Presented by Sermons4Kids Featuring the Art of Henry Martin Free use is permitted for ministry purposes only. Not for publication or distribution for profit.

The disciples returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quieter spot.

But many people saw them leaving, and ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. A huge crowd was there as they stepped from the boat. Jesus felt sorry for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

So Jesus sat down with his disciples and began to teach the people many things.

Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, It is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy themselves some food. But Jesus said, "You feed them."

"With what?" Philip asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all of these people!" "How much food do you have?" Jesus asked.

Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?"

Tell the boy to bring me the loaves and fish, Jesus said. Then he said to them, Have the people to sit down in groups of about fifty each.

Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to pass out to all the people.

And they all ate until they were full. "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted " Jesus told his disciples. The disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!" Jesus saw that they were ready to take him and make him king, so he went away into the mountains to be alone.

When you think that you are too small or that you dont have much to offer, remember the story of the little boy with the loaves and fish. Small becomes big -- and little becomes much when placed in the hands of God!

Copyright © 2005 Sermons4Kids and Henry Martin