He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

It was only natural that Jesus would ask this question of Philip who was of the neighboring town of Bethsaida. #John 1:44 But, perhaps Jesus asked Philip for other reasons. Philip was a very practical man, full of common sense and very reliant upon his senses. It seems that whenever we see Philip he is speaking of “seeing.” When he tells Nathanael of the Messiah, his answer to Nathanael’s question is “Come and see” (John 1:45-46), a good answer in itself, but wholly dependent upon the outward manifestation to the senses of the Messiah. Also, when Jesus is giving His disciples His final discourse to prepare them for His departure, Philip tells Him that if he shows them the Father it will be enough (John 14:8-9). Philip was more connected to the physical realm than the spiritual and Jesus asked him the question to encourage him to look past the physical situation to say, “we can’t provide for all these people, Jesus, but You can.” Jesus is trying to grow Philip’s faith.

Joh 1:44  Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.

Joh 1:45-46  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip

Joh 14:8-9  Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”   Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus uses and sometimes even creates situations for us by which he can teach us, train us, and grow our faith. By asking Philip where to buy food for these people, Jesus made Philip realize the enormity of the situation so he could see how truly great the miracle was when it did happen. Be looking for His hand in your life and seek what it is He is trying to reveal to you or grow in you.

Notice that nobody in the crowd asks Jesus for food. He sees their need and He takes the initiative to supply it, and He does the same thing with us today. Nobody in the crowd but the boy’s mother had thought ahead to bring their lunch. “Jesus cares for the careless.” (Maclaren) Before we even know to ask, He provides.