Luke 9:7–17; Mark 6:14–56; Matthew 14; John 6:1–21

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Luke 9:7–17

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

vNow wHerod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that xJohn had been raised from the dead, xby some that Elijah had appeared, and xby others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things? And yhe sought to see him.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

10 On their return zthe apostles told him all that they had done. aAnd he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he bwelcomed them and cspoke to them of the kingdom of God and ccured those who had need of healing. 12 Now dthe day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, eSend the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place. 13 But he said to them, fYou give them something to eat. They said, We have no more than gfive loaves and two fishunless we are to go and buy food for all these people. 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each. 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, hhe looked up to heaven and isaid a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.


Mark 6:14–56

The Death of John the Baptist

14 wKing Herod heard of it, for Jesus’1 name had become known. Some2 said, xJohn the Baptist3 has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. 15 xBut others said, He is Elijah. And others said, He is ya prophet, like one of the prophets of old. 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. 17 zFor it was Herod who had sent and seized John and abound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 zFor John had been saying to Herod, bIt is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod cfeared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he dheard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod eon his birthday fgave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. 23 And he vowed to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give you, gup to half of my kingdom. 24 And she went out and said to her mother, For what should I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s4 head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his hdisciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 ijThe apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and kthey had no leisure even to eat. 32 lAnd they went away in mthe boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and nrecognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he osaw a great crowd, and ohe had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 pSend them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. 37 But he answered them, qYou give them something to eat. And rthey said to him, sShall we go and buy two hundred denarii5 worth of bread and give it to them to eat? 38 And he said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they had found out, they said, tFive, and two fish. 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he ulooked up to heaven and vsaid a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 wImmediately he xmade his disciples get into ythe boat and go before him to the other side, zto Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, ahe went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when bevening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about bthe fourth watch of the night6 he came to them, walking on the sea. cHe meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and dwere terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, eTake heart; it is I. eDo not be afraid. 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for fthey did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts gwere hardened.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

53 hWhen they had crossed over, they came to land at iGennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately jrecognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring kthe sick people lon their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, mthey laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even nthe fringe of his garment. And oas many as touched it were made well.


Matthew 14

The Death of John the Baptist

vAt that time wHerod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, xThis is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. For yHerod had seized John and bound him and zput him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,1 because John had been saying to him, aIt is not lawful for you to have her. And though he wanted to put him to death, bhe feared the people, because they held him to be ca prophet. But when Herod’s dbirthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter. And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And ehis disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, fhe withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he gsaw a great crowd, and ghe had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; hsend the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves. 16 But Jesus said, They need not go away; iyou give them something to eat. 17 They said to him, We have only five loaves here and two fish. 18 And he said, Bring them here to me. 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, jhe looked up to heaven and ksaid a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 lImmediately he mmade the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, nhe went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When oevening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way2 from the land,3 beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And lin the fourth watch of the night4 he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, pthey were terrified, and said, It is a ghost! and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, qTake heart; it is I. qDo not be afraid.

28 And Peter answered him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 29 He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and rwalked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,5 he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, sLord, save me. 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, tO you of little faith, why did you udoubt? 32 And when they got into the boat, sthe wind ceased. 33 And vthose in the boat wworshiped him, saying, xTruly you are ythe Son of God.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

34 zAnd when they had crossed over, they came to land at aGennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and bbrought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch cthe fringe of his garment. And das many as touched it were made well.


John 6:1–21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

After this jJesus went away to the other side of kthe Sea of Galilee, which is lthe Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on mthe mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now nthe Passover, the ofeast of the Jews, was at hand. pLifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to qPhilip, Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat? He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. rPhilip answered him, Two hundred denarii1 worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little. One of his disciples, sAndrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, There is a boy here who has five tbarley loaves and two fish, but twhat are they for so many? 10 Jesus said, Have the people sit down. uNow there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and vwhen he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost. 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, wThis is indeed xthe Prophet ywho is to come into the world!

15 zPerceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus awithdrew again to bthe mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,2 they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 cBut he said to them, It is I; do not be afraid. 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.