When they came back they had a great deal to
talk about, and they were very tired. But there were always so many
people coming to see Jesus that they could get no quiet time at all, no
time even to eat. They were all at the Lake of Galilee again, and
Jesus told them to come away with Him into a desert place, and rest
awhile. That desert place was near a town called Bethsaida, where
Peter, and his brother Andrew, and Philip lived once upon a time.

Jesus and His disciples got into a boat as quietly as they could, and
went away. But some people near the lake caught sight of the boat, and
they saw who was in it; and they ran so fast along the shore of the
lake that they got to the desert before Jesus was there. Jesus felt
very sorry for these people, and He began to teach them many things.
By and by it got late, and Jesus said to the disciples, 'How many
loaves have you? Go and see.' And Andrew said, 'There is a boy
herewith five barley loaves and two fishes; but what are they among so
many?' And Jesus told him to bring the loaves and fishes. Then Jesus
said, 'Make the people sit down.' So the disciples arranged the crowds
in rows on the grass. And when every one was ready, Jesus took the
five loaves and the two fishes in His hands, and He blessed them, and
divided them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave
them to the people. And there was plenty for everybody. Jesus made
those loaves and fishes last out till everybody had had enough. And
then He said, 'Gather up the fragments (that means the little pieces)
that are left, that nothing be lost.' And the disciples picked the
little pieces up, and put them together in baskets. And there were
twelve large baskets full--more than they had at first. There were
five thousand men in that grassy place, and a great many women and
children besides. And when the people saw the miracle that Jesus had
done they said, 'THIS MUST BE THE MESSIAH;' and they wanted to make Him
their king--the king of their country, but not the king of their hearts.

Jesus did not wish to be made a king like Herod or Caesar. He was God,
so He was King of kings already. He made His disciples go away at once
in the boat to the other side of the lake, and He sent the crowds away
Himself. When Jesus was alone, He went up into a mountain and prayed.
But now a great wind began to blow, and the waves on the Sea of Galilee
began to toss about. The disciples rowed hard, but the