Lesson: Jesus Provides a Love That is Never Ending.
Bible Passage: John 6:1-14, Matthew 14:13-21, Matthew 15;29-39, Mark 6:30-44, Mark 8:1-13, Luke 9:10-17
You will need a “Jesus Box” or some other way to make something appear. A Jesus Box is a simple box made with a false bottom. The minimum requirement to make one is a box, extra cardboard and black paint. For greater detail, see HOW TO MAKE A JESUS BOX by clicking this link or going to the Home Page. You can also view the video at How to Make a Jesus Box.
For this Moment, I also bought Goldfish brand crackers in little packets. (Loaves. Fishes. Get it?) Put all but one of the packets in the false bottom of the Box. You will want to practice A LOT to work the Box smoothly.
We just heard a very well-know story out of the Bible called “Loaves and Fishes.” In our story, there is a gathering of Jesus’ followers – sort of like all of you here – and very little food – sort of like this one packet of Goldfish crackers. Jesus said, “Give the food to me” (put packet in Jesus Box) and said “Thanks to God for this food.” When you sit down to eat, do you say a blessing? (If you so dare, ask one of the Children to share his/her blessing. Otherwise, tell them…) At our house, this is our blessing (Give a short blessing. In the interests of disclosure, I will say, “When I was your age, at the dinner table, we would say, ‘Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. And let this meal with us be blessed.’) While you are saying the blessing – and you can invite the children to close their eyes while doing so – open the Box and discretely open the false bottom. Now some may say that Jesus performed a miracle and from that little amount of food, (take out the original packet) he made enough food for the people. Others say that Jesus embarrassed the people who had food and weren’t going to share. Regardless of why, the miracle is that there was now enough food to share – for you and you (begin handing out the packets until everyone has one) until everyone had one. (Close the false bottom and show the box) But do you think that was enough? NO! (Discretely open the false bottom) Not only did everyone get fed, but there was so much left over (take out all the extra packets and strew them about (NOTE: You will have lost the kids at this point, as they will be scrambling for packets) that they gathered up baskets full of food.
This is the miracle of Jesus’ love – that not only is there enough for everyone, but that there will always be enough and there will more left over.
To see a video of this Moment, go to Loaves and Fishes and the Jesus Box. To make a Jesus Box, go to How to Make a Jesus Box.