Chapter 25—Christ Stills the Tempest
Jesus had been teaching and healing uninterruptedly all day, and
he greatly desired retirement and rest for himself and his disciples. He
therefore instructed them to accompany him to the other side of the
sea. But before he embarked he was accosted by a scribe who had
listened to his words, representing the jewels of truth as being of far
greater value than hidden treasure. In the grossness of his darkened
mind, the scribe conceived that Jesus designed to enrich his followers
with worldly treasure. He therefore eagerly addressed him, as had
Judas, saying, “Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”
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The Saviour read the unworthy thought that actuated his heart, and
answered him as he had answered Judas, “The foxes have holes, and
the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay
his head.” This Jewish teacher had only his own selfish interest in view
when he proposed to follow Jesus. He hoped that the Saviour would
soon establish his kingdom on earth, and that the wealth and station
which would then accrue to his disciples, were the riches of which
Jesus had spoken. But only a mind blinded by avarice and the lust of
the world could so have misinterpreted the words of the Saviour.
If it were not for the poverty of Christ, and the fact that the poor
and humble are ranked beneath his banner, many would connect them-
selves with him and glorify his name. If he had bestowed honors and
riches upon those who became his disciples, how gladly would the
proud Pharisees, the chief priests and scribes, have paid him homage.
Many in these days would accept the truth if there was no self-denial
connected with it. If they could have the world with Christ, they
would enlist in his army. But to follow him in his humiliation, with no
prospect of an earthly reward thereby, is more than their feeble faith
can endure. They turn back crest-fallen, as did the scribe from the
rebuke of Jesus.
After dismissing the multitude, Jesus and his disciples took ship
for the other side of the sea, which was a desert in comparison with
the shore that they were leaving; but for this very reason they hoped
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