"It is late," added Philip, "and there is no place to buy food here. They will need to go to the villages."
"That isn't necessary, is it?" said Jesus. "You give them something to eat."
The disciples looked at him blankly. "We didn't bring any provisions with us. Master," said James. "And besides, even if we had, it would never be enough to feed this crowd!"
Jesus turned to Philip. "What shall we do, Philip?"
"Master, even if there were a town near here, it would take far more money than we have to buy enough food to give each person a tiny bit!"
"How many loaves have we all together?" asked Jesus.
The disciples found, as they expected, that the people had brought no food. "This seems foolish to me," remarked James. Finally Andrew found a boy with some loaves and fish. The boy let Andrew take the lunch to Jesus.
"Tell the people to sit down in groups," said Jesus. Before them all he held one of the loaves in his hands and thanked God for it; then he broke it in pieces. "Distribute this among the people," he instructed the disciples.
"This boy's loaves and fish will satisfy your hunger now," said Jesus to the eager crowd. "If you eat only this kind of food, you will eventually die. I have another kind to give you: if you will eat the Bread of eternal life, you will never die!
"Come and eat this Bread—you will never hunger again. You must hear and believe my word, for the Father in heaven has sent me to you."