Foundational Bible Story – The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30-44)

This story shows us God’s abundance and how God can make much from what seems at first sight little. This is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. It can also be found in Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-14. In John’s account, we learn that the five loaves and two fish, which fed so many, came from a boy’s packed lunch. The story demonstrates our values of courage, compassion and creativity, as Christ cares for the crowd and the boy and disciples share what they have.

It's a story which develops with reflection as it takes place around the Jewish festival of Passover, recalling the Exodus and the liberation of God’s people centuries earlier. The feeding of the five thousand looks forward to Jesus’ Last Supper with his friends, which is celebrated by Christians week by week in Holy Communion. It is also seen as a picture of the future feast in heaven prepared for all people. In John’s gospel, the miracle is seen as one of seven signs of Jesus’ identity, the “I AM” sayings (“I am the Bread of Life”). Bread and fish are powerful symbols. The fish became an early sign of Jesus as the Greek word for fish was an acronym for Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour. As children grow through the school, they have opportunities to explore these various aspects.