Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Lord God Almighty, thank you for giving Jesus all power and authority. I believe he is glorious, almighty, and powerful! May Jesus' power be displayed in my heart, my words, and my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Then Jesus told the followers to get into the boat. Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake to Bethsaida. Jesus said that he would come later. Jesus stayed there to tell the people they could go home. After Jesus said good-bye to the people, he went into the hills to pray. That night, the boat was still in the middle of the lake. Jesus was alone on the land. Jesus saw the boat far away on the lake. He saw the followers working hard to row the boat. The wind was blowing against them. Sometime between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus went to the boat. Jesus was walking on the water. Jesus continued walking until he was almost past the boat. But the followers saw Jesus walking on the water. They thought he was a ghost. The followers shouted with fear. All the followers saw Jesus and were very afraid. But Jesus spoke to the followers and said, "Don't worry! It's me! Don't be afraid." Then Jesus got into the boat with the followers. And the wind became calm. The followers were completely amazed. They still didn't understand {his power}. It was like the miracle he did with the bread. They still didn't understand what that meant. Jesus and his followers went across the lake. They came to shore at Gennesaret. They tied the boat there. When they were out of the boat, the people saw Jesus. They knew who he was. The people ran {to tell other people} everywhere in that area {that Jesus was there}. The people brought sick people on beds to every place Jesus went. Jesus went into towns and cities and farms around that area. And every place Jesus went, the people brought sick people to the market places. They begged Jesus to let them touch any part of his coat. And all the people that touched him were healed.

Related Scripture Readings

And you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength that God used to raise Christ from death. God put Christ at his right side in the heavenly places. God made Christ more important than all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. Christ is more important than anything that has power in this world or in the next world. God put everything under Christ's power. And God gave him to be the head (ruler) over everything for the church. The church is Christ's body. The church is filled with Christ. He makes everything complete in every way.

We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue strongly in the faith we have. Jesus, the high priest that we have, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways that we are tempted, but he never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest we can feel free to come before God's throne where there is grace (forgiveness). There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.

With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.