Five Loaves.
Two Fishes.
Impossible Faith.

The only miracle recorded in all four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, other than the resurrection, is where Jesus feeds over 5,000 people with the food that a boy had. He had five barley loaves and two small fishes. Let’s look at the account.

Jesus asked Philip a question even though He already knew what He was going to do. What did He ask? He asked, “whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Why did He ask it? He asked it so that someone would respond. What kind of response was He looking for? He was looking for a response of faith.

Philip answered Him, “two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” Philip looked at the situation and gave a reasonable, logical, and factual reply. Philip gave an honest answer, and it is important because it was a factual answer. However, Jesus was looking for a response of faith.

Did He get a response of faith? One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

Andrew also gave a factual answer, but he went a little further. He stated a fact that was small. A fact that was impossible to help, given the situation they were facing. However, in going a little further faith was found. Why did Andrew even bother to mention a boy with a little food when there were thousands, upon thousands of people to be fed. He mentioned it because He didn’t understand or know how, but he had faith that perhaps Jesus could use those few small things to do the impossible. His answer had faith mixed in with the words.

Faith in Jesus doesn’t deny the facts. Faith in Jesus says that our God can do the impossible, even though we may not know how. We may not know how, but we Know that He can make a way where there is no way, just like He did with the Red Sea.

Jesus had the men sit down and they numbered five thousand. Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

Now let me ask you, what is not stated here? It is not stated that the boy offered the food. It is not stated that the boy gave it after being asked. It does not state his attitude towards what was happening. Given the character and integrity of Jesus as show throughout the entire gospel, it is quite fair to believe that the boy freely gave of his food.

Now this leads to another very important question. Why didn’t the boy keep some of the food for himself. There were two fishes and five loaves. Why not keep one fish and two loaves for himself so that he would be sure to have something to eat? No, instead the boy gave the entire thing. He gave it all and herein lies a very important lesson.

When it comes to Jesus you can’t hold back for yourself part out of fear. You have to give it all, especially when you are facing an impossible situation. This boy’s needs were met. He could have eaten and be full. Instead at the word of Jesus he gave it all, and he did it out of faith in and respect for Jesus, and out of compassion for the needs of the thousands around him. The lesson applies to so many areas of life, and it certainly applies to reaching souls with the gospel. You have to have compassion for the souls around you, and you can’t hold back part for yourself and expect to do the impossible.

The Bible goes on to say, when they were filled, He said unto his disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” When they gathered them together, twelve baskets were filled with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained after they had all eaten.

The loaves and fishes were multiplied so that they could more than meet the needs of the large crowd that was gathered. There was an abundance of the fragments which remained after they had eaten.

Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. Giving thanks to God takes your mind and your focus off of your problems and instead focuses them on God. Giving thanks to God enables a Christian to believe that God can more than meet their need. Giving thanks to God gives you an attitude of gratitude and appreciation to Him for who He is and all that He has done for you. We should never get so weary from life that we stop giving thanks to God.

When the men there saw the miracle that Jesus did, they said, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” Jesus perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a king and departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Why did they want to take Jesus by force to make him a king. They wanted this so that Jesus could meet their needs and desires. The position of king sounds like a servant to their will. So many people who proclaim the gospel become slaves to having to keep donations coming in, to meeting extraordinary financial obligations, and to the will of the people. This should not be so.

So many other people come to Jesus in a desperate state, and they want Jesus to help them; to meet their need. However, Jesus is both Lord and God. He died on the cross for our sins and overcame death itself so that we could become sons and daughters of God. He doesn’t cease to be God if He does not grant what you ask of him. He is Lord.

Christianity today, and the human attitude has switched the roles, where the person comes to the Lord, even in faith, and gives a list of their needs, wants, and desires. As Christians we should be Kingdom minded, concerned with the affairs of our Lord.

Yes, we pray in faith. However, we pray from the perspective of having an intimate relationship with God and in trusting in the integrity of His character. As the Bible says in Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Very soon the doors of grace will be closed for many and time itself will come to an end. As Christians it is as important as ever, or even more important than ever, that we are kingdom minded and committed to doing the will of God while salvation may be found. We should have compassion for others, as that boy in the Bible account did. Our God is love itself and we should follow His example.