10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Section Overview
This section features the feeding of the five thousand, showing that Jesus is greater than Moses. The disciples return to Jesus, reporting on their mission. They withdraw to Bethsaida, but when the crowds follow, Jesus welcomes them, healing those who were sick. As evening approaches, the disciples encourage Jesus to disperse the crowd so that they can find lodging and food. Jesus responds that the disciples should feed them, but they think his advice is utterly impractical, since there is not enough food. Jesus then has the people sit down, and he provides enough food for five thousand from five loaves and two fish, with twelve baskets left over.
Section Outline
Response
Jesus tells the disciples to feed the crowd, and they protest that they are unable to do it, and yet Jesus provides what they need so that in the end they do feed the crowd. When God calls us to do something for his sake, he provides us with what we need, with what we do not have in ourselves, so that we are able to carry out his will—not in our own strength but in his. This miracle also teaches us that Jesus is greater than Moses and Elisha; he is the fulfillment of all of Israel’s hopes. And this prepares us for the next section, in which Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ.