Unit 24, Session 2: Jesus Fed a Crowd
Jesus’ disciples had been working hard, teaching people and healing them. Jesus called them to go away with Him to a desolate place so they could rest. By now, Jesus’ popularity was so great that finding a place to be alone was difficult. When Jesus and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, the crowd of people were already waiting for them on the other side.
Jesus saw the crowds, but He wasn’t frustrated or angry. He didn’t tell them to go away. Instead, He had compassion on them because they were lost—like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks and saves the lost. (See Luke 19:10; John 10:14.)
The miracle Jesus performed that evening—feeding 5,000 men plus women and children—is the only miracle during Jesus’ earthly ministry that is recorded in all four Gospels. The same God who provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness multiplied loaves and fish to satisfy the crowd.
But Jesus’ didn’t intend to only meet people’s physical needs. He came to satisfy their spiritual needs as well. In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” He said that no one who comes to Him will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Him will ever be thirsty again.
Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven. (See John 6:41.) God provided His Son as the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins. At the first Lord’s Supper, Jesus broke bread—a symbol of His death on the cross. (See Matt. 26:26.)
By feeding the five thousand, Jesus provided for the physical needs of the crowd. The next day, Jesus called Himself the bread of life. (John 6:35) Only Jesus is able to satisfy our souls forever by providing forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life.
As you share with your kids, help them know that God can and will provide for our needs. Kids can trust Him for their “daily bread.” (See Matt. 6:11.) God met our greatest need in giving us salvation through Jesus. Will He not graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)
Big Picture Question:
Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to glorify God, to show He is the Son of God, and to care for people.
Key Passage:
Psalm 40:5
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
Worship ideas that connect with today’s lesson:
- Deep Cries Out- Bethel Kids
- Waymaker- Kids Lyric Video
- Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)- Rend Collective
Bible Story Lesson:
Discussion Questions:
Distribute a sheet of paper to each child. Ask the kids to write about or draw a picture to answer the following questions:
What does this story teach me about God or about the gospel?
What does this story teach me about myself?
Whom can I tell about this story?
Elementary-
Why had Jesus and His disciples crossed over the Sea of Galilee? (to be alone, Matt. 14:13)
What did the disciples want to do with the hungry crowd of people? (send them away to buy their own food, Matt. 14:15)
How many baskets full of leftovers did the disciples gather? (12, Matt. 14:20)
What does this story show about Jesus? Guide kids to think about the compassion Jesus shows. Jesus wants to meet the needs of people. He met their physical needs by healing them and feeding them, but also meets spiritual needs. Jesus taught about God before dying on the cross and rising again. Jesus’ work made the way for us to be forgiven and have eternal life with God.
Why did Jesus call himself the bread of life? Guide kids to think about the role of bread in Old Testament stories. Remind them about the manna God provided and the significance of the unleavened bread at Passover. Help them see that, just as bread represents a basic necessity—food—Jesus is necessary to have spiritual life with God.
How can we learn to trust Jesus more? Guide kids to discuss ways we can grow in faith, such as studying the Bible, gathering together as a church, praying, and even fasting. Help kids understand what those disciplines are and how we do them.
Take-away • Jesus miraculously fed a crowd with five loaves and two fish. Jesus met the physical needs of the crowd by satisfying their hunger. He will meet all our spiritual needs. He satisfies our soul, provides forgiveness, and promises eternal life.
Preschool-
What did Jesus teach people? (about God and His kingdom)
How much food did the boy give to Jesus? (five loaves of bread and two fish)
Would five loaves of bread and two fish be enough to feed a crowd? (no)
Was five loaves and two fish enough for Jesus to feed a crowd? (yes)
How many people did Jesus feed? (more than 5,000)
Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus performed miracles to show He is the Son of God.