35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over uuto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was iu the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves heat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow : and they awake him, and say unto him,
Master, carest thou not that -we perish ?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. Aud the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith ?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him ?
These verses describe a storm on the sea of Galilee, when our Lord and His disciples were crossing it, and a miracle performed by our Lord in calming the storm in a moment. Few miracles recorded in the Gospel were so likely to strike the minds of the apostles as this. Four of them at least were fishermen. Peter, Andrew, James, and John, had probably known the sea of Galilee, and its storms, from their youth. Few events in our Lord's
and how completely it would at last overgrow and fill the whole body. I own that I cannot for a moment see the soundness of this inter- pretation. To say nothing of other reasons, there seems an exces- sive harshness in this sense, when we consider the opening words of the parable, " Wherewith shall we liken the kiugdom of God ?" One would rather expect the question to have been " Wherewith shall we liken the kingdom of the devil ?" if the whole parable is occupied with describing the progress of evil.
I confess that I think the meaning of " the fowls of the air," is a point which admits of some question. Many think that it signifies the number of converts to Christianity, who, as the church increased, joined themselves to it, and came " as doves to the windows." (Isaiah lx. 8.) Some think that it signifies the number of worldly and false professors who joined the church from mere carnal motives, when it began to be great and prosperous, as in the days of Constan- tino. When we remember that the " fowls of the air," in the para- ble of the sower (Mark iv. 4-15), are declared by our Lord Himself to mean "Satan," we must admit that there is considerable force in this interpretation.
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journeyings to and fro upon earth, contain more rich in- struction than the one related in this passage.
Let us learn, in the first place, that Christ's service does not exempt His servants from storms. Here were the twelve disciples in the path of duty. They were obediently following Jesus, wherever he went. They were daily attending on His ministry, and hearkening to His word. They were daily testifying to the world, that, whatever Scribes and Pharisees might think, they be- lieved on Jesus, loved Jesus, and were not ashamed to give up all for His sake. Yet here we see these men in trouble, tossed up and down by a tempest, and in dan- ger of being drowned.
Let us mark well this lesson. If we are true Chris- tians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace by the way and glory at the end — all this our Saviour has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no affliction. He loves us too well to promise that. By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us *our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning, we shall al} say, " It is good for me that I was afflicted," We shall thank God for every storm.
Let us learn, in the second place, that our Lord Jesus, Christ was really and truly man. We are told in these