There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 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?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” John 6:1-14

This is one of the Bible stories that kids hear early in their church life. I cannot remember how you I was when I first heard it. Feeding five thousand, wow, that is a lot of people. Then you realize that John is only counting the men. How many women were there? How about children, we know at least one boy was there? The boy actually supplied the makings for this feast. And feast it was for everyone ate their fill and there twelve baskets full of leftovers. So, rather than five thousand there could have been ten or maybe even twenty thousand people that needed to be fed. And all they had was five loaves and two fish.

Now, there is no way anyone of us could accomplish that task. The disciples who had been traveling with Jesus and seen all He had done were ready to throw up their hands in despair. Not only did they not have enough food on hand but they did not have enough money to buy food, even if there were stores around to buy from. No, it was time to send the crowd home for the day. We can pick up the teaching tomorrow when we are better prepared. Maybe we send them home with a not to bring their lunch tomorrow.

As always, what man sees as impossible it nothing to a God who can create the universe with a word. Jesus was not ready to end the day’s lesson so He fed the crowd using the five loaves and two fish. But the truth is that even without the loves and fish, Jesus could have still fed the crowd and had abundance left over. God fed the Israelites for forty years with manna that came from Him. So what are a few thousand mouths for Him?

We spend too much time worrying about how we will provide for ourselves when we have a God who will supply us with our needs. So the next time you start to worry, just remember that Jesus who fed the five thousand will make sure you have what you need.

Have a blessed day,

David