Aim to know the story of the feeding of the 5,000
Aim
* To know the story of the feeding of the 5,000
* To understand why Jesus performed miracles
Materials
* Bible passages – John 6
* Visual Aids – large pictures of the story
* Worksheets
* Basket – card, patterns of fish, bread and basket , scissors, coloured pencils, sellotape
* Fish and Loaves Picture – A3 coloured card, fish and loaf shape cut from sponge, tempera paint, glitter, felt-tip pen.
Lesson Outline
1. Introduction
2. Story
3. Questions
4. Activities – make a basket, loaves and fish picture, worksheets, ‘Follow Jesus’ game
5. Review the aims
6. Prayer
1) Introduction
Talk about the miracles of Jesus. Which ones do the children know?
– He healed sick people – paralyzed, deaf, blind, etc..
– He calmed a storm
– He walked on the water
– He turned water to wine
Why did Jesus perform miracles?
– to help sick people
– To show God’s love
– To show the power of God
– To give people faith in God
– So people would believe him and follow him
Today’s story is about another miracle about feeding many people
2) Story
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.
Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Another of his disciples, 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?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Jesus the Bread of Life
The next day Jesus spoke to the people. “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from
heaven to eat.’
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
3) Questions and Discussion
* How many loaves of bread did the boy have?
* How many fish did he have?
* How many baskets of leftover food did the disciples gather?
* The people were so impressed with Jesus’ miracle of providing food, they forgot what He had been teaching them. He later said to them, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that
endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:27) What do you think Jesus meant?
* When someone asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the work of God?” Jesus said “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He did miracles so people would understand that he was the Messiah, the chosen one of God. He wanted them to believe him and follow him.
* Jesus said ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35) Jesus didn’t only want to give physical food, but also
food for our spirit. If we listen to Jesus words and follow them, we will never feel hungry or empty in our hearts. If we believe in Jesus we will never be spiritually thirsty. We will be filled with God’s love. That’s why he said, “I am the bread of life.”
4) Activities
* Make a basket
* Loaves and fishes picture
* Worksheets
* Follow Jesus game
5) Review the lesson aims
* To know the story of the feeding of the 5,000
* To understand why Jesus performed miracles
6) End with a Prayer
