2. Feeding of the Five Thousand
After this 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 on 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 toward 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 they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have 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!”
Jesus performed many miracles during his ministry to show God’s love and power.
Although the ultimate purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to take away our sins so we could be closer to God, as he spent time with people, he also taught them how to live and love and access the power of God in their everyday lives. Your child may already be familiar with this popular story but retell it to them with an emphasis on why Jesus performed miracles like this one.
By interacting with people through teaching, miracles, and healing, Jesus opened his heart to others allowing them to open their hearts to him. Jesus wants to be in relationship with us. He wants us to know him and love him as much as he knows and loves us.
Related verse – John 20:31 (NIV): But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.