The little boy’s sandals slapped against the dry, sandy ground, kicking up tiny clouds of dust as he hurried to keep pace with his father. He carried his small satchel on his back—handcrafted in the same pattern as his father’s. Inside were five tiny barley muffins and two little fish packed by his Savta—just enough for a boy his age.
“Savta, I wish you were coming with us today.” Ari lamented.
“Ah,” his grandmother answered, eyes crinkling. “If I was not so old and slow, I would be walking with you today.”
“You are not too old!” Ari responded.
Savta chuckled deep in her throat. “That is what you say, young lad. But promise Savta that you will share with me all that the Teacher tells you today.”
“Promise!” Ari answered.
She waved him off. “Now, you go. Your father is waiting.” Ari turned, the satchel bouncing against his back. Walking through the door, he saw the morning light beginning to peek over the horizon.
Getting up so early didn’t bother Ari at all—he was filled with excitement because today was a special day. He and his father, Yonah, were going to see the Great Teacher that they had been hearing about. And Ari heard that the Teacher told wonderful stories.
By midmorning, they arrived at a wilderness area just south of Bethsaida. This is where it was said that the Teacher was expected to appear. Crowds were pressing in to find places to sit, with the hillside becoming a sea of color. “Come!” Yonah urged, skillfully weaving through the gaps in the throng. Ari struggled to keep his father in sight. Before long, they found themselves seated near the front of the sprawling assembly—a prime spot! As Ari settled on the ground, he looked up into Yonah’s face with a broad grin. “This will be the best day! Right, Abba?”
“Yes. I believe today will be a memory that will stay with us forever,” Yonah replied as he smiled down at his young son. Ari was his greatest treasure, especially after losing his wife to illness when Ari was only five. The boy has become his steadfast companion, filling his days with laughter and light.
Suddenly, it was as if the entire crowd took a collective breath as the Teacher appeared before them. When He settled onto a simple, handmade stool, Ari could hardly breathe—the Teacher was so close he could see the compassion in His dark eyes. The Teacher smiled right at Ari.
The Teacher began to speak, and Ari leaned against his father, captivated. He was in awe of the stories the Teacher shared, each one clear enough for a boy his age to understand. This was no ordinary teacher.
The day flew by, and before they knew it, it was evening. When the Teacher finally rose, it felt like the signal for the crowd to leave. But rather than departing, people lingered, eager to hear more.
As hunger crept in, Ari and his father rummaged in their satchels for the food they brought with them. Ari’s eyes began to wander, and he noticed that not everyone had packed a meal for the day. Yonah saw it too. A wave of discomfort swept over Ari—it didn’t feel right to eat while others around them had nothing.
At the front of the assembly, Ari heard hushed whispers coming from the spot where the Teacher had been sitting earlier. He was deep in conversation with some of the men who had traveled with him.
Ari heard one of the men say, “It is late and there is nothing here in this wilderness to eat. We need to send the people home or to the nearby villages to buy food.”
“No,” the Teacher responded. He turned to one of the men. “Philip, you get them something to eat. Where can you buy bread so these people can have their evening meal?”
From where he was seated, Ari could see the stunned expression on Philip’s face. “Master, even 200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough for everyone to have just a bite! There must be at least 5000 men here, with their families!”
But the Teacher simply replied to the men, “Go. See what you can find.” The men exchanged glances before dispersing and weaving their way through the crowd.
Suddenly, something pricked in Ari’s heart. The Teacher’s words earlier about generosity echoed in his mind—how giving to others was like giving to God. He held his bundle of food close. It isn’t much, he thought. Savta made this just for me. But maybe… maybe the Teacher can use it.
As one of the men walked by, he stood up abruptly, his legs wobbling with uncertainty. Summoning his courage, he took a deep breath and reached out to tug on the man’s tunic.
“Shalom, lad,” the man said kindly. “What do you carry there?”
Ari swallowed hard. “My lunch… five barley muffins and two fish. It isn’t much, but… the Teacher can have it.”
Andrew crouched so they were eye to eye. “Ah, yes, it may not look like much,” he said gently, “but anything placed in the hands of the Teacher can become more than you can imagine.” He accepted the bundle with a smile.
At that moment, the Teacher turned, and Andrew gestured back at Ari. “There is a boy here who gave me five small loaves and two fish—but what are they among so many?”
Ari’s heart pounded as the Teacher glanced over at him. Those same compassionate eyes met his, and He smiled.
Yonah, who had witnessed the exchange, put his arm around Ari. “Ah, lad. You understood what the Teacher said. This day—yes—this day we will always remember.”
Ari watched as the Teacher took one of those small loaves, looked to the heavens then broke it in half. Yes. Whatever happened, giving up his little lunch was worth it.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
—Luke 16:10 (NIV)
Sometimes, what we have may not look like much—our time, our resources or our abilities. Yet, just like Ari’s lunch, anything we give back into the hands of Jesus can become more than we could ever imagine. Our simple acts of faith are never wasted and every offering becomes an opportunity for God to show His power and provision. He delights in taking what seems ordinary and multiplying it for His glory.
What simple gift—your time, words, or resources—could you offer Jesus this week?
Disclosure: This fictional short story was created based on Biblical account of Jesus feeding the 5000 in Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14. The featured photo was created by AI and is not representative of any person or location.
Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV):
Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan
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