The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-03
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 6.
JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA.

LESSON TExT-Mark 6.45-5e.
GOLDEN TExT-"But straightway
Jesus spake unto them, saying. Be of
good cheer; It is I; be not afraid."-Mat-
thew 1877.
The miracle of the feeding Of the
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 he
first sends away his disciples, then
sends away the multitude, while he
departs into mountain to pray" To
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 they 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 a
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 ne
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 ". 48) 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,"-neal
daybreak.
iii Considered Test.
II is not strange that they did moi
recognize Jesus. He often comes tc
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 "It is 1; be not afraid
Notice he assures them first who 1t II
that is near, "It is l." They recognize
the tones of his familiar voise ant
then they were ready for his words
of confidence, "be not afraid" So Coz
speaks to us in the hour of ou
darkest trial, saying "Lo, am will
you always; ;"-'be not afraid"
From the parallel account by Mat
thew Matthew IA: 2S-36) we read o
Peters attempt to walk upon the wa
ter. His rash and i'll considered tes
of the reality of Jesus presence. Thel
we see him as he too compares him
self with the angry storm and takinI
his eyes Off of Jesus begins to sink
Z Peters sharp, piercing cry; his cleaI
definite, appeal is at once answers
and Jesus leads him safely back int
the boat.
How different is the picture ono
Jesus was in the boat. and how 500
they reached the goal toward whic
they had been struggling, (John 6:1s
2D. If any one is at sea, If any on
is fruitlessly toiling against wind an
wave, only let them take Jesus o.
board and soon they will reach
safe landing place
The disciples were amazed an
their hearts were hardened (vv. B.
52), and this even after the greatly
miracle of feeding the five thousand
why so? It is evident that eve
those nearest to him did not apprt
hend the true meaning of this miracle
ON the contrary their hearts were hal
dened, e. g., blind.
Spiritual Application.
The real Interpretation of Christ
miracles is not that we are to b
amazed at the material manifestatio
but that we are to see the spiritus
lesson and application.
It was a different reception Jesu
received when they reached Genn'
saret wv. 1856. There he is recol
nized at once There they flock t
him with their sick ones and Mar
with few deft strokes shows us tn
picture of vast deal of healing. Non
is disappointed, for we read that a
many as touched him were mad
whole. His healing is not confine
today to single person. nor limite
to a peculiar place or shrine.
In this lesson we see Jesus dlrec
ing his disciples. We see the disciple
obeying that direction even though
led them into contrary winds. w
see him as he walks into them brinl
ing relief, superior to boisterous win
and wave. His presence brougi
peace as 1t always does to storl
tossed humanity, His assurance
that of his own presence (Mat
$500, "It is 1; be not afraid" "
see Jesus answering the fear of tt
disciples.
This is a lesson of many applic
tions. The story is clear and simpl
Its values are for our comfort ar
help. The unseen Christ is by OF
side. Miracles? They are only wo
derful things, that is all. Somethir
beyond our ordinary experience. Sha
we discredit the sunlight becaus a p