Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-10-02
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 8.
JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA
LESSON TExT-Mark s45-5s.

GOLDEN TEXT-"But stralghtway
Jesus spake unto them. saying. BE of
good cheer; 1t is I: be not afraid. Mat
thew 1427.
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 a mountain to pray" To
pray the prayer OF thanksgiving, tc
pray for strength to withstand this
new temptation, John GA, 15); tc
pray for those whom he had fed;
and surely to pray for his chosen ones
that they might understand him ano
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 10 the advice,
the opportunities, Of the crowd and
consort with them in their desire &c
make Jesus a temporal rather than
spiritual king. Such a 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 them2 SO with many
testing in our lives. They seem
severe. but how little We know Of the
greater dancer 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 1t was that while
he fingered in prayer they were dis
| tressed till 1.-The fourth watch, near
/ daybreak.
az 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 it Is
that is near, ct is l." They recognize
the tones of his familiaS voice and
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 10, I am with
you always; BE not afraid"
From the parallel account by Mat
thew Matthew IA: 2S-36) 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 eyes off 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;ls'
2D. If 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
safe landing place.
The disciples were amazed and
their hearts were hardened wv. 81,
Soy, and this even after the creative
miracle of feeding the five thousand
+ why so? 1t is evident that even
e those nearest to him did not appre-
} bend the true meaning of this miracle
q on the contrary their hearts were har'
u dened, e. g., blind.
Il Spiritual Application.
y The real Interpretation of Christ :
miracles is not that We are to be
amazed at the material manifestation
but that we are to see the spiritual
D. lesson and application.
a 1t was a different reception Jesu:
e received when they reached Genne
10 saret wv. 1856. There he is recog
/: nized at once. There they flock Il
ii. him with their sick ones and MARI
IS with a few deft strokes shows us th'
IN picture Of vast deal Of healing. Non'
10 is disappointed, for we read that a
I'd many as touched him were mad'
O. whole. His healing is not confined
today to a single person. nor hmite'
to a peculiar place or shrine.
In this lesson we see Jesus direct
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 bring
ing relief. superior to boisterous win
:. and wave. His presence brough
u peace as it always does to storr
- tossed humanity. His assurance
that of his own presence (Mat
" 2S:2O), 1T is l; be not afraid" w
see Jesus answering the fear OF tn
. disciples.
This is q lessen of many applies
G tons. The story is clear and simpl
Its values are for our comfort an
So help. The unseen Christ is by on
srr-- II.