Loaves and Fishes

John 6:1-21 (Congregation to stand for the telling, and acting out of the gospel)

Baskets of bread and small pieces of fish should be placed at the back of church. A small child stands ready to present them to Andrew the disciple. Jesus and disciples stand beside the Narrator at the front.

Narrator: Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,

Jesus: “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

Narrator: He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him,

Philip: “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Narrator: Another of his disciples, Andrew, (Simon Peter’s brother) spoke up, (boy walks forward and hands over the basket to Andrew)

Andrew: “Look here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (Jesus takes the basket)

Narrator: Jesus said,

Jesus: “Have the people sit down.” (Congregation sits)

Narrator: There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about 5000 men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, and gave thanks.

A typical Jewish blessing is now said by Jesus

Jesus: Blessed are you O Lord our God; you cause bread to come forth from the earth.

(The bread and fishes are distributed to the congregation, if time allows)

Narrator: So they gathered what was left over and filled twelve baskets. (large baskets brought forward here and presented to Jesus) After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say,

The people (congregation) : “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Narrator: Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Link this with the following song by Margaret Scott.

Go to www.sheilahamil.co.uk

‘The Best of United Folk’ section for access and download

I am the bread to feed the world

I am the fire that's never cold,

I am the hope of a dying world,

Turn to me my children

I am the friend they've never known,

I am the balm to soothe their souls

I am the wealth they long to own

Turn to me my children.

There's a hungry world who don't know me

A crying world doesn't know I care

I can see all their faces so lonely

Who'll go to them?

(Rpt v 1)

Look at the fear on their faces

Look at the envy and discontent,

Watch their scurrying paces,

Who'll go to them?

I am the God who loves the poor,

And mine is the anger at those who never care,

Blindness is no excuse for you,

You'd better turn to me my children.

(Rpt v 1)