He called together those of His company who had been entrusted with the care of the food which the little company carried with it.  And, to His sorrow, He learned that the entire stock of food consisted of five loaves of bread and two fishes.  And the little band carried practically no money with it, for they depended upon the hospitality of the country and the offerings by the faithful.  The disciples advised that the Master order the crowd to disperse and return to Bethseda for food.  But Jesus felt loath to do this, particularly when there were so many invalids in the gathering who had traveled so many miles to see Him, and who had not yet been healed.  And so He decided to give the company its food by means of His power.

He bade His people divide the multitude into little groups of fifty people, who were then instructed to be seated for a meal.  Then He ordered the scanty supply of available food to be brought before Him, and, placing His hands over it, He offered a blessing, then ordered His people to serve the throng.  They began to serve out the food with looks of wonder and amazement.  Had the Master lost His senses?  But in some way the food seemed miraculously to increase and multiply, until at last all of the five thousand had been fully supplied and their hunger appeased.  And then, after all had been served and had eaten, the scraps and fragments which were gathered up filled many wicker baskets and were distributed to the poorer people in the company for tomorrow’s use.

But trouble arose.  The people, with well filled stomachs, feeling that here indeed was royal bounty and the power with which to feed them forever free of charge, began to wax enthusiastic and shouts ascended.  “The Messiah!  King of the Jews!  Provider of the People!  Son of David!  Ruler over Israel!” were the words which soon swept the crowd off of its feet.  And then some of the bolder ones, or else the hired spies who wished to place Him in a compromising position, began to suggest that the crowd form itself into an army and march from city to city with Jesus at its head, until at last they would place Him upon the throne of Israel at Jerusalem.  Jesus, recognizing the peril to His mission, managed to dissuade the hot-heads from their plans, but still fearing that the authorities might come down upon the assemblage, ordered that the Twelve take the boat and put out for the other side of the lake.  He sent them off as a precaution, but He, Himself, remained with the crowd and faced the threatened danger.

He retired to the hills near by and spent the night in meditation.  Then early in the morning, He noticed that a storm was rising over the lake and that the tiny boat containing His disciples would be in great danger.  In a few moments they might be overwhelmed.  He wished to be with them to comfort and re-assure them.  No boat being handy, he stepped boldly out upon the water and walked rapidly toward the direction in which He knew the boat must