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Imagine her packing 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish and handing them to her young son. Probably not yet a teenager, the boy was anxious to go and join the crowd following Jesus. She would have had no idea what a life-changing event this would be for her son as he left to join the crowd of onlookers.
The story of the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is a familiar one. It was an exciting time 2000 years ago when great crowds of people followed Jesus because they saw miraculous healing of the sick. (John 6:1-14)
When the crowd became tired and hungry Jesus asked what food they had available. That young boy’s lunch was used in a miracle that we still read today.
I wonder if the boy’s Mom was in the crowd that day. A mother would have been concerned about the heat and the long day. She would have insisted her child eat the lunch she had prepared. She would want her child nourished. When Jesus asked his disciples about feeding the crowd would she have drawn the little boy back as he stepped forward to offer Andrew his own lunch? Mother logic could possibly have blocked a miracle.
The little boy did step forward. He did offer his small lunch to the disciple of Jesus and the rest is history. Even Andrew wondered how so little food could even make an impact with this large crowd. Yet a miracle awaited. Jesus took the boy’s loaves, gave thanks and had them distributed to the crowd of over 5000!
Imagine the exciting story that boy went home with! There had even been twelve basketfuls of leftovers. The little boy must have been changed forever as he saw his small resource used greatly in the hands of Jesus. What a miracle!
As moms, it is often easy to let logic try to over-ride the sometimes-radical faith of our children. It’s been our job to stabilize, rationalize and energize our children as they have grown. To release them to be Jesus followers is not always easy. Sometimes it will look to us like they are giving up the very thing they need. Trusting Jesus with their hearts and their lives is what we are called to do.
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke 18:16).
Father God, thank you for recording this amazing little story for all time. Thank you for the hidden lesson of the mom who let her son go to follow Jesus. Help me today to release my children to You, whatever their ages, so that I might not hinder any work You are doing in their lives. Hold my mother heart in your hand. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: Why do you suppose Jesus frequently used children to help to demonstrate who He was? What was the purpose of the miracle of the feeding of the 5000? Has Jesus performed a miracle in your life recently?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Created to Become like Christ, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: crowd, disciple, feeding of the 5000, healing, hungry, Jesus, miracle, miraculous, tired
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I beleive Jesus used children because they are very real. They see life as fresh and new and haven’t had to experience years of mistreatment by mankind. They believe in others unlike us who doubt. Like a parent who catches them when they decide to jump into their arms. The child just knows that the parent will be there for them. That is why Jesus says to come as a child. Oh what we could learn from a child. They are awesome! Thankl you Jesus for children. I want to come to you as a child again. Please help me and others to be that way. It’s ok to be child like, just not childish. Yay for children!
Children haven’t been hardend by life. They haven’t learned to put up walls and barriers, or to wear masks so others won’t see who they really are. They haven’t learned to explain away every miracle or mystery, and so they aren’t filled with doubt. As we grow older we begin to harden and loose our child like wonder and faith. We may still believe, but often times only within the limits that we’re able to understand. When Jesus asked his disciples, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” the adults all had excusses and reasons why it couldn’t be done. But when I imagine a child being asked that same question I see him saying, “Here’s my lunch, Lord. Use this.” As adults we aren’t willing to offer up our loaves and our fishes because we tend to believe they are not enough, but the Lord wants us to have a child like faith that says, “Here,” and then waits to watch Him multiply it.
I never really thought about the mother of the child with the loaves. In fact, I’m not sure I ever thought about the child himself who gave his lunch! I was always astounded at how those items would feed all those people. My mind was wrapping around whether it’s meant to be a metaphor or a miracle. I’m not a mother yet but I’m sure I may have wanted my child to eat what I gave him and not give it away. Then again, I would have packed carrot juice and a salad and I’m sure he’d be glad to give it away! Hmm… children are dependent and trust in parents completely for shelter, food, protection, answers to all of life’s questions. Coming to the Lord in this way is what Jesus is asking when he says to become childlike. There’s a whole chapter on this in the Relationship Principles of Jesus.
Has Jesus performed a miracle in my life lately? Yes! He allowed me to fast for 40 days before Easter and guided me through the process and provided everything I needed.. including protection from the tentacles of temptation. It took every strength I had to no eat; once I gave up my suffering as an offering, it never bothered me anymore.
thank you