<TITLE>03. Par 22-29</TITLE>L-22   And we see these disciples now, that had a great meeting that day, out in a great field along the side of a mountain. And Jesus had told them, "Now you go ahead across the sea, ahead of Me." And He was going up into a mountain, alone, for prayer. And these disciples, after meeting friends, I can just imagine how they felt.

L-23 Because, to meet friends, and then have to part with friends; just about the time you get acquainted, then you have to say good-bye. And that's always been kind of a heartache to me, across the nation, around the world, has been meeting friends and then leaving them, knowing that there is many that you won't see no more until you meet them at the Judgment. It's kind of a sad affair.

L-24   I can imagine the boat, with the--the bow of it pushed into the bank. And must have been Simon Peter, with the great brawny arms and shoulders, that pushed the boat around and headed it out into the sea. And they was all waving good-bye to those on the bank. And they was screaming, "Come back again and bring the Master over to see us! And come have another revival; we've been so blessed today!" And new friends waving. And he climbed over the rest of the disciples, and sat down probably by the side of his brother, Andrew, and picked up the oars.

L-25 The--the ships then were propelled by either the wind or by oars that they pulled. And then maybe they would be sitting two in a boat, two on a side, and they would... or two in one seat, rather, maybe six or eight oarlocks. They would pull in time, and that way they could hold the boat in its keel when the storms was on. Then, the winds blowing normally, they could hoist up a sail, and sail.

L-26   Must have been a hot afternoon, from the looks of the Scripture just before this event, and so it must have been a real quiet, sunny, hot afternoon. The sun was setting. And they, as they oared, and then turned loose and waved good-bye to the people, "Hope to see you again sometime," as they moved out into the sea. And the sunset, and the evening twilight, and then after a while the--the darkness set in.

L-27 And they must have picked up a pretty good speed of--of oaring, and that's a hard job when those great heavy oars dips into the sea. And most all of them were--were fishermen, and great strong men, used to the sea. And so as they expecting Jesus to get in the boat and follow them on, pretty soon. Why, they got out there, and they must have coasted just a little bit; kind of get your ship started, and then let up.

L-28   Maybe young John must have been the first one to speak up, 'cause he was the youngest of the group. And it must have been he that said, "I'm getting just a little bit tired. Let's coast for a little bit. Wait a minute, we don't have to hurry. He hasn't come along yet, so we might as well wait a little while and kind of get a good breath of air."

L-29 And as he sat there with his head down a little bit, he must have started a testimony meeting. And that's what I want to talk about. It must have been he that raised up first, and said, "Brethren, no matter what the people say, and how much anyone wants to disbelieve, I am certainly a sure now, after today, that we're not following a faker. We are following nothing less than God, for no man could do what He did today 'less it was God. You know, when He took those biscuits and broke them, and fed that five thousand there, that's the most amazing thing to me. There could have been a question until today," now I'm just repeating his testimony as it was, "but that settled it."


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