Focus: There's A Lad Here

Text: Jh.6:9

"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"

It is somewhat surprising to me that the miracle of the feeding five thousand men besides women and children is recorded in all the four Gospels, but only John included the poor lad and the role he played in the miracle. Neither Luke, the great researcher, nor Peter, the inspiration behind the Mark's Gospel, bothered to document it. Only John could tell us about the lad, but then, he didn't tell us his name. I believe there is a lesson in this for us, which we will consider a little later.

The Lord Jesus is in the middle of a crisis. The multitude has followed Him for three days and they have run out of food. They are in a desert place, so far away from residential areas. Another thing is that it is getting late in the day, and the people are very hungry. The disciples advised the Lord Jesus to let the people go in order for them to find food and get back home before it is night. But Jesus Christ has His own plan. Without any food in their hands, the Lord Jesus Christ instructed them to feed the multitude. An obvious question would be, how is that possible? Feed them with what? That's impossible! The Lord Jesus must have remembered the people of Israel in their desert journey and how God miraculously fed them with the manna from heaven. So while the disciples are thinking of the natural impossibility of the situation, Christ was conscious of the supernatural possibility of God for the situation.

In the heat of the crisis, Andrew, the P.R.O. of the group, says to Christ, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes…" But Andrew quickly asks, "BUT what are they among so many?" For Andrew, the lad's food is like a tiny drop in the ocean - too little to meet the need of the moment. But as soon as Christ heard Andrew mention of five loaves and two small fish, He says to the disciples, "Make the men sit down." That means that He now has something to work with. The boy's food is the seed of a miracle. His food is enough in the hands of Jesus Christ to make a miracle happen. A great multitude of people are fed through a little boy's lunch. What a miracle! What a wonder-working Jesus!

What lessons can we learn from this remarkable story? 

The first is: just let God use you. Be available, accessible and willing for God to use you. Indeed be usable in the hands of God! Let it be said of you that there's someone here who has what God is looking for. When it matters most, may you be where God can use you, and may you have what God can use! Be that link to the grander purpose of God! 

Let your prayer be, 'Lord, use me to advance your purpose! Let me have on me exactly what you need to make a miracle happen! Make me a part of a miracle in someone's life!'

The next lesson is that the lad's name is not known. John did not make mention of his name. I believe his name is not mentioned for you to fit in. You can let God use you and your resources for the good of others. The boy did not only follow Christ about, but when it mattered most, he had something to offer and something to bring to the table. He was a receiver as well as a giver.

Another lesson is this: the lad was not a person of a great or large appetite. A small boy like that could have eaten all his food and have nothing left. But he made sure he had some food left in his bag. What you have left in your bag or purse can always serve a purpose in God's kingdom. If you control your appetite, you can save a lot for God to use for His eternal purpose.

Another lesson is that the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) did not mention the boy; but only John. John did not even mention the boy's name. He was not praised, not applauded, and not in any way idolized. He received no recognition, no attention, no applause, no accolades. It didn't even look like what he did was regarded as a big deal. But he did it anyway. The main thing is that he let God use him. He played a critical and crucial role. He had what others didn't have and gave what they couldn't give, for the good of all. He did what he had to do without seeking to be known, recognized or respected. If not for John, there would be no record of it at all. One sweet thing about our God is that He knows our names personally and keeps records of all our offerings.

Every time God gets ready to do a miracle in your life, there will always be an available vessel for Him to use.

John says, "There is a lad here." I pray God to make you available, accessible and amiable.

We are fortunate to be used of God. We need not the praise of men. It is enough that God takes records of the good we do in His name. That is the most important. It is a blessing being part of a miracle. It is a thing of joy to watch the little food in your hands taken by the Lord and used miraculously and supernaturally to feed thousands of hungry people. It is enough reward to know that with my offering a large crowd of hungry people are fed and God's name is glorified. Recognized or not, what is important is that I could be used of God to bring joy into someone's life.

One essential lesson about this boy's giving is that nobody is exempted from giving. Even children can give. 

Whoever appreciates the miracle of grace will surely show it by being grateful and cheerful in giving.

No one can be too broke to give to God, because giving is not all about money. But we must give willingly and intentionally.

Another lesson is that you can do something. You have something God can use. It might not seem enough, but a seed is what God requires of you to create a harvest. The disciples did not have regard for the boy's little gift because of the large number of people in need of being fed, but for the Lord Jesus, it was enough to make a miracle happen. What the boy had to give was enough for Christ to use. He was one follower of Christ who had something to give to the Lord in time of need.

Let us quit making excuses and let God use us for his glory! Be that individual that is well disposed to being used of God.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter