One day Jesus went on board a ship and sailed to another part of the coast, where He and His disciples might have rest.  For the people in the cities crowded them so closely that they did not even have time to eat.  They landed, and went into a desert place; but the people had seen them depart, and marked which way the ship sailed.  Then they all flocked out of the cities and came on foot to the place where Jesus was.  When Jesus saw what a great number of people had come, He had compassion on them, and spoke to them, and healed their sick.  But in the evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desert place, and the day has gone; send the people away, that they may go into the villages and buy food.”

Jesus was too kind to send them away hungry like that.  He said, “They need not depart; give ye them food to eat.”  But they said to Him, “We have here but five loaves and two fishes, which we have just purchased of a lad.”  He said, “Bring them to Me.”  Then He told the people to sit down on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, blessed them and broke them into pieces.  The disciples carried the bread and fish to the people and they all ate and had plenty, although there were about five thousand men, besides women and children.  And yet, when the disciples took up the fragments that were left, these fragments filled twelve baskets.  How kind was Jesus!  He not only taught the people and healed their sick, but He fed them when out in the desert place and hungry.

[Illustration:  Feeding five thousand.]

CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA.

When the people had seen the miracle that Christ did in feeding so many with so few loaves, they felt sure that He was one of the old prophets that had come again, and they would have taken Him by force to make Him king.  So He sent His disciples by boat towards Capernaum, and He went, alone, up into a mountain to pray.

When it was dark, the disciples found themselves alone upon the sea, opposed to strong winds, which tossed the boat upon high waves.  Then Jesus went out to them, walking upon the waves; but when the disciples saw Him they thought it was a spirit, and cried out with fear.  But Jesus said, “Be of good cheer:  it is I; be not afraid.”  Peter answered Him, saying, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.”  And He said, “Come,” and Peter stepped over the boat’s side and walked on the water towards Christ.  But when he saw the angry waves around him and heard the roaring of the winds, Peter was afraid and began to sink.  He cried out, “Lord, save me.”  And Jesus, stretching out His hand, caught him, and said, “O thou of little faith, why didst thou fear?”

When Jesus and Peter had got into the boat, the wind dropped, the sea became calm and the waves still, and immediately they were at the place where they wanted to land.  Then they worshipped him, saying, “Truly Thou art the Son of God.”  And they came into the land of Gennesaret, where the people knew Him and brought to Him all that were sick, or blind, or lame, that they might touch His garment and be made well.