Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

A huge crowd of thousands of people followed Jesus because they had seen His miracles of healing. Jesus went up on a hillside, and the crowds came to Him. As evening approached, the disciples grew worried about feeding everyone. Philip said there was not nearly enough money to buy food for such a crowd. Andrew brought a boy who had five small barley loaves and two small fish — but how far would that go among five thousand people?

Jesus said, "Have everyone sit down." The people sat on the green grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks to God, and broke the bread. He kept giving pieces to the disciples, who kept distributing them to the people. And the food kept coming — everyone ate as much as they wanted.

When everyone was full, Jesus told the disciples to gather the leftover pieces. They collected twelve basketfuls of broken bread and fish — more than what they started with. The people recognized immediately that a great prophet was among them. Jesus later said, "I am the bread of life." He wants to feed not just our bodies, but our souls. In the Coptic liturgy, we bring bread and wine to God, and He returns them as the Body and Blood of Christ — far more than we could ever give.