Benjamin and the Feeding of the 5000

Benjamin and the Feeding of the 5,000 is the third installment in The Witness Series by Josh Hardin, a collection of middle grade historical fiction that places young characters inside Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments. In this book, readers join Benjamin, a nine-year-old boy living in the fishing village of Capernaum.

When four trusted fishermen walk away from their boats to follow a traveling teacher named Jesus, Benjamin sets out to find the truth. He witnesses healings, forgiveness, and power he can’t explain. Then comes a hungry crowd of thousands and a choice only Benjamin can make.

Faithful to the biblical account in the gospels, this story invites readers ages 8-17 to experience Scripture as living history.

The story follows Benjamin on his quest to understand who this Jesus is and see exactly how he’s turning their community upside down.

• Benjamin gathers firsthand accounts from townsfolk, recounting what they have seen Jesus do.
• In the synagogue, Benjamin hears Jesus read the Scripture and teach with startling authority.
• He watches in shock as Jesus commands a demon-possessed man to be quiet, and the demon obeys.
• A paralyzed man, lowered from a rooftop, is healed after Jesus forgives his sins.

Even readers who know these miracles by heart will see them differently here. Through Benjamin’s eyes, the evidence builds until the answer feels undeniable: Jesus truly is the Messiah.

**Written at a fourth to sixth grade reading level but rich in emotional depth and mature themes, this second book of The Witness Series by Josh Hardin is an ideal choice for reluctant or struggling readers in grades 7–11 who find longer or more complex books frustrating.