NARRATOR 1: Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.
NARRATOR 2: Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip —
JESUS: Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?
NARRATOR 1: Jesus said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do.
PHILIP: Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.
NARRATOR 2: One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said—
ANDREW: There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?
JESUS: Make the people sit down.
NARRATOR 1: Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
NARRATOR 2: Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
NARRATOR 1: When they were satisfied, Jesus told his disciples —
JESUS: Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.
NARRATOR 2: So they gathered them up. From the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.
NARRATOR 1: When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say—
CROWD: This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.
NARRATOR 2: When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
John 6.1-15
Sunday Readings: 2 Kings 4.42-44; Ephesians 4.1-6; John 6.1-15