The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-05
BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.
TT is 1. BE NOT AFRAID"

Mark vi, 45-56-October 6.
'Straightway Jesus spake unto
them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is /;
| be not Observation-Disclosures xiv, 27.
Today's st1dy shows US how inter-
ested people become in anything that
will relieve them of ailments, which
| cause our race to be, as st. Paul de-
| scribed it "a groaning creation" The
crowds continued to gather wherever
! Jesus went, partly for hearing, partly
from curiosity, and partly because the
| Message that He gave was one of con-
| ISOLATION. He was not forever blaming
them for not keeping the Law. He
was continually expressing sympathy
| for their weaknesses, and encouraging
theEl to Ego and sin no more"
After the feeding of the five thou
SAM, Jesus urged His disciples to re-
tuTn to the other side of the lake. He
dismissed the multitude and went into
| Ike solitude of the hills for prayer. 1t
Is noteworthy that nearly all of. the
Great Teachers prayers are brief.
Whenever He wished to make long
prayers He went to the Father by
Himself. Undoubtedly this would be
a good example for all of His follow
ers. Long prayers are frequently a
WEAKNESS to the flesh, and are likely to
contain vain repetitions, or to be at
tempts to instruct the Lord concern
ing matters which He understands
much better than do His children.
Walking on the Sea.
winds In the night thew saw what
they supposed to be a spirit manifesto
ton walking on the water near their
boat. They cried out, for all saw it,
''It is I. be not afraid" Jesus got into
the boat with them, and the wind
ceased, to their amazement, for they
had already forgotten the lesson of
the feeding of the five thousand with
the five loaves and two fishes.
In addition to seeing in this a fur
Their manifestation of Divine power,
we may see a spiritual lesson. After
the Masters ascension, the disciples
were alone in the midst of a contrary
people, and found progress difficult.
This helped them to remember the
Masters ability to come to them on
the troubled seas, and how His coming
brought peace.
ST Matthew gives an additional fea-
ture of this lesson not recorded by ST.
Mark. He tells that when ST.
Peter learned that it was Jesus who
walked upon the sea, he requested the
Lord to sanction his walking on the
water to Him. The Lord consented.
and st. Peter had the courage to make
the effort. Had his faith continued
doubtless he would have been sus-
tanned, but the Lords rule with His
people seems to be, According to thy
faith be it unto thee We are not to
encourage credulity in ourselves or
others, but we are to remember that
faith is very precious in the Lords
sieht.
In ST. Peters case it was entirely
proper that he should attempt to go to
the Lord. because the effort had been
sanctioned. But when he saw the
boisterous waves his faith failed, and
ne cried, "Save, or I perish!'' How
true it is of all Gods people that
they would like to do some wonderful
things to show their faith in the Lordl
And how like ST. Peters are their ex-
periences, They would utterly fail
did not the Lord interpose for their
rescue.
St. Peter the TeachabIe.
Much has been said respecting St.
Peters rashness. The criticism is to
some extent justified. but the Master
loved him greatly on account of mis-
zeal and energy. Although he was the
Oldest of the Apostles he was evil
IDENTIFY one of the most teachable of
thom. OF his mistakes he made a
mirror and thus, learning to know
himself, he was safeguarded through
the many dangers natural to his tenn
permanent; and he stands forth in the
Scriptures as one of the nobIest of the
Apostles.
There must have been strain con-