The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication

The Promise to Abraham

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will^[a] has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.^{(A) 16} Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;^[b] it does not say, “And to offsprings,”^[c] as of many, but it says, “And to your offspring,”^[d] that is, to one person, who is Christ.^{(B) 17} My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.^{(C) 18} For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise, but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.^(D)

The Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring^[e] would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.^{(E) 20} Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one.^(F)

²¹ Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. ²² But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ^[f] might be given to those who believe.^(G)

⁴⁷ When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by.^{(A) 49} But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, ⁵⁰ for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”^{(B) 51} Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,^{(C) 52} for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.^(D)

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.^{(E) 54} When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him ⁵⁵ and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.^(F)