The boy’s lunch
A teaching for children · John 6:8–13
8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” 10“Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. 12And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
Context
A huge crowd followed Jesus up a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee. The men alone numbered about five thousand. It was getting late and there was no food. Philip figured that even a lot of money wouldn’t buy bread for everyone. Then Andrew showed up with a very small piece of news: a boy had a lunch. Barley bread was the cheapest bread, food for ordinary people.
What the Bible teaches
Andrew said: “But what difference will these make among so many?” Five small loaves and two fish for thousands of people sounded like a joke. Sometimes we think this way about ourselves: I’m just a kid, what I have is small, it doesn’t make a difference. Notice that the Bible doesn’t even tell us the boy’s name. He wasn’t famous or important, and still he went down in history because he trusted Jesus with what he had.
But Jesus took exactly that little bit. He gave thanks to God for the lunch even before it multiplied, and then had it handed out. Everyone ate as much as they wanted, and there were still twelve baskets full left over. The miracle began when a boy let his lunch come out of his bag and into Jesus’ hands.
You have your five loaves too: a drawing, a hug, a song, a toy to share, a prayer for a sick friend. In Jesus’ hands, a little goes a long way. And look at the detail at the end: Jesus told them to gather the pieces so that nothing would be wasted. To him, even the leftovers matter. Nothing you offer with love is wasted.
In practice
This week, each person in the family chooses a loaf to offer: something small they have or know how to do, to bless someone outside the home.
To talk about
If you had been in that crowd with your lunch, would you have had the courage to hand it over? Why?
Prayer
Jesus, sometimes I think what I have is too little. Today I put in your hands my time, my talents and my things. Use my little to help someone. Thank you that nothing I give you is lost. Amen.
See also: The feeding of the five thousand.