44 TIME-LIFE MIRACLES OF FAITH
FIVELOAVES&TWOFISH
FEEDING THE
M ASSES
In oneofthebest-knownbiblicalstories,Jesusmanagesto feed
a flock of thousands with just a few provisionsA
s Jesus’ ministry begins, he delivers the
Sermon on the Mount, offering unforget-
table lessons, and performs miracles that
attract disciples. He cures people of a va-
riety of afflictions, exorcises demons, and
brings a dead girl back to life. In crisscrossing the region
around Galilee, Jesus encounters multitudes who gather
hoping to witness his next astounding act.
After lengthy travels, Jesus decides to give his disciples
a rest, and they cross the Sea of Galilee by boat to a place
in the desert near the city of Bethsaida. Word of their ar-
rival has spread, and swarms of people have “hurried there
on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them,” ac-
cording to the Gospel of Mark. Before the men disembark,
a huge crowd, perhaps as many as 10,000, has gathered on
a grassy hillside.
Jesus speaks to them about the Kingdom of God and
heals those who come to him seeking
cures. As evening falls, the disciples
suggest that he send the throng, hungry
after a long day, into the surrounding
villages to buy food. But Jesus wishes to
show the people the miraculous power
of God and commands his disciples,
“Give them something to eat.”Dumbfounded, the disciples reply they have no food
and that feeding the crowd will require “two hundred de-
narii worth of bread”—about 200 days’ wages. Neverthe-
less, they obey Jesus’ order to collect whatever they can
find among the spectators.
After this exercise, one disciple reports, “There is a
boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But
what are they among so many people?” Jesus looks up
to heaven, blesses the food, and divides it among his dis-
ciples. The disciples, in turn, distribute the bread and
fish—astounded to find that there is more than enough to
go around.
“Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may
be lost,” Jesus commands. When they are through, they
have 12 baskets of leftovers.
The miracle amazes the disciples as well as the crowd.
The Jews have long believed that when the Messiah came
to earth, he would feed them with
bread from heaven. Jesus senses that
the excited mob may soon get out of
hand and “would come and take him
by force to make him king.” Sending
his disciples to cross back over the Sea
of Galilee, he retreats alone to a moun-
tain until the crowd disperses. ▪HUNGRY SOULS
Feeding of the Five Thousandby
Joachim Patinir (1480–1524).
Basket upon basket of the
Messiah’s heavenly bounty
stretched across the hillside near
Bethsaida and brought
sustenance to thousands.NEW TESTAMENT