The Evangelists tell us that these events occurred just after the death of John the Baptist (see Matt.14.12 and Mk.6.1-29). Herod believed that Jesus was John, raised from the dead. When the disciples heard of John's death, they took the body and buried it, then went on to tell Jesus what happened. All this followed after the disciples first solo mission (Lk.1-10). It was in this backdrop that Jesus and the disciples withdrew from public life to a region of Gaulanitis near Bethsaida (out of Herod's district).
But the public, who had seen His miracles, would not allow them to rest. They followed and His disciples into the wilderness. They were "like sheep without a shepherd", thus He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. All this occurred in the backdrop of the evening of Passover, where many gathered into Jerusalem to prepare, including the priest in the Temple for the great number of sacrifices that would soon be made. Also in this setting were the returning disciples who were tired and anxious over the news of John's death and Herod's concerns. And finally, the great the masses of people who have gathered (and hungry) for what even they themselves did not understand, one of The Messiah's greatest miracles.
We are told that as the day moved on toward evening and the next day, one of the twelve spoke up to say that Jesus should send the crowd away so they could get something to eat. Yet Jesus had other plans. He said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." He said this to test them. A discussion ensued, one stating "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough . . ." while some others found a lad with five barley loaves and two fish, "But what are they among so many" (there were five thousand), Andrew retorted. Jesus told them to have the people sit down. Nothing happens under heaven and upon the earth without the Divine knowledge of our L-rd, therefore this was in Jesus' understanding and within His plan.
Jesus took the basket with the loaves and fish said the Blessing upon the Bread and started to distribute the bread and fish. Imagine the wonder of those looking on as the loaves began to multiply before them. They would fill twelve baskets of fragments from the five first loaves after the people had eaten. It was this reason the crowd could see clearly He was at least a prophet of G-d.
Now Jesus withdrew from them to a mountainside to talk to only His disciples. Then as darkness fell, He had the disciples board a boat in view of some of the crowd, yet He remained on that mountain in prayer. The disciples took all night to complete their journey because "the sea was against them". Near dawn however they saw what they thought was a ghost walking across the water and cried out in fear. "It is I; do not be afraid," came a voice from the apparition. It was the Master.
"Now Peter, full of excitement cried, "L-rd, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water." Jesus assented and Peter stepped out. O' how strong was his faith when He carefully stepped out upon the water, and how quickly the wind and the waves assailed it and brought it down. "L-rd, save me." Peter cried as he sank beneath the waves. Jesus gently reached out His hand and drew Peter to safety. "O man of little faith," Jesus chided him, "why did you doubt?" What could Peter say? As they got into the boat the wind and waves abated as if to say, "we were here for you, on the Master's command". "Truly You are the Son of G-d," they all cried.
In the morning they stepped out at Gennes'aret and moved on towards Caper'na-um for the Sabbath service (it was now Passover). The crowd from the night before who were stranded on the other side (for the disciples had gotten into the last boat the night before) had returned by boats that had landed near them during the next morning. When they reached the other side, they met Jesus. . .
And so ends the first discourse and begins the second . . .
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