The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05
LESSON STORY.

The Twelve, on hearing the alarming
news of the beheading of the Baptist by
Herod Antipas at Macharus, had stimuli
taneously fastened to their Master at Ca
pernaum. The dreadful news had proceed
ed them to the lakeside cit. The news
was ominous for Jesus and his disciples.
And Herod Antipas was now their near
neighbor; having returned from Perea to
his palace at Tiberias, the city he had built
on the lakeshorc near to Capernaum. The
report had been received also from the pal
ace itself, through trustworthy sources,
that Herod had fallen into spiritual insan-
ity, declaring his belief that Jesus was the
John whom he had beheaded.
1t was manifestly advisable for Jesus to
retire with his disciples for a season from
the neighborhood of Tiberias. There was
a plain danger of a popular revolt The
Galileans had in the mass regarded the
Baptist with favor; and it was well known
that John had publicly declared Jesus to
be the Coming One. There was now an
instructive turning to Jesus as the OBJ
ject of the popular hope. He was the
center of feverish popular interest I'M
precedented in his ministry. As the ap-
proach of the Passover brought the pill
grims to the city, on the way to Jerusalem,
there was such thronging about Jesus and
the disciples that, we are told, there 7Oas
LEFT Ito them) no leisure SO much as to eat.
Jesus with the Twelve embarked in the
boat,-THE boat still kept at his command,
and crossed the head of the lake to the
Plain of Butaiha, near to Bethsaida Julias
on the eastern side of the mouth of the
Jordan. This place was beyond the juris-
diction of Herod Antipas, and within the
domain of the more peaceful Philip.
But escape from the eager multitude
could not thus be secured. The people
had seen the boat put off, they had OBJ
served the direction in which the boat was
steered; they conjectured at what point it
was designed to land. With one accord
the multitude started for the place by the
shore. The distance by water is about six
miles; the distance by the shore was con-
siderably greater. The crowd increased
as it proceeded. 1t was doubtless largely
augmented while passing through the two
Bethsaidas. Caravans of pilgrims for the
Passover were soon embodied in the null
titude. The people of Galilee having, after
Johns death, new fear of Herod, and
having previously lost their confidence in
the scribes, were now in a ptiable state.
They naturally looked to Jesus, whom
John had declared to be his Master and
Successor, rs the leader of their forlorn
hope.
Jesus with the Twelve landed and as
cended to some retreat among the hills.
The multitude soon after reached the plain,
at this j assover-season covered with grass,
which was such rarity on the eastern
side of the lake that its presence here was
by the reporters deemed noteworthy. The
multitude, spreading upon the plain, waited
in state of expectancy.
Word was brought to Jesus in his place
of retreat. AHd he came foyth and Sa7O a
great mHktifNdl ; and he Rad cOD1baSSfoH
on them, because they acre as SHEEP net
having a shepherd. He could not resist
he prayer which the sight of the waiting
multitude bore up to him.
He came down and resumed his wonted
work of healing and teaching. There was
indeed need of wise and pacifying counsel
in regard to the threatening public situa
ton; and we assume that words of assur-
ance in regard to the indeStructible spirit