JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE A SECOND TIME
IN those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to
eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have
compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three
days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their
own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from
far.
[Sidenote: St. Mark 8]
And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these
men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many
loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to
sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks,
and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did
set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he
blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat,
and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left
seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he
sent them away.
And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came
into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came forth, and began
to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting
him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this
generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no
sign be given unto this generation. And he left them, and entering
into the ship again departed to the other side. Now the disciples had
forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more
than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned
among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. And when
Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no
bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet
hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and
do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand,
how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him,
Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full
of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them,
How is it that ye do not understand?
And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and
besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and
led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his
hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and
said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again
upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every
man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into
the town, nor tell it to any in the town.