0521501 Jesus feeds the multitude – Matthew 14:13b-23a, Mark 6:31-46, Luke 9:10b-17, John 6:1b-15, A.D. 28 Bethsaida in Galilee
And he took them, and they went away in the boat by themselves to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida. Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. But when the great multitudes heard it, and the people saw them going, many recognized him and perceiving it, they followed him and ran there on foot from all the cities because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. And they arrived before them.
And Jesus came and went out, up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples, and he saw a great multitude. And he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God. He began to teach them many things, and he healed those who needed healing. And the day began to wear away and when it was late in the day, his twelve disciples came to him, saying, “For we are here in a deserted place, and the time is already late in the day. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the surrounding farms, country and villages, and lodge, and buy themselves food and bread, for they have nothing to eat.”
And now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread that these may eat?” And this he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered and said to him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive a little.” But Jesus answered and said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they asked him and said, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” And when they knew, they told him and one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many? We only have here no more than five loaves and two fish unless we should go and buy food for all these people.” For they were about five thousand men. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Bring them here to me. Make the people sit down in groups of about fifty each.” Now there was much grass in that place. And he commanded the multitudes, and they did so, and made all the men sit down on the grass in groups; about five thousand. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
And Jesus therefore took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, broke them, and having given thanks, he distributed and he gave the loaves to his disciples to set before the multitude. Likewise also he divided the two fish among them all and the disciples gave to the multitudes as much as they desired. And they all ate, and when they were all filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.” So they took and gathered them up and filled twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces from the five barley loaves, and also of the fish which were left over by those who had eaten. And those who ate the loaves were about five thousand men, besides women and children. When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
And Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, immediately made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitudes away. And after he had taken leave of them and sent the multitudes away, he withdrew again and went up into the mountain by himself to pray.
