Summer 32 AD

Feeding of Five Thousand

When the disciples returned from their missionary journey, they told Jesus all that had happened. Jesus took them to a desert place for a time of rest and when the people learned of it, they followed Him. He preached the kingdom of God, and healed those in need (Matthew 14:13-14; Luke 9:10-11; Mark 6:30-34). When it was evening, the disciples asked Jesus to send the people away so they could go into the villages and buy food. Jesus told the disciples to give to the people some food to eat. There were five thousand men, not including the women and children, fed with five loaves and two fishes. It is estimated that there may have been as many as 15,000 - 20,000 people fed that day.

Walking on Water

After the feeding of the multitude, Jesus commanded His disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to the city of Bethsaida. He sent the multitude of people away, and went to a mountain to pray (Mark 6:45-46).

When evening came, the ship was in the midst of the sea and Jesus was alone on the land. The disciples were having a difficult time rowing because of the wind. Jesus came towards them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by, but they called out to Him. Peter stepped out of the ship at Jesus' request, and walked on the water to go to Jesus, but when he took his eyes off Jesus, he was afraid and began to sink. Jesus reached forward and caught him before he went under, much the same way He does for us. When they came into the ship, the wind stopped (Matthew 14:24-32). Jesus did not promise our lives would be trouble free, even if we obeyed Him. Notice that the disciples ran into trouble on the sea, while they were following the commands of Jesus. Jesus promised to never leave us, nor forsake us, but we need to ask Him to help when we have needs, even though He knows our needs.

Jesus, The Bread of Life

The following day, the people came looking for Jesus and couldn't find Him. They finally found Him on the other side of the sea, and asked Him when He got there. Jesus told them that they did not seek Him because they saw the miracles, but because they ate and were filled (John 6:22-26). Jesus told them to not labor for the meat that perishes, but for the meat that endures to everlasting life, that which the Son of man shall give to you (John 6:27). Answering their questions, Jesus continued to explain that the manna that the Israelite's had in the wilderness was from Moses, but the bread from heaven is from His Father, who gives the true bread from heaven. This bread from heaven, Jesus Christ, gives life to the world (John 6:31-33).

Jesus said that He was the bread of life and the source of living water, and those that come to Him will never hunger and those that believe on Him will never thirst. He told them that they have seen Him and yet do not believe. He continued, saying that He was sent down from heaven, not to do His own will but to do the will of His Father, who sent Him (John 6:35-38). Jesus informed them that who ever eats of the bread that came down from heaven will live forever (John 6:58). Jesus knew the thoughts of those who were murmuring, and let them know that He knew there were some of them that didn't believe Him. Many of His disciples left Him then, and walked with Him no more (John 6:61-66).

Eating with Unwashed Hands

Ceremonial hand washing was an unwritten oral law that was a strong tradition with the scribes and Pharisees. The scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, complaining, because the disciples did not wash their hand before they ate bread (Matthew 15:1-2; Mark 7:1-5). Jesus pointed out that they were the ones who were hypocrites, since their traditions actually caused them to break the law (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-13). Jesus reminded them that it is the evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies that proceed out of the heart, these are the things that defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man (Matthew 15:18-20; Mark 7:14-15).

Syro-phoenician's Daughter Healed

Then Jesus went to the coast lands of Tyre and Sidon. A woman of Canaan came to Him, addressing Him as the Son of David, and asked Him to heal her daughter, who was possessed by a demon. Jesus replied that He was not sent to the Gentiles, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:20-24; Mark 7:24-25). The title "Son of David" is the title of the promised King of Israel, but Jesus had not come at this time to be king of the Pheonicians. When the woman came and worshiped Jesus, He said her faith was great and told her to go her way, and her daughter was freed from the demon that very hour (Matthew 15:25-28; Mark 7:26-30). This was the third time that Jesus had healed someone without being in their presence.

Deaf Man Healed

Jesus returned to Galilee, through the coasts of Decapolis, and on the way, there was a man brought to Him that was deaf, and with an impediment in his speech. They asked Jesus to put His hand on him. Jesus took him aside and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue, looked to heaven, sighed and said to him, be opened. His ears were opened, and he could now speak plainly (Matthew 15:29-31; Mark 7:31-35).

Feeding of Four Thousand

Jesus then went near the sea of Galilee and went up on a mountain. A great number of people came to Him, and brought many that were lame, blind, unable to speak, maimed and many other things, and Jesus healed them (Matthew 15:29-30). This group had been with Jesus for three days now, without food, and Jesus did not want to send them away hungry. So this time He fed another multitude, consisting of about four thousand men, plus all the women and children, with seven loaves of bread and a few fish (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:2-9).

Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign

Jesus now took a ship and came to the coasts of Magdala. Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, tempting Him, desiring that He would show them a sign from heaven. Jesus told them that a wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and that no sign would be given to them but the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 15:39-16:4; Mark 8:10-12). This was referring to the fact that Jesus would be in the grave for three days and three nights, the same as Jonah was in the belly of the whale (Matthew 12:40). Neither the Pharisees nor the Sadducees understood what He meant.

A Blind Man Healed

Jesus left in the ship again and departed to the other side, the coast of Bethsaida. While on the ship Jesus warned His disciples of the leaven, or false teaching, of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-21).

When Jesus and the disciples finally landed at Bethsaida, the people brought a blind man to Jesus and asked Him to touch him. Jesus then led him out of town, touched the man's eyes, and healed him (Mark 8:22-26).

Rejection of Jesus

After Jesus had sent the blind man away, He went out with His disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. While on the way He asked the disciples, whom He had sent on a tour of Galilee, who the people were saying that He was. (Mark 8:27). The disciples answered and said some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah and other say one of the old prophets had risen again. (Mark 8:28). The people had once again rejected Jesus as their Messiah (Matthew 16:13-16; Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20). So, Jesus asked the disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

The Future Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

It is now that Jesus began to teach His disciples that the Son of man, Jesus Christ Himself, would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, then after three days, would rise from the dead . Peter had stated in Luke 9:18-21 that Jesus was the Son of God, now Peter began to rebuke Him about this. Jesus then rebuked Peter, because he was being used as Satan's mouthpiece, in trying to subvert God's perfect plan (Mark 8:31-33; Matthew 16:21-23).

Transfiguration

After about six days, Jesus took three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, most likely Mt. Hermon, to pray. Jesus was then transfigured,or transformed, before them. They were able to see Him in His glorified state. The Bible says that His face shone as the sun, and his clothing became white as snow. While they stood there, no doubt in awe, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus, and they spoke of His coming death at Jerusalem (Matthew 17:1-3; Mark 9:2-4; Luke 9:28-31).

The disciples were told, in Matthew 17:9 and Mark 9:9, not to tell anyone about what they had seen on the mountain, till the Son of man had risen from the dead. Peter had an occasion to mention this event to us later (2 Peter 1:16-18).

His disciples then asked Jesus why the scribes say that Elijah must come before the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus said Elijah had already come, yet they did not know him, and had done whatever they desired to him. Jesus said they would also do the same with the Son of man, who would suffer because of them. It was then that the disciples understood that He was talking of John the Baptist,that he had come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Matthew 17:10-13; Mark 9:10-13).

Demon Possessed Boy

The next day, when Jesus and the three disciples came down from the mountain, they were met by a great number of people. A man came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his demon possessed son. He told Jesus he had brought him to His disciples, but they could not cure him. Jesus informed the crowd that it was their lack of faith that had prevented them from being able to heal the son. Jesus then rebuked the demon, and the demon came out of him, and Jesus healed the child (Matthew 17:14-18; Mark 9:14-19; Luke 9:37-43).

The disciples then came to Jesus privately and wanted to know why they couldn't cast out the demon. Jesus told them because of their unbelief. He told them if they had the faith of a grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for them. This would, of course, refer to anything that is in the will of God. But this kind of miracle, Jesus said, doesn't go out without prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:19-21).

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

While in Galilee, Jesus told the disciples that He, the Son of Man, is about to be delivered into the hands of men. He would be killed, and the third day, be raised from the dead. The disciples didn't understand, but were afraid to ask Him what He meant (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45).

Understanding the Attitude of Jesus

When Jesus and the disciples came to Capernaum, those that collect the tribute money came to Peter and asked if his master was going to pay the tribute. Tribute money was a tax to support the temple (Matthew 17:24). Jesus didn't have to pay the tribute, because He was, after all, the God of the temple. However, to avoid offending them, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea to throw out a hook and the first fish that he caught would have a coin in its mouth. Peter was then to give the money as tribute for himself and Jesus (Matthew 17:25-27). This is a good example showing that Christians should give up some of their privileges, when necessary, to avoid offending others.

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1). To teach them humility, Jesus called a little child to Himself, and set him in the midst of them.. He then told the disciples, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-6; Luke 9:46-48).

The disciples next saw a man who was casting out devils in Jesus' name and stopped him. Jesus told them not to stop him, because one who does a miracle in His name is not against Him but is for Him (Luke 9:38-40). Jesus continues to give another example about offending other believers. He describes the severe punishment of those who offend (Luke 9:41-42).

In Matthew 18:15-35 Jesus teaches the disciples that one brother should forgive another. Jesus told Peter that he was to forgive one who sinned against him seventy times seven, or as many times as needed, and describes our relationship to one another as Christians.


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