in his book, One Step Forward, Two Steps Back (page 35):
Every problem is an opportunity to prove God's power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems.
Every problem is an opportunity to prove God's power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems.
The problems will come Lord. You provide the answers and the joy!
1 Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 1 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989), pg. 309.
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