Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Feeding the 5,000

John 6:1-15

After this, Jesus went across Lake Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias). Many people followed him because they saw the miracles he did to heal the sick. Jesus went up on a hill and there sat down with his followers. It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover Feast.

Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” (Jesus asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do.)

Philip answered, “We would all have to work a month to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece.”

Another follower there was Andrew. He was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”

Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” There were about 5,000 men who sat down there. Then Jesus took the loaves of bread. He thanked God for the bread and gave it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted.

They all had enough to eat. When they had finished, Jesus said to his followers, “Gather the pieces of fish and bread that were not eaten. Don’t waste anything.” So they gathered up the pieces that were left. They filled 12 large baskets with the pieces that were left of the five barley loaves.

The people saw this miracle that Jesus did. They said, “He must truly be the Prophet who is coming into the world.”

Jesus knew that the people planned to come and take him by force and make him their king. So he left and went into the hills alone.

Discussion Questions

  • How much bread and fish did Jesus receive from the little boy?   Five loaves of bread and two fish.
  • What did Jesus do with the bread and fish? First he thanked God for them and then he passed them out to the people who were there.
  • How much food was left over? Twelve large baskets full of food.


Prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for the story of Jesus Feeding the 5,000.  Thank you for teaching us to be kind to each other.
Amen.

Bible Verse for March

Be kind and loving to each other.”    Ephesians 4:32

Singing: One Boy Had Two Fish

Tune: "Happy Birthday to You"

One boy had two fish (hold up 2 fingers)
and five loaves of bread. (hold up 5 fingers)
He shared them with Jesus. (hold hands out palms up)
Lots of people were fed. (wiggle fingers to show lots of people)

Science: Smelling Chart

Materials:

  •  One piece of construction paper for each person doing the activity
  • 4 small squares of felt for each person
  • Vanilla extract
  • Peppermint flavoring
  • Perfume
  • Cinnamon
  • Glue
  • Eye droppers
  • Glue four felt squares onto construction paper
Guide Your Child To:
  • With a dropper, add a few drops of a liquid scent to one square of felt. Repeat using the other two scents.
  • Rub cinnamon onto the remaining square.
  • Smell the scents, trying to identify each one.
Talk About:
  • How does this smell? What is it?
  • Where else might you smell it?
  • Who made smells?
  • Who made noses to smell with?
  • What might you have smelled if you had been there when our story happened?