The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-08-07
J. + 81.
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by cHAS. K. MEYERS.

August ia Troubled Sea and
Troubled Soul. Mark a. 35 to 5, 20.
The striking and interesting events
of the day in the life of Jesus which
we are to learn about today, are told
of in three of the gospels, Matthew
S:24-34 and Luke S:22-40, as well as
the verses in Mark noted above. All
give light on the topic before us.
In the midst of a busy, tiresome
day Jesus said to his disciples that
He wished to cross to the other side
of the Sea of Galilee. They took
passage and were accompanied by
many other boats occupied by friends
and those curious to see and hear
what the great teacher would be do
ing. This is the one time when the
bible record says that Jesus slept. 1t
would seem that this sleep was so
deep that the sleeper was not aware
that a fierce storm had arisen which
iii culcucu " swamp VIC AAtIAC OO0I,
propelled in part by oars and small
sails. The disciples did their utmost
to push the boat along without aid
from their Master, but at last in ter
ror they cry, Save Lord or we per-
ish." Jesus rebuked His followers
mildly for their lack of faith in think
ing that storm of wind and wave
would be able to drown one whose
mission was divine. With word
Jesus Gained the storm and nature
was at peace. Although witnesses to
many displays of supernatural power
on the part of Jesus, the disciples
were much surprised at the quieting
of the storm.
The quelling of the storm was but
another showing of the divinity of
Jesus. This miracle but added another
monument to many more, that Jesus
was the equal with God in power
over nature. 1t is comforting
thought that the one who Gained the
sea is our friend and ready to help
us in times of trouble even as He did
those in the boat that eventful day. Be
levers in Christ never appeal to God
in vain.
The people living on the side of
the lake and upon whose shores Jesus
and His party landed were not Jews
and knew little of the Christ and His
mission. An opportunity was to be
given them to hear the gospel mess
age and receive blessing by healing
of their physical diseases. 1t will
be seen how these people insisted that
Jesus leave them, when the reason
able thing would have been to in
vite Him to remain with them for
ever.
The party headed by Jesus who
landed among the strange people
called in the lesson verses Gadarens,
met strange reception. They had
hardly come to shore when there
came to their notice what we would
call in our day man violently crazy.
He was VIGOROUSLY a savage fellow
Attempts had been made to bind him
even with chains, but these he had
broken and then he ranged at large,
of course terror to the neighbor
hood. The natural thing for the in
habitants there to do was to fly when
this maniac appeared. When he came
toward Jesus none expected anything
else than that serious trouble would
take place. There was certain sur
prise and amazement when the crazy
man instead of charging the crowd
with threats and attempts to harm,
threw himself in an attitude of prayer
and worship before Jesus, crying out
loudly that He was the Son of the
most high God and begging to be let
alone.
Jesus at once commanded the evil
influences which unclaimed the body
and brain of the poor wretch to leave
him. Jesus then entered into CONVEX
sation with the evil spirits, asking
their names. These made answer,
and soon after asked to be allowed to
take abode in a herd of swine which
were feeding near On being allowed
to do this the animals in panic rushed
down a steep place into the sea and
were drowned.
An astOnished lot of people wit
messed all this. The man, given a
clear mind was most grateful, and
the people generally fed to tell the
remarkable news. Now a strange
thing happened. The inhabitants
magnified the loss of the pigs more
than the presence among them Of one
powerful enough to cure the maniac
who had been the terror of the place
for years. So they begged Jesus to
leave them, and this He did, first how