VERSE 5 (CONTINUED)
Take an illustration from Scripture of His present watchful care over His people: an illustration, too, which is the result of His rejection on earth. (See Matt. 14:2222And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (Matthew 14:22)-36; also Mark 6 and John 6.) "And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away." Matt. 14:2222And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (Matthew 14:22). It turned out to be a dark and stormy night and, to outward appearance, the disciples were left alone in the midst of the raging billows. "The ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." Matt. 14:2424But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. (Matthew 14:24). But there was no Jesus in the ship with them—no blessed Master to compose their troubled minds or encourage their drooping hearts. "And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them." John 6:1717And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. (John 6:17). Had the night been calm and clear they would not have felt His absence in the same way. But now everything seemed against them. The troubled sea, the stormy wind, the darkness of the night, the difficulty in rowing and the Lord's absence made their position one of perplexity and distress. No doubt they were ready to conclude that not only had their Master forsaken them but that the elements has conspired against them.
But where is the Lord all this time and whither has He gone? Has He ceased to care for His disciples? Or is He not aware of their distress? He has gone to the place of power, and that power He is using on their behalf. From the mountain, whither He had gone to pray, His all-seeing eye is following them unweariedly. Not a single wave has touched the vessel without His measuring hand; and not a breath of wind that He has not sent forth from its chambers. He is at the helm, we may say, of the winds, the waves and the vessel. His hand lays hold on everything—He rules over all. Never was He more near to His people, or they more dear to Him, than when they were passing through the storm, apparently alone.
The whole scene is a living picture of the richest instruction and sweetest comfort, and of what has actually taken place. Personally, of course, the Lord and His disciples were apart, but in spirit and in power He was present with them. He permitted the storm to arise in His absence for the trial of their faith. And who does not find it hard now to pull against a strong head wind? But so it is with the people of God in the present period. The world has crucified their Lord, and they have to cross the troubled sea of life alone. The church is to keep up the remembrance of her Lord's death and her own identification with Him in it, according to His will, "till He come." 1 Cor. 11:2626For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26). Her lonely path is never to be forgotten. To deny it would be to deny that her Lord was slain.
But let us return for a moment to the exquisite scene before us. Towards the close of that interesting day the ancient prediction was fulfilled: "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.”
Psa. 132:1515I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:15). Thousands of the people were miraculously fed, and, as we read in John, they wanted to take Him by force and make Him a king. But Jesus perceiving this "departed again into a mountain Himself alone." John 6:1515When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. (John 6:15). The hour was not come yet for the crown of David to flourish on the head of his Son and Lord. The people were in unbelief, and He would not be made a king to gratify their worldly desires. He departs from them and goes up to a mountain to pray alone. He refuses to be king by the will of man, but He takes the place of priest before God. Blessed fruit of His rejection!
But here carefully observe, and mark well, the hand of the Master is drawing this beautiful picture. Before He ascends up on high He dismisses the multitude, or the unbelieving nation. Then He gathers His disciples, or the believing remnant, into a ship and launches them on a tempestuous sea alone. And now He goes Himself to a mountain to make intercession for them. "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone." Matt. 14:2323And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23). But during the long, dark night of His absence His eye of love, which neither slumbers nor sleeps, followed His loved, though tossed and tried, ones all the way through the deep. O blessed Lord, what a night that was to Thee! Its silent watches must have pictured to Thy far-seeing eye these last nineteen hundred years and more. During the long dark night of man's day Thy beloved ones have had to meet an opposing current in this evil age, which is indeed hard to strive against. But the morning watch brings relief. This dark and dreary night, with its toiling and rowing, will soon be past. "Surely I come quickly" (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)) is the word of Jesus; and the Spirit speaks as if we could count on nothing more than "the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:5252In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)) between us and the coming of the Lord. "And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." Matt. 14:25-3325And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. (Matthew 14:25‑33). Peter may represent the church. He leaves the position of the Jewish remnant and goes out in faith to meet the Lord without the support of nature. But he fails, as the church has done; he fails, as she has done, through not keeping Christ and His Word before him. He looked at the waves—the circumstances—in place of looking to the Lord. So long as Christ filled his eye he imitated Him and walked on the sea as He did. But the moment his eye is off Christ and on the billows, he begins to sink. Faith can walk on rough waters as well as smooth if the eye is kept on the Lord. The Lord had said, "Come," to Peter, and that was enough. He who created the elements could make the sea a pavement for His servant. When Christ and His Word are kept before the soul, we can walk on the rough sea of life as well as on the smooth waters.
But, oh, gracious Lord, Thou art as ready to answer the cry of distress as the voice of faith! But the honor that belongs to the walk of faith is lost. "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased." The Lord, in company with Peter, rejoins His disciples in the ship and immediately the troubled waters are at rest. When the Lord and His heavenly bride return to Israel, all their troubles and persecutions will be at an end. He will be owned and worshiped as their own Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of God. "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." But the blessing flows out unto all the earth.
“And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all that were diseased; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." Matt. 14:34-3634And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. (Matthew 14:34‑36). Here we have a bright millennial scene. The Lord is received joyfully. He has come down from the place of His intercession. His ancient people, who were in deep waters, He immediately brings to a peaceful shore. In the world, which is filled with the works of Satan, He exercises His power in healing and blessing. He relieves a distressed and groaning creation. The trail of the serpent disappears, and joy and gladness, health and beauty, fill all lands. Hasten, O Lord, hasten in Thy time, that promised, coming, happy day.
But, meanwhile, may those who are now toiling through the deep waters in patience possess their souls. (Luke 21:1919In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19).) Surely we know Thee better than did Thy disciples of old. Thy love has been fully manifested, and we know Thine unfailing intercession for us at God's right hand in heaven. The night may be dark, the billows high, the wind boisterous; circumstances may be cheerless, joyless and gloomy, but "the night is far spent, the day is at hand." Rom. 13:1212The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12). "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:88Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8). "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." Heb. 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37). The tempest-tossed vessel will soon reach the shores of eternal rest and be welcomed by many who have been safely landed there before. Till then, O most gracious Lord, may our hands be kept steady at the oars and our hearts confiding in Thee, while we sleeplessly watch for the first radiance of the Morning Star.
“Go not far from me, O my strength,
Whom all my times obey;
Take from me anything Thou wilt,
But go not Thou away.
So let the storm that bears me home,
Deal with me as it may.
“On Thy compassion I repose,
In weakness and distress;
I will not ask for greater ease,
Lest I should love Thee less.
Oh! 'tis a blessed thing for me,
To NEED Thy tenderness.
“Thy love hath many a hidden path,.
No outward eye can trace;
And, through the darkest night, my heart
Leaps to behold Thy face;
And communes with Thee 'mid the storm,
As in a quiet place.
“'Deep unto deep' may call, but I
With peaceful heart will say,
Thy loving-kindness has a charge
No wave can take away.
So let the storm that speeds me home,
Deal with me as it may.”
(A.L.W.)