The Amazing Carpenter Series
The feeding of the 5000
The Amazing Carpenter Series
One Boy’s Lunch 1st edition, 1st print Copyright © Scandinavia Publishing House 2013 Drejervej 15, 3. DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark info@scanpublishing.dk www.scanpublishing.dk Author: L. Jensen Illustrator: Daniel Fernández Cover design by Svetlana Uscumlic Book design by Gao Hanyu Printed in China ISBN: 9788771324853 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
The feeding of the 5000 by
L. Jensen
Illustrations: Daniel Fernández
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full moon hung low over the sea. It gleamed like a beautiful pearl, but Jeb could never stretch far enough over the edge of the boat to reach it. “Last pull, boy!” shouted grandfather. At ninety-three the old man was fit for little more than barking orders. Still, his confidence on the water had always made Jeb feel safe. Jeb wrapped his blistered hands around the ropes. He blew a lock of brown hair out of his eyes. With a look to the sky, he whispered, “Here it goes, lucky stars.” Then he yanked until his net rose up out of the dark water below. It only held weeds and one wiggly minnow that Jeb flung back into the sea.
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here was candlelight in the window of their apartment. Jeb was always sorry to face his mother with so few fish. Then again, lately it seemed like she did not care at all if they starved ever since the Carpenter of Nazareth had arrived that is. These days, doing good deeds seemed more important to her than anything else. Jeb trudged through the leaning doorway behind his grandfather.
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Inside, Jeb’s mother seemed ready to burst. “I’ve taken in an orphan,” she announced proudly. Great, thought Jeb, one more mouth to feed. Their home was already a zoo of creatures his mother felt sorry for. Stray cats hid in the crates used for furniture. Bats with broken wings thumped around a messy kitchen. Even though he was only thirteen, Jeb sometimes felt like the adult in his family instead of the child.
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oose frizzes of hair created a golden glow around his mother’s head. Jeb did feel slightly sorry for her, knowing how lonely she got when he and grandfather were at sea. She eyed her son nervously. “The girl can sew,” she said, “and I’m so booked up…”
sent by God himself, because no one had ever needed a miracle more than they did now.
Jeb knew it was a lie, but he played along. “I guess if you need the help,” he said with a sly smile. His mother beamed and dropped a quick kiss on his nose. That night, Jeb tossed and turned. How would they afford another person? They were barely getting by as it was. Jeb could only hope that his mother was right about the Carpenter, a man
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“A
pple pancakes?” asked Jeb. Standing in their kitchen was a twig of a girl. One wispy, long, black braid brushed against the palest skin Jeb had ever seen. “They’re not poisoned,” she said through a half-smile and stabbed a forkful in his mouth. “Well
maybe only a little,” she teased. Her teal eyes were glittery like the sea. “I’m Persimone. That apple tree is spilling all over the place, you know.” “We don’t have an app—” Jeb started to correct her, but she had already climbed the ladder to the ceiling and was pushing through the roof door.
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tree behind their building had stretched a tall limb up over it. And sure enough, its apples now covered the roof. A laugh escaped Jeb’s mouth at the fantastic sight of fresh fruit. Persimone plucked him the fattest apple on the branch. Jeb took a big, crunchy bite. Then
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he dropped down next to her in the leafy shade. Sure there was work to be done. But if his mother didn’t care, why should he? It felt great to pretend he was a normal kid for once. Jeb noticed how Persimone’s cheeks reflected the gold of the rising sun then dimpled as she started to speak. “Before he died, my dad used to say that the sunrise reminds us of the size of God’s enormous love,” Persimone said. Her eyes sparkled as she looked toward where the full moon faded with the lightening sky. “I think the moon must be a reminder then too of what the Carpenter Jesus says… that receiving the kingdom of heaven is like getting the most precious pearl.”
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ersimone rubbed an apple on her patchwork dress, “Where’s your dad?”
Jeb didn’t blink. “Don’t know,” he answered. He focused on how the city buildings slowly filled in with detail at daybreak. “One day he was just — gone.”
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Her cool fingers on his arm surprised him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. It was the first time Jeb saw her unhappy, and he felt sad.
Jeb had heard his mother say the same thing so many times that he almost believed it. Then springing up, he darted across the roof calling, “Last one to breakfast does the dishes!”
He straightened his back and smiled. “It’s okay, really,” Jeb said. “He never lifted a finger, so we’re probably better off.”
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J
eb was dragging his nets through an alley when he heard the noise of a huge crowd. He found some stinky crates to stand on, but there were still too many people to see over. Whatever it was, the city hadn’t enjoyed this much excitement in years. Jeb began clawing his way up one of the laundry chutes from which his mother collected sewing jobs.
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With nimble hands and feet, he found each hold in the grey stones perfectly. He climbed to the fourth floor until he could see the speaker at the middle of the crowd. Perching on the window sill, Jeb lassoed one end of rope around a pole across the street. He tied the other end of rope to a spike just inside the window sill, keeping the net rolled neatly in between the two tied ends.
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“D
o not worry what you will eat,” the man called out. Jeb had shimmied out on the rope and now could see and hear everything. “…or what you will wear. Your Father in heaven knows that you need these things.” Jeb’s ears perked up as they always did whenever he heard the word father. “Do as He wants of you,” Jesus continued, “and all of your needs will be provided for.”
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Jeb was now certain that this was him, Jesus of Nazareth. “Follow me, leaving earthly treasure behind…” Jeb felt a thrill of excitement that maybe Jesus really was the Savior some said he was. That a new kind of life was about to start. Jeb leaned his ear as far as his neck could stretch. Then— ZZZIP! The net came unraveled plunging Jeb straight down into it!
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woman screamed. The crowd stared up at where Jeb was caught in his net.
A few older kids began to chuckle. Jesus tried to regain the people’s attention. “Follow me,” Jesus shouted, “and I will make you fishers of men!” The crowd only laughed harder. “Pssst” came a sound from the shaft as Jeb clawed his way
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back toward it. “Catch this!” Persimone had appeared, sticking a broom out through the window. Jeb snatched the end. He pulled himself back inside safe from view. “How did you—?” Persimone interrupted, “You aren’t the only one who can climb, you know.” Then she disappeared down the black shadows of the shaft.
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J
eb was still grumpy three days later. He had become the laughing stock of Galilee. And now he came home to find his mother cutting their last potatoes. He said, “Don’t tell me you’ve invited the whole orphanage over for supper.” His mother didn’t notice his bad mood. “He’s coming to our village!”
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Persimone jerked her head up from the bowl where she was frantically whipping. “It’s true,” she cried. “Jesus… speaking in our synagogue! Everyone is making something for the grand feast.” Jeb couldn’t understand it. Why would Jesus, a man invited to the richest homes in Galilee, want to come to a dirty, run-down slum?
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ersimone spoke in a hush, “Listen, if you’re still mad about the other day-,” She didn’t seem to mind the trickle of cream racing to her elbow. “I was trying to help.”
Jeb wanted to catch the drip on her arm with his finger. Instead, he said loudly enough for his mother to hear, “What’s all that cream for?” His mother whirled around. “I nearly forgot!” She cried. “Jeb, please go buy a dessert!” Then she went back to humming happily over the stove. Jeb sighed reaching for the money jar. Yet to his surprise, not a single cent was left inside! Persimone had been watching him from across the room. “Apples!” she chirped, flinging a spoonful of cream onto the wall behind her. “I’ll make pie.” Then she dashed up to the roof.
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t was very suspicious, Jeb thought. He was sure there had been several pennies left. But what could you expect from an orphan? She had made him look stupid in front of the whole town. And now she was stealing too. During the feast Jeb stayed silent. His mother and Persimone hung on every word Jesus said, smiling happily even though they were officially dead broke. Jeb twisted his lettuce around as a disciple complimented Persimone on
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how brave she had been to help Jeb in the chute. Jesus smiled warmly at Jeb. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Jesus said, “for they shall be filled.” Jeb dropped his eyes to his plate. Jesus continued. “And to the woman who gave her last two pennies, these are more precious to our Father than gold because she has given the most, all she has.”
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o Persimone hadn’t stolen the money; his mother had given it away. Jeb didn’t know what to feel. His father had abandoned him, and now his mother was making them beggars. Jeb thought of Jesus’ promise that his heavenly Father would provide if he only had faith. But how could anything real come out of something invisible? His mind felt like scrambled eggs - on land anyway. Happily there was the sea where things fell in order. The tide
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came in and went out, right on schedule. The nets went down and came back up. Life was easier at sea and without surprises. So Jeb put his energy into fishing and went to sleep as soon as he came home. He pushed his father and mother and Jesus— and Persimone, most of all, out of his mind. Yet somehow the thoughts he pushed away trickled into his dreams as he slept.
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n the place where Persimone’s laughter had filled him with sunshine, Jeb now felt emptier and emptier as the days went on.
Jeb tossed back a cup of water in one gulp. “Maybe I’ll play stones with the boys,” he replied, and setting the cup down, he headed to his room.
Meanwhile, his nets became fuller. “Won-derful!” cried his mother at a catch of forty fish. “Things are looking up.” Then she eyed her son anxiously. “Jeb, you’ve been working so hard. I know, why not take tomorrow off?” She looked so proud of the idea that Jeb didn’t have the heart to argue. “Jesus is coming to the shore. Maybe you could go with Persimone early in the morning?”
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orning came and went. Jeb was so rarely lazy; he hardly knew how to do it. He stared at the ceiling awhile. Then he got up. Persimone and his mother had left hours ago, but on the table was a packed lunch of one full fish and three oat loaves. When he finally got outside, Jeb was still planning to meet the boys. But curiosity, or maybe it was the extra sleep, carried
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him to the shore instead. He scanned the hillside where no less than five thousand people had gathered. There were many girls his age with blond, brown, and red hair all in plain dresses. But there was only one with glistening black hair wearing a colorful patchwork dress and a smile of sunshine. When he saw her, he knew just what he wanted to say.
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“P
ersimone,” squeezing in next to her, Jeb took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I’ve been unwelcoming. And—” He had to get it all out and quickly. “I thought you stole from the jar. I’m sorry about
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that too and for not thanking you up on the chute. Could we, maybe, be friends?” By her huge smile, Jeb could see that Persimone forgave him. Glancing sideways she
said, “You know, someone else wants to be your friend too.” Jeb looked over where Jesus talked with his disciples. “I want to have faith,” Jeb said quietly. “I just don’t know how.”
“Like Jesus says,” Persimone replied, “it only takes as much faith as a tiny mustard seed.” At the word mustard, Jeb’s stomach growled so loudly they both heard it and laughed.
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ersimone pulled out one of her three loaves and handed Jeb half. As he gobbled it down, Jeb noticed that the people around him watching were hungry. Some looked too weak to even stand, and here Jeb sat with the biggest lunch of his
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life. His ears burned with shame. Then Jeb had an idea. It didn’t come from the Jeb who was always afraid of running out. It came from a new Jeb who decided that it was now or never to try
out this faith-thing. One who was ready to open his heart all the way. “Be right back,” he told Persimone and jumped up with his lunch sack in hand. She smiled, already knowing him way too well, “Wait, take mine too.”
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ith one brave step, Jeb entered the huddle. “It’s late,” one of the disciples was saying. “Let’s send the people away to eat.” Jesus replied, “Don’t send them away; feed them.” This was Jeb’s chance. He tugged the sleeve of the disciple nearest to him and slipped him his lunch. “But Lord, we’re in a desert,” the first disciple said. “There is no food here.”
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The disciple Jeb had handed his food to spoke up. “We only have what this boy gave - two fish and five loaves of bread.” Jesus took the fish and bread and held them up in front of the crowd. Then he began to pray. “Our father, who art in heaven…”
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hen the food had been blessed, Jesus broke off a chunk of one loaf.
What happened next Jeb could hardly believe. As Jesus tore the bread, it broke into more and more and more pieces. An entire basket was filled by only one small loaf! The same thing happened when Jesus broke the fish. Within minutes the pieces looked as though Jesus had broken apart a hundred fish. Jeb looked across the crowd where most seemed
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just as shocked as he was. Even his grandfather looked on with a dropped jaw. Jeb’s mother, on the other hand, wore only a smug smile. So, she had understood the truth all along‌ that with Jesus there is always enough to go around. She caught Jeb watching her, and he shrugged his shoulders with a sheepish smile. His mother chuckled, her eyes twinkling with joy.
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eb and Persimone got to help the disciples pass the baskets around. Shouts and laughter rang out as hands both big and small reached up for a share of the meal. Everyone got seconds and thirds. Some had such full tummies that they had to lie down on the grass. Uneaten fish and bread piled up. Jesus asked the disciples to gather what the crowd couldn’t
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finish, and they filled twelve whole baskets with leftovers. It was growing dark. Jesus told the disciples to go on ahead of him in their boats. He would send the crowd away himself and then meet them on the other side of the lake. Persimone walked Jeb’s mother and grandfather home while Jeb stayed behind to help Jesus with his boat.
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eb held the anchor rope as cool water lapped his legs. He was watching the full moon rise on the sea when Jesus’ strong arm folded around him. A sparkling peace had moved into Jeb’s heart, glowing lovelier than any pearl could. It was time for Jesus to go. “Keep my words in your heart like a treasure,” Jesus said. He gave
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Jeb’s shoulder a loving squeeze and climbed into the boat. As the boat drifted out, Jeb whispered, “I won’t forget… not for as long as the moon rises.” He watched for a long time as the boat grew smaller and smaller and finally disappeared into the silver orb of moonlight.
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The Feeding of the 5000 John 6:1-14
Jesus crossed Lake Galilee, which was also known as Lake Tiberias. A large crowd had seen him work miracles to heal the sick, and those people went with him. It was almost time for the Jewish festival of Passover, and Jesus went up on a mountain with his disciples and sat down.
the crowd. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat.
When Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?” He said this to test Philip, since he already knew what he was going to do.
The people ate all they wanted, and Jesus told his disciples to gather up the leftovers, so that nothing would be wasted. The disciples gathered them up and filled twelve large baskets with what was left over from the five barley loaves.
Philip answered, “Don’t you know that it would take almost a year’s wages just to buy only a little bread for each of these people?”
After the people had seen Jesus work this miracle, they began saying, “This must be the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the disciples. He spoke up and said, “There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?” The ground was covered with grass, and Jesus told his disciples to have everyone sit down. About five thousand men were in
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BOOK 3: The feeding of the 5000
The Amazing Carpenter Series
The Amazing Carpenter Series: Rina’s spunky smarts and flashing gold eyes can charm just about anyone. Her father is leader of the synagogue, so her life isn’t lacking for comfort. When she wins the attention of the cutest boy in town--Caleb--it seems Rina has every last thing a girl could want. That is, until sickness takes her prisoner. Then their happy home gets torn apart, as her parents face that no amount will buy a cure for Rina. Yet Caleb refuses to give up. He has watched the Carpenter Jesus heal what no doctor could . . . but can anyone heal the dead?
THE FEEDING OF THE 5000
A series to bring you up-close and personal with the amazing life of Jesus! Experience how the Carpenter healed bodies, minds, and hearts by taking a journey to the very places He walked. Meet the people that Jesus touched for yourself, and witness His amazing miracles right alongside them.
L. Jensen
The Feeding Of The 5000
ISBN: 9788771324853 Printer: Specialtrykkeriet Viborg Denmark October xxxx #ID: xxxxxxxxxx