Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-36
It was after the feeding of the five thousand. As we learn from John’s account the people were so excited by this miracle that they wished to take Jesus by force and make him king. To prevent this act Jesus sent the multitude away and then went up into a mountain for prayer.
Before going into the mountain, however, He sent His disciples out upon the sea in the boat, to go before Him to the other side. The record says He “constrained” them. It ought to have been a comfort to them that night, in the midst of the storm, to remember that their going out upon the lake was not at their own suggestion — then they might have thought it a mistake — but that the Master had bidden them to go. They were in the way of obedience, and when we are doing Christ’s will we are under Divine protection, and need fear no storm.
We must not expect that every voyage we take at Christ’s bidding shall be without storm. We may be pleasing God and yet meet dangers. When we find obstacles in something we are doing under God’s guidance, we may not conclude that we have made a mistake, and that these difficulties are indications that we ought not to have taken such a course. On the other hand, such troubles are not meant to discourage us, but to inspire us to stronger faith and greater endeavor.
“He went up into the mountain apart to pray.” No doubt His prayer was partly for Himself. There had come to Him a temptation of earthly honor and power — and He sought relief in prayer. Then He prayed also for His disciples. Mark tells us that from this mountaintop He saw them that night on the sea, distressed in rowing. Jesus always sees us when we are toiling in any tempest, any struggle, and speaks for us to His Father.
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