Strength For Today – Day 8

₃₀Large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and many other sick people, whom they placed at Jesus' feet; and he healed them. ₃₁The people were amazed as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they praised the God of Israel.

₂₄Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, carry his cross, and follow me. ₂₅For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ₂₆Will people gain anything if they win the whole world but lose their life? Of course not! There is nothing they can give to regain their life.

₃₇Suddenly a strong wind blew up, and the waves began to spill over into the boat, so that it was about to fill with water. ₃₈Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The disciples woke him up and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?”

₃₉Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm.