Jesus
WALKS UPON THE SEA.
WHEN the men saw what a wonderful miracle Jesus had performed, they said,
"This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." Now the Jews expected a prophet who would rule over the people as Moses did, only in a much grander way. They thought he would sit on the throne of David, and that he would subdue all the nations of the earth, and make them serve him.
This was the one that the woman of Samaria meant when she said, "I know that Messiah cometh (which is called Christ): when he is come, he will tell us all things."
The Lord had, indeed, often spoken of the Messiah through the prophets, but the Jews did not put a right meaning to what was said of him. They did not seem to understand that the Messiah was to come twice, the first time to teach the way of life, and die for our sins; the second time to destroy the wicked, and set up his kingdom. They seemed to overlook what he was to do at his first coming, and to think only of what was said about his destroying the nations, and ruling the righteous. So these people whom Jesus had so miraculously fed thought that a man who could do such things must be the Messiah, and wanted to take him and make him king.
But Jesus would not consent to this. He told his disciples to get into the boat, and go back to the other side of the sea, while he remained behind to send away the people.
When it came night, and the people had departed, Jesus went up into the mountain alone to pray; and staid there a good share of the night. All this time the disciples were on the sea, rowing with their utmost strength; but the wind blew so hard against them that they had not been able to get much farther than the middle of the lake. About three o'clock in the morning, they saw some one walking on the water not far from the boat, as though he would pass by them. At first they thought it was a spirit, and cried out for fear. But Jesus began to talk to them, saying, ''Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
Then Peter said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." And Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter stepped out of the boat, and walked on the water to go to Jesus; but when he saw how boisterous the wind was, he grew afraid, and began to sink. Then he cried out, "Lord, save me; " and Jesus, coming immediately to help him, caught hold of him, saying, ''O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" As soon as Jesus and Peter had come into the boat, the wind ceased. Then all that were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of. God."
They soon came to shore on the west side, where the fertile little plain of Gennesaret slopes down to the blue waters of the lake.
As soon as they were landed, the people began to crowd around him; and as the news of his return spread throughout the country, the people took their sick on beds and carried them wherever they heard he was. "And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, -they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch, if it were but the border of his garment; and as many as touched him were made whole."