Then, as his assurance became stronger and his thoughts turned from
the apostate crowd, he added, "And we _believe_--and are _sure_ that
thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Though there came not
from Jesus' lips at this time, the word "Blessed," yet, undoubtedly, He
was gratified indeed to see the wavering faith of His disciples become
steadfast in the heart of His Apostles, as if they would say,
"Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow,
We will stand by each other, however it blow.
Oppression and sickness, and sorrow, and pain
Shall be to our true love as links in a chain."
Footnotes:
1. Matt. 14:28.
2. John 6:25-27.
LESSON 6
Peter's Testimony
[Sidenote: At Tyre and Sidon.]
Very soon after the people of Capernaum rejected the Savior, as
narrated in the previous chapter, Jesus took His Twelve disciples
westward across Galilee into the land of Tyre and Sidon, near the
Mediterranean Sea. He desired to be alone with the Twelve that He might
teach them many things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and thus
prepare them for carrying on the work, after He should leave them.
There were many things happened on this tour which must have made it
a memorable one to Peter and the other members of the Twelve. First,
there was the Gentile woman who sought Jesus, and implored Him to come
and heal her little daughter.
[Sidenote: A Syro-Phoenician Woman.]
Because she did not belong to the Jewish race, the disciples said:
"Master, send this woman away, for she is a trouble to us, crying out
after us." Of course, they thought then, and a long time afterwards,
that the Gospel was only for the Jews. But Jesus taught them that He
loved the Gentile woman just as well as He did the Jews. But Peter did
not fully understand.
[Sidenote: Other Miracles.]
From the coast of Tyre and Sidon, they traveled around Galilee and came
to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. Here the disciples witnessed
further manifestations of the power of Jesus. A deaf man who could not
speak plainly was made to hear and to speak; and when the people heard
about it, they followed Jesus and the Twelve out of the village into "a
desert place."
Again Peter saw a multitude of people fed; this time from only seven
loaves and a few small fishes.
It would seem that after all these months with the Savior--hearing His
parables, seeing His miracles, feeling His spirit and receiving His
teachings daily, the apostles would surely understand the mission of
the Redeemer.
[Sidenote: Jesus' Sayings Not Understood.]
But we read that after these "four thousand men besides women and
children" were fed, the disciples entered with Jesus into a boat and
rowed across to the west side of the lake. Here they met some Pharisees
and Sadducees who began to oppose Jesus. When He and the Twelve were
alone again, He said: "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account