Chapter by chapter 3

 3. On the Boat

 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Matthew 14:22–32 Hanan placed a lump of risen dough on the wooden peel and slipped it into the brick oven. He momentarily considered standing there to enjoy its warmth for a few minutes but quickly decided he couldn't wait to hear Grandpa Emet’s story. Hastily wiping his hands on his apron, he pulled his stool close to where Emet was seated and breathlessly said, “Okay, Grandpa, tell me your favorite bread story!” Emet was pleased with his grandson’s enthusiasm. Looking him in the eye, and resting his hand on Hanan’s shoulder, Emet whispered, “On one condition.” “What’s that?” “I get to tell the story, and you get to remember when that bread needs to come out of the oven.” “What br—” Hanan began to say, almost forgetting about the fresh loaf he’d just placed near the coals. “Oh, yeah, that bread. Got it, Grandpa.” Emet shook his head, laughing. “Well, after the crowds were fed the miraculous, multiplied bread, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat for a trip across Lake Galilee.” “Did you get to go, too?” Emet sighed. “I begged Uncle Andrew to let me tag along, but he reminded me that my parents would worry if they found out I took off on an overnight boat trip. I supposed he was right, although I’d give anything for the chance to see Jesus and Peter walk on water.” “That’s the night they did that?” Hanan’s eyes grew huge at the thought. “Yep,” Emet answered. Leaning toward Hanan, he added, “And if Andrew hadn’t been there, we might have never learned that his brother Peter sank a few moments after he started to walk!” The two shared a laugh as Emet continued. “Knowing I couldn’t go on the boat with them, I lifted up a basket of the leftover bread and encouraged Andrew to take it with him on the trip.” “Did he?” “Surprisingly, no,” Emet chuckled. “He didn’t.” Then he suggested, “I kind of think he was hoping to see Jesus make more bread on the boat.” “Did He?” Hanan asked in curious wonder. “Did who what?” Emet asked with a quizzical look. Somewhat exasperated, Hanan asked, “Did Jesus make more bread on the boat?” “Ha! Now that would have been something, wouldn’t it?” Emet replied. “But no, not on the boat. However, Jesus did make some more on the other side of the lake—which means Jesus fed 5000 people one day and 4000 the next.” Pausing for a moment, he added with amusement, “And you’d think the disciples would have brought a basket of that miracle bread with them when they returned to this side of the lake, wouldn’t you?” “I know I would have!” “You and me both!” Emet exclaimed, shaking his head. “But aside from the single loaf Andrew threw into his bag, they didn’t bring any of the bread onto the boat.” Pausing for effect, Emet said, “But thank God they didn’t.” “What?” Hanan scoffed. “Why?” “Because, my son,” Emet said as he crossed his arms over his chest, “that’s the part of this bread story when Jesus shared the most important bread lesson of all.”