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This is one of only a few incidents in the life of Christ that is recorded in all four of the Gospels. It is believed that Jesus went to a place near Capernaum to rest the Disciples. Here he learns of the arrest and beheading of John the Baptist. When Herod heard of the works of Jesus he thought is was John that had come back to life. He would not rest until he had taken this man's life like he had John's. So Jesus felt that He had to go even further from the jurisdiction of Herod. He departed Capernaum by boat and went to a "lonely place", probably Bethsaida, east of the Jordan River and out of Israel proper.
Now when the people heard where He had gone, they followed on foot from the surrounding area. Tradition had it that the death of John the Baptist increased the popularity of Jesus many times. He had gone to this lonely place to rest but when He saw the multitudes He had compassion on them. They can to be healed, to be comforted, to hear His message.
The day grew late. Christ became concerned about their physical needs. The Disciples wanted to send them to a near by town, probably Bethsaida, to get their own food, but Jesus ordered His disciples to provide for them. Notice how many people there was. Five thousand men plus women and children. Searching through the crowd, Andrew found a lad who had foresight enough to bring along five loves of bread and two fishes. He tells Jesus what he had found and Jesus told to bring the food to Him. Now, notice what happened. He ordered all the people to set down on the grass. Then, after giving thanks, He broke the bread and gave it to the Disciples to pass out to the people. All did eat and were filled. Twelve baskets of food was left over.
Now in John we read that when the people saw what He had done with the five loaves and two fish, they believed Him to be a Prophet and Jesus perceiving that they were about to come and take Him by force and make Him their king, sent His disciples back to the boat to go across the sea to Capernaum, while He went up into the hills to a lonely place by Himself.
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