35. It was now late in the day. Jesus’ followers came to him and said, “No one lives in this place. And it is already very late.
36. Send the people away. They need to go to the farms and towns around here to buy some food to eat.”
37. But Jesus answered, “You give them food to eat.”They said to him, “We can’t buy enough bread to feed all these people! We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!”
38. Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have now? Go and see.”When they found out, they came to him and said, “We have five loaves and two fish.”
39. Then Jesus said to the followers, “Tell all the people to sit in groups on the green grass.”
40. So all the people sat in groups. They sat in groups of 50 or groups of 100.
41. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for the bread. He divided the bread and gave it to his followers for them to give to the people. Then he divided the two fish among them all.
42. All the people ate and were satisfied.
43. The followers filled 12 baskets with the pieces of bread and fish that were not eaten.
44. There were about 5,000 men there who ate.
45. Then Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go to Bethsaida on the other side of the lake. Jesus said that he would come later. He stayed there to tell the people they could go home.
46. After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray.
47. That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake. Jesus was alone on the land.
48. He saw the followers working hard to row the boat because the wind was blowing against them. At some time between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. He continued walking until he was almost past the boat.
49. But when his followers saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out.
50. They all saw him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.”
51. Then he got into the boat with them. And the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed.
52. They had seen Jesus make more bread from the five loaves. But they did not understand what it meant. Their minds were closed.