WALKING THE WAVES--THE TWO KINGDOMS.
While Jesus was alone on the mountain side the disciples were trying to
reach Capernaum in their fishing boat. It was not a long sail, but a
contrary wind had risen and was blowing them out into the Lake away
from the landing place.
They had taken down their sail and were rowing, but by three o'clock in
the morning they were still out upon the Lake.
Jesus, who knew all things, saw them struggling with the oars, and
coming swiftly down the mountain side He went to them walking upon the
water.
The disciples saw a form through the darkness drawing near to them, and
strangely enough they did not think of Jesus, but cried out in terror,
saying,
"It is a spirit." Then the clear sweet voice of their Master rose over
the sound of the wind and the waves, "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not
afraid." And Peter, full of glad faith, cried out, "Lord, if it be
Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water."
When Jesus said "Come," Peter climbed over the side of the boat and
began to walk toward Jesus, but when a strong wind drove the waves upon
him he lost sight of the Lord for a moment, and he was afraid.
"Lord, save me!" he cried, and began to sink.
Then Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Peter, saying, "O thou of
little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
When they both entered the ship the wind ceased, and while the
disciples wondered and worshipped, saying, "Of a truth Thou art the Son
of God," they found themselves at the land not far from Capernaum.
It was on the white beach of pebbles and shells that bordered the plain
of Gennesaret where they moored the boat in the early morning, and as
soon as the people saw them they began bringing their sick friends to
Jesus. Many were too ill to walk, and were brought on little beds or
mattresses and laid at Jesus's feet, and there they were healed if they
but touched the hem of His garment.
Many of those who brought the sick to Jesus had been with Him on the
mountain side, and had eaten of the wonderful bread of heaven that He
had broken for them. They believed that He could do anything that He
would.
The people whose hearts were set upon making Jesus their king followed
Him wherever He went. Some who had been with Him when He made bread
for the great company on the hillside at Bethsaida-Julias found Him
teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
"Teacher, when camest thou hither?" they said. Jesus, knowing that
they cared more for His gifts than for His teaching, said, "Ye seek me,
not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves
and were filled," and told them that they should not labor for the food
that perishes, but for that which endures forever.
They still wished Him to do some wonder, or show them how to work
wonders, for they asked Him what they should do to work the works of
God.
"This is the work of God," He said, "That ye believe on Him whom He
hath sent." Still they remembered the miracle of the bread.
"What sign showest Thou?" they said, "Our fathers did eat manna in the
desert." Then He spoke plainly to them of Himself.
"The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life
unto the world." One more spiritual than the rest said reverently,
"Lord, evermore give us this bread."
Then Jesus spoke those words about Himself that turned many away from
Him. He showed them that He could never be what they expected Him to
be--an earthly king. He had only the things of the Spirit to give
them, and He called them to a kingdom that could be seen only with
spiritual sight.
"I am the bread of life," He said, "He that cometh to me shall never
hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. All that the
Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in
no wise cast out."
The Jews were offended with Him because He had said, "I came down from
heaven." "I am the living bread which came down from heaven," He said.
"If any man eat of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that
I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world."
Then the Jews were vexed and turned to talk among themselves. They
could not understand what He meant, but they saw plainly that He was
not going to agree with their plan to make Him the King of the Jews,
who would lead them out of their bondage to the Romans, and establish
them forever as a nation.
They did not want to follow Him, but they wanted Him to follow their
plan. And as for His talk about being the "bread of life,"--"This is
an hard saying," they said, "who can hear it?"
While they murmured Jesus said,
"Doth this offend you? What and if you shall see the Son of Man
ascending where He was before?"
"_It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the
words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life._"
Then they knew that He meant something above what they could see, or
what they wanted, and many turned away from Him and went to their homes
disappointed. He had said, "there are some of you that believe not,"
and it was true. Jesus turned to the twelve who stood in silence near
Him,
"Will ye also go away?" He said.
Loving, impulsive Peter cried out,
"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and
we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the
living God."
"Did I not choose you twelve," said Jesus, "and one of you is a devil."
Already evil spirits had tried to turn Judas away from the Lord by
tempting him, and he had let them into his heart. And Jesus, who knew
all men, saw them there.