The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

WALKING ON THE SEA 219
1. When Christ appears, His people are sometimes
more dismayed at first than encouraged.
So it happened on this occasion. " And when the
disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, It is a spirit ; and they cried out for
fear." Looking wildly about them, they could discern
in the distance the form of a man, walking on the
foaming crests of the waves. What could it be A
man No, impossible ; for how could a man tread
upon the waters Being, like most seafaring men,
of a superstitious turn of mind, they came to the conclusion
that it must be a ghost—an apparition—a grim
visitor from the other world.
And as this idea forced
itself upon them, they could not refrain from crying
out with terror. Thus, my friends, God's people are
sometimes perplexed at the manner in which He
comes to deliver them. " All these things are against
me," said the patriarch Jacob, in the anguish of his
soul. But was he right By no means. The things
of which he so bitterly complained, were overruled by
Divine Providence for the saving of his house from
death. Had " these things," dark, perplexing, unwelcome,
as they were — had " these things " never
happened, then he and his
children must have fallen
victims to the famine, and his race must have been
blotted out from the face of the earth.
2. Wlien Christ appears, He never fails to make
Himself known.
" But straightway Jesus spake to them, saying, Be
of good cheer :
it is I ; be not afraid." The reassuring
accents of His familiar voice acted like a charm
upon them, the whole truth flashed in a moment upon
their minds, the apparition which they so much