The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-06-28
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
,..ou in the International series fes
July 1, 1OOO-Jesus Walk
ing on the Sea.
Prepared By II. c. Lenington.l
THE LESSON TEXT.


~ And straightway Jesus constrained
uis disciples to get into ship. and to go
before Him unto the other side, while He
sent the multitudes away.
% And when He had sent the multitudes
away, He went up into a mountain apart
20 pray: and when the evening was come.
He was there alone.
" But the ship was now In the midst Of
tho sea, tossed with waves; for the wind
was contrary.
@ And In the fourth watch of the night
Jesus went unto them. walking on the sea.
". And when the disciples saw Him walk
NO on the sea. they were troubled. saying,
! IS a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
q. But straightway Jesus spake unto
them. saying, Be Of good cheer; 1t is I; be
not afraid.
s. And Peter answered Him and said,
Lord. II 1t be Thou, bid me come unto
Thee on the water.
r. And He said, Come. And when Peter
"a, come down out OF the ship. he walked
the water. to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous.
was afraid; and beginning to sink. he
led. saying, Lord. save me.
81 And Immediately Jesus stretched
forth His hand. and caught him. and said
unto him. o thou of little faith. wherefore
ddst thou doubt?
g. And when they were come into the
ship, the wind ceased.
S3 Then they that were In the ship came
and worshped Him, saying, OF "A truth
Thou art the Son of God.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Of n truth Thou art
the Son of GOd.-Mntt. Ili:s3.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
This lesson follows in chronological
order those Of last quarter, the events
occurring during the evening and
night following the feeding of the
5000, in April, A. d. 90. After this
great miracle, which was the crown
ing act of a busy day of teaching and
healing, Jesus spent night in prayer.
He persuaded His disciples to leave
Him to dismiss the multitudes and to
cross to the other side of the lake at
some point where He would meet
them later. Then "He went up into
the mountain apart to pray" Thus
He spent the latter part Of the after
noon, and darkness coming on closed
about Him, still alone with God. This
suggests one Of the two profitable
lines of study opened up by the les
Sc Jesus spent very busy life
ing men, but not the opportunities
made for solitude, q sacred loneli-
when even His nearest disciples
% not permitted to be by Him.
..ditation and prayer are children of
bolitude. Note all this particularly
ia the recorded life Of the Saviour, but
hlso in all the great characters Of the
Bible.
The other line Of study that might
taken up pertains to the miracles
Jesus. There have been many op-
tunities for this before in our
Hy Of the life Of Jesus, and it was
ichsd upon briefly in the study of
1sus feeding the 5000, but It is even
ore suggestive and pertinent in con-
hction with such a miracle as that
Of the present lesson, showing, as it
does, Jesus power over nature. &
Three incidents are suggestive Of
experiences that come to every life:
y The tossing of the waves raised
" contrary wind" (2) the fright
Of the disciples at sight OF their Help
'r, and (3) Peters experience, result
ing from his wavering faith.
The first suggests the contrary
winds which arise in the sea of life.
Storms come up very suddenly on
small, inland bodies of water. The
disciples sailed during bright after
bon upon a calm sea. They had got
Ten no more than half way across
When their frail fishing boat was at
the mercy of tempestuous waves. The
analogy suggests itself. We know not
'he hour or the circumstance which
i'll turn our fair day into a cloudy,
;orm-swept one. Happy is he who
nows to whom to turn for help at
uch time.
And in the fourth watch of the
night (between three and six o'clock
IN the morning) Jesus went unto
them, walking on the sea. And when
the disciples saw Him walking on the
sea they were troubled" This ex-
perience of the disciples can hardly be
called unique, for it often happens in
lie that we mistake at first our best
Trend for an enemy. We are af-
lnghtedat the appearance Of our help
er. Providence moves in a mysterious
way, and the help we may be even
expecting comes in a manner SO to-
,ally unexpected that we mistake it
ior new evil. The disciples took
,heir Master for a phantom, more TO
oe feared than the storm which
threatened them.
Thirdly. Peters experience is often
duplicated in our own lives. When
reter recognized Jesus he boldly
stepped from the boat upon the water
IN imitation of his Master. But once
upon the water the boisterousness of
,he waves affected his mind more
'han the presence Of Jesus. Doubt
oegan to fill his heart. With us we
ooidly venture upon a good work full
Vi great faith and purpose, but sud-
oenly we become aware of the dam
gers that threaten and of the difficult