The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-06-01
Sunday ! School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les.
son for Teachers and Pupils.
By CHAs. K. MEYERS

ii + &
lS~~~~~~~~1>~~~
June 5-Jesus walks on the sea.
Matt. L; 22-36.
The lesson of today is closely con-
nected with the one of last Sunday.
The record of Jesus walking on the
sea to the relief of His disciples, who
were battling for hours amidst angry
waves, is found not only in Matthew,
but in Mark 6 and John 6. From the
record in John we see that after Jesus
had fed the multitude those who had
eaten were ready to make Him their
earthly king, and We're ready to do this
by force. He therefore departed from
that place to a mountain to be alone.
and that He could be alone, indeed, he
told or constrained the disciples to
take boat and cross to the other side
of the Sea of Galilee. Then He was
alone. We have no record of what
then took place, but all feel sure it
was time of prayer and communion
with God. 1t will be remembered that
Jesus said the right way to pray was
to pray in secret. The offer to make
Him an earthly king would have been
a temptation to worldly minded r
son. The man or woman who has a
clear conscience prizes highly being
alone" for communion with themselves
and their God.
Leaving the blessed scene of the
dear Saviour alone in prayer, let us
call to mind the disciples who had
Istarted to row themselves across the
sea. It was far from peace and con
ttentment with them. The winds we're
contrary, the waves tossed the boat
lhercely. They did not reach the land.
The record in Mark says, Jesus saw
them rowing" Then He went to their
relief. There is beautiful song, the
words Of which say: 81 know my
Saviour cares" The words could have
been based on the incident OF the
storm on Galilee which we are study
ling about. In another place Jesus gives
1.-THE promise: II will not leave
you comfortless. l will come unto
you" How precious is this saying to
the Christian. Jesus saw the disci-
lples' need and went to them. In like
manner He will come to us now. We
have but to ask for His spirit il we
do not feel we have 1t. s
Let us now note the remarkable
words which Jesus used in making
His presence known. He said: sBe
of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. !"
Most of us can remember when we
were in the dark and little afraid.
and that father or mother called out.
IN am here. Then all trouble was
over, and with confidence we reached
out our hand, or proceeded on our,
way. Jesus is still saying to us. His
disciples and believers: BE of good
cheer; be not afraid" He makes good
the promise not to leave us comfort
less. o. the precious, loving Saviour
and Shepherd that He is!
The impulsive Peter is again In evil
dence. Jesus came to the relief of the
storm tossed ones, walking on the
water. Peter asked permission to ad.
vance to meet his Lord. The answer
game back, Come" Over the boats
side he went and he began to walk, but
then came the fatal looking about, the
fear of sinking, the loss Of faith. He
began to sink and called for aid.
Promptly came the hand of the Saviour
and the gentle rebuke: ooh, thou Of
little faith, wherefore didstI thou
doubt" The failure of Peter to walk
finds example in the experience Of
Christian people. We look now at the
case of Peter and wonder at his lack
of faith. We too have promises from
God, but fail to get benefit because
we have not the faith to launch out
out boldly on the promises given to us.
Let us not condemn Peter until we
ourselves have the faith and the conf.
Bible and act on them as certain to be
~
fulfilled as that we expect the sun to
dence to grasp the promises Of the
rise the coming morning. Jesus said
Peter failed through lack of faith. Let
us strive to have no failures in our
lives through lack Of faith in the prom.
lises of the Bible.
So we have learned how Jesus was
alone in prayer, of His caring for His
disciples and going to their rescue
with most loving words, and Of the
lack Of faith in Peter. May these
thoughts make an impress on each
reader.
Honorable James Wilson. secretary
of agriculture, submitted an interview