The Teacher by the Sea
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Jesus loved the Sea of Galilee. It is only a small lake, and yet no other body of water on the earth is so sacred. It is associated with many holy memories of our Lord's life. He wrought many of His miracles along its shores. He often sailed upon its waters with His disciples. Several times He was in the storms that are so frequent on the Lake, and by His word quieted the winds and calmed the raging waves.
Many of Christ's wonderful words were spoken by the sea. Sometimes He would sit in a fishing-boat, anchored a little way from the land, and speak to the people on the shore. He was a wonderful teacher. He was the Son of God. Other great teachers declare the truth—Jesus was Himself the truth.
He revealed God in His teaching. He was called the Word. A word reveals. The world could not by any searching find out God—but Jesus revealed Him. He was God Himself, speaking to men. Not in His teachings only did He make God known—but also in His life. People saw the heart of God—in Christ's life of purity, gentleness, kindness, compassion and mercy. He said, "He who has seen Me—has seen the Father." Other men have taught beautiful lessons, inculcated a lofty morality—but in their own lives have failed to exemplify their teachings. Every word that Jesus spoke—was a beam of light shining out in His own character.
Jesus was a most gracious teacher. The world was stained with sin—and He brought the revealing of divine mercy. Everywhere men were unhappy and unsatisfied, and He spoke of rest. There was sorrow in every home—and He came with comfort. People were groping in darkness—and He came to lead them in the right way.
The influence of the teachings of Christ is immeasurable. One compares the words of Christ to a handful of spices cast into the world's bitter waters—to sweeten them. They are also, as suggested in one of His own seaside parables, a handful of heavenly seeds scattered over dreary wastelands—to change them into a garden. His wondrous teachings have touched all the world's life and have left cleansing, enriching and uplifting everywhere!
There is silence now on the lonely and deserted shores of the Sea of Galilee, where once the great Teacher spoke—but the words that fell there from His lips—have lost none of their graciousness, their life, their heavenly music. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," He said, "but My words shall never pass away!"
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