The Rejection at Nazareth
(Matthew 13:53–58;Luke 4:16–30) 1Jesus went onfrom thereandcametoHishometown,accompanied byHisdisciples.2Whenthe Sabbathcame,He beganto teachinthesynagogue,andmanywho heard Himwere astonished.“Where didthis man getthese ideas?”they asked.“What isthiswisdomHe has been given?And how canHe performsuchmiracles?3Isn’tthisthecarpenter,thesonof Maryandthe brotherof James,Joses,Judas,andSimon?Aren’tHissistersherewithusas well?”Andthey took offenseatHim. 4ThenJesussaidto them,“Onlyinhishometown,amonghisrelatives,andinhisownhouseholdisa prophetwithout honor.”5SoHe could notperformanymiraclesthere,exceptto layHishandson a fewof the sickand heal them.6AndHe was amazedattheirunbelief. AndHe wentaroundfrom village to village,teaching the people. The Ministry of the Twelve
(Matthew 10:5–15;Luke 9:1–6) 7ThenJesus calledtheTwelve to Himandbeganto send them outtwoby two,givingthemauthorityoveruncleanspirits.8He instructedthemtotakenothingbuta staffforthe journey—nobread,nobag,nomoneyintheirbelts—9andto wearsandals,butnota secondtunic. 10AndHe toldthem,“Whenyou entera house,staythereuntilyou leavethat area.11Ifanyonewill not welcomeyouorlisten toyou,shakethedustoffyourfeetwhen you leavethatplace,asa testimonyagainst them.”12Sothey set outand preachedthatthe people should repent.13They also drove outmanydemonsandhealedmanyof the sick,anointing themwith oil. The Beheading of John
(Matthew 14:1–12;Luke 9:7–9) 14NowKingHerodheard about this,forJesus’namehad becomewell known,andpeople were saying,“JohntheBaptisthas risenfromthe dead!Thatis whymiraculous powersare at workinhim.”15Otherswere saying,“He isElijah,”andstill others,“He is a prophet,likeoneof theprophets of old.” 16But whenHerodheard this,he said,“John,whomIbeheaded,has risen from the dead!”17ForHerodhimselfhad orderedthatJohnbe arrestedandboundand imprisoned,on account ofhisbrotherPhilip’swifeHerodias,whomHerod had married.18ForJohnhad been tellingHerod,“It is not lawfulfor youto haveyourbrother’swife!” 19SoHerodiasheld a grudgeagainst Johnandwantedto killhim.Butshe had been unable,20becauseHerodfearedJohnandprotectedhim,knowing thathe wasa righteousandholyman.Whenhe heardJohn’s words,he was greatly perplexed;yethe listenedto himgladly. 21OnHerod’sbirthday,her opportunityarose.Herodhelda banquetforhisnoblesandmilitary commandersandtheleading menof Galilee.22Whenthedaughterof Herodiascameanddanced,she pleasedHerodandhis guests,andthekingsaidto thegirl,“Askmefor whateveryou wish,andI will give itto you.”23Andhe sworeto her,“Whateveryou askof me,I will giveyou,up tohalfmykingdom!” 24Thenshe went outand askedhermother,“Whatshould I request?” Andher mother answered,“Theheadof JohntheBaptist.” 25At oncethe girl hurried backtothekingwith her request:“I wantyou to givemetheheadof JohntheBaptistona platterimmediately.” 26Thekingwasconsumed with sorrow,but because ofhisoathsandhis guests,he did not wantto refuseher.27Sowithout delay,thekingcommanded thatJohn’sheadbe brought in.He sentan executioner,who wentand beheadedhimintheprison.28The man broughtJohn’sheadona platterandpresenteditto thegirl,whogaveitto hermother. 29WhenJohn’sdisciplesheard about this,they cameandtookhisbodyandplaceditina tomb. The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21;Luke 9:10–17;John 6:1–15) 30Meanwhile,theapostlesgatheredaroundJesusandbrought Him newsof allthey had doneandtaught.31AndHe saidto them,“Comewith Meprivatelytoa solitaryplace,andlet us restfor a while.”Formany peoplewerecomingandgoing,andthey did not even have timeto eat. 32Sothey went awayina boatbythemselvestoa solitaryplace.33Butmany peoplesawthemleavingandrecognized them.They ran togetheron footfromallthetownsandarrived beforethem.34WhenJesus stepped ashoreand sawa largecrowd,He had compassiononthem,becausethey werelikesheepwithouta shepherd.AndHe beganto teachthemmany things. 35By nowthe hourwasalreadylate.So thedisciplescameto Jesusand said,“Thisisa desolateplace,andthe houris alreadylate.36Dismissthe crowdsothey can gotothesurroundingcountrysideandvillagesand buythemselvessomethingto eat.” 37ButJesus toldthem,“Yougivethemsomething to eat.” They askedHim,“Should we go outand spendtwo hundreddenariito giveall of thembreadto eat?” 38“Goand seehow manyloavesyou have,”He toldthem. Andafter checking,they said,“Five—andtwofish.” 39ThenJesus directedthemto have the people sitin groupsonthegreengrass.40Sothey sat downin groupsofhundredsandfifties. 41Takingthefiveloavesandthetwofishand looking uptoheaven,Jesus spoke a blessingandbroketheloaves.ThenHe gave themtoHisdisciplestoset beforethe people.AndHe dividedthetwofishamong them all. 42They allateandwere satisfied,43andthe disciples picked uptwelvebasketfulsof broken pieces of breadandfish.44Andthere werefive thousandmenwhohad eatentheloaves. Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33;John 6:16–21) 45ImmediatelyJesus madeHisdisciplesgetintotheboatandgo on ahead of HimtoBethsaida,whileHedismissedthecrowd.46After bidding them farewell,He wentup onthemountainto pray. 47Wheneveningcame,theboatwasinthe middleof thesea,andJesus wasaloneonland.48He could see thatthe discipleswere strainingto row,becausethewindwasagainstthem.Aboutthe fourthwatchof thenight,Jesus went outtothem,walkingonthesea.He intendedto pass bythem,49butwhen they sawHimwalkingonthesea,they cried out,thinkingHe wasa ghost—50forthey allsaw Himandwere terrified. ButJesus spoke upat once:“Take courage!It isI.Do notbe afraid.”51ThenHe climbedintotheboatwiththem,andthewinddied down.Andthe disciples were utterlyastounded,52forthey had not understoodabouttheloaves,buttheirheartshad beenhardened. Jesus Heals at Gennesaret
(Matthew 14:34–36) 53Whenthey had crossed over,they landedatGennesaretandmoored the boat.54As soon astheygotout oftheboat,the people recognizedJesus55and ran throughthatwholeregion,carryingthesickonmatsto whereverthey heardHe was.56AndwhereverHe went—villagesandtownsandcountrysides—they laidthesickinthemarketplacesandbeggedHimjustto let them touchthefringeof Hiscloak.AndallwhotouchedHimwere healed.
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