Scripture Verse

He…took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Matthew 14:19

Introduction

portrait
Julia H. Johnston
1849–1919

Words: Ju­lia H. John­ston, in Bi­ble Stu­dy Songs, by Ber­tha F. Vel­la & Da­ni­el Tow­ner (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Pil­grim Press, 1899), page 109.

Music: Ven­tu­ra Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner, 1899 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of John­ston,

portrait
Daniel B. Towner
1850–1919

Lyrics

Beyond Bethsaida’s borders,
The weary Savior went,
To rest with His disciples,
Before the day was spent;
But eager people hastened,
The Son of Man to seek;
The poor and heavy laden
Desired to hear Him speak.

With patient love He taught them,
Till shadows fell apace,
But all the people hungered
In that far desert place.
His heart with pity melted;
How many loaves have ye?
He said to the disciples,
And bade them go and see.

A little lad among them,
His loaves and fishes spared;
But Jesus blessed and brake them,
And all the bounty shared.
With only this provision,
Which Jesus blessed and brake,
They fed the hungry thousands,
That day, beside the lake.

Then bring your all to Jesus,
However poor and small;
Come, hasten now to bring it,
The little lads and all.
’Tis not the gifts we offer,
That help the world today,
But Jesus’ blessing on them,
That sends them on their way.