Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds a crowd of over five thousand people, with twelve baskets left over.
John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17
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The Story
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, besides women and children.
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.'
This is the only miracle (besides the resurrection) recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus took what was offered—a boy's small lunch—and multiplied it beyond imagination. He still takes our small offerings and does immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
Lunch for Thousands
Kids Version
THOUSANDS of people followed Jesus to hear Him teach. They stayed all day! But now it was getting late, and everyone was HUNGRY.
Jesus asked Philip, 'Where can we buy food for all these people?'
Philip's eyes got huge. 'It would take a YEAR'S worth of money to buy enough food for everyone to have even a tiny bite!'
Andrew spoke up. 'There's a boy here with five little loaves of bread and two small fish. But... that's nothing for this huge crowd.'
Jesus smiled. 'Have everyone sit down.'
The people sat on the grassy hillside. There were 5,000 men—plus women and kids! Maybe 15,000 or 20,000 people total!
Jesus took the boy's little lunch. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for it.
Then He started breaking the bread and fish into pieces. He gave the pieces to His disciples to pass out.
And the food just kept coming! Break off a piece—more appears! Break off another—more appears! The disciples walked around giving food to EVERYONE!
Every single person ate until they were FULL!
'Okay,' Jesus said, 'gather up the leftovers. Don't waste anything.'
The disciples collected TWELVE baskets full of leftover pieces!
From one boy's tiny lunch, Jesus fed thousands—with food to spare!
Jesus can take whatever little bit we give Him and do something AMAZING with it. Never think what you have is too small for God to use!
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — John 6:1-15 (KJV)
1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Memory Verse
“After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.”
— John 6:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Jesus Feeds Five Thousand” in the Bible?
With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds a crowd of over five thousand people, with twelve baskets left over. This story is found in John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17.
Where is “Jesus Feeds Five Thousand” found in the Bible?
“Jesus Feeds Five Thousand” is found in John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, in the book of John.
What can children learn from “Jesus Feeds Five Thousand”?
This story teaches children about Provision, Compassion, Abundance, Jesus as Bread of Life. A huge crowd was hungry, but there was no food—except one boy's tiny lunch. Jesus took five loaves and two fish and fed EVERYONE, with leftovers!