LESSON I.—SUNDAY, JULY 1, 1900.
JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA.
22 "AND straightway He constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before Him unto the other side, till He 23 should send the multitudes away. And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into the mountain apart to pray; 24 and when even was come, He was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for 25 the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night 26 He came unto them, walking upon the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, 27 saying, It is an apparition; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; 28 it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee upon the waters. 29 And He said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, 30 and walked upon the waters, to come to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried 31 out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O 32 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when 33 they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." Golden Text: "Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." Matt. 14:33. (1) After feeding the multitude, what did Jesus constrain His disciples to do? What did He purpose to do after the disciples had departed? V. 22. Note 1. (2) After sending the multitude away, where did Jesus go? For what purpose? Who was with Jesus while He was in the mountain praying? V. 23. (3) Where was the boat while Jesus was at prayer? What kind of voyage were the disciples having? What was the occasion for this? V. 24. Note 2. (4) At what time in the night did Jesus come out to them? How did He come? V. 25. (5) How were the disciples affected when they saw Jesus walking on the water? What did they say? What did their great fear cause them to do? V. 26. Note 3. (6) How did Jesus quiet their fears? V. 27. (7) Who first addressed the Lord on this occasion? What request did he make of the Master? V. 28. (8) What did Jesus reply to Peter's request? What did Peter immediately do? V. 29. (9) How did Peter feel when he saw the tempest-driven waves around him? What did he begin at once to do? What did he say? V. 30. Note 4. (10) How did Jesus answer this prayer of Peter's? What did Jesus say to Peter because of his lack of faith? V. 31. (11) What happened as soon as Jesus and Peter entered the boat? V. 32. (12) What did the disciples do when Jesus entered the boat and the wind ceased? What did they declare Him to be? V. 33. 1. He constrained the disciples.—Indicating that He had to use considerable persuasion and urging to get the disciples to put off to the appointed place. They as well as the people had seen the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and all had made up their minds that Jesus must be proclaimed king at once. They seemed to have no realization of the spiritual nature of the kingdom which He was then establishing. They wanted a king that could break the yoke of the Romans, make Judea an earthly paradise, conquer the nations, and make Israel the dominant kingdom of the world there and then. But Jesus knew that violence and insurrection would follow an attempt to place Him on the throne, and the real advancement of His kingdom would be hindered. The movement must be checked at once. So He sends the disciples away in the boat, disperses the people, and seeks the solitude of the mountain to pray for His people. 2. The boat was now in the midst of the sea.—From the details of the three accounts it seems that the disciples were to go first to Bethsaida, and then sail across the sea to Capernaum. But the wind was contrary, and beat them back into the center of the lake, where they were struggling to keep the boat from sinking when the Saviour reached them. The lake was about five miles across. Distressed by the waves.—The word means literally tormented or tortured, indicating that the boat and its occupants were in very desperate straits. 3. Walking on the sea.—Probably the most striking of all the Saviour's miracles. It was performed in the early morning, between 3 and 6 o'clock. Jesus did not use His supernatural power in the performance of miracles for His own satisfaction or service. They were always performed for others. If it had not been for the disciples' need and to strengthen their faith, Jesus would have crossed the sea in the ordinary way, or gone around it. But Jesus had sent His disciples away contrary to their wish, refusing to allow them and the multitude to make Him king. They were displeased, and were doubting. Mark tells us, "They considered not the miracle of the loaves; for their heart was hardened." Mark 6:52. This miracle, performed at this time of their sore need, taken in connection with the miracle which they had not considered at the time of its performance, had a wonderful influence upon the minds of the disciples. 4. When he saw the wind, he was afraid.—The sole reason was that he thought of himself, and forgot Christ. Pride over an achievement which was not of himself led him to look from Christ to the waves; and looking there he found only terror. Our only safety is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.