Study Desk

King Herod heard about Jesus, because he was now well known. Some people said, "He is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why he can work these miracles."

because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a good and holy man. Also, though John's preaching always bothered him, he enjoyed listening to John.

When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

He saw his followers struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he wanted to walk past the boat.

They did not understand about the miracle of the five loaves, because their minds were closed.

Then Jesus said, "Because of your answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter."

"I feel sorry for these people, because they have already been with me for three days, and they have nothing to eat.

His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, "He said this because we have no bread."

Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.

because he was teaching his followers. He said to them, "The Son of Man will be handed over to people, and they will kill him. After three days, he will rise from the dead."

But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

Then John said, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to force demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group."

But Jesus said, "Don't stop him, because anyone who uses my name to do powerful things will not easily say evil things about me.

I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a drink of water because you belong to the Christ will truly get his reward.

Jesus said, "Moses wrote that command for you because you were stubborn.

When Jesus saw this, he was upset and said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children.

He was very sad to hear Jesus say this, and he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.

Jesus said, "Go, you are healed because you believed." At once the man could see, and he followed Jesus on the road.

Seeing a fig tree in leaf from far away, he went to see if it had any figs on it. But he found no figs, only leaves, because it was not the right season for figs.

The leading priests and the teachers of the law heard all this and began trying to find a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because all the people were amazed at his teaching.