Reel Luke

Jesus Feeds Thousands

Luke 9:10-17

Helpful Stuff to Know

In the other gospel accounts, we learn that just before this story, Herod (the local ruler) had beheaded Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist.

Be Sure Not to Miss

When Jesus slipped away quietly in verse 10, maybe he wanted to pray and mourn for his cousin.

The disciples were really good at telling Jesus what they thought he should do.

No one knows exactly how many people were there that day. Someone counted a huge number of men, and there were probably also women and children. It would have been an enormous crowd.

Jesus was the one who multiplied the food, but the disciples were the ones who gave the food to the people. Jesus had his friends help him do his good work.

There were just enough leftovers to feed each of the 12 disciples.

Be Careful About

Don't turn this actual story into a metaphor. This story doesn't teach or promise that if you give something to Jesus, he will multiply it into much more. This story teaches that God has the power to perform miracles (because he is God) and that he cares about people's actual needs (because he created and loves them.)

Reel Questions

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Reel Setting (place)

Where did this story happen? (Describe the setting — in a house, on a road, by a lake, in a city, etc.)
What do you think that place looked like? smelled like? sounded like?
Do you think it matters that this story happened in that specific place? Why?
What about the place in this story feels familiar? What feels strange?

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Reel People (characters)

Make a list of all the people in this story and give a one-word description of each (include “crowd” if there is one). Why did you choose that word?
What does Jesus say and do in this story? List all the things. Does anything surprise you? Why?
Which person (besides Jesus) is most interesting to you? Why?
What details about the characters do you wish were included or explained in the story? Why?
Why do you think [choose a specific character or the crowd] spoke or acted the way they did?
What are some different things that [the person from previous question] could have said or done? How would that have changed the story?
What do you think the onlookers were thinking and feeling as things were happening in this story? Why?
How do you think the main characters might have changed after this story? Why? (Sometimes it tells us, like with Zacchaeus, but other times it doesn’t.)
How do you think the crowd or onlookers might have changed after this story? Why?
If you’d been there, where would you have been standing or sitting? What would you have been thinking or feeling? Why?

Reel Events (plot)

List all the events in the story.
List some details that aren't included but are assumed in the story.
What do you think are the two or three most important moments in this story? Why?
If this story were a film, when would the music be scary or tense? When would it be joyful or upbeat? Why?
What do you think maybe happened right before this story? What do you think maybe happened right after this story?
Does the biblical story before or after this one matter to this story? How? Why do you think that?
What are some different ways things could have happened or ended in this story?
If this story were happening today in your school or town, what are ways Jesus might have acted or explained things for your context?
What would you call this story if it were a full-length book or movie? Why?

Real Faith

What’s a way people could misunderstand or misuse this story?
Why do you think this story is in the Bible? Why would God want us to read and learn from it?
What are you learning about Jesus (or his Father or the Spirit) from this story?
What are you learning about following Jesus (living for Jesus and living like Jesus) from this story?
After reading this story, what are some questions you have about Jesus and following him?

Story-Specific Questions

Jesus was probably sad about his cousin's death before this story happened. What do you think about Jesus experiencing deep sadness?

The story says that Jesus taught the crowd and healed many people, but doesn't include any details about those things. Why do you think those details weren't included?

Why do you think the disciples told Jesus to send the people away?

How do you think the disciples felt about being part of what happened that day as they handed out food to all those thousands of people?