As I looked upon the white-capped, roaring billows, I was reminded of that scene in the life of Christ, when the disciples, in obedience to the command of their Master, went in their boats to the farther side of the sea. A terrible tempest broke upon them. Their vessels would not obey their will, and they were driven hither and thither, until they laid down their oars in despair. They expected to perish there; but while the tempest and the billows talked with death, Christ, whom they had left upon the other side, appeared to them, walking calmly upon the boisterous, white-capped waves. They had been bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the apparent hopelessness of their case and had given up all for lost. When they saw Jesus before them upon the water, it increased their terror; they interpreted it as a sure precursor of their immediate death. They cried out in great fear. But, instead of His appearance heralding the presence of death, He came as the messenger of life. His voice was heard above the roar of the elements: “It is I; be not afraid.” How quickly the scene now changed from the horror of despair to the joy of faith and hope in the presence of the beloved Master! The disciples felt no more anxiety nor dread of death, for Christ was with them. {4T 288.1}

Idet jeg så på de hvidklædte brølende bølger, erindrede jeg den scene i Kristi liv, hvor disciplene, i lydighed til deres Mesters befaling, tog i deres båd til den anden side af søen. Et frygteligt uvejr brød ud over dem. Deres skib ville ikke adlyde deres vilje og de blev drevet hid og did, indtil de nedlagde deres årer i fortvivlelse. De ventede at de nu ville gå fortabt; men da uvejret og bølgerne talte med døden, viste Kristus, som de havde efterladt på en anden side, sig for dem, vandrende roligt på de larmende, hvidklædte bølger. De var blevet forvirret af deres nyttesløse anstrengelser og deres situations tilsyneladende håbløshed og havde opgivet alt som tabt. Da de så Jesus på vandene, blev deres frygt større; de udlagde det som en forløber til deres kommende død. De skreg i stor frygt. Men i stedet for at bringe døden, kom han som livets budbringer. Hans røst blev hørt gennem elementernes rasen. »Det er mig, frygt ikke!« Hvor hurtigt ændres scenen ikke fra fortvivlelsens rædsel til troens og håbets glæde i den elskede Mesters nærvær! Disciplene mærkede ikke længere uro ej heller dødsangst, for Kristus var hos dem.