Investiture Achievement/Skit/Mark/Act Two: Five loaves, two fish

Jesus Feeds 5000

Teaser:

Gabby Gefin (pre-recorded)

Tonight's top story: a man feeds 5000 people with a young boy's lunch basket. Stay tuned to find out what was in it.

News splash/intro screen

Seeya Tamarah

Good evening and welcome to Judea Today. I'm Seeya Tamarah.

Gabby Gefin

And I'm Gabby Gefin. Tonight's top story: Jesus, the famous preacher from Nazareth fed 5000 people today with nothing more than a boy's small lunch. Shem Nehemiah filed this report from Galilee.

Shem Nehemiah

Good evening. I'm standing here along the shore of Lake Galilee with Jaydon Thoma, a man who took part in this now-famous meal. Jaydon, how did you come to be here today?

Jaydon Thoma

Well, I was pretty bummed out that John the Baptist had been beheaded. Then I heard that Jesus had just arrived in town. Me and a bunch of the guys went looking for him, but he was just nowhere to be found.

Shem Nehemiah

Then where did you find him?

Jaydon Thoma

Some of the women from around here found him and his 12 followers out in the wilderness. They figured he probably wanted to be left alone, but when he didn't run them off, they went and told everyone else in town where he was. That's how I found out. Once word got out, everyone from all the cities around here came running.

Shem Nehemiah

What happened next?

Jaydon Thoma

We all went out to him to hear what he had to say about John the Baptizer.

Shem Nehemiah

And did he have anything to say about that?

Jaydon Thoma

Not really. But man, he sure had a lot of other amazing things to say. We sat there and listened to him for hours!

Shem Nehemiah

Exactly how long did you listen?

Jaydon Thoma

Oh, I'm not entirely sure. We were here from morning until well after dinner time. I didn't notice I was hungry until his disciples started talking about food. Then I realized I was starving!

Shem Nehemiah

I understand that no one in that deserted place had anything to eat.

Jaydon Thoma

Well, almost nobody did. There was a kid there with a basket. Had his lunch in it. I guess he was so interested in what Jesus was saying that he forgot to eat it himself. When his followers asked him for it, he just gave it to them.

Shem Nehemiah

What was in the basket?

Jaydon Thoma

Get this - all it had in it was five loaves of bread, and two fish.

Shem Nehemiah

How did Jesus expect to feed 5000 people with that?

Jaydon Thoma

I have no idea. He did say a prayer before we ate, but I'd think feeding that many people would cost upwards of 200 denari! All I know is that Jesus blessed the food we had and gave it to his disciples. Then they had us all sit down in groups on the green grass, and started handing us food.

Shem Nehemiah

How much did they give you?

Jaydon Thoma

Ha! I scored four fish and seven loaves!

Shem Nehemiah

That seems impossible!

Jaydon Thoma

Doesn't it though? But I'm telling you for a fact that that's what happened! I was as amazed as you are now!

Shem Nehemiah

That is pretty amazing. Was there anything left?

Jaydon Thoma

He had his followers collect the leftovers when we were done. They got twelve baskets full of bread and fish!

Shem Nehemiah

Now I have to ask the question that has been on everyone's mind. How did it taste?

Jaydon Thoma

It was better bread than my Babbeh used to make. And the fish! Fantastic! I saved a little to take to Babbeh tonight. Would you like a taste?

Shem Nehemiah

Sure thing! (Shem tastes a piece of the bread) Oh! Umm! (groans of pleasure, then turns to camera) So there you have it folks. Jesus fed 5000 people on this very spot earlier today with nothing more than five loaves of bread, two fish, and a prayer. Reporting from the shores of Lake Galilee, I'm Shem Nehemiah for Judea Today.

Pharisees ask for a sign

Seeya Tamarah

Thank you Shem. The events of today bring us back to the question everyone has been asking, "Is this Jesus the Messiah?"

Gabby Gefin

News Analyst Saadya Simeon joins us live in the newsroom to explore this question. Saadya?

Saadya Simeon

First just let me say that this Jesus can NOT be the Messiah. Scripture tells us that the Messiah comes from Bethlehem, while this Jesus is from Nazareth. Check the scriptures - nothing good EVER comes from Nazareth.

Seeya Tamarah

But some say that he was born in Bethlehem during the census.

Saadya Simeon

Speculation and heresay! His father was a carpenter, and he was too until recently. If he really were the Messiah, why doesn't he show us a sign?

Gabby Gefin

Wouldn't you say that feeding 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish is a sign?

Saadya Simeon

Don't be ridiculous. A sign would be something more like reigning fire down upon the heathen.

Seeya Tamarah

(under her breath) I know someone I'd like to see fire reign down upon.

Saadya Simeon

What was that?

Seeya Tamarah

Nothing.

Saadya Simeon

Since everyone has been asking US if he is the Messiah, we went to him ourselves and asked him to show us a sign. You know what he said? He refused to give one, and said something crazy about Jonah being in the fish for three days. The man is filled with nonsense! He cannot be trusted, and he cannot be the Messiah!

Gabby Gefin

Thank you for that insightful analysis Saadya.

Seeya Tamarah

Tomorrow we will bring you a story of Barabbas, the would-be leader of the Jews, apparently thwarted by his arrest on charges of murder and inciting rebellion. How did he intend to overthrow the Romans, and who was going to help him? We'll have the full story tomorrow.

Gabby Gefin

That's all the time we have for today.

Seeya Tamarah

This is Seeya Tamarah saying "see ya tomorrow!"

Gabby Gefin

Good day.