Mark 6:41-46 - The number of men was five thousand

6:41-44

Jesus now looks up to heaven and gives thanks for the five loaves and two fish. Sometimes we should just give thanks for what we have and get on with it, even though it seems so little. Jesus then gave the bread and fish to the disciples to distribute among the people. Everyone ate and was satisfied. Moreover, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! There is no record of how the multiplication took place. The number of men was five thousand. Matt 14:21 tells us that there were women and children as well. This is the only miracle, excluding the resurrection, that is reported in all four gospels.

6:45,46

As soon as the feeding was over Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and head over to Bethsaida. Meanwhile, Jesus dismissed the crowd. Jesus then went up on a mountainside to pray. Jesus considered spending time in prayer with His Father to be of utmost importance, especially before and after key moments in His ministry.