14:1 - Then King Herod heard about Jesus’s fame,
14:2 - And told his servants, This is John the Baptist; because he has risen from the dead, he is able to perform great works.
14:3 - For the sake of Philip’s wife and Herodias, John was bound and put in prison.
14:4 - It is unlawful for you to have her. Said John
14:5 - And when he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the reaction of the people, who considered him a prophet.
14:6 - But at Herod’s birthday celebration, Herodias’ daughter danced for them, and Herod was pleased.
14:7 - At this point he swore to her that he would give her anything she wanted.
14:8 - As her mother had told her, she said, Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.
14:9 - The king commanded a gift be given to her since being discouraged of an oath being broken.
14:10 - He had John, a prisoner, beheaded.
14:11 - And someone brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, who brought it to her mother.
14:12 - His disciples collected the body and buried it. Then they went to Jesus and told him what they had done.
14:13 - When Jesus heard of the news he left by ship: when his followers heard of his leave they followed behind him on foot.
14:14 - And as Jesus kept going, he saw a really large crowd, and because he was felt so much sympathy and empathy for them, he healed all the those in the crowd who were sick.
14:15 - And in the evening, his disciples came to him and pointed out that this place was a desert, and it was late, and he should send the crowd away so they could go back to their villages and get themselves something to eat.
14:16 - Jesus told them to allow them to stay, and to feed them.
14:17 - And they tell him, we have only five loaves, and two fish.
14:18 - He requested, Deliver them to me right here.
14:19 - And then he commanded the crowd 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 crowd.
14:20 - They ate until they were full, and after they were done eating, they took twelve baskets full of leftovers.
14:21 - Thankfully thousands of men, women, and children were able to eat.
14:22 - Jesus told his crew to get on the ship while he told everyone else to go home.
14:23 - After he had sent the people away, he went to a mountain and prayed alone.
14:24 - But the ship was in the middle of the sea being tossed about by the waves because the wind was against them.
14:25 - Near the very end of the night, Jesus walked upon the sea towards them.
14:26 - When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were afraid, and said, It’s a ghost; a they yelled in fear.
14:27 - Jesus spoke to them saying everything will be alright, it is I, do not be frightened.
14:28 - Peter replied to him, saying, if it is really you, tell me to come with you onto the water without sinking.
14:29 - And he said, Come. And Peter got out of the ship and walked across the water to meet Jesus.
14:30 - But when he saw the strong winds, he got really scared; he started to sink and cried out, Lord, save me.
14:31 - Jesus quickly reached out and caught the man and said, You of little faith, why did you doubt me?
14:32 - The wind stop blowing as they came upon the ship.
14:33 - Then his shipmates worshiped him, saying, You are definitely the Son of God.
14:34 - After they had crossed over, the alighted in the land of Gennesaret.
14:35 - And when the locals found out He was in the area, they would walk the countryside, gathering the sick to bring to Him;
14:36 - They huddled around him to try to touch even his clothes, and those that did were made whole.