Comment: It’s amazing to hear directly from Matouš. The idea of him suddenly appearing here, so I will interview him about all the details about Jesus – what he was like, what else he said, etc. But more importantly, they are the words of God. This was done and said by Jesus himself, the Son of God, God! – So what does this mean for me personally? What is the Holy Spirit trying to show me at this moment of my life? Do I act like Pharisees? Am I making Jesus happy? Would he be proud of me? What can I do better? How best and more can I share his love with others? What about at home, what about the best, how am I doing? This is what we can ask ourselves, how do we read the Bible…
Herod kills John the Baptist
Herod kills John the Baptist1 That’s when the Galilean ruler Herod heard the story of Jesus and said to his courtiers: ‘That must be John the Baptist! He rose from the dead, and therefore works such miracles!’ Some time ago, this Herod had Jan arrested and imprisoned. Jan reproached him for living with Herodias, the wife of his brother Filip. Herod would like to get rid of John, but he was afraid because people saw him as a prophet. At Herod’s birthday party, Herod’s daughter danced, charming Herod so much that he swore to her every wish. Herodias guided her daughter and she asked: ‘I want the head of John the Baptist here on the bowl.’ That was too much even for Herod. However, he did not want to embarrass himself in front of the guests by canceling his oath. He therefore ordered that Jan be beheaded directly in prison. His head was brought to the bowl by a dancer and she brought it to her mother. Jan’s students demanded his body and buried him. Then they went to tell Jesus what had happened.
… 13 When Jesus learned about it, he entered the boat and sailed to a lonely place. Comment: What did Jesus do after someone close to him died? He went to a lonely place. But what happened right after? Verse 13 continues: However, as soon as the people of the surrounding area found out where his boat was going, they gathered there. When Jesus came ashore, crowds of people were already waiting for him. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. Commentary: Despite the fact that Jesus experienced great pain after the death of John the Baptist, he had so much sympathy for the people that he took care of them. It corresponds with the verse in Psalm 37:3 – ‘Trust God, do good’.
Jesus feeds five thousand
In the evening, his disciples came to him and said: ‘It’s too late and you can’t buy anything to eat here in the wasteland. Say goodbye to them, so they can get something in the villages.’ Jesus said to them: ‘Where would they go, let them eat!’ They objected: ‘After all, we have five loaves of bread and two fish everywhere!’ ‘Bring them here,’ he urged them. He then told the people to settle on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish and thanked God for them. Then he broke down, gave to the disciples, and they gave them to people. Five thousand men ate there to their heart’s content, except for women and children. And they also collected a full twelve baskets of leftovers.!!! COMMENT: God can make a lot out of our little! It is also interesting that Jesus did such a great miracle when he had a broken heart. As Psalm 34:19 God is close to the troubled hearts, the discouraged in the Spirit will save! (B21) – God is close to those who are going through something difficult. However, many times we don’t feel it in such situations, but God’s word says that it is the closest to us in such situations! And if Jesus was able to do such a huge miracle when he had a broken heart, imagine what God can do in such situations for us too! It’s up to us to trust him and do good. (Psalm 37:3) Of course, it is also necessary to find time for yourself and in silence to process the difficult things that we have experienced or happened to us in silence. As Jesus did after feeding the crowds and they left, as we will read now…. 22 Right after that, he made the disciples get on the ship and go ahead to the other side before he released the crowds. When he released the crowds, he ascended the mountain alone to pray. He was left there alone late in the evening.
Jesus is going on the water
Right after that, Jesus made his disciples sail to the other shore, while he released the gathered people. As the multitudes diverged, Jesus ascended the mountain to pray alone. He spent almost the whole night there. The ship with the apprentices still could not reach the other shore because the wind drove the waves against it. In the morning, Jesus approached the ship on the surface of the lake. The disciples considered him a ghost and were frightened. But Jesus spoke and reassured them: ‘Get up, it’s me, don’t be afraid!’ Peter exclaimed: ‘Lord, if you have such power, command me to come to you by water!’ ‘Come on then!’ Jesus said. And so Peter left the ship and went to Jesus. However, the big waves scared him and he started to drown. ‘Lord, help!’ he shouted. Jesus quickly caught him and said, ‘Where is your faith? Why did you doubt?’ They entered the ship and the wind immediately died down. The disciples knelt before Jesus and confessed: ‘You are certainly the Son of God!’
Comment: It is fascinating how true it is that when we are at our worst, we are closest to God and the greatest miracles can happen to us. Our desperation acts as a vacuum, an empty space that attracts miracles. Maybe that’s why people come more to God when something difficult happens to them. The pain will draw them to him! As Jesus mourned after the death of his loved one and did some of the greatest miracles – he multiplied food and walked on water!
Jesus heals all who touch himher
Then they landed in the Genezaret region. As soon as the people there recognized him, it spread over the wider area and they carried the sick from everywhere to him. They begged him to at least touch the hem of his dress. And whoever touched was healed.
