Five Loaves and Two Fish - What Good are They?
By Esther Twigg
One day when Todd walked into his classroom, Mrs. Wright knew it was going to be a long day. All morning he was picking fights with the other children. He did not want to obey either. Mrs. Wright was glad when it was time for lunch. She thought that Todd would act better if he was able to eat and then play for awhile. But she noticed that Todd just sat down and laid his head down. She decided to go and speak to him.
"Todd, what’s the matter?"asked Mrs. Wright sitting at a desk near Todd.
Todd looked up and thought to himself, I do not want her to know my dad lost his job, and now we do not have enough money to buy food. So he replied, "I’m not hungry, so I decided to take a nap."
Todd looked at Mrs.Wright to see if she believed him. She looked like she did, so he started to relax.
"Do you mind if I sit here and tell you a story, then? It may help you go to sleep!" said Mrs. Wright with a smile.
Todd thought, Well, why not. Aloud he replied, "Sure, I’ll try to stay awake." Once again he laid his head down and listened quietly as Mrs. Wright began her story.
"Long ago, there was a man named Jesus. He was a great man and a wonderful teacher. This is a story about a little boy who met him. Benjamin’s family was going through hard times. His father had been in a terrible fishing accident and so they did not have much money. To earn money, Ben’s mother would make loaves of bread and send Ben out to sell them. Sometimes Ben would catch fish to sell too. On this particular day, Ben was not able to sell all of his bread. He still had five loaves and two fish left. As lunch time came closer, Ben decided to walk outside of the city and up to the mountain. He was just going to rest and be by himself. But as Ben climbed up the mountain, he saw more and more people. What are all these people doing? He wondered. Then he saw Him. A man was sitting at the top, in the middle of a crowd, and He was talking. Ben saw the thousands of people and realized he would not be by himself. So he decided to relax and listen to the Man.
All afternoon, he listened and watched as the man, Jesus spoke and healed people. He made the sick well; the blind to see!! Who was this Man? Ben wanted to hear more! Maybe Jesus could heal his dad! But something was happening. The quietness and awe of the people began to give way to murmuring. They were starting to get hungry. Ben was hungry too. He started looking around only to realize that some people were eyeing his basket of fish and bread. He grasped his basket close to him and was about to leave, when he noticed a man coming up toward him.
"You, boy, how much food do you have in the basket?" the stranger asked.
Ben was scared, but he answered, "Five loaves of barley and two fish, sir."
The man smiled and gently requested, "Please, follow me."
Ben nodded and stood up. The man turned and started walking away. Troubled thoughts plagued him: Where was the man taking him? Why did he choose me? Did I do something wrong? I hope he does not want all my food. I was going to give it to my family for supper. He tried to quiet the thoughts as he followed the stranger. People quickly made a path. Before he knew it, Ben realized he was standing before Jesus and several other men. The men sounded angry, and Ben took a tiny step back. They were asking Jesus to let the people go. But Jesus said, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
A man responded, "We do not have any money - surely not enough to feed all these people!"
Then the stranger spoke up. He pointed to Ben and said, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"
Ben was about to speak up, but Jesus looked at him and smiled.
"Make the men sit down," replied Jesus.
As the men around Jesus did as he commanded, Jesus motioned Ben closer. Looking at Jesus, Ben moved towards him. Without saying a word, Ben reached out his basket and gave it to Jesus. Ben sat down, feeling good, but anxious to see what Jesus would do.
Jesus took the loaves and prayed. Then he gave the food to the disciples. Ben sat in amazement as he watched his loaves and fish being given out! They seemed to never stop coming! The disciples went up and down the mountainside, passing out barley loaves and fish, and yet they never ran out! Ben was amazed! How could this be? Wait until he told his family! What a great man this was! Ben could hardly wait to finish eating and tell his parents!"
Todd sat up as Mrs. Wright continued. " An that is exactly what Ben did. He finished eating and ran home to tell his parents all about Jesus and how he had feed five thousand people with just his five loaves of barley and two fish."
"That was a neat story, but I do not know if I would have given up my food. Why did you tell me the story?," asked Todd.
"Why do you think,?" replied Mrs. Wright.
"Well, I think you are telling me to trust God because he will provide what I need and more."
"Yes, you are right. I know sometimes things happen, and we go through hard times. But remember that God always knows. Don’t you think other people may have had food? Why did God choose Ben?" asked Mrs. Wright. "As you think about it, enjoy this extra meal - at no charge!" With that Mrs. Wright walked away, leaving her lunch beside him.
Todd watched her quietly, and then he opened her lunch. Inside he found his favorite sandwich, a drink, and cookies. Also in it was a note that said, "God loves you and so do I." Todd looked at the place where Mrs. Wright had sat. Quietly, humbly, he bowed his head. "Thank-you, Lord, for this lunch. Thank-you that you take care of me and give me even more than I need. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
Smiling, he began to eat.
Questions
1. Why was Todd acting up in class?
2. What did Mrs. Wright do with Todd at lunch
3. What was Ben selling?
4. Why did Ben five Jesus the fish?
5. Why do you think Mrs. Wright told Todd that story?
6. Think about Mrs. Wright’s question - Why do you think God choose Ben?- what do you think?
7. Share a time when God has given you more than you needed.
Answers
1. Hungry, upset because dad lost his job
2. Tell story, give him extra lunch
3. Fish and loaves of barley
4. Answers will vary
5. Answers will vary
6. Answers will vary
7. Answers will vary
Props
lunch sack, note in lunch, sandwich, drink, cookies, basket, 5 loaves of barley, 2 fish
Outline
I. Todd was acting up
II. Lunch time came
A. Todd did not eat
B. Mrs. Wright sat down and talked to Todd
III. Mrs Wright told a story
A. Ben’s family
B. Ben sold barley loaves and fish
C. Ben went up the mountain
D. Ben listened to Jesus
E. Ben got ready to leave
F. A stranger talked to ben
G. Ben met Jesus
H. Jesus used Ben’s loaves and fish to feed 5,000 people
I. Ben was happy
IV. Mrs. Wright asked Todd some questions
V. Mrs. Wright gave Todd a lunch
VI. Todd thanked God
VII. Todd ate
Sources
My imagination
Bible - John 6:5-13