Way Over 5,000 Fed

Jesus Feeds a Lot More Than the 5,000

{Matthew} When Jesus heard about John the Baptist’s death, he took his disciples, who had returned from being sent out to teach and heal, by boat to a remote place, but the crowds followed him on foot. After landing, he felt compassion for them and healed the sick. {Mark} Jesus felt compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things. {Luke} They went to Bethsaida and the crowds followed.

{Matthew, Mark, Luke} Evening came on and the disciples said to Jesus, “This is a remote place and it’s already late. Send the crowds away. They can buy food in the surrounding villages.”

Jesus said, “They don’t need to leave. You feed them.

{Matthew and Luke} “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish.” {Mark} “That would take eight months of a man’s wages. Are we to spend that much to feed them?”

{John} Jesus and his disciples withdrew to a mountainside. He saw the crowd coming upon them and said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people?” It was a test as he already planned what he would do.

Philip said, “Eight month’s wages wouldn’t buy enough for each person to get one bite.”

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go?”

{Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John} “Bring the food to me.” Jesus directed the people to sit on the grass. Taking the food and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples to pass to the people. They all ate and had enough left over to fill twelve baskets. The number of people was about 5,000 men, not including women and children.

{John} After this miracle, the people said, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Knowing that they intended to force him to become king, Jesus went off to a mountain alone.