Five loaves and two fish

The crowds continued to follow Jesus wherever he went. Sometimes Jesus and the disciples didn’t even get a chance to eat. One day Jesus told the disciples, “Let’s go to a quiet place. You need to get some rest.” So they got into a boat to go to a place that was peaceful and quiet. But many people saw them leaving and ran along the shore in the direction they were going. When Jesus and his disciples came ashore, a large crowd was waiting for them. Jesus felt sorry for the people. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them. He also healed the sick people they brought to him.

Later in the day the disciples said, “It’s getting late, and we are far from the town. It’s time to send the people away so that they can buy food in the villages and farms nearby.” But Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat.” Philip said, “There are thousands of people here! We will need more than half a year’s pay if we buy food for them! Is this what you want us to do?”

Jesus said, “Let’s find out what we have. Go and see what you can find.”

Andrew, Peter’s brother, brought a little boy to Jesus. He said, “Here is a boy with five small loaves of barley bread. He also has two small fish. That’s nothing for all the people who need food.” But Jesus wasn’t worried. He told the disciples to get the people to sit down on the green grass. They sat in groups of 50s and 100s. There were 5,000 men in the crowd and also many women and children.

Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves into pieces. Then he gave them to his disciples to pass around to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

The people ate until they were satisfied. Jesus told the disciples, “Gather the leftover pieces. Don’t waste anything.” So they gathered the food the people hadn’t eaten. They filled twelve baskets with leftovers!

The people began to say that Jesus was a great prophet. Jesus knew they wanted to make him their king, so he left quietly. Matthew 14:13–21 Mark 6:30–44 John 6:1–14