Book of Common Prayer

²⁶ Do we go on doing what is wrong after we know the truth? If we do, then there is no sacrifice any more for the wrong things we do.

²⁷ But we will be judged, and that makes us fear. God's anger will be like a very hot fire that will burn up those who are against him.

²⁸ Any man who broke the law of Moses was killed, if two or three people proved that he had broken the law. He will not be forgiven.

²⁹ But the person who should have much bigger punishment is the one who turns against the Son of God. That person was made holy by the blood of the new agreement and then calls it nothing. He no longer honours and respects the Spirit who has been so kind to him.

³⁰ We know God who has said, `I am the one who will punish people. I will repay them.' Also, `The Lord will judge his people.'

³¹ People should fear very much to be punished by the living God.

³² Remember the first days when you had the light of God's truth. In those days you were strong, even though you had to fight against many troubles.

³³ Sometimes it was because people said and did wrong things to you and everybody saw it. And sometimes it was because you stood with others who had wrong things done to them.

³⁴ You shared in the troubles of those who were in prison. When your things were taken from you, you were happy. You knew that you had better things in heaven, things that would always belong to you.

³⁵ So do not stop believing God now. Your faith will bring you much reward.

³⁶ You must not give up believing. Then you will do what God wants you to do. Then you will get what he promised you.

³⁷ The holy writings say `In a little while, the one who is to come will come. He will not wait any longer.

³⁸ If a person does what is right because he believes in God, he will live. If he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.'

³⁹ We are not the people who turn back and so are lost. But we are people who believe, and so we are saved.

¹⁶ In the evening his disciples went down to the lake [called the sea of Galilee].

¹⁷ They got in a boat and crossed over the sea toward the town of Capernaum. It was dark, but Jesus had not come back to them.

¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing. It made the water very rough.

¹⁹ They rowed the boat into the middle of the lake. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water. He came close to the boat. They were afraid.

²⁰ But Jesus said to them, `It is I. Do not fear.'

²¹ Then they were glad to take him into the boat. Then at once the boat reached the land to which they were going.

²² The people who stayed back on the land had seen one boat only. They had seen the disciples get in it and go away without Jesus.

²³ But there were some other boats from Tiberias. It was near the place where they had eaten bread, after the Lord had thanked God for it.

²⁴ The next day the people saw that Jesus and his disciples were not there. Then they went to Capernaum in boats to look for Jesus.

²⁵ When they found Jesus on the other side of the lake, they said, `Teacher, when did you get here?'

²⁶ Jesus said, `I tell you the truth. You do not want me because you saw the big works I did, but you want me because you ate all the bread you wanted.

²⁷ Do not work for the food that spoils, but work for the food that will never spoil, the food that will give you life for ever. The Son of Man will give you that food. God my Father has chosen him to do that.'