Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09

Peter and the other members Of the
Apostolic College returned to Caper-
naum with reports of the great sue
cess that had attended their efforts
during their missionary tour. They
reached the Masters headquarters
about the time that the disclpies OF
John the Baptist, who had Just been
beheaded, were adding to the burdens
of the Lord Jesus and increasing his
popularity. The rapidly approaching
passover season had increased the
numbers waiting upon His ministry,
hecause MANY worshipers, passing
through Capernaum on their way to
Jerusalem to attend the feast, were
attracted by the messages or the
Christ and impressed by His work OF
healing men of their many diseases.
The presence of the crowd interfereu
with their reporting to the Master III
detail concerning their individual
work and called for more work on
mart of the II, who were physlcally
exhausted by the constant strain OF
preaching, teaching and mlnlsterlns
to the afflicted
Jesus suggested that they take
rest in a quiet place along the shore
of the Lake of Galilee, but they couio
lowed them in their selfishness. Like
All crowds. the multitude, that pre-"
vented the apostles and the Master
from enioying a. day of rest, was need
less. noisy and inconsiderate or the
Masters wishes. Jesus knew that
Johns death was prophetic OF his own
crucifixiou and was anxious to pre-
pare the IL for the coming days, but
the approach of the multitude, tnat
kept increasing in numbers, Iouho nus
heart full of compassion for them. re
did not allow the shortness or suppiles
to keep Him from feeding them III
systematic and orderly manner. ms
resulted in an effort to make the Mas
fer king by force. Jesus compelled the
~ to depart In the ship and broke up
the possibility of their being used as
leaders in a revolutionary movement
to secure for Israel their political
freedom. At.
Among the multitude whom He dis
missed were in all probability some
zealots. who were united IN the radl-
cal revolutionary party pledged 10
secure the freedom of their country
from the tyrannical power OF the ho-
man empire. They probably had peeh
the proposers of making CnrlsI kiis
nv force. They recognized that the
was the logical man to lead the radl'
cal revolutionary party and nation IN
a. war that would quickly overcome
Rome. fhey considered Christs re-
fusaI to be modesty upon His part,
hu+ His refusal to take the crown by
force marked the turning point In Ills
career. While seeking spiritual and
mental power in the solitude or the
mountain, He was not forgetting the
II. whom He knew were facing DIM
culties of the winds that were drlVlhS
them out of their course, fllling them
with fear as the waves mounted ana
swept over their boat. About dawn lie
left His place of sacred communion
to help His distressed apostles.
The members of the apostolic band
were familiar with the treacherous
storms that rushed down upon the
lake and dashed the calm waters into
a roaring and tempestous storm.
They had not been following the water
for about a year since they responded
to Christ's call to matriculate in Ills
college. Twenty-four hours previous
ly they had left Capernaum in search
of rest, The strenuous service or the
day had been followed by night OF
laborious and painful struggle with
the raging winds and battering
waves. 1t was dark, as it was the
fourth watch, and Christ was absent
from them. They had about given up
in despair, when Jesus approached
them, walking upon the water.
His remarkable appearance at that
early hour made them think that He
was a ghost. They cried out in their
fear at the appearance of what they
considered to be a phantom. 1t is
evident that they had not understood
the miracle Of the Lords feeding the