Sunday School lesson for the week of 12-28-2014 from Matthews 14:22-33

The 14th chapter opens with Herod attempting to explain Jesus, ''This is John the Baptist, he is raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.''  John said, ''it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife''. John was bounded put in prison and beheaded after a drunken birthday revelry. John's disciples got the body and buried it and told Jesus. Jesus withdrew in a boat to a lonely place for privacy. The people followed; he fed 5,000 the disciple wanted to send them away.

Jesus put his disciples in a boat v 22 dismissed the crowds...went to pray privately, v 23. V 24: Jesus tarried...the  disciples toil the boat was ''tossed'' by ''a great wind that blew'' John 6:18. Between 3 to 6 a.m.in the night, 3 1/2 miles out, ''Jesus came unto them walking on the sea'' v 25. Mark 6:48: "would have passed by them''; V 26, they thought him to be a ''ghost'' or a ''spirit'', they were ''afraid''. V 27: Jesus spoke, ''Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid''. Peter answered v 28, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water''. ''Jesus said 'come' and Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water'' v 29. V 30; He lost his faith...begin to sink; V 31...O thou of little faith why did thou doubt?''; V 32...the wind ceased. V 33 after they had church, ''the boat was at the land to which they went' John 6:21.