The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-01
THELEsSON STORY.

The great audience which Jesus an
dressed on the Gennessaret shore is itself
a good commentary on the parable we are
to study to-day.
We assume that Jesus was in his boat at
the place where he was before when he adj
dressed the multitude. We assume that
this was the place (of which travellers tell
us), where creek comes into the lake;
where the rock bordering the shore is in
dented to make cove, and the circular
shore shelves down to the waters edge
on three sides. There being las travellers
report to us) such natural amphitheater
on the shore of the Gennessaret plain, at
the precise point where Jesus at this time
ought to be,-according to the best support
ed coniectures as to the site of Capernaum,
we find it natural to revive the scene of
the lesson in our imagination as vast
audience circling around Jesus, tier above
tier, the circle charging as it recedes, while
Jesus in his at,-which is under control
of certain of his fishermen disciples,-is
shielded from the throng by some feet of
the impossible sea.
In such natural auditorium lake
about him, the sky above, the fertile Gen.
nessaret plain stretching away beyond the
multitude on the shore, Jesus uttered his
never-to-be-forgotten parallels.
The first parable is manifestly an answer
to the question, which came to the mind
of Jesus as it comes to every one who feels
the tremor of anxiety as he begins to speak
to multitude on matters of supreme in
terest,-namely this: Hon. qViX my mes
sage be accepted by these ea,pectant SoHis 2
The same word would not be the same
to all, because it would be differently es-
teemed.
He looked at the multitude before him.
There was the group of Pharisaic scribes,
now following him everywhere as commits
stoned censors, and eager to bring him
within the tolls of the law; on these faces
he saw the supercilious sneers. He cannot
hope that any word of his will penetrate
the thick-crusted surface of such souls.
There were again faces which showed the
marks of worldliness and sensuallsm. He
could see there no eagerness for the Word
of Life. There were also faces which ex-
hibited weakness of will, want of resou-
ton gladly these may hear; but they may
speedily forget. There were faces also
which showed encouragement under the
cares of the world, moral despair under
engrossing burdens. In these persons he
knew the cares of this world continually
assault the spiritual life. There were other
faces of different expression; eager faces,
sincere faces,-exhibiting hunger for the
Divine; they light up with the light of life
at the words which assure them that they
are children of God.
In the multitude on the lakeside Jesus
saw the whole world in miniature.
Some scholars have conjectured that at
this moment Jesus,-looking beyond the
multitude to the Gennessaret plain,-saw
man actually sowing grain according to
the custom of the time and place. 1t is
not impossible, yet not probable. What
farmer could have kept at his work I'M
touched by the magnetism of the crowd
listening to the Teacher in the boat? But
Jesus undoubtedly saw before him the
landscape, with all its variety of soil, and
to imagine himself sower,-precisely
after the fashion of the sower of seed-grain
he had often behold on the Gennessaret
plain,-would serve the purpose he now
had in mind
He purposed to explain the reception
which would be accorded his Gospel by
different sorts of people.
The SO7Ver aOenf f6rfh TO SO7O his seed.
The sowcr would, according to the ORR
entail custom, sow the seed-grain broad
cast. to give all grades and varieties of soil
an equal opportunity.
L. Seed Falls by the Wayside,-
VS.. 4, 5, II, IL.
Some seed would fall at the edges of
the narrow footpath, and even in the hard
worn path itself But it could take no
root. Soon the watchful starlings would
come and pick it up; or some passing foot
step would crush out its life.