And then Jesus got into a boat, and His disciples followed Him. 24 Out
of nowhere, a vicious storm blew over the sea. Waves were lapping up
over the boat, threatening to overtake it! Yet Jesus was asleep. 25 Frightened (not to mention confused—how could anyone sleep through this?), the disciples woke Him up. Disciples: Lord, save us! We’re going to drown! Jesus: 26 Please! What are you so afraid of, you of little faith? Jesus got up, told the wind and the waves to calm down, and they did. The sea became still and calm once again. 27 The disciples were astonished. Disciples: Who is this? What sort of man is He, that the sea and the winds listen to Him? 28 Eventually Jesus came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gadarenes. There, two men who lived near the tombs and were possessed by demons came out to the seaside and met Jesus. They were flailing about, so violent that they obstructed the path of anyone who came their way. Demons (screaming at Jesus): 29 Why are You here? Have You come to torture us even before the judgment day, O Son of God? 30 A ways off, though still visible, was a large herd of pigs, eating. Demons: 31 If You cast us out of the bodies of these two men, do send us into that herd of pigs! Jesus: 32 Very well then, go! And the demons flew out of the bodies of the two flailing men, they set upon the pigs, and every last pig rushed over a steep bank into the sea and drowned. 33 The pig herders (totally undone, as you can imagine) took off; they headed straight for town, where they told everyone what they’d just seen—even about the demon-possessed men. 34 And so the whole town came out to see Jesus for themselves. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their area. |
Daily Prayer > New Testament >
