Longer study: a good steward, a boy filled by emptying “A steward is a ruler and servant, one who exists to please his master.” Who is our first good steward, besides Jesus? Our first good steward is the emptiest, the boy who carries two small fish and five small barley loaves to his Master, Jesus.
“…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 6:9 Barley is the poorest of breads. Those who could afford no other grain eat bread made of barley. This boy is probably about eight to ten years in age. He is nameless, and probably from a poor family. But he has existed in the narrative for over a thousand years because he represents what all stewards should be: empty of self, childlike in faith and obedience, a servant of a master. Our boy carries his little with him. Yet he gives all: his food; his love and his joy. He sees Jesus and gives to him. He empties himself. Why? And how does his emptiness feed us? First, let’s look at the disciples. Before the boy comes forward Philip says: “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite.” Then Andrew speaks (another but) “…but how far will they (the boy’s food) go among so many?” Earlier the twelve came as a group to Jesus and asked him to send the crowd away so the people (five thousand men) could find food. They see the impossibilities: a remote place; a large and hungry crowd; the lack of bread (Mark 6:35). They see massive disappointment coming. Children see the world with a Godly innocence that enables them to behold wonder in the ordinary: wonder in two fish, in small five barley loaves. Anticipating the wonder of being close to Jesus and the expectation of greater wonders to come, our nameless boy comes forward. We know little about him. Did he have a parent with him? Maybe a