The Miracle of Five Loaves and Two Fishes

Bible Text: John 6 : 1-14
                                                                                
Before reading this message, my question to you is, “What do you have to give to Jesus that He would multiply to propagate the work of His kingdom?”

The Bible passage above is about the miracle done by Jesus Christ when he fed 5,000 people by sharing five loaves of bread and two small fishes. The miracle is outstanding because it shows the limitation and helplessness of man when faced with a challenge of immeasurable proportion! Jesus asked one of His disciples, Phillip, of what  should be done to feed the throng of people at His crusade. This was to test Phillip’s faith, but he failed the test like any of his disciples did and we would have done. Phillip answered Jesus, “Two hundred pennies’ (forty dollars) worth of bread is not enough that everyone may receive even a little [John 6:7, Amplified version].” Another disciple of Jesus came close to the answer but receded back to unbelief; Andrew answered, “There is a little boy here, who has [with him] five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many people [John 6:9, Amplified version]?” Jesus knew what to do all along, but waited for His disciples to answer first! Thereafter, He performed the miracle using a young boy’s lunch and dinner pack.

I come from one of the developing countries in the world. It is developing because we are not quite there yet, but we are making progress and one day, we would get there. We just celebrated it’s 50th birthday anniversary of independence three years ago. Sometimes the police man pulls you over. They do not always have a reason for pulling you over, but somehow you are pulled over. They begin to ask you all the legitimate questions like your driver’s license,insurance particulars for the car and so on. When the police man sees that you have all of those (particulars)items, he then proceeds to ask for inconsequential things like fire extinguisher, bill of Landing of the vehicle and  broom  or brush with which you use to clean up the car. I am not joking. This is for real because it happened to me. After all said and done, his next question would be “What do you have to grease my palm?” He is indirectly asking for a gift from you or a bribe. This time, forcefully or you will not be released from his presence until he gets something from you. 

 This has never happened to me where I currently reside. This is one of the G-8 countries. It is not that the policemen are perfect, but they pull you over for a reason. It is either you are driving too fast for the speed zone or you beat a traffic light or something else. They have never asked me to pay the fine directly to them, better still, you get the ticket in the mail and you know what to do thereafter. 

Back to our passage: This young lad was going to hear Jesus speak. I would believe his mom put together his lunch so he could stay longer if the program persisted. They say mothers know best, and the program went beyond lunch time. This young lad willingly lent his food to Jesus. Jesus blessed the food and fed the multitude and recovered 12 baskets full of bread. What do you have? This young boy gave all his Lunch and was blessed beyond his greatest imagination. Some bible scholars believe that the 12  baskets recovered after the feeding may have been given to him to take back home.

 In impoverished countries, the police take from you to consume or use for his personal benefit. Jesus is asking you to give to him that he may multiply it and bless you in return. This shall be your portion and mine this Easter period and always in Jesus Name. Peter lent his boat to Jesus and he got a net breaking miracle [Luke 5:1-6], Obededom lent his house to God when the Ark of God was brought back to Jerusalem [2 Samuel 6:11] and blessings never ceased from his home. These are but a few examples in the Bible. Proverbs 11:24 says “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” What do you have that he has not given to you? All blessings come from God. Jesus gave all that he had for mankind. He left the glory he had with his Father and came to earth to rescue man from sin and death. He died on the cross and resurrected that whoever believes on him might have the hope of resurrection and eternal life. Are you willing to give him your heart so that he could bless you beyond your greatest imagination?

 A friend of mine once told me that she was doing so well in her business in the  late 90’s. I believe it was kind of making her somewhat proud. Then her husband called her and said “My wife, all that you have are mine. Is it the Kerosene business, the elementary school you are trying to start as a business and even the children we have are all mine”(paraphrase). So where is the place for pride? This is so true with us. All we have belong to God. Everyone will give his or her heart to God someday, either willingly or forcefully. Be wise and choose right!  In this Easter season, and always, give to God your very best in your service to Him whatever that service might be.  Stay blessed.

 Prayer Points

1.        Oh Lord, fill my heart with faith in every spiritual challenge I am faced with in the name of Jesus.

 2.      Lord, strengthen my faith that You will miraculously provide as I share what you have freely given to me with others for your Kingdom’s sake in the name of Jesus.