Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 14
14
LOOKS BRAVE AND CREATOR SETS FREE
1Looks Brave (Herod), who ruled the territory of Circle of Nations (Galilee), began to hear reports about Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
2He said to his servants, “This man must be Gift of Goodwill (John) who performed the purification ceremony.#14:2 Baptism He has returned from the world of the dead. That is why he can do these powerful things.”
THE DEATH OF GIFT OF GOODWILL
3-4Looks Brave (Herod) had arrested Gift of Goodwill (John) and put him in chains because he had been speaking against him for breaking tribal law by living with Daring Woman (Herodias), the wife of Friend of Horses (Philip), who is the brother of Looks Brave (Herod).
5Looks Brave (Herod) would have put Gift of Goodwill (John) to death right then, but he was afraid of what the people would do, for they honored him as a prophet.
6When the birthday of Looks Brave (Herod) came, the daughter of Daring Woman (Herodias) danced before all the guests. Looks Brave (Herod) was so pleased 7he made a solemn promise to give her whatever she wanted. 8Her mother jumped at the chance and told her daughter what to ask for.
The daughter said to Looks Brave (Herod), “Give me, here and now, the head of Gift of Goodwill (John) in a basket!”
9The heart of Looks Brave (Herod) fell to the ground. But he had made a solemn promise before all of his guests. 10So he sent a soldier to the prison, had him cut off the head of Gift of Goodwill (John), 11put it in a basket, and bring it to the girl, who then gave it to her mother.
12The followers of Gift of Goodwill (John) took his body and gave him a proper burial. Then they went and told Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
CREATOR SETS FREE RETREATS
13When Creator Sets Free (Jesus) heard how Gift of Goodwill (John) had been put to death, he found a canoe and went off to a deserted place to be alone for a while. But the crowds of people, when they heard about it, went after Creator Sets Free (Jesus) from their villages. 14And when he came to shore, they were waiting for him. He felt deeply for them, so he healed the ones who were sick.
HE FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND
15When the evening came, his followers said to him, “This is a deserted place, and the day is almost over. Let us send the people away to the villages in the country- side so they can find food to eat.”
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked around at the great crowd of people, for there were over five thousand who had gathered there.
16“There is no need to send them away,” he said to his followers. “You feed them.”
His followers could not believe their ears!
17With one voice they said to him, “All we have is five pieces of frybread and two fish!”
18“Bring them to me,” he told them.
19Then he had all the people sit down on the grass. He took the five pieces of frybread and two fish and held them to the sky. He looked up, gave thanks to the Great Spirit, and began to break the frybread into smaller pieces, which he gave to his followers to give to the people. 20Everyone ate until they were full! When they were done, they gathered the leftovers—twelve baskets full! 21Not counting the women and children, there were about five thousand men who had eaten.
WATER WALKER
22Right away Creator Sets Free (Jesus) had his followers get into the canoe and go ahead of him to the other side of the great lake, while he sent the people back to their homes.
23After that he went up into the mountainside to be alone while he sent his voice to the Great Spirit. He stayed there and prayed as the sun set and the stars came out.
24His followers were still in the canoe, far from land. The wind blew strong against them, and the waves pounded the canoe and began to toss it about.
25Late into the night, just before the morning light, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) came near them, walking on the water! 26When his followers saw him, they cried out in terror, “It is a ghost-spirit!”
27But he heard their cries and called out to them, “Do not fear, take heart. It is I.”
28“Wisdomkeeper, is it you?” Stands on the Rock (Peter) shouted back to him. “If so, tell me now to come to you on the water.”
29“Come!” he said to him without any hesitation.
With reckless abandon, Stands on the Rock (Peter) climbed over the side of the canoe and began to walk on the water toward him.
The wind howled and the waves splashed against him as he made his way toward Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
30But when he felt how strong the wind was, fear took hold of him. He began to sink and cried out, “Wisdomkeeper, save me!”
31Creator Sets Free (Jesus) quickly reached out and took hold of him. “Man of small faith,” he said, “what made you hold back and doubt me?”
32The wind stopped blowing and the waves grew still as they climbed into the canoe. 33All twelve of his message bearers gave honor to him, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of the Great Spirit.”
ALL WHO TOUCH HIM ARE HEALED
34They came to shore at Lake of Chief Garden (Gennesaret). 35When the people there recognized him, they sent messengers to all the surrounding villages, and the people brought to him all who were sick. 36They begged him to let them touch the fringe on his outer garment—and all who touched it were healed.
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Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 14: FNVNT
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