The Feeding of the Five Thousand
JESUS commanded that this meager store should be brought to him. This being done, he directed his disciples to seat the people upon the grass in parties of fifty and one hundred, to preserve order, and that all might witness the miracle he was about to do. This marshaling of five thousand people into companies was at length satisfactorily accomplished, and they were all seated in the presence of the Saviour. He then took the loaves and fishes, and, having given thanks, distributed them to the disciples and to the multitudes, in quantities sufficient to satisfy their appetites. THE people had arranged themselves in the required order, wondering what was to be done, but their amazement knew no bounds when the problem was solved, and they beheld food portioned out to that vast assembly from the slender store scarcely sufficient for a score of persons. The food did not diminish, as Jesus handed it to his disciples, who in their turn served the people. As often as they returned to him for a fresh supply, it was furnished them. After all had been satisfied, he directed the disciples to gather up the fragments that nothing might be lost; and the broken fragments filled twelve baskets.