Matthew
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,
and he said to
his servants, “This is John the Baptist, resurrected from the dead, and that is
why such miraculous powers are at work in him!”
For Herod had arrested John, and had him bound and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.
For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful
for you to marry her.”
Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people’s reaction, because they considered John to be a prophet.
However,
on Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the party, and Herod
was very pleased with her.
As a result he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she wanted.
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here and
now the head of John the Baptist on a plate.”
The king was upset, but
because of the oaths he had made and his dinner guests, he ordered it to be
done.
He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison.
John’s head was
then brought on a plate and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
John’s disciples came and took the body and buried him. Then they went
and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard the news he went away by boat to a quiet place to be
alone, but when the crowds found out where he was, they followed him from
the towns by land.
When he went ashore he saw the large crowd, and felt
compassion for them and healed their sick.
As evening was approaching the
disciples came to him and said, “This is an empty place, and it is getting late.
Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves
food.”
But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to leave. You give them
something to eat.”
They replied, “All we have here are five loaves and a couple of fish.”
Jesus said, “Bring them to me.”
He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves into pieces and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Everybody
ate until they were full, and then they collected the left-overs, which filled
twelve baskets.
Those eating numbered about 5,000 men, not
counting women and children.
Immediately he told the disciples to get into the boat and go back to the
other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds.
After he had sent the
crowds on their way, he went up into the mountains to pray. Evening had
come and he was there all alone.
By then the boat was a long way out from
land, being buffeted by the waves because the wind was blowing against it.
About three a.m. Jesus caught up with them, walking on the sea.
When the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, screaming in fear,
“It is a ghost!”
Jesus spoke to them immediately, “Do not worry; it is me.
Do not be afraid!”
Peter replied, “lord, if it is really you, command me to
walk to you on the water.”
“Come!” said Jesus. Peter got out of the boat and
walked on the water toward Jesus.
But when he looked around at the stormy
wind, he was frightened and started to sink. He cried out, “lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out and took hold of him, and said, “You have
such little faith! Why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the
wind died down.
All of them in the boat worshipped him and said, “You
really are the Son of God!”
When they had crossed the lake they arrived at Gennesaret.
When the
people there realized it was Jesus, they sent word around the whole region
and brought everyone who was sick to him.
They pleaded with him that they might just touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched it was healed.
Matthew