Soon after the death of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ with
His disciples withdrew by boat to another shore of the sea. The people ran
after them on foot along the shore. When the boat landed, a great throng of
people had gathered. Jesus Christ seeing the crowd of people had compassion on
them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them
many things, spoke to them of the Kingdom
of God, and healed their sick. The people so zealously listened
to Him that they did not notice that the day was drawing to a close.
The disciples came to Jesus Christ and said,
"This is an isolated place, and the hour is now late; send them away to go
into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to
eat."
But the Lord answered the disciples, "They
need not go away; you give them something to eat."
The Apostle Philip said to Him, "Two hundred
denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may
take a little."
Jesus said, "How many loaves have you? Go and
see."
When they had found out, the Apostle Andrew said,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but
what are they among so many?"
The Lord said, "Bring them here to me,"
and directed the disciples to seat the people in groups of hundreds and
fifties. Then, Jesus Christ took the five loaves and the two fish and looked up
to Heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave the loaves to the disciples, and
the disciples gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied. When they were
filled, Jesus Christ said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that
remain, that nothing be lost."
The disciples took up what was left over and
filled twelve full baskets, and those who ate were about five thousand men not
counting the women and children.
In another instance, the Lord fed four thousand
men, also not counting women and children, with seven loaves and a few fish.
Note: See
the Gospels of Matthew 14:14-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15.
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