The Apostles Make Report
When the Apostles came back to Jesus, they told him all that they had done and all that they had taught.
“Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot,” he said, “and rest for a while”—for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat. So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot. And many people saw them going, and recognized them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them. On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were “like sheep without a shepherd”; and he began to teach them many things.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand by the Lake of Galilee
When it grew late, his disciples came up to him, and said:
“This is a lonely spot, and it is already late. Send the people away, so that they may go to the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat.”
But Jesus answered: “It is for you to give them something to eat.”
“Are we to go and buy twenty pounds’ worth of bread,” they asked, “to give them to eat?”
“How many loaves have you?” he asked; “go and see.” When they had found out, they told him: “Five, and two fishes.” Jesus directed them to make all the people take their seats on the green grass, in parties; and they sat down in groups—in hundreds, and in fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fishes, Jesus looked up to Heaven, and said the blessing; he broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples for them to serve out to the people, and he divided the two fishes also among them all. Every one had sufficient to eat; and they picked up enough broken pieces to fill twelve baskets, as well as some of the fish. The men who ate the bread were five thousand in number.
—Mark.
The Bread of Life
Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea,
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!
—Mary A. Lathbury.