The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-03-03
Jesus Gains the Storm

a misnOmer. 1t is little pear-shaped
pond, six by thirteen. miles. If it is a
material matter of just so many cubic
feet of water, of course, the small lake
does not deserve its large name. But
when the things thatihappened there
are considered, the title seems not to
be out of proportion 1t is,in fact, the
most important sheet of water on the
globe. 1t is the chief.ascene of Jesus
ministry. On its shore He preached
His sermons and worked His miracles.
Out of it His disciples drew great
draughts of fishes. He walked its
surface as if it had been terra firma.
One day, after hours of tireless in
dustry in teaching and healing, the
Master gave his disciples sailing
orders" 1t would have been com
paratively short tour on foot around
the head of the lake; but Jesus needed
the rest He could have on shipboard.
So, perhaps, in the very boat (Simon
Peters, from which he had been
preaching, he set sail. A little feet
accompanied Him. The curious or
devoted followed in His wake.
There was nothing preternatural in
the storm which broke upon the ship
and it's conveys. The lake lies six
hundred feet below the sea-level. The
streams tributary to it have cut deep
gullies, sudden windstorms re.caused
by the proximity of snow on Lebanon
and the arid wastes of the desert,
These hurricanes find natural vent
through the gigantic tunnels and
instantly convert the placid.lake into
a boiling caldron.
When the storm broke, Jesus was
asleep on a mat, perhaps in little
cabin at the.stern. The disciples did
not appeal to Him Immediately They
first did everything.Etheir nautical
education had taught them to do.
But when the waves kept breaking
and filling the boat, they Weakened
the master AS men in fear are apt
to do they forget their manners, and
cried, 1--WE perish" "Carest Thou
not?'' Jesus observes Divine order
in coming to the rescue. : He first
quiets the tempest in the heart.
With reassuring emphasis and infect
ion, he said, why art thou fearful?"
Then He arose and rebuked the
external storm.
A new meaning for those. men must
have come into the familiar lines of
the Hebrew h ymnal-"Thou rulest
the raging of the sea, and 1.-THE Lord
is mightier than the noise o., many
waters" They saw Him gather the
winds in His fist Though long
acquainted with this little sheet of
water, they had never seen such a
storm given place to such~an instan-
taneous and complete calm. There
is picturesqueness in the words 1.-The
winds ceased. They grew weary and
sank to rest. Talmage once said,
Jesus lulled the lake to sleep on the
knee of His omnipotence.N
Moses parted the Red Sea with his
mystic rod. Joshua made a causeway
for nation through the Jordan with
the glittering ark. Elisha smote the
same river effectually with the sheep
skin mantle of Elijah. But it remain
ed for Jesus, without any material in
strument, to quiet the sea in a raging
storm with only a word from His lips.
He spoke, and it was done. He rebuk-
ed the waves as if they had been in
telligent beings, and the winds as if
they had been used to the sound of
His voice.
Asudden awe fell upon the disciples
and the men in the accompanying
boats. No wonder they said to each
other admirin ely, what manner of
Man is this?n Gwen wind and sea
obey Him. Who then, is this" 1t
was the recognition of Divinity.
The Teachers Lantern
Jesus started on no mere pleasure
trip to the further shore, though He
enjoyed the view and refreshment en-
route. In this instance, as in His
whole life, He had an errand of mercy
y Il X
The humble environment of Jesus
life is here in evidence. He had no
pleasure-yacht at His disposal, only a
common fisherman's boat.
The genuineness of Jesus human
ity is shown in this only instance, in
which He is described as asleep.
Heavy draughts had been made that
day upon His psychical and physical
reserve. He had spent Himself in
teaching. Now He was relaxed, and
so wrapped in slumber as to be
obliyous to the storm.
= X
Jesus sleeps, but never oversleeps.
y = 4 x
Those who have no faith for practic-
al and present use in an emergency,
have none Theoretical faith is no
faith.
- ~ y