Tests

We're back in John 6 looking at Jesus' miracle of feeding the five thousand. Last week we took a look at the forest, the big picture. I pointed out one thought that John presents from the whole passage: Jesus does the impossible. This week we're going to look at one of the trees, one of the details of the passage. Please listen as I read our text, John 6.1-13.

In our text Jesus presented his twelve pupils with a pop quiz.

          Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?

Philip was the unlucky student singled out to answer this question while his classmates, the rest of the Twelve, were probably glad that they weren't called on. And John is quite clear about why Jesus posed this question.

          He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

Here is the specific that we are going to look at this morning: tests. Jesus tests his people. And know that because you've experienced it. You’ve all been where Philip was. The details have been different, but you’ve all faced tests from Jesus. So, I thought it would be good to spend a little time considering what this is about. My desire is that you would understand this a bit better so that you could respond a bit better.

To start off, I think that it would be good to take a step back and look at some of what other parts of the Bible have to say about this thing called 'tests'. Once I've described some of this background we'll return to what happened in John 6.

The test in our passage isn't the first of its kind in the Bible. There had been many others before Jesus ever showed up. One of the most familiar is the time when Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, his son. The text there in Genesis even uses the word 'test'. When God told Adam not to eat of the tree he was testing him. And there are other examples, some of which use the word 'test' and some that do not. It should be clear: God gives tests. That's part of what he does with us.

Now, what is it that God is testing? The point of most of the tests we're used to taking - whether it's about math or science, for a driver's license or whatever - the point of these is the mind, information. What's the square root of 81? How many miles to the sun? What do you do when a school bus stops to pick up students? What do you know? That's what we commonly think of when the word 'test' comes up. But that's not the reason God gives tests.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

As important as the mind is, the heart is more important. The mind is about information, but the heart is about attitudes and motives. There have been many who have had minds filled with all sorts of information, even the right information, whom God has rejected. And he did that because their hearts were filled with evil attitudes and selfish motives. The Pharisees are but one familiar example. It is sobering to think that there are more than a few very knowledgeable students of the Bible who are now in hell. The mind is important, but God sends tests to reveal what's going on in the heart.

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

God tests hearts.

Now, way too many folk translate that into something like this. 'God sends tests so that the sins of the heart might be revealed.' But that is not true. (And incidentally, it assumes that God is this nasty person who enjoys making people feel bad. Nothing could be further from the truth.) Actually, the tests God sends simply reveal whatever is in the heart. That's how they are designed. And that means that there are those times when what is revealed are good attitudes and loving motives.

So, consider the young King Solomon.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, 'Ask what I shall give you.' And Solomon said, '… Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?' It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

Now there's an interesting test. 'Solomon, I'll give you whatever. Just ask. What will it be?' And Solomon's heart was revealed in his answer. He could have asked God for all sorts of selfish stuff. But he didn't. He asked for the ability to rule God's people well. The tests that God sends are intended to reveal the heart. And just as there are those whose hearts are filled with desires for all sorts of evil, there are those whose hearts are filled with desires for all sorts of good. All that the tests do is reveal whatever is in there.

Let's consider something else. I have found it interesting that the word translated in our text as 'test' can also be translated as 'tempt'.

          And [Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.

That 'tempted' is the same word that's translated as 'test' in our text. That might seem confusing, but consider what happened to Job. Satan tempted him. That is clear. But after the first couple of chapters Satan is forgotten. He is no longer a part of the story. And at the end of the book we have this.

Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before. … And they comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him.

Satan tempted Job, but the Lord tested him. And each did that by bringing evil upon him, the same evil. But note this. When Satan tempts, he wants to destroy you. And that makes sense. He is your enemy. He is out to get you. But when God tests you he wants your good. And that also makes sense. He is your Father. He wants to see you flourish. I think that it's helpful to see that at the end of it all Job passed the test. And as a result, God blessed him. Read the last chapter of that book, and you'll see.

So much for a little background. Now it's time to return to our text. So, Jesus tests Philip with a little pop quiz.

Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?'

And what was Philip's answer to this one-question test?

Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.

Now, just to be clear, two hundred denarii was about eight months income for someone like Philip. And whatever that means in terms of today's dollars, I think we can all agree that it's a big number. So, I think that I am justified when I translate Philip's reply like this: 'Jesus, be reasonable! Feeding these people is impossible.'

So, what do we say about this? Do we conclude that he failed the quiz? Well, let's be honest. He didn't pass, even if we super-curved the test. But I want you to know that as far as Jesus was concerned he was not considered a failure. As far as Jesus was concerned, he didn't fail. And that really is a big deal.

Our lives these days are filled with tests from formal standardized tests for students to everyday pop quizzes that occur on the job. Have you thought about how you respond to them, especially when you don’t do well? I remember a test that I took back in third grade or so. (Yes, I really can remember that far back!!) It was a math test. And I got something like 25% on it. I was stunned. I always did well in class. A 25?!? I felt ashamed. How awful! And the little voices in my head whispered their snide comments about being a failure. And the fact that I remember it after all these years tells you how significant it was to me. Now, truth be told, that's how many of you view tests. They define you as a success or a failure. But let's revisit what happened in me way back when. Wouldn't it have been better if I had responded with something like this? 'Huh. I guess I didn't understand that nearly as well as I thought. I wonder what I missed. Obviously, I need to see the teacher so that she can help me with this.' I took the test. It exposed a weakness. What should have followed was not some accusation about how dumb I was. What should have followed was dealing with the weakness exposed; fixing the problem. Tests for so many set them up either for a sense of failure at doing so poorly or a sense of pride at doing so well. The common assumption is that the test will determine your fate. Really? So why wasn't I doomed by that 25% score? Now, to be honest, it also needs to be said that I still remember my SAT score, of course, since I did so much better than most. But is that good? Isn't that rooted in pride? Because of how we have been trained, tests either spell failure or pride for so many. How wrong. Where's the Gospel in that?

The point here is, I hope, clear. You bring all of this with you as you consider the tests that Jesus gives. Failure or pride. Is that his intention? Does he want to discourage you with a sense of failure? Does he want to set you up for the sin of pride by your success? Is it a test or does Jesus tempt just like Satan?

Jesus gives test to do you good. I realize that that is hard to believe, especially in this culture. But it's true. He is not a cruel taskmaster but a friend. So, even when you get it all wrong, remember the goal of Jesus' tests. It's about identifying and removing your weaknesses. 'Huh. I guess I didn't understand that nearly as well as I thought. I wonder what I missed. Obviously, I need to talk to Jesus so that he can help me with this.' After all, the test isn't about passing or failing. It's about becoming a Godly person, becoming like Jesus. And let's face it. We have a lot to learn about that. And believe it or not, a good response here is based on believing one of the basic doctrines of the Gospel. It's the doctrine that tells us that we are all sinners. And what that means is that we have a lot to unlearn and relearn about how to live well. One of the ways that we do this unlearning and relearning is by the tests that Jesus sends our way. They show us what areas of our lives need work.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Tests can be hard to face, especially when they show our weaknesses. But they are still for our good. Jesus is nothing like Satan.

Don't forget that there have been and will be times when you do well on one of Jesus' pop quizzes. And when you do consider the situation. It's an opportunity for gratitude. 'The last time I was in a situation like this I acted like such a sinner. Thank you, Lord, that I responded better this time. Thank you that there has been progress.'

The reason that we can meet these tests with joy, whether we do well or not, is bound up with our understanding of who we are. We are the children of God. And bear in mind what that means. We are loved by the Father. And he loves us just as much as he loves Jesus. And that's a fact because that's the Gospel. So, we can know that these tests don't change any of that. The Father doesn't love us more if we do well, and he won't love us less if we don't do well. He loves us as his children, and that won't change because of the results of some test. It just won't. Get a score of 110% because you even nailed the extra credit question or get a 25% because you couldn't even remember what 2+2 equals - it doesn't matter. The Father still loves you just like he did before the test. Nothing changes. He still loves you in the same way. That's a problem for some of you. But there is a solution so that you can enjoy more of the freedom that the Gospel is all about. It's all bound up with repentance. Repent of that fear or pride - or more than likely both fear and pride. They often go together. Repent of the unbelief that they are based on and believe the Gospel.

Last thought. Let's return to Jesus and Philip and the pop quiz. 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' So, what was the right answer? Now, you all peeked at the answer sheet, so you know the right answer. But there's a problem in what I just said. By saying, 'What was the right answer?', I implied that there is a right answer, and that's what really matters. That's very misleading. And this is where Andrew's two cents comes in.

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?

How shall we understand what Andrew said? How's this? Andrew's answer is a stumble in the right direction. Andrew knew that they didn't have 200 denarii to buy enough food. But there was this boy's lunch. Maybe Jesus could do something with that? Maybe? Somehow? '… but what are they for so many?' But you know, this stumble was, in fact, what Jesus used. Here was a lunch that should have fed maybe five. It became a lunch that fed five thousand. When it comes to the tests that Jesus sends your way, don't think, 'I have to get the right answer - because if I don't …' No. Just stumble in the right direction. Jesus can use that. And bear this in mind. As you stumble along, after a while you'll notice that you're growing. You're doing more than just stumbling. And one day you'll find that you will respond to Jesus with, 'Lord, we don't have 200 denarii to feed all these folk. So, what do you think about doing a miracle?'