ject to sudden and violent storms, owing to the cold and heavy air of the northward mountains flowing along its surface to displace the hot and light air of the deep Jordan valley on the south. When the boat in which Jesus was sleeping was midway in its course, one of these storms arose. Heavy clouds veiled and darkened the sky, and a thick fog settled on the lake. Then an aerial avalanche came roaring down from the mountains, and smote upon the waters, lashing them into wild waves that dashed hissing on the little boat. Its sails were furled, and the sailors grasped their oars to steady and control its course. Yet, mid all the hideous roar of the tempest, the deep slumber of the tired man was unbroken. But the tumultuous waves rising higher dashed over the gunwale of the tossing boat, and it began to fill. Then thought the despairing disciples, He can save, and he alone. One of them, Peter we think, tottered aft, shook the sleeper by the arm, crying:

"Master, carest thou not? Save; we perish."

As a man, Jesus slept; he awoke as a god. First he calmly reproved the frightened men :

"Why are ye fearful? Where is your faith?"

Then standing firmly erect on the wavering board, and looking abroad over the tempestuous elements, in a loud voice he commanded:

"Peace; be still."

And immediately there was a great calm. The waves did not gently subside, but abruptly shrank; the winds did not lull, but instantly ceased, and the air stood still; the clouds did not disperse, but vanished, and the unveiled sun flashed beams of light gilding the peaceful scene. Then Jesus lay down and slept again. The rescued mariners marvelled, whispering one to another:

"Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?"

This miracle overwhelms sense and taxes credulity. It is commonly regarded as one of the greatest displays of divine energy. But have we any dynamometer with which to measure miraculous power? Can we grade miraculous signs as less and greater? The changing water to wine, the healing a fever, the withering a figtree; in what are these inferior to raising the dead, or stilling the tempest? Only that they impress less forcibly our short-sighted sense. Divine power in one is the same as in another, and knows no measure.

Also the stilling of the tempest is commonly cited as a manifest violation of natural law. What natural law? I should be glad to see it formally stated. A law of nature becomes a law, and becomes known as a law, only by virtue of the axiomatic truth that like causes have like effects. Were like antecedents, including the will of Jesus, assembled on the lake to-day, it is unquestionable that like consequents would follow. There is in the case no more violation of natural law, a phrase greatly needing definition, than when a child tosses a ball. In this is involved human will; in that superhuman will. How the will works its end is inexplicable in either case.

Peace; be still. To whom were these words addressed? Certainly the winds and waves had no ears to hear; nor could they be rightly said to obey, as the simple disciples imagined; for obedience implies a submissive will in the one commanded. The usual reply is that the words were spoken might hear and understand. fictitious, a pretense, a sham. that Satan, the Prince of the

merely that the disciples
Then the command was
Rather let us remember
Power of the Air, was

abroad, and perhaps seized upon this favorable opportunity to destroy his prospective supplanter. He commissioned his myrmidons to execute his will. How, we know not; but we know that a child may start an avalanche. The tempest was roused and energized by demoniac powers. Then there came a conflict of wills. In the command, Peace, be still, was uttered the dominant will, and Satan and his hosts heard and obeyed.

The boat had been driven by the storm on a southeasterly course, and was now near the eastern coast. A landing was effected very late in the day, nigh to Gerasa or Gergesa, a village of the coast inhabited mostly by Greeks. Immediately Jesus with his company encountered a raging demoniac who dwelt in the tombs which are even yet to be seen on the hillside. He was exceeding fierce so that no man could bind him, or had strength to tame him; naked, and all bloody from self-torture. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and kneeled to him, doing homage. Jesus at once commanded the demon to come out. But he cried with a loud voice: "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Art thou come hither to torment me

Most High God?

before the time?" 56

Then Jesus asked his name, and was answered, Legion; for we are many. And they implored him not to send them into the abyss.

Near the recently identified ruin of Gerasa, is a long steep slope like a hillside, extending from the upland to the water's edge. On this was a great herd of about two thousand swine feeding, probably the property of Greeks, as swine-flesh was forbidden to the Jews. The hapless demons begged leave to enter the swine, and

Jesus gave them leave. Note that he did not require, but merely permitted this; and remember the mysterious yet familiar fact that God permits a multitude of evils in the world. Then the demons left the man and took possession of the more fitting dwelling; but even the swine revolted, and panic stricken the whole herd rushed madly down the steep, and plunged into the sea.

The swine-herds fled into the town to report the disaster and the people came out to see what had come to pass. They found the well-known demoniac, clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. They were filled with fear, the more so as they attributed to this wonder-worker the loss of their property, and knew not what other losses might follow. The rescue of the wretch was little to them in view of the surface of the lake strewn with the floating bodies of their swine. So they besought the stranger to depart at once from their coasts. His refuge was denied him. The sun ashamed sank behind the hills, and night frowned darkly on. In its gloom Jesus ordered a return. As he was entering the boat, the freedman begged to go with him, but was sent away to his home to tell of God's mercy on him.

Then Jesus with his disheartened company sailed slowly away over the now submissive sea, amid the whispering airs, under the wondering stars, to his own sad home again.

Thus ended this eventful and distressful day.

J

XV

THE THIRD TOUR. FATE OF JOHN

ESUS having returned to Capernaum was again be

set by the multitude awaiting him. So, with the twelve, he promptly left the city, and entered upon the third Galilean tour.

As a beginning he went direct to Nazareth. Twelve months before this, at the outset of the Galilean ministry, he had taught in the Synagogue at Nazareth, offering himself first of all to his home people.

jected him, and even tried to kill him.

But they reNow, with a

heart full of generous, forgiving love, he again visits them, longing to bless the old home of his childhood, youth and manhood.57

So, when the Sabbath was come, he taught many in their Synagogue. They were astonished, and said:

"Whence has he this wisdom, and these mighty powers? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Miriam, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters all here with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?"

Thus they were scandalized in him, and scorned him. Their reasoning though utterly illogical, is not unusual. This Jesus remarked, saying to them:

"A prophet is not without honor, save in his own. country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." Even he himself, with all his knowledge of what is in man, marvelled at their unbelief. And because of this