Jesus Walking on the Sea
By N. D. U.
WHAT a busy day that was which the five thousand men, besides women and children, spent on the mountainside with Jesus. He preached to them till toward evening. Then, having fed their minds and hearts with the pure bread of life, his word, he bade them sit down on the grass, and he fed their bodies. So our all-wise Creator feeds both the spiritual and the physical. After thus feeding the multitude, he sent them to their homes. How sweet to those weary people was that home coming! But where was Jesus’ home? This planet of Satan’s abode did not afford a place for the Creator to call a home, a place where he could enjoy the comforts of home after a busy day. Jesus did what many a weary Christian often longs to do,—he went away by himself, to be alone with God in prayer. There he found the rest his soul needed. There, at the throne of grace,—there, alone with God,—is the place where his children may find rest, comfort, strength, and grace to go on in duty’s rugged way. Jesus, weary, longing for rest, climbed the mountain, that he might find rest at its summit; and when he came down from the mount, where he had met God and breathed his life-giving Spirit, he was rested, comforted, refreshed, filled with the power and grace of God. It may require an effort for us to get away by ourselves to pray, when the crowd demands our time. A mountain of difficulty may stand in our way. We must overcome it. We must climb the mountain. Then will the sweet, life-giving presence of God pervade our being, strength will take the place of weakness, and joy the place of sadness. Jesus came down from the mountain. His brethren were toiling in the darkness of a stormy night, tossed on the restless waves of the sea, vainly striving to gain the shore. He started out over the sea toward them. So Jesus always comes to the rescue of his troubled ones when they are in the midst of a great sea of difficulty. He is always near, ready to help. Peter—impetuous Peter—was not satisfied with merely being saved; he wanted to have some of the saving power within himself, that he might be able to do the things that Jesus did—to have a hand in saving others. O that we were all like Peter in that respect! So Jesus said, “Come,” and he started, walking on the sea, to meet Jesus. As long as he kept his eyes on11the Lord, all was right; he had the divine power, and walked on the sea as did Jesus; but the moment he looked at the waves, he lost sight of Jesus, and became afraid. Then he began to sink; but Jesus was near, ready at the first call to stretch forth his hand and rescue Peter. Then they entered into the ship, and all was calm. So when we lose sight of the Lord, and look at the sea of trouble about us, we begin to sink. But in looking unto Jesus, we find sweetest rest, peace, calm enjoyment, and are filled with strength, or power, to bear all our trials and to overcome all difficulties. Many of us are obliged to sail on a sea of discord, where companions scoff and sneer at the truth, and blaspheme the holy name of our Creator. But he that found, in the mount of prayer, power to walk upon the sea to his troubled disciples in the darkness of the night, and bring peace and safety to them, is ever ready to come to us over the troubled waves, and to bring us just the calm and healing and reviving and power that we need. Let us keep our eyes fastened upon him; then shall we also be able to walk over the troubled waters, and rescue our sinking brethren when they need human sympathy, encouragement, and help. Look to Jesus o’er the waves,
Lo! he walketh on the sea.
Blessed Lord, who hears and saves,
Stretch forth thine hand, rescue me. Blessed Jesus, full of power,
Full of mercy, full of grace,
Stay thou near me every hour,
Ever let me see thy face. Blessed Jesus, give to me
Grace and strength to do thy will.
How my soul does long for thee!
O me with thy Spirit fill!