The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-10-04

I The miracle or the 1eeulnS VI Ihe
five thousand marks crisis in the
life of Jesus. John 6:15). The human
ity of Jesus is shown in that as soon
as he had performed that miracle ne
first sends away his disciples, then
sends away the multitude, while ne
departs Into mountain to pray 10
pray the prayer of Thanksgiving, TO
pray for strength to withstand this
new temptation, John 6:14, 15); to
pray for those whom he had FED;
and surely to pray for his chosen ones
that thew might understand him and
his mission.
Jesus had taken his disciples into
the mountain for their own good.
mark 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
a 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
| thew saw their relief (v.49. Jesus
knew the need Of prayer. Jesus knew
the need of solitary prayer as he must
mass this crisis, 80 1t was that while
he fingered in prayer they were dis
tressed till .'the fourth watch, near
daybreak.
III Considered Test.
1t is n3t 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 u.s.
but he does not leave us long in sus.
pense. We read, he "straightway
rescued them ut is i; be not afraid
Notice he assures them first who 1t Is
that is near, ct is l." They recognize
the tones of his familiar voice ana
then they were ready for his words
of confidence, "be not afraid" So God
] speaks to us in the hour OF our
darkest trial, saying "Lo, I am with
you always; "-"be not afraid"
From the parallel account by Mat
thew (Matthew IA: 2S-96) we read OF
Peters attempt to walk upon the wa
ter His rash and i'll 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 ewes off of Jesus begins to sink
Peters sharp, piercing cry; his clear,
definite. appeal is at once answered
and Jesus leads him safely hack into
the boat
How different is the picture once
Jesus was in the boat, and how soon
thew reached the goal toward which
they had been struggling, John 6:l9'
2D. II any one is at sea, If any one
is fruitlessly toiling against wind ana
wave, only let them take Jesus on
board and soon they will reach
safe landing place.
The disciples were amazed and
their hearts were hardened wv d.
52). and this even after the creative
miracle of feeding the five thousand
why SO? 1t 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 christ 8
miracles is not that we are to be
amazed at the material manifestation
but that we are to see the spiritual
lesson and application.
It was a different reception Jesus
received when they reached Genne-
saret wv. 1856. There he is recog-
nized at once. There they flock to
him with their sick ones and Mark
with a few deft strokes shows us the
picture of vast deal of healing. None
is disappointed, fer we read that as
many as touched him were made
whole. His healing is not confined
today to single person, nor hmited
to a peculiar place or shrine.
In this lesson we see Jesus direct
ing his disciples. We see the disciples
obeying that direction even though 1t
led them into contrary winds. we
see him as he walks into them bring
ing relief, superior to boisterous wind
and wave. His presence brought
peace as it always does to storm
tossed humanity. His assurance is
that of his own presence Matt.
$500, at is 1; be not afraid" We
see Jesus answering the fear OF the
disciples.
This is q lesson of many applica-
lions. The story is clear and simple.
Its values are for our comfort and
help. The unseen Christ is by our
side. Miracles? They are only won
derful things, that is all. Something
beyond our ordinary experience. Shall
we discredit the sunlight becaus a pin
point enters to blind the eye? Mira
cles to the Christian are the mani
festations of a loving God, they are
-.Lo4 $40 r~nsr1d ownaof Of fhp Christ