Daily Devotional Studies in the New Testament for Individual Meditation and Family Worship By R. A. TORREY
he is sinking. Listen to that piercing cry, “Lord, save me.” Ah, the hand of Jesus is stretched out toward him; it catches him; he is saved. Now Jesus is with them the wind ceases, look again they are all bow ing in worship at Jesus’ feet. Let us bow with them and let us say as they said, “OF A TRUTH THOU AR T THE SON OF GOD.” The tradition of the elders had more weight with the Pharisees and the Scribes than had the Word of God. And there are many Pharisees and Scribes among us also, men who set more store by the tra ditions of the schools than by the plain Word of God. Jesus met the argument of the traditionalists of His day by showing them there was something of superior au thority to human tradition, no matter how venerable, and that something was God’s commandment. That is a lesson we all need to learn and ought never to forget. In verse 6 our Lord distinctly assert that the Law of Moses is “The Word of God” (see R. V.). There are those who tell us that they accept the authority of Jesus Christ, but that they do nt accept the Divine au thority of the Pentateuch. Such a posi tion is absolutely illogical and irrational; for if we accept the authority of Jesus Christ we are logically compelled to accept the authority of all upon which He sets the stamp of .His endorsement, and He here plainly sets the stamp of His endorsement upon the Pentateuch as “the Word of God.” So it is clear that our choice lies between the authority of Christ and the authority of the modern critics. No one who deserves Tuesday, March 2. Matt. 15:1-20.
Monday, March 1. Matt. 14:22-36.
The disciples are gone and the multitude has gone. Jesus is alone at last. Way up into the mountain He goes to a lonely spot that overlooks the lake. A storm has come on, the winds are howling, the sea is lashed into fury. When the moon breaks through the clouds, Jesus sees His disciples out upon the angry lake pulling against the wind, but all in vain. They make no head way, bu t.Jesus does not go to them yet. They need to learn lessons that can only be learned in the apparently helpless pull against wind and waves. Besides this Jesus Himself needs to pray. What a les son it is upon the necessity of prayer. It is evident that praying is the most import ant work we have to- do. For hours Jesus continues in prayer while the disciples con tinue to struggle with the storm. The morning light was dawning before He had prayed the matters He had on His heart through, There are those who would have us think that long hours spent in prayer are quite unnecessary, but it is clear that they do not have the mind of our Lord Jesus. At last He has prayed through, and now He approaches His disciples; but they do not recognize Him and are frightened instead of comforted. Then across the waves comes these wondrous words, “Be of good cheer. It is I, be not afraid.” Oh, frightened soul on the boisterous sea, the imagined ghost that frightens you is really Jesus Himself. And now watch Peter. How bravely he clambers over the side of the boat and strides out on the waves toward Jesus. But look! he has taken his eyes off from Jesus and is looking at the wind (v. 30), and faith gives place to fear. See
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