(14:1-2) At this time rumors are buzzing about Jesus' ministry around the land. Herod hears about Jesus and thinks the man everyone is talking about must be John the Baptist. Herod knows John the Baptist loves and follows God (in this verse he is described to have 'Risen from the dead' which is a metaphor for awakening to God's truth). It is a metaphor which means that we do not know, have or understand life until we understand it in the truest, purest way.
(14:3-4) John had previously gotten himself into trouble by being truthful to Herod. John told Herod, who was cheating with his brother's wife, that what he was doing was bad. Neither the woman, Herodias nor Herod appreciated that nugget of truth and they punished John for it.
(14:5) Although Herod wanted to kill John for revealing his sin, Herod could not bring himself to actually take John's life because he knew how beloved John was to so many people.
(14:6) The trouble escalates in this verse. Herod has many qualities that lead him into trouble (a lot of us, maybe all of us do!). Herod has the tendency to be seduced with women. As we know from this history given in the first 5 verses, he engages in relationships with women who he really should not be involved with. He lusts after these women regardless of the consequences and he allows their evil ways to influence his thinking and his actions.
(14:7) Herod is smitten with this young woman (and has already been with her married mother). He is so generous in feeding his poorer tendencies that he allows to gift her whatever she wants, just because she pleases him so.
(14:8) This family is not happy with John the Baptist. Similarly to people today, nobody likes to be called out on their wrongdoings. Even if we are guilty of them, we often become defensive and angry at anyone having the audacity to expose us. Herodias wants John to be killed and she passes this message on to her daughter to request of Herod.
(14:9-10) Herod promised Herodias daughter to deliver whatever she requested and he did so in the company of many others, he had to keep his word. Herod did not really want to kill John 1) because John was indeed so beloved but also 2) because he knew John loved and was loved by God and was therefore genuinely a good person. Herod was a greedy, lustful and rather dimwitted individual but he was not so stupid as to be bloodthirsty for a kind, harmless individual such as John. Nevertheless, Herod made a promise and then commanded it to be executed.
There is an important lesson to learn from this: it is crucial that you keep your word when you promise someone something. Your honesty is your integrity. However, before you make a promise, make sure you are making the promise for a good and productive reason and stop making promises and deals with people who do not have good and productive intentions.
(14:11) This cruel and murderous woman received what she asked for. Be careful that you do not deliver innocent people to cruelty. Always lead people to opportunity and kindness.
(14:12) John's students you can surely imagine were much bereaved; they took his body and buried it because the man it contained was precious to them. They honored his spirit by taking his body away from the people who sent it away.
(14:13) Jesus took a bit of time to mourn the situation regarded John. Jesus knew that John was alive and well in heaven but He was also upset because John was a kind and gifted teacher, loyal to the word of God, and his opportunity to spread that around to people was taken away so early and needlessly.
We all have setbacks and we have a right to take time to process them. Like Jesus, we must take our time and then continue on in our mission. John would have wanted Jesus to continue spreading the word which was so important to him during his own time here on earth.
(14:14) Jesus was moved with compassion. That could be the definition of humanity's entire purpose here: to be moved with compassion. Jesus cared so much for the people around Him that his love for them moved him, motivated him to act. There are a lot of ways to heal a person. As humans, we may not have the ability to snap our fingers our touch our hands to someone in order to heal their physical ailments but we are given the opportunity to do something much better: we can work to heal their souls. We can return people to happiness with our love, friendship and support. Our bodies fail us all the time, they get sick or weak and they constantly age but our souls are resilient, eternal, and can ever be kept lit by compassion. Care like Jesus. Care so much that caring becomes your motivation.
(14:15) The disciples are still not catching on to Jesus' mission, metaphors or capabilities. Let us not make that same mistake. The disciples go to Jesus after a long day of work and say, these people need food and there is none here, send them home so that they can eat.
What is this metaphor teaching us? These people need food in the bellies but hunger here actually can stand for spiritual hunger. The people crave the teachings that Jesus is giving them. When someone is hungry... you do not send them home. You feed them. You feed their questions with truthful answers. Jesus continues the metaphor:
(14:16) Jesus says, do not send them away... let us feed them! Jesus is there teaching the disciples to feed people -> spiritually!
(14:17-18) The disciples look down at their meager scraps and say... these meager scraps cannot feed such a multitude, and they were right in a way because their understanding was not complete and strong enough to feed/teach so many people. But Jesus' teaching was complete and strong. He could and can feed the entire world if they entire world asks for it.
(14:19) Jesus fed them all. He looked up to Heaven, in other words, he looked to God who is the ultimate provided for understanding and opportunity. Jesus exemplifies to us that by keeping God at the forefront, we can do truly miraculous things. We can teach and support people when we are determined to be moved by our compassion.
(14:20) Everyone was filled. Nobody had to share a plate and nobody was still hungry after Jesus' intervention in the situation. Great metaphor! When you live by Jesus' teachings, you lack nothing and you have everything you need. There was even leftover food! That is Jesus' invitation. He is saying to us through metaphor that he has a surplus of love, He can fill us all and there is always more love, more room for you in His house.
(14:21) It does not matter the number, God can take care of His family. Accept your place in His love, in His family... He will care for you with compassion, He will feed you.
(14:22) Now that the mass of people had been comfortably fed and taught, Jesus allowed for them to be sent back to their homes. He does not turn anyone away hungry; when you come to Him, He is ready to welcome and accept you. Immediately. No questions asked.
(14:23) Jesus goes to pray. He surrounds himself in nature; He pulls Himself out of distraction so that He can focus entirely on communicating with God. We all need this, our bodies and our souls require it. We are so thirsty for the relief that God can give us when we talk to Him. Thank Him for all that He is and does but also consult Him, talk to Him about what is going on. Though God already knows and understands your troubles, when you communicate them to Him, when you trust Him with your life, He will send back to you the wisdom and understanding to tackle and diminish our obstacles. It's a beautiful process when you deliver your trust to God; when you give him your consent to take control, He is so proud and ready to take care of you. He waits for your permission; He awaits your trust...
(14:24) This is one of the most metaphorically beautiful stories of the New Testament. It is retold in the gospels so that we can get a proper understanding of what it is teaching. The disciples are on the boat without the actual, physical presence of Jesus (they have not yet learned that He and God is with them, protecting them always) and the waters become crazy. A storm comes and shakes up the boat enough to scare everyone on-board.
(14:25) Jesus finished his direct communication with God (which you also can do) and made his way to the boat to rejoin the disciples. He walked on the water to do so. I understand that this, in its literal interpretation, might be difficult for a lot of people to believe. Think metaphorically. God can get to you, easily, without obstruction, wherever you are. Nothing burdens God or makes His journey difficult.
(14:26) The disciples had never seen anything like this before. They were really quite shocked to see how easily Jesus could command nature to bend to His will. At first they think it is a monster or some unknown approaching their ship and they are quite frazzled by this idea!
(14:27) Immediately Jesus quelled their fears. That is how God works, with immediacy. He does not get a delight in spooking the men or in showing off His talents, He is selfless and humble and aligned perfectly with His mission of driving fear away. 'Do not be afraid', He tells them. Be calm, be happy... it's me, your protector, your guide.
You also should not fear what seems to be unknown... because nothing is unknown to the person who is protecting and guiding you. He knows it all. He has seen it all and He has conquered it all.
(14:28) Peter tests Jesus. I mean, he is really terrified, he wants proof. You probably want proof, too, but Jesus taught His mission on earth for you and He wants you to love Him without testing Him. Peter wants to walk on the water before he admits to believing.
Your faith, in this regard, is theoretically stronger than Peter's if you can love and know God without requiring Him to perform overt miracles to prove it to you. You truly trust Him without the promise of some reward in return.
Nevertheless, it is realistic that a lot of people do ask, and do require more than the spiritual.
(14:29) Jesus says, "Come." Bam, that simple. Come. You want to come Peter? Then do it, walk to me. There was no preparation or performance from Jesus. No incantation or lengthy build-up. Jesus does not need to be a circus act. What God wills to be done is done: simply, efficiently, quickly and without fail, disruption or error.
(14:30) Peter begins walking on the water, which he said he needed to be able to do in order to believe... but he does not believe. This is an intricate metaphor: So many people beg and search for obvious miracles because they think that would solidify their faith. But people are weak and they are fickle, even with proof and evidence they doubt and disbelieve. That is why it is so precious for you to believe and trust without seeking a reward for yourself. If you do not authentically believe, your belief is not strong or pure. Peter said he would believe if the miracle were performed but the minute he got a little scared, a little troubled by the storm (by conflict), he began to sink. He sank down, out of his faith and brought himself into actual, real trouble.
(14:31) Still... immediately Jesus reached for Peter to save Him. Jesus makes Peter (and the readers) aware of what having little faith can do to you (nothing good) but that does not make Him unwilling to help Peter. Jesus has compassion. He loves Peter; He loves us. He does not hesitate to help us, even when we are the ones who get our own selves into trouble. He is there to pull us back up.
(14:32) Jesus used the storm to teach a few really important messages to His disciples and when He was finished teaching them, he quieted the storm. Easy. Jesus is always focused on the mission, He communicated with God and then immediately after went back to teaching in such a strong yet subtle way that He caught all of the disciples off guard. Do not be off your guard, be open and observant because God teaches us, daily, in similar ways. We must pay attention or we miss lessons that we really need to learn from to improve our lives.
(14:33) The disciples are still saying. "Wow. You are really who you say you are, the son of God." One would think that by this point, they would have already learned that. Jesus keeps them in awe. He will keep us in awe as well, but we should not doubt Him... we should not doubt Him because there is so much good he can and wants to do for us when we let Him. Try not to force God to keep reassuring you that He is there. He is always there. If you do not feel God's presence it is because you have left Him because HE NEVER LEAVES YOU.
(14:34-36) Jesus and His students continue on throughout the land, teaching and healing through teaching. People believe in Him without requiring proof. They know that by just touching Him, that by giving their trust to Him, they can be healed. Be that way... trust Him.
