The Death of John the Baptist
Study note
The tragic backstory of John's execution reveals the corrupt power dynamics of Herod's court. John's bold confrontation of Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias led to his imprisonment, and a rash oath during a birthday feast sealed his fate. John's death at the hands of a wavering ruler foreshadows the execution of Jesus by another weak-willed authority and illustrates the cost of prophetic faithfulness.
1 Around that time, Herod the tetrarch started hearing the buzz about Jesus. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 He told his officials, "That has to be John the Baptist, back from the dead! That would explain where all these supernatural powers are coming from." And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
3 This is the backstory: Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and locked him up in prison. He did this because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 John had been straight with Herod, telling him, "It is against God's law for you to be with your brother's wife." For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 Herod wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people. Everyone believed John was a prophet from God. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 Then came Herod's birthday party. Herodias's daughter performed a dance for the guests, and it delighted Herod. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 He got so carried away that he swore an oath, promising to give her anything she asked for. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 Her mother had coached her ahead of time. So the girl said, "Bring me the head of John the Baptist right now — on a serving plate." And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
9 The king felt sick about it, but because he had made a public oath in front of all his dinner guests, he gave the order. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 He sent a guard to the prison, and John's head was cut off. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 The head was placed on a plate and given to the girl, who carried it straight to her mother. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 John's followers came and got his body and gave him a proper burial. After that, they went and told Jesus what had happened. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
Study note
Despite his grief over John's death, Jesus has compassion on the crowds and heals their sick. When evening comes and the disciples suggest sending the crowds away to buy food, Jesus instructs them to feed the people themselves. With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus gives thanks, breaks the bread, and miraculously feeds over five thousand men plus women and children, with twelve baskets of leftovers -- one for each disciple. This miracle echoes God's provision of manna in the wilderness and demonstrates Jesus' role as the ultimate provider.
13 When the news about John reached Jesus, he got in a boat and sailed off to find a quiet, lonely spot. But people in the towns found out where he was heading and went after him on foot. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 When Jesus stepped out of the boat and saw the massive crowd waiting for him, his heart went out to them. He spent the day healing everyone who was sick. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 As the afternoon wore on, his followers came to him and said, "We are out in the middle of nowhere, and it is getting late. You should send these people home so they can find food in the villages." And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said, "They don't need to leave. You feed them." But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 They protested, "All we have is five small loaves of bread and two fish!" And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 Jesus said, "Bring them over here to me." He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 He told all the people to sit down on the grass. He picked up the five loaves and the two fish, looked up toward heaven, and thanked God for the food. Then he tore the bread apart and handed the pieces to his followers, who passed them out to the crowd. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 Everyone ate until they were full. Then the followers picked up the leftovers -- twelve baskets completely full of broken pieces. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 The number of men who ate that day was about five thousand — and that was not even counting the women and children. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
Study note
After dismissing the crowds and praying alone on a mountain, Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the storm-tossed sea. Peter's bold request to join Jesus on the water leads to an unforgettable lesson: as long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, he walks; the moment he focuses on the wind, he sinks. Jesus' immediate rescue and gentle rebuke -- 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' -- reveal both his patience with struggling faith and his readiness to save. The disciples worship him as the Son of God.
22 Right after that, Jesus insisted that his followers climb into the boat and head across the lake ahead of him. Meanwhile, he stayed behind to send the crowd home. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 Once everyone was gone, he hiked up the hillside by himself to pray. Night fell, and he was up there all alone. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 By this time, the boat was a long way from shore. The wind was blowing hard against it, and waves were beating against the sides. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 Sometime between three and six in the morning, Jesus came toward them — walking right on top of the water. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 When the followers spotted him moving across the lake, they panicked. They screamed, "It is a ghost!" and started crying out in terror. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 Jesus immediately called out to them, "Calm down! It is me — don't be afraid." But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 Peter yelled back, "Lord, if that is truly you, tell me to walk out to you on the water." And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 Jesus said, "Come on." So Peter stepped over the side of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But then Peter noticed the powerful wind around him and got scared. He started sinking into the water and screamed, "Lord, save me!" But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 Jesus instantly grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He said, "Your faith is so small. What made you start doubting?" And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 The moment they climbed back into the boat, the wind died down completely. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Everyone in the boat dropped to their knees and worshipped Jesus, saying, "You truly are the Son of God!" Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 They finished crossing the lake and came ashore at Gennesaret. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
35 The locals recognized Jesus right away and spread the news to the whole region. People started bringing the sick to him from everywhere. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36 They kept pleading with Jesus to let them touch even the edge of his robe. And every person who touched it was completely healed. And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.