Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish,
but how far will they go among so many?”
John 6:8-9 NIV
Five barley loaves: Barley, an ancient and versatile grain, is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and beta-glucan, making it healthy and sustainable. It yields a larger crop than wheat and can be stored for months, even years, with no loss of nutritional value. In Jesus’ time, Barley was regarded as simple food, more often fit for animals than for people. It is likely that this young boy came from a poor family.
Bread comes from grain,
which has the power of multiplication and reproduction within itself.
But when it is made into bread, the grain is crushed, making it “dead” –
no one ever multiplied wheat by planting flour.
Yet Jesus can bring life from death;
He multiplied loaves of bread made from dead,
crushed grain and from dead fish.
David Gruzik
Two small fish: “While the other Evangelists use the ordinary word for fish (ichthys), John calls them osparia, indicating that they were two small (perhaps salted) fish to be eaten as a relish along with the cakes of barley.” (F. F. Bruce)
“What are they among so many?” God doesn’t need much. In fact, God doesn’t need any help – but He often deliberately restrains His work until He has our participation.
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God will shatter the pint-sized expectations of what His followers can do
if they would learn to bring Him what they have already been given.
(found on Got Questions.org)
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Many Christians estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources,
and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt.
All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God
because they reckoned on His power and presence with them.
Hudson Taylor