Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The fulfillment of the covenant

⁵ Moses writes, you see, about the covenant membership defined by the law, that “the person who performs the law’s commands shall live in them.” ⁶ But the faith-based covenant membership puts it like this: “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who shall go up to heaven?’ ” (in other words, to bring the Messiah down), ⁷ “or, ‘Who shall go down into the depths?’ ” (in other words, to bring the Messiah up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we proclaim); ⁹ because if you profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ Why? Because covenant membership comes by believing with the heart, and salvation comes by professing with the mouth. ¹¹ The Bible says, you see, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich towards all who call upon him. ¹³ “All who call upon the name of the Lord,” you see, “will be saved.”

The call to the world, and the failure of Israel

¹⁴ So how are they to call on someone when they haven’t believed in him? And how are they to believe if they don’t hear? And how will they hear without someone announcing it to them? ¹⁵ And how will people make that announcement unless they are sent? As the Bible says, “How beautiful are the feet of the ones who bring good news of good things.”

²² Jesus at once made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the opposite shore, while he dismissed the crowds.

Jesus walks on water

²³ After he had sent the crowds away, Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came he was there by himself. ²⁴ The boat had already gone some distance from the shore and was being smashed around by the waves, since the wind was against it.

²⁵ At the very dead of night he came towards them, walking on the water. ²⁶ The disciples saw him walking on the sea and panicked. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they screamed in terror. ²⁷ But Jesus at once spoke to them.

“Cheer up,” he said, “it’s me! Don’t be frightened!”

²⁸ “If it’s really you, Master,” said Peter in reply, “give me the word to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come along, then,” said Jesus.

Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came towards Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong wind he was afraid, and began to sink.

“Master,” he yelled, “rescue me!”

³¹ Jesus at once reached out his hand and caught him.

“A fine lot of faith you’ve got!” he said. “Why did you doubt?”

³² They got into the boat, and the wind died down. ³³ The people in the boat worshiped him.

“You really are God’s son!” they said.