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T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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is w ith them in spirit. How much they needed His prayers! (P sa. 1 03 :14 ). “F o r he knoweth our fram e; he re- membereth th a t we are du st.” If He needed to pray, how much more do we. If He must spend a n igh t in prayer, must we not pray ag ain st the tim e of tria l? If He is to prepare by prayer for th e coming conflicts, shall we no t profit by such an example? If He w aits upon God for streng th in H is ser vice, shall not we, in our g rea ter weak ness, seek th e Lord before we strive to serve? (2) W inds and Waves— The Adversary, v. 24. “ In the world, trib u latio n .” W hat a strong con trast between th e picture of th e calm Christ in prayer, and th e dis tressed disciples in service! W hat a b attle w ith the elements! It looks as if the very powers of n atu re were ag ain st them . I t is n igh t and the stru g gle is jn the darkness. Before, when they were in the storm , He was asleep, b u t He was w ithin calling distance. Now they are alone. It is a picture of th e life struggles of th e church against th e powers of darkness. (John 16:33) “These things have I spoken unto you, th a t in me ye m ight have peace. In th e world ye shall have tribu lation ; bu t be of good cheer; I have overcome th e world.” (a) A Time of Danger— They were lia ble to be shipwrecked. Ju st yes terd ay they had prided themselves upon th e ir high position and privi lege. Were they not accessories to a w onderful m iracle, the envy of th e crowd, expecting chief places in the kingdom? Now they are helpless a t the mercy of the w inds and waves. (b) A Time of Doubt. Why had He sent them away? Had He forgotten them ? How shall they account for th is strange experience? Yesterday they had though t they would never doubt Him again; now they won der if they can ever believe Him again.
LESSON complish th is s a m e EXPOSITION thing, bu t He had re- T. C. H orton sisted him , as He now resisted th e people who were b u t th e tools of Satan. He will not he king before God’s time, and only in God’s way. (Psa. 2:7-10; Actfc 1:6, 7). He is compelled to force th e disciples to precede Him across the lake and He then dism isses th e m ultitude. As for H imself He will go a p a rt for prayer. (Mk. 1 :3 5 ). * “And in the morning, rising up a g reat while before day, he went out, and departed into a so litary place, and th e re prayed.” (Luke 9 :1 8 ). He has fed th e m ultitude, now He will feed His own soul. There are trials before Him and the little flock. T h at very n igh t is to see His followers greatly tempted, and the morrow will find many deserting Him. It is a tim e for prayer, for intercession. He tu rn s H is back upon th e scene of His glorious power and ascends th e m ountain which over looked th e sea, and th e re He is alone w ith God. OUTLINE (1 ) WAITING AND WATCHING— The Advocate, vs. 22, 23. (2 ) W inds and Waves— The Adversary, v. 24. (2) WINDS AND WAVES— The Adver sary, v. 24. (4 ) WALKING AND WEAKNESS— The Adventure, vs. 28-31. (5) WELCOME AND WORSHIP— The Apocalypse, vs. 32, 33. (1) W aiting and W atching—-The Ad vocate; vs. 22,23. “W ait on th e Lord” says th e Psalm ist. “They th a t w ait on Him shall re new th e ir streng th . W ait upon Him in prayer, a n d He will endue you w ith power. Jesus spent th e n igh t in prayer hu t His eyes were also upon His disciples. “Having loved His own, He loves them unto the end.” Separated bodily, He
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