Here we read of John the Baptist again. He had rebuked King Herod for his sin of living with Herodias, his brother’s wife. Herod wanted to put John to death for his faithful words, but Herod feared that his people would not like him if he did that because they all thought John was a prophet. So he put John in prison instead. On Herod’s birthday, there was a big party, and when Herodias’s daughter danced for him, he promised her a great reward. She asked for John to be beheaded, and Herod felt forced to give her what she wanted. But his disciples buried him properly and then shared their sorrow with Jesus.
When Jesus heard about John’s death, He went to a desert place to be alone. But He wasn’t alone for very long. Many people always seemed to be able to find Him, and they flocked to Him because He had compassion and healed those among them who were sick. He fed the large group of people who gathered around Him with just five loaves of bread and two fish. There was enough for all, for they were filled with some left over. Is Jesus enough to fill our hearts full?
Then the disciples got into a boat to go to the other side of the lake, but they found it hard to make any progress because of a strong wind that was against them. In the middle of the night, the Lord Jesus walked to them on the water, and they were troubled when they saw Him. Peter saw Him coming and asked to walk on the water too. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, Peter was able to walk to Him on the water, but when he looked around at the waves, he began to sink. Peter cried, “Lord, save me,” and the Lord Jesus immediately reached out to pick him up. Did Peter have much faith?
1. Herod wanted to kill John but did not, at first, because he __________ the people. Matthew 14:___
2. Why did Jesus heal the people? He was moved with __________. Matthew 14:___
3. When Jesus fed the people, did they get enough to eat? They were __________. Matthew 14:___
4. When Jesus walked on the water to the disciples, they were __________. Matthew 14:___
5. Consider this! Peter walked on water, yet Jesus had to say to him, “O thou of little __________.” Matthew 14:___