Matthew 14
14
The Death of John
1-2At about this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being said about Jesus. He said to his servants, “This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead. That’s why he’s able to work miracles!”
3-5Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to placate Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias “adultery.” Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered John as a prophet of God.
6-12But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias’s daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was ready: “Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer.” That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it—ordered John’s head cut off and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples got the body, gave it a reverent burial, and reported to Jesus.
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
15Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”
16But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”
17“All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.
18-21Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Walking on the Water
22-23As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
24-26Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared to death. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
27But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
29-30He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
31Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
32-33The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
34-36On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret. When the people got wind that he was back, they sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick, who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Matthew 14
14
Recalling John’s Death
(Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)
1At that time Herod, ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus. 2He said to his officials, “This is John the Baptizer! He has come back to life. That’s why he has the power to perform these miracles.”
3Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did this for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to her.” 5So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.
6When Herod celebrated his birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced for his guests. Herod was so delighted with her that 7he swore he would give her anything she wanted.
8Urged by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”
9The king regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted. 10He had John’s head cut off in prison. 11So the head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
12John’s disciples came for the body and buried it. Then they went to tell Jesus.
Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand
(Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14)
13When Jesus heard about John, he left in a boat and went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds heard about this and followed him on foot from the cities. 14When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and cured their sick people.
15In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, “No one lives around here, and it’s already late. Send the crowds to the villages to buy food for themselves.”
16Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17They told him, “All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18Jesus said, “Bring them to me.”
19Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart, gave them to the disciples, and they gave them to the people. 20All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.
21About five thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)
Jesus Walks on the Sea
(Mark 6:45–56; John 6:15–21)
22Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away. 23After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.
24The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.
25Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and began to scream because they were afraid.
27Immediately, Jesus said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”
28Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”
29Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”
31Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”
32When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. 33The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “You are truly the Son of God.”
34They crossed the sea and landed at Gennesaret. 35The men there recognized Jesus and sent messengers all around the countryside. The people brought him everyone who was sick. 36They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.
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