Do you have “5 loaves and 2 fish”?

The Gospel of John documents numerous miracles performed by Jesus during His time on Earth. Through studying this Gospel in both Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and Sunday services, I have gained a deeper understanding of these miracles and their significance in my life.​

One particularly notable miracle is Jesus feeding five thousand people with just five loaves and two fish. This story offers valuable lessons through its characters:​

Philip and Simon​

Despite witnessing many of Jesus’ miracles, Philip and Simon focused much on their limitations—lack of resources and money, insufficient food rather than depends on His power. They had not yet internalized that Jesus is omnipotent.​

The crowd​

The people in the crowd may have brought food or money, but none, except the young boy, were willing to contribute. They followed Jesus for the miracles and personal benefit but were not willing to collaborate with Him.​

The young boy​

The scripture briefly mentions the young boy who offered the five loaves and two fish. It is intriguing to consider why he would contribute his food, knowing it was insufficient for the crowd. Perhaps he believed in Jesus’ power to multiply it.​

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Often, we are like the disciples, fixating on our limitations when we face difficult situations or are assigned for certain duties—“I’m too busy,” “I’m not capable,” “I lack knowledge.” We always want to depend on our own strength, but forget that God can help us overcome these challenges if we are willing to contribute and work together with Him. ​

We call ourselves followers of Jesus. So are we willing to contribute our limited talents and work with Him for the Kingdom work, or, like the crowd, do we only seek benefits from Him and treat Him like a vending machine?​

Let us learn from the young boy; even if we lack time, capability, or knowledge, we should trust that Jesus can multiply our efforts for great works and miracles.​

Brothers and sisters, you may have only five loaves and two fish, but are you willing to offer them and trust that God can use them to achieve the extraordinary?​

By brother Li Jie​