Andrew has been following the Master for a year and learned
to keep a watchful eye out, because he never knew what could happen. A few days
ago, The Master had healed a man who had been lame from birth. This didn’t sit
well with the religious rulers. They didn’t understand the Master and were
angry that the Master had healed the man on the Sabbath. Andrew kept a watchful
eye out for problems that may arise.
Andrew, his friends, and the Master came over to
Galilee in a boat. He thought they would be able to spend some quiet time just
the twelve of them with the Master. They left the boat and walked along the
coastal road when he saw the boy.
The boy had been fishing. The master, as was his
habit, took notice of the lad. The scruffy child gathered his things and
followed them. That’s when he noticed the huge crowd also following. “Not
again,” were his thoughts.
So many times crowds of people followed the Master.
Some asked to be healed, others wanted to be entertained by watching the Master
perform a miracle. A handful of them listened intently to what the Master
taught. Andrew knew there were a few who reported back to the rulers who didn’t
like the Master.
The Master saw the crowd and said, “Where shall we buy
bread, that these may eat?” (John 6: 5)
Phillip one of the twelve answered, “Two hundred
denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may
have a little.” (John 6: 7)
Essentially, there wasn’t enough money to purchase
food for this huge crowd. Then out of the blue, Andrew remembered the boy. He
scanned the crowd and found him sitting with fixed attention on the Master and asked
him, “Boy, did you only catch those two measly fish? Do you have any other
food?”
The boy, Benjamin, replied, “Mother packed me six
barley loaves and a leek. I ate the leek and one of the loaves.” he pointed at
the Master and added, “Does He need them?”
“Are you willing to part with them for the Master?”
Benjamin nodded.
“Come with me and I’ll tell him what you have to
offer.”
Andrew said to the Master, “There is a lad here who
has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
(John 6: 9)
Jesus, the Master, said, “Make the people sit down.”
The area was grassy. It took a while for the people to
set themselves into groups. The twelve disciples counted five thousand men, not
counting the women and children.
Andrew gave the five loaves and two small fish to
Jesus. Jesus blessed the meal and started breaking the bread apart. He dropped
the portions into baskets. Then he took the fish and did likewise. He told the
disciples to distribute the baskets full of bread and fish. The people ate till
content and full.
Jesus said, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so
that nothing is lost.” (John 6: 12)
The disciples retrieved twelve baskets full of
portions of food.
Andrew was amazed! More than five thousand fed and twelve
baskets brimming with food—all out of only two fish and five loaves.
~
The boy looked on with huge eyes. He couldn’t wait to
tell his family! He asked the man Andrew, “Sir, I was supposed to bring home
supper. I didn’t do so well fishing and I’ve been gone all day. Could I take
some home for my family?”
Andrew smiled and rubbed the top of Benjamin’s head.
He grabbed handfuls of food and stuffed it into the satchel Benjamin had over
his shoulder.
Benjamin smiled up at Andrew. “Thanks!”
Benjamin looked one last time at the Master. Jesus
focused His attention on Benjamin and smiled. Benjamin smiled back and then raced
home to his Mother and brother Joshua.
He told them all that happened that day. His mother
said, “Benjamin, I am proud of you for wanting to share your meal with the
Master. I have heard of Him. We should go hear Him speak tomorrow.”
“I’d like that. His words touched my heart and I want
to see Him again. Mother, why did you give me the satchel instead of giving it
to Joshua?”
His mother smiled and said, “You are more like the men
who carried it before you. I thought you would appreciate it. Anyway, you
needed it today.”
The family enjoyed the meal. That day was one of the
best days of Benjamin’s life. He had met the Master! He shared his food with
Him and saw Jesus make a miracle. Benjamin learned to believe that Jesus was
the Messiah. Benjamin knew in his heart that only God could have done the
miracle he witnessed.
Benjamin did a great thing. He shared his small meal.
What could have happened had he not shared? I think he would have missed a
blessing. Jesus would have done the miracle another way, but Benjamin would
have missed out. We need to be willing to share. Do you share your food and
toys with others?
The boy and disciples and Jesus are true people and
this event really happened. My imagination made up the boy’s name and events
leading up to him being near to share his food that day. Then boy really shared
his two fish and five barley loaves and Jesus fed the five thousand. This true
story is out of the Bible told in all four gospels. You can read it in Matthew:
14:14-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9: 10-17, John 6: 1-14.
Please memorize: Proverbs 22:9a He who has a generous eye will be blessed.
Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated
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