5. Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed that John was a prophet.
6. On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests. Herod was very pleased with her,
7. so he promised he would give her anything she wanted.
8. Herodias told her daughter what to ask for. So she said to Herod, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
9. King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give her anything she wanted, and the people eating with him had heard his promise. So Herod ordered that what she asked for be done.
10. He sent men to the prison to cut off John’s head.
11. And the men brought John’s head on a platter and gave it to the girl. She took it to her mother, Herodias.
12. John’s followers came and got his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what happened.
13. When Jesus heard what happened to John, Jesus left in a boat. He went to a lonely place by himself. But when the crowds heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14. When Jesus arrived, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed those who were sick.
15. Late that afternoon, his followers came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place. And it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves.”
16. Jesus answered, “They don’t need to go away. You give them some food to eat.”
17. The followers answered, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18. Jesus said, “Bring the bread and the fish to me.”
19. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Then he looked to heaven and thanked God for the food. Jesus divided the loaves of bread. He gave them to his followers, and they gave the bread to the people.
20. All the people ate and were satisfied. After they finished eating, the followers filled 12 baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten.