Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-22

! Our lesson gives q revelation of the
Master engaged in foreign missionary
work. The only time that Jesus went
/ beyond the boundaries of Palestine dur
ing His public ministry we find Him
travelling in the heather country OF
Phoenicia and visiting the pagan cities
of Tyre and Sidon. The distance to
both of these Mediterranean cities was
not great. Thirty-five miles direct
north from the Sea of Galilee would
bring Him into the City of Tyre
Twenty-Five miles further north and
He was in the City OF Sidon. He did not
enter the territory of Phoenicia for the
purpose of doing missionary work
among these ancient seafaring men and
traders
Our lessons give us in the passages
assigned several experiences that point
out the motives that prompted Christ to
enter Tyre and Sidon. When He made
his second visit to His boyhood home
the Master detected the evidence of
hostility among the people who had
known Him nearly all of His life.
Herod, who had executed John the Bap-
fist, had his conscience tormenting him
to that extent that he commenced to
fear that Jesus was the prophet, who
had risen from the dead to rsbuke him.
Our Lord knew that the Pharisees and
Herodians had combined their forces in
an effort to secure His death, so that
His own safety and security as we'll as
of the twelve called for Jesus to retire to
a land where His enemies could not
reach Him, at least until after He had
finished preparing the twelve to carry on
His work after His death, that He
recognized was rapidly approaching.
Facing Difficulties.
When the apostles had returned from
their missionary tour they found the
Master so busy teaching and healing
that He could not get time to hear the
story of their success and review their
work. He had made an effort to secure
for them needed rest and opportunity
to go over their work together in the
region near BethSaida without success.
The multitude followed them and He
had taught them. His heart was moved
with compassion and, He tested the
apostles faith by telling them to feed
the 5000 who had followed them into
the desert place, where there was no
opportunity for them TO secure the
necessary food He demonstrated His
sympathy for the hungry multitude by
a miracle that made the few fishes and
supply the crowd 1t started a move
ment to make Him their king, that
made His ministry difficult one for a
season.
He dismissed the disciples and the
multitude when their enthusiasm for
Him had reached the climax of popu-
larity. The twelve ran into one of
those sudden storms that makes the
waters of Galilee so treacherouS and
hindered their journey back to Ca
pernaum. When they were having
severe battle with the waves Jesus drew
near, walking upon the water, calling
them to be of good cheer" Peter gave
an evidence Of his trust in Christs
power for at the Masters word the
apostle had started walking upon the
water toward the Lord. Just as long
as he kept his eyes upon the Master
Peter walked upon the waves, but the
moment he took his eyes from off the
Lord Jesus he started to sink and would
have gone down if Christ had not eX-
tended a helping hand to Peter. We
never fail when we trust our Lord. We
are apt to fail If we neglect following
Him.