The Fourth Sign: Feeding 5,000
1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias).
2
And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing on the sick.
3
So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples.
4
Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.
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Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, "Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?"
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He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.
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Philip answered, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little."
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One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
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"There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish-but what are they for so many?"
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Then Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000.
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Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated-so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.
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When they were full, He told His disciples, "Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted."
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So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.
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When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!"
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Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.
