Chapter 10: God or Ghost
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And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14, 29 Multiply whatever touches my hand, Lord, as I give to serve the lives of others, like the little boy in Matthew 14 and John 6, 1-10. I thank you, Jesus, because you can take little in my hand and make it grand. As I continually step out in faith,

Meet me at the place of my obedience and take whatever gifting and ability I have and reproduce it and replicate it in such a way that thousands and millions of your children can be blessed. But don't stop with that miracle. As I continue to listen to your word, allow me to walk on and over situations in my life that should cause me to sink. I declare that my focus is

will remain steadfast on you, Jesus. I declare that I will not lose sight of who it is that has called me out into the deep waters of purpose. I decree that I am a water walker, filled with the anointing to multiply everything that touches my life, and I am not afraid to speak this truth over my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from Pray.com's podcast, Heroes in the Bible. Hi, I'm Dr. Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in the Bible, Jesus. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please share it with your family and friends so they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way, because knowing Jesus is the key to understanding the Bible. Welcome to the greatest story ever told.

It is a story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death and darkness. This is a story that continues to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart of God right into the hearts of you and me. This episode is about faith and what God is able to do with just one small step.

People who are desperate, sick, blind, hungry, and sinking will all meet Jesus in a profound way. Each of them have small yet significant acts of faith that produce wonders. Episode 10 is special in the way it compacts the greatest of Jesus in just one episode. You and I will get to experience the highs and lows of death, sickness, life, and healing. Each moment in this story will highlight the magnificence of Christ in a unique way.

Take it all in and let yourself sit in awe of our God. This episode will begin with a unique prelude. We will revisit John the Baptist for the last time as he sits in a cell awaiting death.

His time in prison and the thoughts that swirl around his head before his final breath remind us that even in death we can sigh a hallelujah to our King. This life does not promise us comfort. Following Jesus does not mean life will be filled with bliss and prosperity. However, what is promised in Jesus is purpose, glory, and heaven. My prayer for you in this episode is that you would stand in awe of God and know that even in the worst of times he can show you his glory.

I pray that your faith will be strengthened and you too can learn to pursue God like the characters in this story. Let us begin with my favorite episode yet. Episode 10, God or Ghost. Every sandwich has bread. Every burger has a bun. But these warm, golden, smooth steamed buns? These are special. Reserved for the very best. The Filet-O-Fish and you. You can have them too.

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Hey, it's Will Friedle. And Sabrina Bryan. And we're the hosts of the new podcast, Magical Rewind. You may know us from some of your favorite childhood TV movies like My Date with the President's Daughter. And the Cheetah Girls movies. Together we're sitting down to watch all the movies you grew up with and chat with some of your favorite stars and crew that made these iconic movies happen. So kick back, grab your popcorn, and join us. Listen to Magical Rewind on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brought to you by State Farm. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prelude to Chapter 10. John could hear the faint sound of music echoing through the dungeon's hallways. A slight scent of cooked meat wafted its way through cracks in the walls. Herod was throwing another party, and John didn't know it yet that he was about to be the honored guest. Herod had arrested John for speaking out against him. He had taken his brother's wife as his own.

John, being a man to proclaim repentance, did not spare the rich and powerful. He called Herod to repentance and urged him to turn from his ways back to God. John's fame had magnified his message and shamed Herod and his new wife Herodias. Out of anger, Herod captured John to silence him. Even though John was captured, Herod still feared him. John was a man of God and a popular one at that time.

One false move and Herod may find riots outside his home. However, Herodias, Herod's stolen wife, teemed with hatred against him. She wanted his head rolling off his shoulders. She wanted him hung from his own entrails, as long as John the Baptist lived. So did her shame. It was Herod's birthday, and the palace was filled with drunken generals and city officials.

Wine flowed like a river through the hallways, and Herod slowly lost grip of his wits. Herodias watched Herod bumble around, drunk, sitting on his throne. She knew that he was in prime condition to be manipulated. Herodias gestured for her daughter to come forward. "You see Herod over there?" she whispered. "That drunken fool would do anything for you if you gave him something pretty to look at."

"Go, my darling, and fetch me a favor." The woman and her daughter looked at one another slyly. Herodias' daughter was a beautiful young woman and sought after by many men in the city. She sauntered out into the main hall where Herod and his friends prayed. She moved sensually towards Herod. Erotic music haunting, Herod followed her hips as they moved to the music.

She came in close to him, still swaying to the instruments. Her lips came close to his ears as she danced close to him. Then she pulled away, allowing the entire room to watch her move. Herod and every one of his men were mesmerized and aroused. Dull of thinking, Herod blurted out, Ask me anything! His words slurred and his cheeks blushed.

He stood to his feet, unable to get a good balance. He slumped back into his chair, laughing. Come here, girl, he said. The girl looked back where her mom was watching. She walked up to him. Herod drew her in close. Ask me anything and I will do it. I will give you up to half my kingdom. The girl looked back to her mother. The two of them smiled.

She giggled and tugged on a tuft of Herod's beard. She drew her lips in close to his ear and whispered, There is one thing you could give me. Herod's eyes closed. He smiled, nodding for her to continue. I want the head of your special prisoner. She said with malice in her seductive voice. Give me the head of John the... Herod's eyes widened at the request. Her words sobered him.

He had promised her anything in the company of his generals. He was unable to go back on his word. Herod nodded to the captain of his guard. John's cell doors slammed open. Blinding light burst through. He looked up to see four guards standing at the entrance with a bag, a platter, and an axe. He sighed deeply. He had thought about this moment for quite some time. He knew his end was near. He stood to his feet and walked towards them.

They bound him and drug him out to the back of the palace. John's head was shoved onto the cold stone table. He thought of his words to the disciples that one morning on the shore. He must increase, but I must decrease. John shook his head, laughing at where he was now. There was no way to decrease more than what he was about to do. John smiled, closed his eyes, and allowed the axe to fall on his neck.

John's head was handed to Herodias on a silver platter. She had had her revenge, yet the glory of John the Baptist could not be severed. His words, legacy, and memory was tied up in the person of Jesus. Her petty plan to rid herself of shame fell flat. The next day, after relishing in her vengeance, she would feel the same pain and the same shame. Herod and Herodias would use their power to serve their own flesh.

Every debased and demented desire they had, they followed blindly. They did not truly understand how power was to be wielded. They did not understand that the true mark of power is how it's used to bless the vulnerable. Chapter 10. God or Ghost? Jesus stepped off the boat onto the sandy shore. The tide was slowly rising and falling, and the morning fog lazily slid across the waters.

Jesus breathed in deeply and walked a few yards away to seek time with his Father. The other disciples were fast asleep in the boat. It had been a trying morning, from enduring a storm to surviving the attack of a legion of demons. However, in every single moment, Jesus was teaching them to have faith. Every moment spent with Jesus was a moment purposely pursuing the Kingdom of Heaven.

The storm had been treacherous, yet there were greater things they would need to endure. The demoniac was frightening, yet there would be greater things than demons to fear. Jesus prayed, and as he arose to walk back to the boat, he saw a large crowd forming in the distance. "Can't we rest for just one moment?" Nathaniel said, groggily getting out of the boat. "These crowds are relentless." The other disciples groaned and agreed as they got themselves out of the boat.

Jesus simply smiled and looked to the large wave of people descending towards the shore. Jesus turned his gaze towards the rising sun breaking through the fog. The people were drawn to him because, up until now, there had never been anyone who had displayed so much power with so much love. Everybody wanted a glimpse of Jesus so they might be filled with hope and enlivened in their faith.

Jesus was greeting the crowds when Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue, wrestled his way to the front. "Jesus!" he yelled as people bumped into him. "I must speak with Jesus!" He was not the only one who desired to see Jesus. However, he was the most determined. Jairus drove his legs into the ground and marched through the crowd. "Jesus, please, do you hear me?" he yelled.

He looked up towards the middle of the crowd where Jesus was. Then he was whacked by someone's elbow and thrown to the ground. Jairus lay in the dirt, disoriented. He opened his eyes to find Jesus' hand extended in front of him. His smile was warm and understanding. Jairus took his hand and rose to his feet. Jesus, my little daughter is sick and dying. Please, if you would just lay your hands on her, I'm sure she would be made well. Jairus implored.

Lead the way, Jesus said, gesturing forward. Jairus nodded, and the two of them weaved through the crowds, with the disciples clearing away in front of them. The crowd was relentlessly grabbing at Jesus. It took everything for Simon Peter to not clear a path with his sword. The people were thrashing and chopping like a great sea. As the crowd pressed into Jesus, there was a small figure in the corner. It was a woman following the crowd.

She was young, no older than thirty. She hunched over, grabbing at her stomach as she limped through the large throng. She could barely stand, constantly keeling over in pain. Sleepless nights revealed themselves under her eyes. She was a woman acquainted with suffering. For twelve years she had been afflicted with a discharge of blood. Day and night she would fight for the will to live. As each day came and went, her hope diminished.

until she heard about Jesus. First, she heard he restored a lame man by the pools of Bethesda. She too was there, praying to be healed. She waited by the water for hours, splashing at it in frustration. Her tears must have filled up half those pools. Then she heard he had healed a leper. There were eyewitnesses of the man's limbs growing back as soon as Jesus touched him. She began to wonder if Jesus could ever heal her too. Then there were whispers from Nain.

She'd heard rumors of a man once dead, brought back to life. That was when she knew Jesus was more than just a mysterious wanderer with tricks. He had power, true power.

She could see Jesus' back as she crawled through the throng of people. He was there. He was real. Her tired eyes widened and she picked up her pace. Her crawling turned into a run, and just as she thought she was close, a member in the crowd kicked her to the ground, trying to get to Jesus. The woman cried out in pain. The sounds of the people drowned out her screams. Tears streamed down her face as she lay on the floor.

People stepped over her as they made their way to the center. She picked herself up to her hands and knees, only to get kneed in the jaw by another unaware member of the crowd. She fell face first into the dirt, blood filling up in her mouth. Her breathing was staggered and heavy. The pain in her abdomen twisted at her like a rusty blade. She looked up to see the stampede of people surrounding Jesus.

They don't need him like I need him, she thought to herself. If I can just touch the corner of his robe, I know I will be healed. All it will take. The woman picked herself up, holding her side tightly. She winced in pain, but continued to hobble forward. All I need is to be near him, she thought. Just one small glimpse.

She came closer to the center of the crowd, being shoved in every direction. She kept her gaze fixed on Jesus. She did not take her eyes off him. "Whatever it takes," she whispered to herself. She could feel drops of blood running down her garments. It was beginning again. She felt the warm blood drip down her leg, leaving a trail behind her. For twelve years, her ailment had been a source of shame and anguish.

It had isolated her, kept her from marriage, and sequestered her to a life away from the world. Now, just a few feet away from her, stood her liberation. The crowd continued to thrash like a wave against a small vessel. Yet the woman remained steady and on course. She drove her legs forward, pressing through the pain. Just one touch, she said. She was mere inches away. She could see the edge of his garment flowing behind him,

She took her arm away from her side and reached out. The crowd was relentless, and she could feel jabbing at her ribs. She didn't care. She was so close. Just as she was inches away from touching him, she was kicked forward to the ground. On her way down, she grazed the edge of Jesus' robe. The thud of her body hitting the floor was drowned out by the yelling crowd. She curled up in the dust, writhing in pain.

She watched Jesus walk away with the mob following him. Then all went dark. "Who touched me?" Jesus said, turning back to one of his disciples. The disciples looked at one another perplexed. "Master, look at this crowd. There is an army of people here trying to touch you." Simon the Zealot responded. Jesus shook his head. "No, no, this was different," he said.

This time I felt my power go out from me. Jesus looked around. The entire crowd noticed Jesus looking for someone. However, in a sea of faces, no one knew who Jesus was speaking of. The woman sat up, face filled with dust. She rubbed her eyes and looked forward. The crowd had stopped. They were looking for someone. Who touched Jesus? She heard a man yell.

Her eyes widened. She felt around her stomach. No pain. Did it work? She thought. Instead of excitement, all she felt was fear. Why were they looking for her? What happened to Jesus? What did she do wrong? Instead of feeling a sense of elation or joy, she felt more shame. She was fearful to come forward. The woman stood to her feet. For the first time in twelve years, she was able to stand up straight.

However, she still walked with her head held low. She approached the crowd and fell at the feet of Jesus. It was me, my Lord. Before she could say another word, she burst into tears. Jesus looked down at her. She was so used to being in pain that even when healed, she felt guilty. His heart broke for her. He kneeled down to where she was. Totter, Jesus said softly.

The woman lifted her head and peered into Jesus' eyes. People had looked upon her with pity before. However, Jesus' look was different, and his eyes revealed a deep knowledge of her pain. He knew what she had endured for twelve years. He understood her plight. She breathed in deeply, finally able to cease crying.

Jesus smiled and lifted her chin. "Your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your disease." Before Jesus could stand to his feet, a voice yelled from behind the crowd. "Jairus!" he yelled. "Jairus! By God, where is Jairus?" Jairus knew the sound of that voice. It was Simeon, a man from his household. "Simeon!" Jairus exclaimed.

Dread filled Jairus' mind. There could only be one reason he would come so urgently to find him. Jairus ran to meet him. What is it? What news do you have? Simeon held his head low. He could not look Jairus in the eye. His throat clenched, and he struggled to hold back tears. She is dead, my lord, he whispered. He looked up at Jairus, eyes watered by grief. Do not trouble the teacher anymore. Your daughter is dead.

Jairus was silent for a moment and then looked back at Jesus and then at the woman on the floor. His face was pale with shock. It was too late. Jesus had been his last hope, but this woman had interrupted any chance he had at saving his daughter. Jairus was unable to speak. His knees shook. He felt like vomiting. He felt like screaming. He felt like weeping until he met his bitter end. Yet before he could do any of these things,

Jesus put his hand on his shoulder. Jairus' gaze traveled from his shoulder to the face of Jesus. He looked at him intently. "Do not fear, Jairus," Jesus said. "Believe in me." Jesus had his disciples shoo away the crowds. Then he chose Simon Peter, James, and John to follow him to Jairus' house. Jairus was still silent. He wanted to believe Jesus. He wanted to believe all would turn out in the end

Why are you all weeping? He asked.

The child is not dead. He's only sleeping. The people in the house were offended by him. They scoffed. How dare you? We've lost a child and you stand here telling us she's sleeping? Shame on you! Yet Jesus paid no attention. He took Jairus and his wife by the hand. He took them to the upper room where their daughter lay. Simon Peter, James, and John trailed behind silently.

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shower, have breakfast, including some delicious Oscar Mayer bacon, and then drive to work and to think that the bacon would still be smoking. The point is, all of these take at least half a day to complete, and Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips for a really long time until it tastes really good. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon now and enjoy. They watched Jesus lead them up the steps. They reached the entrance and stopped.

Jairus pulled his hand away and shook his head. He could not look at his daughter. He could not bear the pain of seeing her dead. He put his face in his hands, sobbing silently. Jesus opened the door softly. He stepped in to see the little girl laying in her bed. Her face was pale and lifeless.

There was no restless stirring of a dreaming child or sounds of her soft breathing. There was no life in the room. Jesus approached her bedside and knelt down. He took her small, cold hand in his hands. He stroked her hair gently. Her mother and father wept at the entrance, unable to step forward. Jesus looked at the little girl with love. He remembered her.

He knew every hair on her head. He knew her hopes and dreams for the future. He even knew what she had named her dolls. Talitha, come here, Jesus whispered, which means, Little girl, I say to you, arise. Then, as if she was waking from a deep sleep, the girl opened her eyes. She stretched in her bed under her covers and yawned. Her mother and father burst into the room and fell at her side. Jesus stepped aside and smiled.

The two parents were sobbing and the little girl had trouble understanding what had happened. Jesus gestured for Simon Peter, James, and John to leave. He followed them out. Before leaving, he poked his head through the door and said, "Make sure she gets something to eat. She must be hungry." The little girl smiled. Jesus winked back and left with his disciples. Jesus passed on from there.

Simon Peter, James, and John trailed behind him, dumbfounded at what they had just seen. No matter how many miracles they had witnessed, it was still amazing. Every time, Jesus somehow was able to give himself to everyone, yet seem unrushed and at peace. He walked not only with the power of God, but also with the peace of God. They followed him outside the city, when all of a sudden they heard more voices crying out to him,

Two blind men stood shoulder to shoulder following close behind them. "Son of David!" they shouted. "Have mercy on us!" Jesus looked back and paused. He waited for them to draw near. Before they could walk past him, he embraced them. "Do you believe that I am able to heal you?" Jesus asked them. "Yes, Lord!" they responded, shaking in place out of excitement. Jesus loved that they anticipated healing from him.

For them, it was not a matter of whether Jesus was able to heal them or not, but a matter of whether it was a part of His will. He touched their eyes with His hands. "Well then, let it be done according to your faith." And as Jesus said this, the darkness that had plagued them for years was stripped away by bursting light. Coming into focus through that light was the face of Jesus. He smiled and told them to keep what they had experienced a secret.

However, their joy was overflowing to the brim. As they left Jesus' presence, they proclaimed His mighty works throughout the city. A truly transformed life cannot keep a secret. The multitudes grew, and soon more than 5,000 people gathered to hear Jesus teach. They followed Him into the hills outside Galilee. Jesus once again used the opportunity to preach about the kingdom of God. His prose was enchanting, and His philosophy was steady.

There was no teacher like him. He commanded the thousands, and they hung on every word he said. As soon as he finished, he turned to Philip and said, Philip laughed, thinking Jesus was joking. He saw the seriousness on Jesus' face and composed himself. He cleared his throat and said,

A six-month's wage would not be enough to feed this many people, Jesus. Jesus ignored his replies. He scanned the crowd as a shepherd would his sheep. I believe I saw a young boy here who had about five barley loaves and two fish, Andrew said. Other than that, I have not seen any food in the whole crowd. Philip shook his head. Ah, yes, perfect. A boy's mother packed his lunch. Shall we have all 5,000 people form a line?

Or maybe they could all take turns nibbling on the end of the fish, like rodents. Philip joked. Jesus playfully slapped Philip's back. Perfect, he exclaimed. Have the people sit down to eat. Jesus then walked forward to go find the boy. The disciples exchanged looks with one another as they often did. It was a very common occurrence for them to feel like they were following a lunatic.

However, every single time Jesus proved himself to be exactly who he said he was. God did not always work in conventional ways. He had the Israelites march around a wall seven times before it came crumbling down. He used a fish to swallow a man for three days to teach him a lesson. He made a donkey speak to rebuke a prophet. All of these things seemed like foolishness, but ultimately fulfilled the purposes of God.

So the disciples simply shrunk and seated all 5,000 people into smaller groups. The afternoon sun was just beginning its descent across the sky. Its rays shone on the multitude sitting in the grassy hills below. The light breeze dulled the harshness of the warm beams. People were content to sit in groups waiting to see what Jesus would do next. There was a joyous anticipation for how he would proceed.

Some looked up in the sky, wondering if Jesus would send manna down from heaven. As the disciples seated the people, Jesus approached the boy with five loaves and two fish. He knelt down and met him at eye level. Jesus greeted him and gestured towards the loaves and fish. "You are very smart to pack food for yourself," Jesus said with a smile. "How would you feel about sharing these with everyone else?" The boy looked down at his food.

He was hungry and didn't see much point in sharing when it wouldn't feed all the people anyway. "How will this be enough?" the boy asked. "I feel like this is too small to make a difference." Jesus grinned from ear to ear. "But you see, all things are possible with God. Whatever little you may have, He can use it." The boy looked at his meal one more time, then gave it to Jesus. "Thank you," Jesus said. He walked up the hill with the five loaves and two fish.

gesturing for his disciples to fetch baskets along the way. Jesus raised the food high in the air for all to see. He blessed the food and thanked God for the abundance. A few of the disciples rolled their eyes. Then Jesus broke up the bread into pieces and distributed them in the baskets.

He did the same with the fish. "Here we are," Jesus said. "Now pass the food out to people. They've waited long enough." The disciples took the baskets. They were light at first, nearly empty as they began passing out pieces to the groups sitting in the grass. However, with each person they passed, the basket became heavier and heavier. It was as if three new pieces were placed in for every piece that was passed out.

Eventually, the disciples were dragging the baskets to each group. Every person had their fill of bread and fish. Jesus looked out, admiring the laughter over food. He knew the importance of a full belly and good food. The disciples made their way up the hill, heaving the baskets up behind them. After all had been fed, they still had baskets of leftover food. They finally made it up to Jesus, gasping for air.

Matthew and Judas lay on the grass, laughing at how tired they were. They had managed to feed over 5,000 people with just two fish and five measly barley loaves. All the crowd watched as Jesus was able to bless an entire sea of people with the generosity of one boy. He demonstrated that God does not need excess to use people for his glory.

He uses the small and the insignificant things of this world to prove his power. He blessed thousands with the faithfulness of one. The boy with two fish and five loaves served as a reminder to every disciple that God is able to use anything to accomplish his purposes. The people stood and cheered.

They had seen Jesus heal the lame and give sight to the blind. However, now they had seen him make food appear out of thin air. This caused them to rave even more. He should be made king, they exclaimed. Nobody will ever hunger again, they shouted. Down with Caesar! Let Jesus arise and give us bread, they chanted. As the crowds lifted their voices, they stormed up the hill to grab hold of Jesus to make him king.

Jesus knew that if he stayed one minute longer, the crowd would overtake him and force him to be their king. They were desperate to be fed and taken care of. However, they missed the true purpose of Jesus' miracle. He did not simply desire to feed people. He desired to showcase the potential in every person to make a difference. He desired to showcase God's power. However, the people were intent on making him king.

Jesus grabbed his disciples and told them to board their boat and leave. They would not be safe with the crowd growing more violent. Jesus watched the disciples run down the hill towards the sea. Then he withdrew behind a few stones and retreated up the mountain to be alone with God. There he sat in the presence of his Father for hours. The disciples floated out in the open waters, watching the sun gracefully descend past the horizon.

As the night drew closer, the waters began to stir. A bone-chilling wind blew across the water, and the moon was hidden behind the incoming fog. All night, the disciples shivered and huddled together to hide from the wind. It was sharp against their faces and blew from two sides of the sea. Its noise was like a rumbling voice calling out from the deep. The sea seemed to moan in agony, like a tormented soul.

The men became frightened that they were not alone in the open waters. They could sense the presence of another behind the fog. The wind continued to murmur as the boat creaked back and forth. Thaddeus looked out into the dense fog. In the distance, he saw a figure walking towards them over the waters. He rubbed his eyes and peered closer. The figure was drawing closer. He jumped back from the edge of the boat and stumbled into a few of the other disciples.

Thaddeus could not believe his eyes. "It's... it's a ghost!" The others began to panic. Thaddeus pointed into the distance. A silhouetted figure was making its way toward them. "God have mercy on us! It's a ghost!" "Roll!" James yelled. "Roll for your lives!" The disciples took different paddles as Andrew let loose the mainsail. However, the wind was too violent for them to make any progress.

Panic began to set in. They were trapped in a prison of wind, doomed to be devoured by a ghost of the sea. Then a voice called out from the fog. Take heart, my friends, it shouted. It is I, do not be afraid. The men leaned over to the edge of the boat. Emerging from the fog, they could see Jesus walking on water towards them. He walked firmly against the moving sea, maintaining poise with each step.

Simon Peter was the most intrigued. He had been a man of the sea his entire life. His father and his father's father were all fishermen. Never before had he witnessed such a thing. His heart began to race. The thought of being one with the water was enticing. He looked up at Jesus. He could see his confidence as he stood on the moving swell.

"Lord," Simon Peter said, "if it is you, command me to come out to you." The freezing winds were relentless against Simon Peter's face, yet his gaze remained fixed on his Lord. "Come then," Jesus said. He opened out his arms and beckoned Simon Peter to step out. He sat on the vessel's edge, refusing to look down at the water. Instead, he kept his sight on Jesus like a lighthouse.

Simon Peter could hear the rushing waters chop underneath the boat. He breathed in deeply, nodding to Jesus. Then, in a moment of pure faith, he jumped out with his legs extended. His heart stopped beating for that brief moment. He was airborne, fully prepared to be submerged in water and thrashing under the surf. However, he landed firmly on the top of the waters, standing as if on a pillow of grass. The disciples gasped.

Simon Peter refused to look down at his feet. He refused to look back at the others. Instead, he looked longingly at his master in front of him. Every step was a rush. The wind howled and the seas raged around him. Yet there was this brief and beautiful moment of him walking where no man had walked before. Simon Peter walked towards Jesus as a son would to his father.

However, his pace was interrupted as a gust of wind raged against his face. His gaze was thrown off Jesus, and all of a sudden, Simon Peter was gravely aware of his surroundings. He looked at the violent waves thrashing around him. He listened to the sharp shrieks of the wind. Then he looked down to see the deep abyss gazing up at him. Simon Peter felt the support of his feet give way as he dropped into the cold blackness.

He was consumed by the waters and sank deep into the belly of the ocean. Simon Peter kicked his legs and stroked his arms upwards, trying to reach the top. He emerged from underneath the water, only to be buried by another wave. The impact left a ringing in his ears. He was almost sure he would die. He emerged again, not sure if he had the strength to continue swimming. In his hysteria, he was able to spare a few breaths to cry out to Jesus,

In a moment of complete despair, he spoke one of the most powerful prayers ever uttered, a prayer that would echo into eternity. His cry for help reached straight to the heart of God and changed the course of his life. Surrounded by waves and gasping for air, he looked up and shouted, Jesus, save me! Then he sank below the surface. All was silent as Simon Peter descended into the deep.

He peered up at the small sliver of moonlight above. He wondered if this would be the end of his journey. Would the greatest moment of his life be followed by his demise? He knew Jesus was above him. He could see the silhouette of his feet resting on the surface of the waters. Two arms reached down and grabbed Simon Peter from the depths. It was as if the arms of God burst through the heavens into the dark world below.

He grabbed Simon Peter and lifted him out of the darkness. Simon Peter was lifted through the water into the arms of Jesus. He carried him to the boat and placed him gently inside. Simon Peter looked over his shoulder. The fog had cleared and the wind ceased its howling. The horizon lit up with bright orange as the sun rose above the shoreline. All the disciples looked at Jesus. The sea was as still as glass now.

and Simon Peter wept tears of joy. He turned his face to Jesus. His gaze warmed him more than the sun itself. His face was blue, and his entire body shivered. "Truly, you are the Son of God," he whispered. Then he fell into a deep sleep. Simon Peter's experience showcased the human experience in its entirety.

His fear, worry, and doubt were quickly replaced with joy and thrill as he walked towards Jesus. However, he lost sight and fell deep into despair. He thrashed, swam, and gasped for air, yet he could not save himself in his own strength. He needed an intervention. He needed a rescue from above the waves. While Simon Peter was a victim of the ocean, Jesus walked above it.

And while humanity was victim to sin and death, Jesus would rise above it. Every sandwich has bread. Every burger has a bun. But these warm, golden, smooth steam buns? These are special. Reserved for the very best. The Filet-O-Fish. And you. You can have them too.

Ba-da-ba-ba-ba.

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Are you ready to have your bacon loving mind blown?

Well, here it is. Oscar Mayer takes 12 hours to smoke some delicious thick-cut bacon. Most other bacon out there is smoked for four to six hours, but Oscar Mayer doubles that time. Let's put that into perspective. You could drive from Detroit to Omaha, and Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon wouldn't be finished smoking. You could spend the morning and all afternoon watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in full. You could even go to bed, get a full night's sleep, wake up, shower,

shower, have breakfast, including some delicious Oscar Mayer bacon, and then drive to work and to think that the bacon would still be smoking. The point is, all of these take at least half a day to complete, and Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips for a really long time until it tastes really good. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon now and enjoy. They did not understand that the true mark of power is how it is used to bless the vulnerable.

This was the prevailing theme in this episode. How is strength supposed to be wielded? What is the purpose behind privilege and how do we leverage our power? Jesus, having ultimate power and authority, used it to bless the sick, needy, and vulnerable.

The purpose of putting the story of John's death in the prelude was to highlight the contrast between King Herod and Jesus. While Herod and his household were indulgent and leveraged their authority for evil, Jesus was continually using his position to bless those in need. This began with Jairus' daughter and the woman who was sick. Both of them came to him in desperation.

Instead of shirking them off to address the crowd of worshipers, Jesus paid attention to their needs. This is an important point for us to remember. While Jesus did come to save the world, that does not mean he doesn't consider you personally. Your problems are not too small for him and your needs are on his mind. We can learn a lot from Jairus and the woman.

They truly understood the power of Jesus and desperately sought him. However, both of them approached him very differently. Jairus pushed through the crowd and yelled to get Jesus' attention. He was desperate for his daughter's sake and didn't care who he offended in the pursuit of Christ. The woman was more timid and ashamed. She knew all it would take was a touch. She was quietly determined to be close to him and fought tooth and nail to just graze the size of his garment.

Both these individuals met Jesus in different ways, and both were profoundly blessed. These interactions remind us that we have the freedom to honestly seek out help when we desperately need it. There was also a foreshadowing early in this episode. Did you notice it? The woman kept her gaze fixed on Jesus. She didn't take her eyes off him. This was a subtle foreshadowing of Simon Peter walking on water when his eyes turned away from Jesus and he began to sink.

The crowd that surrounded the woman was like the winds in the wave. She remained steadfast and continued her pursuit of Jesus despite being knocked down. The woman's faith and Simon Peter's faith are put in contrast to one another and remind us that no matter what the circumstances may be, we must keep our eyes locked on Jesus.

After healing the woman and bringing Jairus' daughter back from the dead, Jesus encounters two blind men. They call on him by invoking the name David. Son of David, they shouted. Have mercy on us. We hear this title given to Jesus often. What does that mean? If you listen to our series on the life of David, you may understand a little more about what this title means. God promised that the Messiah would come from the lineage of King David.

David was a forerunner for the one true king of Israel. The blind men calling Jesus son of David acknowledged his divine duty as the promised redeemer of Israel. To put it simply, these men were calling him King Jesus. There were several times in this episode that people either called Jesus a king or called for him to become their king.

Jesus was and is a king, but he is not the king anyone expected. He did not come to lead armies like Saul, slay giants like David, or build wealth like Solomon. He came to serve and save the souls of mankind.

Healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and feeding the hungry were all pictures of what he wanted to do with our hearts. This episode eventually took us to the famous feeding of the 5,000. It is important to note back then that they didn't count women and children, so 5,000 most likely meant 10,000 to 15,000.

The most absurd part of this story is that the only one who thought to bring food was a small boy, but that's neither here nor there. This miracle, turning just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish into a meal for thousands, teaches us a valuable lesson. It demonstrated that God does not need excess to use people for his glory. He uses the small and insignificant things of this world to prove his power. He blessed thousands with the faithfulness of one.

The boy with two fish and five loaves serves as a reminder to every disciple that God is able to use anything to accomplish his purpose. Perhaps you feel like you don't have much to offer God. Perhaps you feel at the end of yourself, tired and lacking strength. Jesus doesn't need flashy talent or riches to perform miracles. All he needs is faithfulness. Whatever you have to give, give it your all. Even in your weakest moments, God is able to display strength.

This episode ended with God's strength on display. The disciples were once again tossed to and fro by the wind and the waves. However, Jesus was standing above the waves, walking toward them. Remember the last episode when we talked about the imagery of water in the Bible? Unruly and stormy waters are supposed to be an image of the chaos and darkness of the world. So what is the significance of Jesus walking on top of the storm and Simon Peter sinking?

This scene is telling us that Jesus has power over the things that consume us. While Simon Peter was tossed by the wind, Jesus was steady and unwavering. Simon Peter took his eyes off Jesus and found himself being swallowed up by the dark abyss. Let's go back to the scene and relive the intensity. Simon Peter felt the support of his feet give way as he dropped into the cold blackness. He was consumed by the waters and sank deep into the belly of the ocean.

Simon Peter kicked his legs and stroked his arms upward, trying to reach the top. He emerged from underneath the water, only to be buried by another wave. The impact left a ringing in his ears. He was almost sure he would die. He emerged again, not sure if he had the strength to continue swimming. In his hysteria, he was able to spare a few breaths to cry out to Jesus.

In a moment of complete despair, he spoke one of the most powerful prayers ever uttered, a prayer that would echo into eternity. His cry for help reached straight to the heart of God and changed the course of his life. Surrounded by waves and gasping for air, he looked up and shouted, Jesus, save me. This is the shortest prayer in all scripture, but it is the most profound.

Not all prayers need to be long and deep. Some of the most effective and honest prayers come from a sigh of pain or a shout of desperation. Jesus, save me is a prayer you can pray as well. If you find yourself lost, hopeless, and alone, you can reach out to God and ask to be saved. Make this prayer a priority this week. What storms are you caught in? What sins are you stuck in? Shout to Jesus and he will wrap you in his arms.

In our next episode, the glory of Christ will be revealed in splendor. Join us next time for episode 11, Behold and Beware.

Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to Pray.com. And to expand your Heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at TonyEvans.org forward slash heroes. Share this podcast with a family member or friend so they can know Jesus Christ in a personal way.

You never know how great of an impact the Bible and this podcast can have on someone's life. God bless. If you're ready for an epic family vacation, there's no better place than sunny Orlando. Exciting thrills, never-ending food festivals, fresh new dining experiences, outdoor adventures, and Florida's natural springs, and so much more. Orlando has it all. And visit Orlando's vacation planners can help you plan the perfect trip.

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Tackle these situations in stride and of course be annoyed when an unplanned expense comes up, but not let it be something that slows me down. Right. As I did with repairing my credit, you know, hiring somebody to do credit repair for me. That was a gift that I gave myself that allowed me to then, you know, get my first apartment. Right.

Hey, who doesn't love bacon? And did you know Oscar Mayer smokes their delicious bacon for 12 hours over real hardwood? That's a really long time to perfect the smoky flavor and even longer than it takes to go on a long road trip from Chicago to Pittsburgh, stop for food along the way, and still get there while the bacon is smoking. The

The point is, Oscar Mayer takes the best cuts and smokes them over real hardwood chips. There's no wrong way to enjoy it. So buy some Oscar Mayer thick cut bacon now.