The Boy with the Bread and Fish
by Mervin Gallant

A couple of years ago I attended a children and youth ministry training
event where we were challenged to retell a Biblical story from the
perspective of one of the characters within the story as one way of
helping children enter into the story. I chose the story from John 6 and
will be using this as out time with the children this Sunday. Feel free
to use or adapt it if you find it helpful.

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Hi, my name is Joshua and I am 8 years old. I live on one side of the
Sea of Tiberius - most of you probably know it as the Sea of Galilee.
Anyway, last week Mom heard that a man by the name of Jesus who had a
reputation for being able to heal was traveling on the other side of the
sea. It was a long day's journey to where he was but she thought we
should go and see for ourselves what this guy was all about. My job was
to carry our lunch - after all a boy and his Mom would get hungry on a
trip like this. I was proud to be old enough to carry the lunch and be a
help for Mom.

The thing was we weren't the only ones with the idea of going to check
out what Jesus was up to. The crowd was enormous. The closer we got to
Jesus the thicker the crowd got and before I knew it I had lost Mom.

I ducked around people and under people as I searched for Mom - all the
time being careful not to lose my precious cargo. I was calling out for
her when a man asked me what I was looking for. He said his name was
Andrew and I told him I was Joshua. He told me he was one of Jesus'
special friends and followers and if I came with him he would see if
Jesus could announce that I was looking for my Mom.

As we got near to Jesus, I could hear a conversation - Some of his
followers were talking to him about it getting late in the day and that
Jesus should send them away to get something to eat - but Jesus had a
different idea: "Where could we buy some bread for them to eat?" he
asked.

"Come on Jesus!" said one of the followers, "There's thousands of people
here - six months wages couldn't buy enough food for this crowd - let
alone the pittance we have."

I tugged on Andrew's robe, "Andrew, I still have the lunch Mom packed,"
I said, "Look here are 5 barley loaves and 2 fish - I can share!"

Andrew smiled and said, "I'll tell Jesus." So he took me by the hand and
we walked into the circle of men who were talking. Andrew looked at
Jesus and said: "I'm not sure how much good this will do but this is
Joshua, who lost his Mom in the crowd, and he has 5 barley loaves and 2
fish he's willing to share."

Jesus smiled a bigger smile than Andrew had. He bent down to my level
and said: "Thank-you very much! Thank-you for such a wonderful gift."

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and told them to tell all the people
to sit down in groups. So all the people sat down on the grass - there
were so many I couldn't see where the end of the crowd was - and I still
couldn't see my Mom either.

Jesus took me by the hand and led me to a high place where we could see
better. He picked me up and even though I was a bit scared, I felt safe
in Jesus' arms. I was still holding my basket. "See this boy," he said,
"he has lost his Mom in the crowd and I hope we can help him out. But I
want all of you to know that if you could be like this little boy, you
would know what life in God is all about. He heard that this huge crowd
needed to be fed and he offered to share what he has. In this basket are
5 barley loaves and 2 fish." He sat me down and then raised the bread
and fish over his head and thanked God for the wonderful gift God had
provided for everyone - then started to share the food.

I'm really not sure what happened next but somehow everyone was eating
and laughing and enjoying the fellowship they were sharing with one
another. Then when Jesus asked his friends to pick up any leftovers -
they had 12 baskets full!!! 

Like I said I'm not really sure what happened but it looked like Jesus
made everyone there feel as good as I did when I heard my name being
called: "Joshua! Joshua!" and I saw my Mom burst through the crowd and
wrap me in one of her big warm hugs.

(c) 2004 Mervin Gallant

(Comments to Mervin at st_amerv@telus.net.)
St. Andrew's United Church,
Lacombe, Alberta