In the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, actually closer to
20,000, in Matthew 14 of the disciples saying, ‘We have only five loaves of
bread and two fish… and Jesus responding, ‘Bring them here to me.’” I am fascinated that only one person had any
food, a little boy. I am also amazed that the parable is about the miracle of
feeding all the people and even having bounty of 12 bushels left over. As I
read it again, I marvel at Jesus’s ministry to thousands, and yet He did not
call the boy forward to receive a blessing or thanks. Actually the Gospel of
John is the only rendition of the story where Andrew, brother of Peter even
mentions the boy saying, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves
and two small fish.” The parable
is about Jesus meeting human needs and points towards Himself as the Bread of
Life.
Why doesn’t Jesus even recognize the boy and the lunch He
took from him? Perhaps He does by
indicating that the boy’s lunch was given and provided for a massive lesson for
all. Was it important that it was a child? I think it adds to the lesson’s
power, since they were nothing in that culture. Even the “Little ones” are
important to the kingdom. Jesus certainly makes that point in Matthew 19 on how
important it is for the children to not be hindered in coming to Him, “For
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Yes, children are important. But why not
identify the child in the bread parable?
The child’s lunch was taken, but returned and more when all were fed. In
other words, Jesus provided much more than the little one’s lunch. He wanted
all to benefit. That does not say that the kid was selfish, it says that Jesus
is bountiful. The kingdom of God is for
all who will come and so they did that day. Not all heard and believed, but all
were provided sustenance. The child was available and that’s what He asks of
us.
That’s the way today. God provides us all with lunch and
life and everything else. But few recognize the “indescribable gift” and believe.
As I think about the parable, I would have picked up the kid
and hugged him, saying how important he and his lunch were to the kingdom.
Instead it is written in Scripture for all posterity to read and understand
more of the Only One with God’s power to provide out of a small lunch or even out of nothing that
the whole world may know.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.