They Missed Their Dinner

Last Sunday our pastor talked about Jesus feeding the 5000 folks on five small barley loaves and two fishes. You can read the story in John the sixth chapter. As I was listening to him, I wondered if everyone stayed for dinner. Women and children aren’t mentioned so there must have been many more than 5000. So I made up a man sitting there with his wife and two children. They were listening quietly to what Jesus said up until he had his disciples distributing the small amount of food a young boy had brought with him, five loaves of bread and two fishes.

Then the father leaned over the kids and whispered to his wife: “They will never feed very many with that small stack! Let’s get out of here before everyone figures it out.”

The mother felt they should stay, but she looked at her children and saw how hungry they must be, so she said “ya, let’s go.” They tiptoed away from the crowd, Daddy picked up the youngest child,and they ran to the nearest village to get some food before the crowd came. Daddy laughed as he said, “We sure beat everybody, didn’t we?” Mama looked sorrowful as she answered, “Ya, but I feel that we have missed something pretty great, I really do.”

Yes, they missed that dinner, but they missed one of the greatest miracles Jesus did. Did they miss more? Certainly they missed the feeding of the 5000, but did they miss Jesus too? We hope not, and since we all like stories that end on a happy note: They found Jesus as he was walking to another small village. The parents saw how He picked up the children and talked to them. They walked and talked with Him with Him all the way to the village. They followed Jesus the rest of their lives. Is that what you wanted in a story?

Do you want your story to end like that? It can you know. But you need to meet Him and know Him, and these days He is easy to find. I’ll bet there are many churches in your town. That’s where you will find Him. Go there next Sunday. Also, one of your friends know Him, ask your friends or your neighbor. You might find Him there. But don’t miss another Dinner. It will be a great one. The place will be in Heaven and Jesus will be your host.