The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 214

educntive service th,m the male. The apostles are with Jesus; but certain women miniswr to him of their substance. These are the helpers: who are the hinderers, His mother and his brethren (ver. 19). The Lord is compelled to say that, whilst the relation according to the flesh is respected, they a.re not e.t the.t moment connected with him by the 11ffinitics which a.lone a.re permanent. See how this bears on tho idolatrous honour paid by the Rom11n Church to Mary. She bas been prevailed on by hor children, not to intercede with Jesus, b11t to join them in the effort-prohahly meant in kindnrss, but showing deficiency or insight-to prevent him from con- tinuance in toils and prayers. And note, he distinctly declines to recognize any rights grounded OD the motherhood with regard to his work ; only spiritual relationships will he recognize. Even when he looks down from the cross and sees her standing, he says to the beloved disciple only, "Behold thy mother." But, apart from this, is it not suggestive, mournfully suggestive, that the hinderers a.re the nearest of relations-- mother and brethren'/ So it hae been often since. An unsympathetic home and circle of friends sometimes constitute the soreet trial which one must face who wills to have fellowship with the Son of God. "Be goeth forth weeping, bearing the precious seed." Vere. 22-25.-Storm and calm. "Be entered into a boat, himself and his disciples:' The association of Christ with the boat, with which we are so familiar in the gospel history, has been preserved in much of the poetry, the literature, and the art of the Church. A very old seal-ring represents the Church as a ship strnggling against the winds, supported by a great fish in the sea beneath, and with two doves sitting on it.II mast and prow. The shape often given to Christian places of worship in the early ages was that of a. boat. And the idea bas entered into all Christian song and thought. Keblo catches up the tone of centurie~ when he inserts the verse in the evening hymn- " Thou Framer of the light e.nd de.rk, Steer through the tempest thine own e.rk - Amid the howling wintry .res We a.re in port if we have thee.• The key-note to all this symbolism is given in the incident reported in these verses. I. lT IS A PlCTURE OF LIFE. The sea. was at rest when the disciples took JCl!us 1111 he was. As they sctiled on the smooth waters the weary Prophet fell ~leep. Ou !I sudden down comes the squall-one of those furious hurricanes which sweep across a lake six hundred feet lower than the ocean, with gigantic funnels supplied by deep ravines cut by tli.e action of wild watercourses. All is changed; there is heard now only the despairing cry, "Master, ea.rest thou not that we perish?" Such is life : changcful, now the smiling sunshine with the clear blue sky, again the driving cloud and rain, with angry waves breaking over the craft. Job was at rest; bis sons and daughters feasting together; he himself, with abundance and peace, fearing God anti eschewing evil, when the one terrible day came on which messenger chased messenger, completing a. tale of destruction and bereavement. How often does destruction fall a.i in a moment I The fitful weather of the inland lake is a. type of the fitful climate, followed by the rapidly dissolviug scenery, of the pre3ent time. How foolish to set thd affection on things below I How sad when there is no Christ in the ship! when there is no fixture, among the sundry and manifold changes or tbia world, where the only true joys are to be folltld I II. IT IB A SIGN OF CHRIST. The stilling of the tempest is a miracle. We seem to see the sleeping Master quietly raising himself, looking around, meeting the gaze of th all but frantic men, standiug erect in the boat, sending forth the majestic, "Peace; be still I" "What manuer ,,f man is this, for be commaudeth even the wind~ and the water, and they obey him?" Yes; what mannrr of man! He is himsrlf the miracle, the One "made of God to us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sancufication, aud Redemption." The work is the sign of himself in that deeper work in which he 11 manifest as the S11viour of sinners. What is that work but the rebuking of the storm of passion, and all the influences which are ad verse to peace of rninJ. and holinesi; of life? "Ile still,'' is the Christ-word; "Peace to you," is the Christ-breath. In the world of man. "he maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof aro still. Then  214 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKE. [mr. vm. 1-118. ---------------------------- are they glad because they are quiet; so he bringetb them unto their desired haven." le not th_ie the experience of every truly converted life? Miss Havergal'a verse expr6Sllel! it. " There WPre Btrange aonl-depthe, roetless, V811' and broad, Unfathomed ae the eea; An infinite longing for an infinite stilling, But now thy love ie perfeot filling: Lord Jeene Obrist, my Lord, my God, Thou, thou a.rt enough for me I " And so f'or a~ the'daya. "LPt Christ be awakened," writes Augustine," Though the tempest bea.t wto, yet it will not fill, thy ship; thy faith will now command the winds and the waves, and thy danger will be over." Oh, see to it, that thou take Christ into thy heart, even Ill! be is. Blessed for thee, 0 net>dy sinner, when the Master is really t.be occupant of thy life, thy "present Help in trouble," · ill. IT JS A REPROOF OF LITTLE FAITH. " Why are ye 80 fearful?" is the part of' Jesus' word report:ed by Matth~w._ Why, when you know who is with you; when you know that he 1s there, that 1t 1e not some enemy, some devil, that has the control of elements, of circumstances? Why a.re ye so easily cast down? Why do ye give way so readily? Why do ye fall into such despondencies, such paroxysm~ of grief? May we not, in many an hour of shrinking, if not of terror, bear this "why" sounding in our hearts? "Where is your faith?" is the pa.rt of the word reported by Luke. Assume that you have it, that you are really trnsting in Christ as your Master: whither does the faith vanish when you are BO fearful? Is it not the moment of trial t.hat proves the readiness and serviceableness of the faith? Do we not often need to seek it when we have occasion for it? Verily a question most pertinent to us in the varying circumstances and demands of our- life. Think, think over the adverb, so 11uggestive, " W7un is your faith ? n