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Although saddened by the death of John the Baptist, Jesus’ compassion for souls is so great that He preaches the Good News to over 5,000 of them—and gives them dinner besides.

BibleGateway: Matthew 14:1-21

ESV Text: Matthew 14:1-21


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:24

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     1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

     13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 385 :
Now I Have the Firm Foundation

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

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1. Now I have found the firm foundation 
Which holds mine anchor ever sure; 
‘Twas laid before the world’s creation 
In Christ my Savior’s wounds secure; 
Foundation which unmoved shall stay 
When heaven and earth will pass away. 

2. It is that mercy never ending, 
Which human wisdom far transcends, 
Of Him who, loving arms extending, 
To wretched sinners condescends; 
Whose heart with pity still doth break 
Whether we seek Him or forsake. 

3. Our ruin God hath not intended, 
For our salvation He hath yearned; 
For this His Son to earth descended 
And then to heaven again returned; 
For this so patient evermore 
He knocketh at our heart’s closed door. 

4. O depth of love, to me revealing 
The sea where my sins disappear! 
In Christ my wounds find perfect healing, 
There is no condemnation here; 
For Jesus’ blood through earth and skies 
Forever “Mercy! Mercy!” cries. 

5. I never will forget this crying; 
In faith I’ll trust it all my days, 
And when o’er all my sins I’m sighing, 
Into the Father’s heart I’ll gaze; 
For there is always to be found 
Free mercy without end and bound. 

6. Though I be robbed of every pleasure 
That makes my soul and body glad 
And be deprived of earthly treasure 
And be forsaken, lone, and sad, 
Though my desire for help seem vain, 
His mercy shall with me remain. 

7. Though earthly trials should oppress me 
And cares from day to day increase; 
Though earth’s vain things should sore distress me 
And rob me of my Savior’s peace; 
Though I be brought down to the dust, 
Still in His mercy I will trust. 

8. When all my deeds I am reviewing, 
The deeds that I admire the most, 
I find in all my thought and doing 
That there is naught whereof to boast, 
Yet this sweet comfort shall abide– 
In mercy I can still confide. 

9. Let mercy cause me to be willing 
To bear my lot and not to fret. 
While He my restless heart is stilling, 
May I His mercy not forget! 
Come weal, come woe, my heart to test, 
His mercy is my only rest. 

10. I’ll stand upon this firm foundation 
As long as I on earth remain; 
This shall engage my meditation 
While I the breath of life retain; 
And then, when face to face with Thee, 
I’ll sing of mercy, great and free.