Miracles of Jesus: Feeding 5000 men and their families

(Matthew 14:16-21, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:5-14)

Each of the four Gospels describe the miracle in which Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men and their families.

As explained in the Gospel of John:

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."

- John 6:5-14, NIV translation.

There is a separate miracle in which Jesus miraculously fed 4,000 families.

Read more in the book Jesus the Miracle Worker: The 50 miracles of Jesus explained in chronological order (The Jesus Series) -- now available at amazon.

Next: Miracles of Jesus: Jesus walks on water

Go to: List of all miracles involving Jesus