Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁵ Moses wrote this: `A man who obeys the law will live by it.'

⁶ But the holy writings also speak about those who are put right by believing: `Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up into heaven?" ' (That means, `Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?')

⁷ `Do not say, "Who will go down into the hole that has no bottom?" ' (That means, `Who will go down to bring Christ up from the dead people?')

⁸ But what do the holy writings say? They say, `The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.' That means, the word to believe which we tell people.

⁹ If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe in your heart that God has raised Christ from death, you will be saved.

¹⁰ A person believes with his heart, and he is made right with God. He speaks with his mouth and so is saved from his wrong ways.

¹¹ The holy writings say, `Anyone who believes in him will not be let down.'

¹² The Jews and other people are alike. The same Lord is Lord of all people. He richly blesses all who call out to him.

¹³ The holy writings say, `Everyone who calls out to the Lord will be saved.'

¹⁴ But how can people call someone if they have not believed in him? And how can they believe in him if they have not heard about him? And how can they hear about him if no one tells them about him?

¹⁵ And how can people tell about him if no one sends them? The holy writings say, `How good are the feet of those who bring the good news of peace and happiness.'

²² Then Jesus told the disciples, `You get into the boat right away and go ahead of me to the other side of the sea. And I will send these people away.'

²³ After he had sent them away, he went up on the hill by himself to talk with God. Evening came and he was there alone.

²⁴ The boat was far out on the water by this time. The water was beating against the boat and the wind was blowing the wrong way.

²⁵ When it was almost morning, Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.

²⁶ His disciples saw him walking on the water. They were afraid, and said, `It is a spirit!' Then they shouted loudly because they were afraid.

²⁷ Then Jesus spoke to them right away. He said, `Be glad! It is I. Do not fear.'

²⁸ Peter said, `Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.'

²⁹ Jesus said, `Come.' So Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water and went toward Jesus.

³⁰ He saw what the wind did. Then he was afraid and began to go down in the water. He called out, `Lord, save me!'

³¹ Right away Jesus put out his hand and took hold of him. He said, `You do not believe very much in me! Why did you not believe?'

³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.

³³ Then the men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus. They said, `You really are the Son of God.'