The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR; MARCH 8,
Subject: Jesus Calms the Storm, Marx w
36-41 - Golden Text, Psalm 1o7, 10 -.
Memory Verses, $3.50 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson. g

- on the Days Lesson.
I. Crossing GaIlee Tvs. 35, 36). 35..
'The other side" Jesus had probably be.
come very weary through the long day's
work and needed retirement. BE knew
in the solitude" Of the eastern shore. Ae.s
cordingly He proposed to the disciples that
they cross over the lake.
SO. "sent away, the multitude. z The.
country aroundfC C&pernaum, and IN all GaE,
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 g
curiosity to see the man, and many desired.
was" Christ had been engaged up to the:
last moment, and now leaves without maxi
ing any preparation for the voyage. dust
before the boat put off three Of the listen
ers to His words desired to attach them
selves to Him as His disciples: !. A scribe
2. An already partial disciple. 3. Another
who wished to bid farewell to his 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,
of the so-called ships on this lake we're Of
any great size; they were whatswe would
call fishing boats IS
II. A great tempest Tvs. 81, 3s1 "A.
great storm" It was one of those sudden
and violent squalls to which the Lake OF
Genuesaret was notoriously exposed, lying
as it does 900 feet lower than the sea and
sourrounded by mountain .gorges, which
act like gigantic tunnels to draw down the
- ,%os tta<a<x<S
winds are not only violent, but they come
down suddenly, and often whes the aky ia
perfectly clear. Life's storms come sud-
denly. Temptations come when we are NOT
looking for them. 1T was now full" The
boat was now filing. This storm was prob
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 ltr7
to defeat the purposes of God: But the
plans of Satan often miscarry. Christ able
thus cause even the devil to assist Him In
perfecting the courage and faith OF His
followers. e. ~ r
38 "He was in etc. Until Christ was
in the ship there was no storm. WhaS
men are resting quietly in carnal seeurtN
an is peace, but as soon as Christ rebnkesl
the world OF sin the wicked are like the
raging sea. that cannot rest, whose waterf;
cast up dirt and mire. Asleep. Here
we see that Christ was human being
man like other men. He became very
weary, and His nature called for rest and
sleep. A moment later when he ,sti!led
the raging waves we see just as clearly that
He was God. They awake Him. In the
hour of their distress they turned TO-
Christ; 80 should we. AT. times he may
appear to be unmindful of our need, and u
will be necessary for us to aawake HIM.
by earnest, persevering prayer. Master. -
The double Master, Master, " OF st. Luke;
gives yividness to their haste and terror.
ing: They did not know that no ship could
ger of perishing should always go TO Christ
.fors help, for there is ngne who; can sage-
from the storms Of divine wrath hut the
Son of God. This was q model prayer. IT.
was short, appropriate, fervent. I
III. 2 The tempest stilled ". 36) 39.S
'He arose" Christ is always ready To as1
sist those in trouble. If we can ret the
sympathies of Christ enlisted in our case
all viii be well. He Q) arose, ~ ,rebuEed;
and (3) there was great calm: sRebuked
the wind" The wind was the canse OF the
'be muzzled." The word means ~ to
"
duce to silence. He rebuked The winds as.
a master rebukes q raging animal, Mark
alone preserves these words which were
doubtless addressed to 'tthe prince OF the
power, offthe air, by whose. agency the
storm had arisen. "a great calm AS a,
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 q
great calm. The calm was great from the
completeness of the stiffness. 81
fearful" You should have remembered
that the Son of God was on board. There,
is no cause for fear. Note some signs OF Q
weak faith: l. Fear in danger. 2: Doubt
of the Lords power in danger. g. ADx.
ious solicitude about earthly things. 4.
Impatience under trouble. mo faith
Matthew records Christ's words as being,
20 ye Of little faith" l.. They had mo
faith" in themselves or their own ability to
hush the elements or to quiet their own.
fears q They had little faith" in their
fbss fsnf thew m came nns to ssS cSst I swofe
Him, and i3) appealed to Him to save
them. 8. But their own fearMlness ald
ChEist's reproof shows that they had only
!aflittle faith. 4. Christ's questions go to
show that they were responsible for the
effectiveness Of their faith. 5. Christie
love for them did not lead Him to shieh
His disciples from the reproof they Or
served s. Christ honored little taita.
He ID arose. (2) rebuked the wind, and
I3) caused great calm. Is there q 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 80 much de-
sires to give. 49,, -
V. Great astonishment ". 4D. Al.
Feared exceedingly" Matthew says, The
men marvelled." They were greatly aston
ished; filled 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 intelhgcncies. are
hushed by His word: 9, What manner OF
man" What vast display of power; how
far exalted above rndrtsls must He be!
Christ is the great problem of history, OF
theology. of life. What is He? BE is
"mau." but what manner" of man? He
js the Goldman, who stands equal with
God on the high level of Deity, and equal
with man on the low level of humanity:
"Obey Him." The One who created wind
and sea could control them.