1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. (Do we follow Jesus so He can heal us or give us stuff, or because He is Lord?)  3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wagest to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.  ( It's interesting that Jesus used what little food a small boy brought to do this miracle.  His pattern is to take what little the least of us have to give Him and turn it into His greatness!  What do you have to give Him today?  What if the boy had refused to give up his lunch?)

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.