SUNDAY READING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4006, 24 May 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

SERMON BY THE REV. DE BERDT HOVELL.

John, 6c. 20 ver.— " But he saith unto them. It is I; he not afraid.' The storm upon the Lako of Galileo, to which these words allude, was but a figure of the storm -which had been raging in tho hearts of tho people at tho time of which we treat. There had been tilings going on for years which had caused an upheaval in the boarts of the Galileans, in the hearts of tho Jews, hut now, in addition to their being subject to Rome, certain events had inflamed their hearts more, I think, than they had ever been inflamed before. It was at the previous feast of Tabernacles that Pilate had'wrought a deed which had set the heart of all Galilee on fire. Tho people had gone clamoring to his houso, and had asked him to redress a wrong. He had taken tho money from the temple treasury in order to built therewith large conduits for Jerusalem, and tho people looked upon this as desecration. The money had beon collected from Jews in all parts of tho world for certain purposes, and this seemed to be an alienation of the money from the object for which it had been raised, and so, as they had done bofore, they went to the outside of Pilate's houso and made much ado. Previously thoir clamor had resulted in their wishes being acceded to. But on this occasion wo read, not from Holy Scripture, but from other sourcos, that he sent soldiers in plain clothes, armed with heavy cudgels, amongst the crowd which was surrounding his house, and these wrought their will among tho people. They killed many, and maimod many, and not content with dealing their strokes among tho people gathered around tho house, they invaded the very precincts of tho temple itself,' and killed a number of Galilean pilgrims who, too poor to have their sacrifices prepared by others, were preparing them themselves. This had causod an enraged and fierce feeling in the hearts of all the Galileans; and there was another cause which just at this time was exciting them As they looked to tho eastward, towards the distant mountains upon whicli towered, the forbidding stronghold of Machrorus, they remembered that Herod had imprisoned th.ro ono whom thoy .had.reverenced and loved, and they were expecting to hoar .daily that Antipas had put him to a cruel death. Seeing theso tilings, and knowing how hot and impulsive tho naturobf.tho Jews and Galileans was, wo aro not surprised that there was a storm raging in tho hearts of tho men of Galilee, and that they were longing for some one to lead

Lhem, for some one to set them right. Seeing thoy were liko sheep without a sheplierd, Our Blessed Lord determined to take action and do something to assist them, and bo he sent out the Apostles two by two into ill the villages of Galilee. They were sent to preach.the glad tidings of a kingdom which should endure when all earthly kingdoms had passod away ; to preach deliverance, not an earthly deliverance, but a heavenly one. ■ AYe hear that their words were listened to attentively, and the hopes of tho people were raised. After the Apostles returned they assembled at Capernaum, and thither came tho news of tho murder by Herod, who, obediont to the wishes of Herodias, had struck off the Baptist's devoted head. Jesus and his Apostles, doubtless, oxercised mentally at that which I have alluded to, put forth from Betbsaida; tho little fishing suburb of Capernaum, to tho country over against Botheaida Julias, to obtain rest and quiet for a time. But it was not to be. The Apostles and Christ, in their travels through the villages of Galilee,had done Teat deeds and oxcitccl the already excited people. They began to think that Christ was the Messiah, and if He were the Messiah would He not free them from the yoke of Rome ? Would lie not help them to drive the intruder from their sacred shores ? Seeing He wa3 eluding them they hurried by land round tho coast, and so Ho found a multitude there on His arrival, and we saw a few Sundays ago how He helped them, and we read to-day, in our Bccond lesson for this morning's service, of tho miracle which fulfilled their minds with tho idea that He was indeed the long expected Messiah. And so we find that they drew near Jesus in order to force him to fall in with their views. Wo know perfectly well what His own views were, how He was opposed to any physical force being used to extend His spiritual kingdom. The world was to be regenerated through moral suasion, and not through force, aud He was not going to fall in with their wishes, and load them in a revolt against Rome. But they woro so eager now to induce Him to do this that He had to remove himself into a distant part of the hills, while the disciples started once again for Betbsaida. They started, but their journey took them a long while. A violent storm, for which the plaoe is famous, came down upon the lake. A violent storm came rushing down, and the waters were lashed to unrest, so violent the storm that tho first, second, and third watches of the night passed, and they were still rowing. The fourth watch came, the period between three and six in the morning, and they were still two miles from the landing place. Thoy saw a human figure approaching thorn over the heaving waves ; it seemed to be a human figure, but their superstitious fears were high and they cried out in terror at that which they saw, and then to their 1 terrified hearts came tho words of Jesus, the words of our text, 'Itis I; be not afraid.' Immediately thereafter ho was with them and the storm ceased. I want you to notice that it was very late when Christ came. How it was along time after 'they might have expected Him to assist them. People complain of trial, and trouble, and suffering. They aro rebellious against Almighty God because they are tried and permitted to suffer. But we are taught in tho Holy Scriptures that God's way is not man's way, and man's way is not as God's way, and our everyday experience teaches us the same. A.nd thero is another thing I would have you notice here, directly Christ was with them there tuas peace. You know how the words of our baptismal service, the words of that service we use when our little children aro brought to the font, how they speak of the waves of this troublesome world, and people find out in after years that it is a troublesome world, they find out that tilings are not as bright as their fancy painted. It seems to me this is advisedly and wisely done. If this world was a bed of roses, if everything was bright and fair to look upon, we should not be inclined to think of anything else save this world. Wo should never be inclined to trouble our heads about another life and our future and our God. The troubles and cares and anxieties of life are sent to win us from the world, and make us think of things above. It was when Christ came that peace descended upon the lake, and peace came into tho hearts of the weary rowers. And so, when earthly homes andfriends are lost tons, weare, as it were, driven into the arms of God. It is then only waJlnd-peaee at length. We may go on trying and trying again and again to extract happiness from earthly things. We shall always fail, and we shall fail until that day when our last breath goes forth. There is no such thing as happiness to be gained from any eortbly thing, and no such thing as peace to be obtained but in Christ. "My peace I give unto you, not as tho world giveth give I unto you." And those who seek His face in faith, these persons will receive a happiness and comfort and peace, which tin's world can never give, and which this world, thank God, can never tako away.