The Red Cloud chief., 1912-10-03
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 6.
JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA.


LESSON TEXT-Mark e.&5-56.
GOLDEN TEXT-"But straightway
Jesus spake unto them. saying, BE or
good cheer: 1t 10 I: be not afraid. Mat.
thew h21.
The miracle OF the feeding Of the
Ave thousand marks a crisis In the
life OF Jesus. John 6:l5. The human
ity of Jesus is shown in that as soon
as he had performed that miracle he
first sends away his disciples. then
sends away the multitude, while he
departs Into n mountain to pray" To
pray the prayer Of thanksgiving. to
sray for strength to Withstand this
new temptation, John 6:i4, 15); to
pray for those whom he had fed;
and surely to pray for his chosen ones
that they might understand him and
his mission.
Jesus had taken his disciples into
the mountain for their own good.
(Msrk 6:31) and now he sends them
away lest they yield to the. advice,
the opportunities. Of the crowd and
consort with them in their desire to
make Jesus a temporal rather than
spiritual king. Such course would
have precipitated matters. But IN his
solitude as he prayed. Jesus was
watchful Of his own.
He had sent them into the storm
to avoid a greater danger. would he
not watch over them? So with many
q testing in our lives. They seem
severe, but how little We know OF the
greater danger we have missed. He
saw ". 4S) their distress long before
they saw their relief (v.49). Jesus
knew the need Of prayer. Jesus knew
the need of solitary prayer as he must
pass this crisis, so It was that while
he fingered in prayer they were dis.
tressed till "the fourth watch,"--near
daybreak.
M Considered Test.
It Is not strange that they did not
recognize Jesus. He often comes to
us in ways we do not at first recog.
nize, in ways that at first terrify us.
but he does not leave US long In sus.
pense. We read. he "straightway'
rescued them 1T is I; be not afraid"
Notice he assures them first who 1t Ia
that is near, "It is l." They recognize
the tones OF his familiar voice and
then they were ready for his words
Of confidence, "be not afraid" So God
speaks to us in the hour Of OUT
darkest trial. saying "Lo. ! am with
you always;"-'be not afraid"
From the parallel account by Mat
! thew (Nfatthew IA: 2S.36) we read oi
Peters attempt to walk upon the wa
ter. His rash and III considered test
Of the reality Of Jesus presence. Then
we see him as he too compares him
self with the angry storm and taking
his eyes of of Jesus begins to sink
Peters sharp, piercing cry: his clear,
definite, appeal is at once answered
and Jesus leads him safely back into
the boat.
How different is the picture once
Jesus was in the boat. and how soon
they reached the goal toward which
they had been struggling. (John 6:19
21). II any one Is at sea. II any one
is fruitlessly toiling against wind and
wave, only let them take Jesus on
board and soon they will reach Z
safe landing place.
The disciples were amazed and
their hearts were hardened wv. 81
62), and this even after the creative
miracle Of feeding the Ave thousand
why 90? It is evident that even
those nearest to him did not appre
bend the true meaning Of this miracle
ON the contrary their hearts were har
dened, e. g.. blind.
Spiritual Application.
The real Interpretation Of Christi
miracles is not th,S we are to be
amazed at the material manifestation
but that we are to see the spiritua
lesson and application.
It was q differeet reception Jesus
received when they reached Genne
saret wv. $3.50. There he is recog
nized Mt once. There they flock Il
him with their sick ones and MARI
with q few deft strokes shows us the
picture of a vast deal Of healing. None
is disappointed, for we read that al
many as touched him we're made
whole. His healing Is not confined
today to q single person. nor limited
to q peculiar place or shrine.
In this lesson we see Jesus direct
Ing his disciples. We see the disciples
obeying that direction even though 4
led them into contrary winds. W.
see him as he walks into them bring
ing relief. superior to boistercus wine
and wave. His presence brough
peace 40 It always does to storm
tossed humanity. His assurance Il
that of his own presence Matt
2S:20). 1T 10 !; be not afraid" W.
sec Jesus answering the fear of tn
disciples.
This 10 . lesson of many applica
lions. The story is clear and simple
Its values are for our comfort ant
help. The unseen Christ Is by ou
side. Miraclesf They are only won
derful things. that Is all. Somethin