Gospel in Art: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish

The miracle of the five loaves and two fish by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 16th century © National Museum of Fine Arts, Stockholm

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 2 May 2025
John 6:1-15

At that time: Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?' He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.'

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 'There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many?' Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, 'Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.' So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!' Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Reflection on the painting

Today we read the account of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, brought forward not by a disciple or prominent figure, but by a small boy. "There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish," the Gospel tells us. He is often absent or overlooked in artistic depictions of this miracle, but in this painting by Lucas Cranach, the boy is placed centre-stage, standing directly beside Jesus. Together with Christ and the disciples, he forms an elevated group on the left-hand side, while the crowds stretch diagonally across the right of the canvas.

Cranach, a close friend of Martin Luther, embraced Luther's vision of childlike faith-pure, sincere, and trusting. For Luther, the boy's simple gesture of offering what little he had perfectly embodied the ideal Christian response. Cranach often included children in his work to highlight this innocence and readiness to give, qualities at the heart of Christian discipleship.

It is unlikely that anyone in that vast crowd thought the boy was important. No one would have imagined that a young child with a small basket would be the one through whom Jesus would work one of his most profound and public miracles. And yet, it was precisely that child, humble, unnoticed, and willing, who held the key to the unfolding of a moment that would feed thousands and reveal the generosity of God. Even today, we never know who God will choose. What child, what humble soul, what person who seems insignificant in the world's eyes, will God work through today, to do something extraordinary?

This also reminds us that we are never just one of the crowd. We are each known, seen, and loved by God. He delights in taking the little we offer. Our time, our gifts, our love are transformed it into something far greater. No one is too small, too ordinary, or too hidden for God to use. He can and will do amazing things through us, if we simply place what we have in His hands.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-6-1-15-2025/ (with audio)