Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-03-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH s.
Subject: Jesus Gains the Storm, Mark w..
35-41 - Golden Text Psalm 107, &C.
Memory Verses, $3.50 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

35-41 - Golden Text, Psalm IO7, go -
Memory Verses, $3.50 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
I. Crossing Galilee Tvs. 50, 36). 3d.
'rhe other side" Jesus had probably be.
come very weary through the long days
work and needed retirement. He knew
that quiet and rest oanld be best obtained
in the solitude of the eastern shore. Ac-
cordingly He proposed to the disciples that
they cross over the lake.
Sc. Sent away the multitude" The
country around Capernaum, and in all Gal
lice, was densely populated and great
crowds OF people followed Christ wherever
He went His teaching was original, His
personality very striking, and His miracles
proved His power and authority. Some
wished to hear the truth, others had
curiosity to see the man, and many desired
to be healed of their diseases; "As He
was Christ had been engaged up to the
last moment, and now leaves without max
ing any preparation for the voyage. just
before the boat put off three Of the listen
ers to His words desired to attach them
selves to Him as His disciples: j. A scr be.
,. An already partial disciple. 3. Another
who wished to bid farewell to ais friends
at home. "In the ship" Life has often
been appropriately described as a voyage.
Christ will come on board the baraue IN
which our destiny is being carried forward,
if we want Him to. Little ships" None
of the so-called ships on this lake were OF
any great size: they were what we would
call fishing boats. u
III. A great tempest Tvs. 81, 3S). "A
great STORM" 1t was one of those sudden
and violent squalls to which the Lake OF
Gennesaret was VIGOROUSLY exposed, lying
as it does 600 feet lower than the sea and
surrounded by mountain .gorges, when
act like gigantic tunnels to draw down the
cold winds from the mountains. Ihese
winds are not only violent, but they come
down suddenly, and often when the sky is
perfectly clear. Lies storms come sud
denly. Temptations come when we are not
looking for them. ut was now full The
boat was now filing. This storm was prop
ably excited by Satan, the prince OF the
power of the air, who having the Author
and all the preachers of the gospel together
in a small vessel, thought. by sinking 1T,
to defeat the purposes of God; But the
plans OF Satan often mlscarry. Chrlstls able
to bring good out of the threatened III, ana
thus cause even the devil to assist Him IN
perfecting the courage and faith OF Ills
followers.
49, "He was in" etc Until Christ was
in the ship there was no storm. While
men are resting quietly in carnal security
all is peace. but as soon as Christ rebukes
the world of sin the wicked are like the
raging sea. that cannot rest, whose waters
cast up dirt and mre. Asleep" Here
we see that Christ was a human being-a
man like other men. He became very
weary. and His nature called for rest and
sleep. A moment later when He stilled
the raging waves we see just as clearly that
He was God They awake Him." In the
e
Christ; so should we. At times lie may
appear to be unmindful of our need, and It
will be necessary for us to awake HIM.
by earnest, persevering prayer. Master.
The double master, Master" of ST. Luke
gives vividness to their haste and terror.
1--WE perish" We are in danger OF perish.
ing. They did not know that no ship could
sink with Christ on board. Those IN dan
ger of perishing should always so to Christ
for help, for there r none who can save
from the storms of divine wrath but the
Son of God. This was a model prayer. 1t
was short. appropriate, fervent
III. The tempest stilled ". 39). 80.
"He arose" Christ is always ready to as
sist those in trouble. If we can get the
sympathies of Christ enlisted in our case
all will be well. He Q) arose, (2) rebuked,
and (3) there was a great calm. "Rebuked
the wind" The wind was the cause of the
foaming sea. peace, be STILL Literally,
"be muzzled" The word means ID to
close the mouth with a muzzle; (2) to re-
duce to silence. He rebuked the winds as
a master rebukes a raging animal, Mark
alone preserves these words which were
doubtless addressed to "the prince OF the
power of the air." by whose agency the
storm had arisen. "a great calm" As
rule. after a storm the waves continue to
heave and swell for hours, but here at the
word of the Lord of nature there was,
great calm. The calm was great from the
completeness of the stiffness.
". A gentle reproof ". 4O). 40, so
fearful" You should have remembered
that the Son Of God was on board. There
is no cause for fear. Note some signs OF
weak faith: l. Fear in danger. 2. Doubt
of the Lords power in danger. 3. Anx-
ous solicitude about earthly things. 4;
Impatience under trouble. "No faith"
Matthew records Christ's words as being.
80 We of little faith" /. They had mo
faith" in themselves or their own ability to
hush the elements or to quiet their own
fears. 2. They had a little faith in their
divine Master. This is seen from the fact
that they On came to Christ, (2) awoke
Him, and 90 appealed to Him s, to save We
Christ's reproof shows that they had only
q little faith. 4. Christ's questions 90 to
show that they were responsible for the
effectiveness of their faith. 5. Christs
love for them did not lead Him to shield
His disciples from the reproof they de-
served. 6. Christ honored little faith:
He ID arose. (2) rebuked the wind, and
ca caused great calm. Is there tempest
in your heart? There is One who is able
to drive out all the elements that cause dis
cord and unrest and give you perfect peace:
And it is the duty of the tempest. tossed
soul to make a personal application to
Christ for the peace which He so much de-
sres TO give.
V. Great establishment ". Az. Al.
Feared exceedingly" Matthew says, "The
men marveled." They were greatly aston
ished: filed with amazement. They were
overwhelmed with the majesty and ease
with which He issued His orders to the
elements, and at the submission with
which they, like living intelligencies are
hushed by His word. What manner of
man" What vast display of power; how
far exalted above mortals must He be!
Christ is the great problem of history, Of
theology, of fife. What is He? He is
"man," but what manner" of man? He
is the Goldman, who stands equal with
God on the high level of Deity, and equal
With man on the low level of humanity;
<Hho, Him - The One who created wind