Bible story for kids · John 6
A boy shares his lunch
A huge crowd followed Jesus up a hillside. They wanted to see him and hear him. It was getting late, and they were hungry.
Jesus asked his friend Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people?” Jesus already knew what he was going to do.
Philip said, “It would cost more than half a year’s pay, and still each person would only get a little.”
Then Andrew said, “There is a boy here with five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But how far will that go with so many people?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass, and about five thousand men sat down, with women and children too.
Jesus took the bread and thanked God. Then he gave it out to everyone. He did the same with the fish. Everyone ate as much as they wanted.
When they were full, Jesus said, “Gather up the leftovers, so nothing is wasted.”
They filled twelve baskets with the pieces that were left over.
From the Bible
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are these for so many?”
Talk about it
- The boy did not have much, but he gave it to Jesus. What do you have that you could share?
- Jesus thanked God before he gave out the food. Why do we say thank you before we eat?
- There were twelve baskets left over. What does that tell you about Jesus?
For grown-ups: what the text says
All four Gospels tell this miracle. Only John mentions the boy (John 6:9), and the text does not say he offered his lunch or how Andrew found him. This telling keeps to that. The count of about five thousand is men (John 6:10; Matthew 14:21 adds “besides women and children”). In John 6:35 Jesus explains the sign: “I am the bread of life.”