The Narrative
Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot out of the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
— Matthew 14:16 (NKJV)
There was a lad there who had five barley loaves and two small fish, but Andrew said, "What are they among so many?"
Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
— Matthew 14:19–21 (NKJV)
Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
— John 6:14 (NKJV)
The Bread of Life Discourse
John 6:22–59
The day after the feeding, the crowd followed Jesus to Capernaum. He said to them:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you."
— John 6:26–27 (NKJV)
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
— John 6:35 (NKJV)
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
— John 6:51 (NKJV)
Many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
— John 6:67–69 (NKJV)