Sacramento Listener Event
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Sacramento Listener Event

 (ID: 2897)

All of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, points to Jesus. So when some of His hearers began to declare Jesus a prophet of God, why did He slip away? Alistair Begg explores how and why Jesus preserved His divine identity in secret, working some of His miracles only for the disciples who were closest to Him. Yet when they feared a storm on the sea, Jesus spoke graciously to them, just as He cares for us when we’re lost in our fears today.


Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30ijThe apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And 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. 32lAnd they went away in mthe boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and nrecognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When 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. 35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36pSend them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But he answered them, q“You give them something to eat.” And rthey said to him, s“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii6 worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, t“Five, and two fish.” 39Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And 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. 42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45wImmediately he xmade his disciples get into ythe boat and go before him to the other side, zto Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46And after he had taken leave of them, ahe went up on the mountain to pray. 47And when bevening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about bthe fourth watch of the night7 he came to them, walking on the sea. cHe meant to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50for they all saw him and dwere terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, e“Take heart; it is I. eDo not be afraid.” 51And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for fthey did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts gwere hardened.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.