Bible Stories for Kids: Jesus Feeds 5000

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Have you ever left home and forgotten to take your lunch with you? In Jesus Feeds 5000, that's what happens. Crowds and crowds of people had been following Jesus and were listening to him teach all day, when it starts getting late they realize they haven't eaten lunch and they're starving!

Make sure you bring a sack lunch on this adventure - and if you happen to bring some fish and some bread - watch out! Jesus might do a miracle with it!

Jesus Feeds 5000

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Jesus had just heard about a friend of his who had died and wanted to be by himself a little while. But the people saw him leave and since he had been healing the sick and teaching and performing miracles they all wanted to follow him.

By the time Jesus reached the shore in his boat, crowds of thousands of people where there waiting for him. Even though he had wanted some time alone, he had compassion on the people and healed the sick and began teaching them.

When it began getting late the disciples got worried because the people had followed them pretty far out of the cities and villages so there was no place for them to have dinner.

They told Jesus that they must send the people away so that they could fend for themselves and find something to eat.

Jesus asked Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?"

Philip answered Him saying, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."

Then Andrew said to Jesus, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?"

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Jesus then took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven he blessed the food. He broke the loaves and kept giving them to the disciples to hand out to the people. He also divided up the two fish among them all and they ate as much as they wanted.

When they were full, Jesus said to his disciples, "Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost." So they gathered up the leftovers and filled twelve baskets. There were about 5000 men who ate, as well as women and children.

Matthew 14:13-21

Mark 6:31-44

Luke 9:11-17

John 6:1-13

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Jesus Feeds 5000

Jesus Feeds 5000: Fun Facts

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* More than 5000

Did you know that Jesus actually fed many more people that day than 5000?

In those times they didn't usually count women and children. So there were 5000 men but many more women and children as well! Some bible scholars say that there were close to 20,000 people there all together!

* What is Danarii?

Danarii was money. A typical worker was paid about one danarius per day. Philip said that 200 Danarii would not even provide enough for all the people to have just a little bit - he and the other disciples could never have fed those people in their own strength.

* What is a barley loaf?

A barley loaf at that time was like a roll or a biscuit, not like a big loaf of bread we're used to seeing.

* Jesus Feeds 5000 is one of only two stories in the whole New Testament that is told by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!

Jesus Feeds 5000: What would you do?

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Did you ever think about what would have happened if the small boy refused to give Jesus his lunch?

Jesus cared about all of the people there. He didn't want to send them away, he wanted to feed them. He used a small boy, just like you and I to do a HUGE miracle! The small boy gave Jesus all he had, his whole lunch and trusted Jesus to provide for him.

Not only did Jesus provide for the boy, but he used the little the boy gave to him and performed another miracle - providing for thousands! That's so cool!!

What about you? Would you give if Jesus asked you to? It doesn't have to be a lot, he can use a little and multiply it to take care of you, your family and thousands of others too if he chooses!

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