Jesus and His disciples went to a lonely part of the country of Galilee where no one lived, to have a quiet time. But people soon learned where He had gone, and began to follow Him, tang their sick friends and relatives with them to be healed. Before long there was a large crowd of several thousand people out in that wilderness.
Jesus was sorry for the sick and cured them all, and talked to the people. When it was near evening, the disciples spoke to Him that He should send the people to their homes, because there was no place near where they could get any food.
There were children also in the crowd who had walked to this place, and Jesus was sorry for all those people to walk home again, hungry and tired. He said to the disciples,
“They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”
The disciples could not understand how they could give food to so many people: they said that they had only five loaves of bread, and two fishes.
Jesus knew Himself what He could do, and He told them to bring the bread and fish to Him. Then He said for the people to sit down on the grass.
“And looking up to Heaven, He blessed, and broke the loaves and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitude, They did all eat and were filled.”
Not only did the people have plenty to eat, but there was much bread left which was put in baskets. The disciples must have been very surprised to have the five loaves and two fish supply all that big company. And how good the food must have tasted to the hungry boys and girls! They would not forget it, and should always have trusted One so kind and with such power.
You may think bread and fish a poor meal, but it was good food, perhaps the fish were dried, as often so kept in warm lands, and was such a meal as many might have had at home. Jesus did not think the meal too small, or too plain to give thanks to God in Heaven, and this was an example for us. Grain could not grow for bread, nor there be any other food to eat, except that God caused all to grow.
After the meal was over, Jesus sent the people to their homes.
Read this story also in John 6:5-145When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:5‑14).
ML 06/06/1943