For the Little Ones.
ONE day a great number of people from the country round came together to hear what the Lord Jesus was teaching his disciples, out of doors, by the clear blue waters of the Lake of Galilee. If you had been there, you would have seen quite a crowd of men, and women, and children standing on the grass along the border of the lake, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. There were so many that Jesus entered into one of the fishermen’s sailing boats and sat where all who wished could see him as he spoke, and listen without losing any of his gracious words.
To know a little better what the scene was like, you may fancy a broad bright sheet of water, very deep and clear, with hills all round, except where the river Jordan flowed in and out of the lake. Here and there you would see beautiful flowers growing at the water’s edge, and birds flitting about, and storks wading among the rushes. Travelers tell us the lake of Galilee is about five or six miles across, and rather more than twelve miles long, and we find from the Bible that there were plenty of fish in its waters. Peter and John, you may remember, were fishermen, who had sometimes to mend their nets on shore.
I do not tell you today what the Lord Jesus said to the people, but you will find many of his words in the fourth chapter of Mark. He spoke in parables, and when they were alone, Jesus explained all things to his disciples.
That day, when even was come, he said, “Let us pass over unto the other side,” If one of the disciples had replied, “I fear we shall all be drowned before we get there,” would not the rest have been sorry for such needless fears, and bid him be of good courage? Alt, it was fine weather then, and the sea was smooth, so they had, no thought of danger. By and by they found out how little they had learned to trust in the Lord. They knew that He meant to take them right across the lake, for he had said so beforehand; and that one word ought to have kept them in perfect peace all the night through, and so it would, if their mind had been stayed on him. Before getting into the ship with Jesus, they sent the people away. There were also other small boats with him. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the, ship, so that it was now full, and He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow. Jesus was asleep, but they were in too much fear to think of rest. It was getting so dark, and there was such a noise of wind and water all round them, that they were quite terrified, and came and woke up the Lord Jesus, as if he had made some mistake, or did not know what was going on. Can he make a mistake? Oh, never, never! He did always the things that pleased the Father, and doubtless he was pleasing the Father even when sleeping in the storm. Yet they said to him, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Though he had said only an hour or two before, “Let us go over unto the other side,” they were afraid of being drowned when half-Way across. Was not Jesus taking care of them? Yes, and the stormy wind was fulfilling his word.
Look in Psalms 107 and you will find it is written, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet, so he bringeth them to their desired haven.”
This is a beautiful text for you to learn; and now see how it came to pass. “He arose and rebuked the winds, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Had he a word for their troubled hearts as well as for the raging sea? Yes: He said, “Why are ye so fearful? —how is it that ye have no faith? They were greatly afraid, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? “In Zechariah’s prophecy there is God’s answer to this question, “The Man that is My Fellow.”
“And they came over unto the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes.”