FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND - John 6 - Teen Bible study

In this lesson, we will learn from the miracle of feeding the 5000. This lesson relates to pre-teens and teens, and by the end of this lesson, they should have learnt about the following:

Jesus cares for our needs.
God can use the little we have in amazing ways.
Jesus invites us to serve with Him.

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 6:1-59

MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE LESSON

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND pdf – preteen and teen Bible lesson

BIBLE STUDY NOTES FOR TEENS

As we read each of the four gospels, we get a different perspective on the life, teaching, and ministry of Jesus. Each one has a different focus. Apart from the resurrection, the Feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-15.)

BACKGROUND TO THE STORY

The twelve disciples had returned from the missionary journey Jesus had sent them on. During the same period, Jesus had received the upsetting news that King Herod had killed His cousin, John the Baptist.

Jesus decides to set sail on the Sea of Galilee to find a remote place to rest and pray with His disciples. Yet, when the people hear that Jesus is in the area, they rush to see Him. They bring sick friends and family to Him to be healed.

When Jesus saw the crowd, He had compassion on them. He didn’t sail further away for His needed rest but stopped to teach them about the Kingdom of God and healed the sick.

After a busy day, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowds away to find food and rest. The disciples were likely fearful of the lack of resources in this remote place and the distance from major towns.

Jesus looked at the crowds of five thousand men plus women and children and told the disciples to feed them. The disciples recognized the impossible task. Even if they were to find enough bread in this remote place, Philip responds that it would cost two hundred denarii (more than an eight-month salary).

Then Andrew brings a young boy. He had five small loaves of bread and two small fish. It wasn’t much, but He brought it to Jesus. Jesus ordered the crowd to sit down in groups of fifty. Jesus took the food and gave thanks. He then gave it to the disciples to pass around. After all the crowd ate, the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers.

1. JESUS CARES ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS (JOHN 6:5)

One of the things that stands out in this passage is that Jesus tells His disciples to feed the crowd.

Jesus ministered to their spiritual need; He healed the sick and taught them about the Kingdom of Heaven. But He didn’t stop there. When Jesus noticed the crowd was getting hungry, He said, let’s give them some bread.

Jesus identifies with us as people. Jesus took upon Himself a physical body and entered our world. He, too was hungry (Matthew 4), thirsty (John 19:28), and tired (John 4:16). Jesus understands and cares for our physical and spiritual needs.

We should also continue Jesus’ ministry in caring for our community’s physical and spiritual needs. In Matthew 25:34-45, Jesus teaches that when we feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, welcome a stranger, give clothes to the needy, care for the sick and visit the imprisoned, it is as if we are doing it for Jesus.

We are called to share the gospel through our words and our actions. We should not only talk about God’s love; we are to show it.

2. GOD CAN DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE (JOHN 6:9)

Have you ever looked at the situation and thought it seemed impossible? It is so much easier to focus on what we don’t have than on what we do. Our starting point in ministry and service should not be our resources but rather what the need is.

Philip looked at the crowd and saw an impossible task. Jesus looked at the crowd and saw a need. God will not call you to a situation and not resource you. You may not have everything you want, but He will provide you with everything you need.

There is a similarity here with the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4. The widow focused on what she did not have, but God multiplied the little through Elisha.

Instead of complaining about your lack, give what you do have to Jesus. Andrew brought the little boy with a little packed lunch. It didn’t seem much, but Jesus multiplied it to feed the crowd. Remember, the Bible says that there were five thousand men. If we included women and children, the total number could easily rise to about 15 or 20 thousand people. Everyone ate, everyone was satisfied (including the boy who could eat more than he originally had), and there were twelve baskets to collect as leftovers.

What little do you have to give to Jesus? Don’t worry about the spiritual gifts you lack or what you could do if you have a million dollars. Serve with the little and watch God multiply it.

3. JESUS INVITES US TO MINISTER TO OTHERS (JOHN 6:5, 12)

It would have been easy for Jesus to provide food for the crowd. He could have commanded manna to fall from Heaven like it did in the wilderness. But He invites others to serve with Him. He first tells the disciples to feed them. Remember, they had just returned from a missionary trip where Jesus had empowered them.

But even after the disciples fail the first test, He doesn’t abandon them. Jesus has them distribute the food to the crowds and collect any leftovers. Jesus also invited a little boy to be part of the miracle. We can be sure it was a day he never forgot. Imagine if the boy had thought his lunch was not enough for Jesus. He would have missed out on this wonderful experience.

It’s amazing that God invites us to partner with Him in ministry. That’s been God’s way since the beginning. In Genesis, God created the world without any help, and when it was perfect, He told Adam, “To cultivate it and keep it.” God invites us to partner with Him in a ministry that is bigger than ourselves.

4. JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE (JOHN 6:35)

In the Bible, bread is an important food. Not only did God provide manna in the desert for the Israelites, but it was also broken at Passover meals to remember God’s salvation.

Jesus uses this miracle to demonstrate His deity and prepare His sermon where He says, ‘I AM the Bread of Life’ (John 6:22-40).

This is the first of seven “I am” recorded in John’s gospel account. Unfortunately, many in the multitude were more drawn to the miracles of Jesus than to who He was and His power to save. In their eagerness for free food, much of the crowd missed the main point of Jesus’ teaching.

The physical bread Jesus provided pointed to the spiritual bread of his body, the bread of life. Jesus contrasted the physical bread, which spoils to seeking the true bread from Heaven that gives spiritual life that lasts forever (vv. 27-33).

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). Jesus will never disappoint. We must hunger for Him more than anything else. We must be careful not to act as the crowd and seek Jesus for what He can give us (things to satisfy the flesh) but for who He is – The bread of life.

Listen to the study

YOUTH GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

BASKET RELAY

Hide five loaves and two fish for each team around the room or area.
Provide each team with a basket.
On go, the first player from each team runs off to find an item for their basket.
Once they find a fish or loaf, they return it to their team to place in the basket.
The second player than goes to find another item and so on.
The first team to have five loaves and two fish in their basket wins.

GUESS HOW MANY

Break some pieces of bread into bowls or sealed jars.
Have each child take a guess of how many pieces of bread are in each jar and write it down.
Remind them how many the boy had (5) and how many baskets of leftovers were there at the end (12).
Count the bread pieces in the jars to see who guessed the closest.

THE FASTEST SANDWICH

Place the items needed to make a simple sandwich on a table.
For example, bread, butter, cheese, salad (be sure to check for allergies)
On go, time each child to see who can make and eat a sandwich the fastest.
Want to make it more of a challenge? They must do it with one hand behind their back.