The story of the five thousand men that were fed with five loaves and two fish is recorded in all four books of the Bible that were written by the apostles. John and Matthew were two of the twelve disciples of Jesus while Mark and Luke were of the extended group which may have been chosen later. Ref: Matt 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-14

Each of these four men recorded the miracle that took place when Jesus fed a crowd of followers. The disciples had been sent out two by two to spread the message: repent of your sins and turn to God. As it happened John, the Baptist, had just been beheaded by King Herod Antipas, Roman ruler over Galilee, because his wife Herodias commanded it. (It seems John the Baptist had voiced his disapproval of Herod marrying Herodias because he divorced his own wife to do so as well as the fact that she was his brother’s wife. His brother was also still alive.)

As they gathered and began walking, the crowd followed from all the villages where the healing of the sick had taken place. When they stopped, the crowd was there. It was late in the day and Jesus asked Phillip where they could buy bread. Phillip suggested to the Lord that even 200 denarii (eight months’ wages) worth of bread would not be enough to feed the crowd approaching. Andrew mentioned he had seen a lad who had five loaves and two fish. What was he thinking? Really? Did he think if 200 denarii worth of bread wouldn’t feed the crowd how would the lad’s basket? I would have been embarrassed to even mention it myself.

However, the Lord told him to bring the boy’s basket to him. Then he told the disciples to seat the people on the ground in groups of 100 and of 50. The basket was given to the Lord and before He passed it out, He thank God for the provisions, and the disciples passed out pieces of bread and fish. The Bible records that all the 5,000 men, as well as wives and children, were fed. Jesus told the disciples to pick up all of the leftovers which ended up being twelve baskets full.

I had a couple of questions: How big were the barley loaves and were the fish dried? Put into perspective that the boy was traveling by himself because none of the scriptures include his parents. His basket was probably packed for only one day. I am assuming that the bread was small flat type bread that was easy to carry, common in that time and that the fish were dried in order to carry it for the journey. None of this adds to the miracle, it is just my curiosity.

Because of the miracle, Jesus perceived the crowd was about to seize him and make him king, so he retreated back into the mountains and sent His disciples across the lake (Sea of Galilee) where He was going to meet them on the other side.

While the disciples were in the boat, a strong wind began blowing. They saw Jesus coming toward their boat walking on the water. They were afraid but He assured them that it was Him. The Bible says immediately they were at the land where they were going. Many of the crowd that had been following Jesus realized the disciples had crossed over the lake in a boat and so they also followed.

The crowd began to question when He got there. Jesus answered them back that they were seeking Him because they ate and were filled. But He wanted them to know that life was more than food that you work for. He wanted them to know that He was the bread of life.

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40