Mark 6:30-56

The apostles returned and gathered around Jesus. They told him all they had done and what they had taught. “Come with me, just yourselves. We'll go to a quiet place, and rest for a while,” Jesus told them, because there was so much coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat. So they went by boat to a quiet place to be alone. But people saw them leaving and recognized them. So people from all the surrounding towns ran ahead and got there before them. When Jesus got off the boat he saw a huge crowd, and he felt pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them about many things. It was getting late in the day and Jesus' disciples came to him. They told him, “We're miles from anywhere, and it's really late. You should tell the people to go and buy themselves something to eat in the villages and countryside nearby.” But Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” “What? We'd need more than six month's pay to buy bread to feed all these people,” the disciples replied. “Well, how much bread do you have?” Jesus asked. “Go and see.” They went and checked, and told him, “Five loaves, and a couple of fish.” Jesus told everyone to sit down in groups on the green grass. They sat in groups of hundreds and fifties. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish. Looking up to heaven he blessed the food and broke the bread into pieces. Then he handed the bread to the disciples to give to the people, and he divided the fish up between all of them. Everyone ate until they were full. Then they collected up the leftovers of the bread and fish—twelve basketfuls. A total of five thousand men plus their families ate the food. Immediately after this Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat. They were to go on ahead to Bethsaida on the other side of the lake while he sent the people on their way. Once he'd said goodbye to them he went up into the hills to pray. Late that evening the boat was in the middle of the lake while Jesus was alone, still on land. He could see them being buffeted about as they rowed hard because the wind was blowing against them. In the early morning hours Jesus came to them, walking on the water. He would have passed them, but when they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They screamed out because they could all see him and were absolutely terrified. Jesus told them right away: “Don't worry, it's me. Don't be afraid!” He went over to them and climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. They were totally shocked, for they hadn't understood the meaning of the feeding miracle due to their stubborn, hard-hearted attitude. After crossing the Sea they arrived at Gennesaret and moored the boat. As they climbed out, the people immediately recognized Jesus. They ran everywhere around the whole area to bring in all the sick on their mats to where they'd heard Jesus was. Wherever he went, in the villages, in the towns, or in the countryside, they put the sick in the marketplaces and begged Jesus to let the sick touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched him was healed.