Event
The feeding of the five thousand
Five loaves, five thousand
Facing a hungry crowd, Jesus takes a boy's five loaves and two small fish, gives thanks and shares them, and more than five thousand eat their fill, with twelve baskets left over. The only miracle told in all four Gospels, tied to “I am the bread of life.”
The only miracle in all four Gospels
The feeding of the multitude is the only miracle (besides the resurrection) told by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, a sign of its importance.
From a boy’s little bit
Jesus starts from a child’s lunch, five loaves and two fish, to feed thousands. Twelve baskets are left over, one for each tribe/apostle.
I am the bread of life
The next day (John 6), Jesus interprets the sign: they hadn’t come because of him, but because of the bread. Then he declares himself the true Bread that comes down from heaven.
Did you know?
- Only John records that the loaves came from a boy. John 6:9
- 12 baskets were left over, a number with symbolic weight for Israel. Mark 6:43
Where to read in the Bible
- John 6:1–14
Connections
- linked to Elisha · cross-reference · 2 Reis 4:42–44
- linked to “I am the bread of life” · cross-reference · John 6:26–35