Part 9

006:007 "Seven pounds' worth of bread," replied Philip, "is not enough for them all to get even a scanty meal."

006:008 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,

006:009 "There is a boy here with five barley loaves and a couple of fish: but what is that among so many?"

006:010 "Make the people sit down," said Jesus. The ground was covered with thick grass; so they sat down, the adult men numbering about 5,000.

006:011 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were resting on the ground; and also the fish in like manner--as much as they desired.

006:012 When all were fully satisfied, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the broken portions that remain over, so that nothing be lost."

006:013 Accordingly they gathered them up; and with the fragments of the five barley loaves--the broken portions that remained over after they had done eating--they filled twelve baskets.

006:014 Thereupon the people, having seen the miracle He had performed, said, "This is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world."

006:015 Perceiving, however, that they were about to come and carry Him off by force to make Him a king, Jesus withdrew again up the hill alone by Himself.

006:016 When evening came on, His disciples went down to the Lake.

006:017 There they got on board a boat, and pushed off to cross the Lake to Capernaum. By this time it had become dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.

006:018 The Lake also was getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing.

006:019 When, however, they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat.

006:020 They were terrified; but He called to them. "It is I," He said, "do not be afraid."

006:021 Then they were willing to take Him on board; and in a moment the boat reached the shore at the point to which they were going.

006:022 Next morning the crowd who were still standing about on the other side of the Lake found that there had been but one small boat there, and they had seen that Jesus did not go on board with His disciples, but that His disciples went away without Him.

006:023 Yet a number of small boats came from Tiberias to the neighbourhood of the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

006:024 When however the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves also took boats and came to Capernaum to look for Jesus.

006:025 So when they had crossed the Lake and had found Him, they asked Him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

006:026 "In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that you are searching for me not because you have seen miracles, but because you ate the loaves and had a hearty meal.

006:027 Bestow your pains not on the food which perishes, but on the food that remains unto the Life of the Ages-- that food which will be the Son of Man's gift to you; for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

006:028 "What are we to do," they asked, "in order to carry out the things that God requires?"

006:029 "This," replied Jesus, "is above all the thing that God requires-- that you should be believers in Him whom He has sent."

006:030 "What miracle then," they asked, "do you perform for us to see and become believers in you? What do you *do*?

006:031 Our forefathers ate the manna in the Desert, as it is written, `He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat'."

006:032 "In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that Moses did not give you the bread out of Heaven, but my Father is giving you the bread--the true bread--out of Heaven.

006:033 For God's bread is that which comes down out of Heaven and gives Life to the world."

006:034 "Sir," they said, "always give us that bread."