After they crossed the lake, they came to the shore at Gennesaret. The people in that place saw Jesus. They knew who he was. So they told the other people all around there that Jesus had come. The people brought all their sick people to Jesus. The people begged Jesus to let them only touch his coat to be healed. And all the sick people that touched Jesus' coat were healed.
—Matthew 14:34-36
Key Thought
While Jesus is in a very busy time in his ministry, a time when he wants to focus on the disciples and their preparation for his departure, he still makes time for the demanding crowd. He is there to help. With the crowds, he is compassionate. There is not much chance that they can or will understand who he is or what he is about until after the cross. But still he ministers and cares for them even when, maybe especially when, they cannot give him anything in return. Not only does he have power, he also has compassion. Rather than acting like a spoiled modern athlete who doesn't want to give autographs, Jesus makes himself available to the crowd to give of himself.
Today's Prayer
Loving God and Father of all people, soften my heart to be more aware, patient, and actively compassionate with those who are broken. Give me eyes to see more than just my own problems. Teach me to serve in a way which honors you and blesses others. Please give me wisdom to know when and how to help those in need whom you place in my path. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Then Jesus made the followers get into the boat. Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus said that he would come later. Jesus stayed there to tell the people they could go home. After Jesus said good-bye to the people, he went up into the hills. Jesus went there alone to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone. At this time, the boat was already far away on the lake. The boat was having trouble because of the waves. The wind was blowing against it. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus' followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. The followers saw Jesus walking on the water and they were afraid. They said, "It's a ghost!" The followers shouted with fear. But Jesus quickly spoke to them. Jesus said, "Don't worry! It's me! Don't be afraid." Peter said, "Lord, if that is really you, then tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come, Peter." Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. Peter became afraid and began sinking down into the water. Peter shouted, "Lord, save me!" Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. Jesus said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?" After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind became calm. Then those followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "Truly you are the Son of God." After they crossed the lake, they came to the shore at Gennesaret. The people in that place saw Jesus. They knew who he was. So they told the other people all around there that Jesus had come. The people brought all their sick people to Jesus. The people begged Jesus to let them only touch his coat to be healed. And all the sick people that touched Jesus' coat were healed.Matthew 14:22-36
Related Scripture Readings
Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people. A man that had leprosy came to Jesus. The man bowed on his knees and begged Jesus, "You have the power to heal me if you want." Jesus felt sorry for the man. So Jesus touched the man and said, "I want to heal you. Be healed!" Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and he was healed. Jesus told the man to go. But Jesus warned him strongly. Jesus said, "Don't tell any person about what I did for you. But go and show yourself to the priest. And offer a gift to God because you have been healed. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. This will show people that you are healed." The man left there and told all the people he saw that Jesus had healed him. So the news about Jesus spread. And that is why Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. Jesus stayed in places where people did not live. But people came from all the towns to the places where Jesus was. — Mark 1:38-45
My brothers and sisters, if a person says that he has faith, but does nothing, then that faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save him? No! A brother or sister {in Christ} might need clothes or might need food to eat. And you say to that person, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat." You say these things, but you don't give that person those things he needs. If you don't help that person, your words are worth nothing. It is the same with faith. If faith does nothing, then that faith is dead, because it is alone. — James 2:14-17
My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No! Our love must be true love. We should show our love by the things we do. — 1 John 3:18
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 14:34-36
Key Thought
While Jesus is in a very busy time in his ministry, a time when he wants to focus on the disciples and their preparation for his departure, he still makes time for the demanding crowd. He is there to help. With the crowds, he is compassionate. There is not much chance that they can or will understand who he is or what he is about until after the cross. But still he ministers and cares for them even when, maybe especially when, they cannot give him anything in return. Not only does he have power, he also has compassion. Rather than acting like a spoiled modern athlete who doesn't want to give autographs, Jesus makes himself available to the crowd to give of himself.
Today's Prayer
Loving God and Father of all people, soften my heart to be more aware, patient, and actively compassionate with those who are broken. Give me eyes to see more than just my own problems. Teach me to serve in a way which honors you and blesses others. Please give me wisdom to know when and how to help those in need whom you place in my path. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Then Jesus made the followers get into the boat. Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus said that he would come later. Jesus stayed there to tell the people they could go home. After Jesus said good-bye to the people, he went up into the hills. Jesus went there alone to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone. At this time, the boat was already far away on the lake. The boat was having trouble because of the waves. The wind was blowing against it. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus' followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. The followers saw Jesus walking on the water and they were afraid. They said, "It's a ghost!" The followers shouted with fear. But Jesus quickly spoke to them. Jesus said, "Don't worry! It's me! Don't be afraid." Peter said, "Lord, if that is really you, then tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come, Peter." Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. Peter became afraid and began sinking down into the water. Peter shouted, "Lord, save me!" Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. Jesus said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?" After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind became calm. Then those followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "Truly you are the Son of God." After they crossed the lake, they came to the shore at Gennesaret. The people in that place saw Jesus. They knew who he was. So they told the other people all around there that Jesus had come. The people brought all their sick people to Jesus. The people begged Jesus to let them only touch his coat to be healed. And all the sick people that touched Jesus' coat were healed.Matthew 14:22-36
Related Scripture Readings
Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people. A man that had leprosy came to Jesus. The man bowed on his knees and begged Jesus, "You have the power to heal me if you want." Jesus felt sorry for the man. So Jesus touched the man and said, "I want to heal you. Be healed!" Immediately the leprosy disappeared, and he was healed. Jesus told the man to go. But Jesus warned him strongly. Jesus said, "Don't tell any person about what I did for you. But go and show yourself to the priest. And offer a gift to God because you have been healed. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. This will show people that you are healed." The man left there and told all the people he saw that Jesus had healed him. So the news about Jesus spread. And that is why Jesus could not enter a town if people saw him. Jesus stayed in places where people did not live. But people came from all the towns to the places where Jesus was. — Mark 1:38-45
My brothers and sisters, if a person says that he has faith, but does nothing, then that faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save him? No! A brother or sister {in Christ} might need clothes or might need food to eat. And you say to that person, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat." You say these things, but you don't give that person those things he needs. If you don't help that person, your words are worth nothing. It is the same with faith. If faith does nothing, then that faith is dead, because it is alone. — James 2:14-17
My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No! Our love must be true love. We should show our love by the things we do. — 1 John 3:18
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.