PART VIII
THE SPECIAL TRAINING OF THE TWELVE IN DISTRICTS AROUND GALILEE

Probably Passover in A.D. 29a to near Tabernacles in A.D. 29 or a year earlier (six months from spring to autumn). Just a year from the beginning of this Period till the Crucifixion. Emphasis now on the King of the Kingdom (the Person of the Messiah).

§§ 72-95. Four separate withdrawalsb from Galilee are given, in §§ [72], [78], [79], [81]. Notice that in every case he keeps out of Herod's territory, and in every case he goes to the mountains.

a If the ministry of Jesus was three and a half years in length. If there were only three passovers in the ministry, then the year would be A.D. 28. This period begins just before a passover ([John 6:4]).

b There are five reasons for the withdrawals from Galilee. He withdraws from the jealousy of Herod Antipas ([§ 71]), from the fanaticism of would-be followers in Galilee ([John 6:15]), and the hostility of the Jewish rulers; and leaving the hot shores of the Lake of Galilee, he spent the summer in mountain districts around, resting, and instructing the Twelve.

§ 72. THE FIRST RETIREMENT. THE TWELVE RETURN, AND JESUS RETIRES WITH THEM BEYOND THE LAKE TO REST. FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND

Mark 6:30-44Matt. 14:13-21Luke 9:10-17John 6:1-13
30 And the
apostles gather
themselves
together unto
Jesus; and they
told him all things,
whatsoever
they had done,
and whatsoever
they had
taught. 31 And
he saith unto
them, Come ye
yourselves
apart into a
desert place,
and rest a
while. For
there were
many coming
and going, and
they had no
leisure so
much as to eat.
32 And they went
away in the
boat to a desert
place apart.
33 And the people
saw them going,
and many
knew them,
and they ran
there together
1on foot from
all the cities,
and outwent
them. 34 And he
came forth and
saw a great
multitude, and
he had
compassion on
them, because
they were as
sheep not having
a shepherd:
and he began
to teach them
many things.
35 And when the
day was now
far spent, his
disciples came
unto him, and
said, The place
is desert, and
the day is now
far spent: 36 send
them away,
that they may
go into the
country and
villages round
about, and
buy themselves
somewhat to
eat. 37 But he
answered and
said unto them,
Give ye them
to eat. And
they say unto
him, Shall we
go and buy
two hundred
3pennyworth
of bread, and
give them to
eat? 38 And he
saith unto them,
How many
loaves have
ye? go and see.
And when
they knew,
they say, Five,
and two fishes.
39 And
he commanded
them that all
should 2sit
down by
companies upon
the green
grass. 40 And
they sat down
in ranks, by
hundreds, and
by fifties. 41 And
he took the
five loaves and
the two fishes,
and looking up
to heaven, he
blessed, and
brake the
loaves; and he
gave to the
disciples to set
before them;
and the two
fishes divided
he among
them all. 42 And
they did all
eat, and were
filled. 43 And
they took up
broken pieces,
twelve basketfuls,
and also
of the fishes.
44 And they that
ate the loaves
were five thousand
men.


13 Now when
Jesus heard it,
he withdrew
from thence in
a boat, to a
desert place
apart: and
when the
multitudes heard
thereof, they
followed him
1on foot from
the cities. 14 And
he came forth,
and saw a great
multitude,
and he had
compassion
on them, and
healed their sick.

15 And when
even was come,
the disciples
came to
him, saying,
The place is
desert, and the
time is already
past; send the
multitudes
away, that they
may go into
the villages,
and buy
themselves food.
16 But Jesus said
unto them,
They have no
need to go
away; give ye
them to eat.

17 And they say
unto him, We
have here but
five loaves, and
two fishes. 18 And
he said, Bring
them hither
to me. 19 And
he commanded
the multitudes
to 2sit down on
the grass;
and
he took the
five loaves, and
the two fishes,
and looking up
to heaven, he
blessed, and
brake and
gave the
loaves to the
disciples, and
the disciples to
the multitudes.
20 And
they did all
eat, and were
filled: and they
took up that
which remained
over of the
broken pieces,
twelve baskets
full. 21 And they
that did eat
were about
five thousand
men, beside
women and
children. 		10 And the
apostles, when
they were
returned,
declared unto
him what things
they had done.

And he took
them, and
withdrew
apart to a city
called Bethsaida.a

11 But the
multitudes
perceiving it
followed him:
and he welcomed
them, and
spake to them
of the kingdom
of God,
and them that
had need of
healing he
healed.
12 And
the day began
to wear away;
and the twelve
came, and said
unto him, Send
the multitude
away, that
they may go
into the
villages and
country round
about, and
lodge, and
get victuals:
for we are here
in a desert
place. 13 But he
said unto
them, Give ye
them to eat.

And they said,
We have no
more than five
loaves and two
fishes; except
we should go
and buy food for
all this people.
14 For they were
about five
thousand men.
And he said unto
his disciples,
Make them 2sit
down in
companies, about
fifty each. 15 And
they did so, and
made them all
2sit down. 16 And
he took the
five loaves and
the two fishes,
and looking up
to heaven, he
blessed them,
and brake; and
gave to the
disciples to set
before the
multitude.
17 And they did
eat, and were
all filled: and
there was taken
up that
which remained
over to
them of broken
pieces,
twelve baskets.


1 After these
things Jesus
went away to
the other side
of the sea of
Galilee, which
is the sea of
Tiberias.
2 And a
great multitude
followed
him, because
they beheld
the signs
which he did
on them that
were sick. 3 And
Jesus went up
into the
mountain, and
there he sat with
his disciples.

4 Now the pass-
over, the feast
of the Jews
was at hand.
5 Jesus therefore
lifting up his
eyes, and seeing
that a
great multitude
cometh
unto him, saith
unto Philip,
Whence are
we to buy
4bread, that
these may eat?
6 And this he
said to prove
him: for he
himself knew
what he would
do. 7 Philip
answered him,
Two hundred
3pennyworth
of 4bread is not
sufficient for
them, that every
one may take a
little. 8 One
of his disciples,
Andrew,
Simon Peter's
brother, saith
unto him,
9 There is a lad
here, which
hath five barley
loaves, and
two fishes: but
what are these
among so
many? 10 Jesus
said, Make the
people sit
down. Now
there was
much grass in
the place. So
the men sat
down, in number
about five
thousand.
11 Jesus therefore
took the
loaves; and
having given
thanks,
distributed to
them that
were set down;
likewise also of
the fishes as
much as they
would. 12 And
when they
were filled, he
saith unto his
disciples,
Gather up the
broken pieces
which remain
over, that
nothing be
lost. 13 So they
gathered them
up, and filled
twelve baskets
with broken
pieces from
the five barley
loaves, which
remained over
unto them
that had eaten.b

1 Or, by land.