The people walked and ran, and by hurrying they reached the quiet spot near Bethsaida as soon as Jesus did. When he stepped out of the boat, thousands of people were waiting for him on the shore. Jesus had gone away for a rest, but when he saw the people he felt sorry for them.
They are like a flock of sheep, he thought—a flock of sheep with no shepherd to look after them.
They had spoiled his holiday, but Jesus spoke to the people and said that he was glad to see them. Then he began to teach, just as he did in the cities and towns. All day long he taught, and if there were any who were sick, he healed them.
The day wore on, and evening was drawing near. One or two of the disciples pulled Jesus' sleeve, and said to him:
"Master, it is getting late. Hadn't you better send them away to find something to eat in the towns near by? There is nothing for them out here in the country."
Jesus answered: "There is no need for them to go away. Give them something to eat right here!"
The disciples looked at him as if they did not know whether he was serious or not. They said: "Do you mean that you want us to go and buy food for all these people? Where would we get enough money for that?"
Andrew said: "There's a boy here with five loaves of bread and a couple of fishes. But how far will that go among five thousand people?"
Jesus only answered, "Tell them to sit down on the grass."
The disciples went among the crowd, and had the people sit down in groups, fifty in each group.