NEUOFFENBARUNGDeutscher Text · Book contents
22 January 1844, evening
[Ste.01_020,01] ‘And He saw that they were struggling at the oars, for the wind was against them. At the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the lake, and meant to pass by them.’
[Ste.01_020,02] Long verses need a short explanation because they generally carry it within themselves. Short verses need a longer explanation, first because in their brevity they bring none with them, and second because the light in them is usually more closely compressed and shut in. It therefore takes more to set all their light free than with longer verses, which already shine strongly enough as they stand.
[Ste.01_020,03] For this reason I cannot give you a lengthy explanation of the passage before us, since its light is very strong already. If you only think a little about it, you must grasp it of yourselves with hands and feet together. Yet so that you may see this, I will lead you towards it with very brief hints, which will suffice for understanding this passage. Listen, then!
[Ste.01_020,04] The ‘lake’ means the world. The contrary ‘winds’ are the activity and ways of the world and its desires, against which a true sailor has to struggle until the fourth watch of the night, which signifies his last days of life, and thus throughout his lifetime. For ‘night’ is understood to mean material life in this world.
[Ste.01_020,05] The Lord is not in the ship. Why not? Because He is not in the world. The ship signifies the person living in the world, with whom the Lord, for the sake of that person's freedom, is not.
[Ste.01_020,06] Yet the Lord walks after the sailor in a wondrous way and passes over all the waves and billows of the world as if they were firm land. He does not concern Himself with the sailors upon the lake. Wherever He meets one, He passes by so as not to disturb the sailor in his freedom.
[Ste.01_020,07] But when He encounters a ship carrying His disciples, that is, people who know Him and call on Him, He does approach the ship, though otherwise He would pass by. For the ship carries His disciples. In other words, within the person there is a heart that loves the Lord, believes in Him with a living faith and calls upon Him.
[Ste.01_020,08] At first the heart is afraid and takes Him for a ghost. That is, a person still full of mistaken ideas about Me thinks it impossible, or even a mere fancy, that I could approach him in the world and even board his ship.
[Ste.01_020,09] But if his love does not slacken on that account, I draw nearer to his ship and make Myself known to him. Once he hears My voice saying, ‘Do not be afraid, for it is I, your Master, your Lord, your God and your Father!’, the fear of the ghost will vanish at once and he will take Me aboard his ship with exceeding joy.
[Ste.01_020,10] See, that is the whole explanation of this passage already. Only one question remains: how must the ship be fitted out that carries My disciples? Is it perhaps an ingeniously assembled steamship, a three-masted ship of the line fitted with a hundred and sixty guns, a frigate, a schooner, a brig or a richly laden merchant ship? Oh no! None of these kinds of ship carry My disciples. I generally keep so far away from them that they do not even see Me anywhere as a ghost. Who would wish to approach ships fitted with guns? Death is their protection. Ships that have death for their protection are indeed safe from death, for death has nothing to fear from death. But wherever death keeps a wide circle around a ship, within range of its guns, life passes far away from it.
[Ste.01_020,11] What, then, must the ship that carries the disciples look like? I tell you, extraordinarily simple! It is only a raft made of several solid beams lashed and secured together, almost level with the water, on which the sailors stand at most a couple of feet above the surface. It must have no sails, so that it is not mastered by the wind of the world, and only sturdy oars on every side. Then, as little affected as possible by the various worldly winds, it can be guided freely wherever the sailors will by means of the sturdy oars.
[Ste.01_020,12] When I come upon such a humble ship, I recognise it as one that carries My disciples. I draw near such a ship and board it. Why? First, because such a ship moves slowly. It has neither sails nor paddle wheels, only oars, which do not produce very swift motion, so I can easily catch up with it. Second, because such a ship has no circle of death, whose friend I, as life itself, am not. Third, because such a ship lies so low that it can readily be boarded from the surface of the water without hindrance or exertion.
[Ste.01_020,13] I am no friend of great exertion. What cannot happen with Me with the greatest ease, almost freely of itself, I leave to go as it goes. You will readily understand why: every person has complete freedom, and I never interfere with it!
[Ste.01_020,14] But when I find a little ship riding the shifting waves of the world that lies very low and is easy to board, and I am recognised by it, I do step aboard, even if I meant to pass by. Once I am on the little ship, at once it becomes day. By day the safe shore is easily seen, and as a good master of the ship I shall hardly miss the shore.
[Ste.01_020,15] I think you will understand this explanation. So board such a little ship yourselves. The lower it lies, the better. I shall draw near to that little ship too and board it fully! Amen.