Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-06-16
Copyright. Louis Klopsch. l9ooN

rough places OF ne ana INDICATES the
best means of getting over them and
shows how many people fail to under
stand their best blessings; text, Mark iv.,
80, And he arose and rcbukcd the wind
and said unto the sea, Peace, be still"
Here in Capernaum, the seashore vii.
lage, WAS the temporary home of that
Christ who for the most of his life was
homeless. On the site of this village
now in ruins, and all around this lake
what scenes of kindness and power and
glory and pathos when our Lord lived
here / can understand the feeling OF
the immortal Scotchman, Robert Nc
Cheyne, when. sitting on the banks of
this lake, he wrote:
Ii is not that the wild gazelle
Comes down to drink thy tide,
But he that was pierced to save from hell
OFT wandered by thy side.
Graceful around thee the mountains
meet.
Thou calm, reposing sea.
But, ah, far more the beautiful feet
OF Jesus walked DER thee.
| can easily understand from the CON
tour of the country that bounds this lake
that storms were easily tempted to make
these waters their playground. This
lake. in Christ's time, lay in scene of
great luXuriance: the surrounding hills,
terraced, sloped, groved SO many hang
ing gArdens of beauty. On the shore
were castles, armed towers, Roman
baths, everything attractive and hcauti-
ful~all styles of vegetation in smaller
space than in almost any other space in
the world from the palm tree Of the for
est TO the trees Of rigorous climate. 1t
seemed as if the Lord had launched one
wave of beauty on all the scene and it
hung and swung from rock and hill and
oleander. Roman gentlemen in pleasure
boats sailing this lake and countrymcn
In fishing smacks coming down to drop
their nets pass each other with nod and
shout and laughter or swinging idly at
their moorings. Oh, what beautiful
scene
Ii seems as if we shall have a quiet
night. Not leaf quivered in the air, not
ripple disturbed the face of Gennesa-
ret. But there seems to be little ex-
element up the beach, and we hasten to
see what ii is, and we find ii an embarka-
tion. From the WESTERN shore a hotilla
pushing out; not squadron of deadly
/ armament, nor clipper with valuable mer-
6 dssA ndise, nor pirate vessels ready TO de-
stroy everything they coud seize. but a
totilla, hearing messengers of light and
life and peace Christ is in the stern of
the boat. His disciples are in the bow
and amidships. Jesus, weary with much
l~irur IN ,s, -,
somnolence by the rocking of the waves.
If there was any motion at all, the ship
was easily righted; if the wind passed
from starboard to larboard, or from lar
board to starboard. the boat would rock
and, by the genticness of the motion,
putting the Master asleep. And they
extemporized a pillow made out Of a
fisherman's coat. l think no sooner is
Christ PROSTATE and his head touched
the pillow than he is sound asleep. The
breezes Of the lake run their fingers
through the locks of the worn sleeper.
and the boat rises and falls like a sleep
ing child on the bosom of sleeping
mother.
Coming of the Storm.
Calm night, starry night, beautiful
night! Run up all the sails, ply all the
oars, and let the large boat and the small
boat glide over gentle Gcnnesaret But
the sailors say there is going to be a
change of weather. And even the pas
sengers can hear the moaning Of the
storm as it comes on with great stride
and all the terrOrs Of hurricane and dark
ness. The large boat tremblcs like deer
Mt bay among the clangor Of the hounds:
great patches OF foam are flung into the
air; the sails Of the vessel loosen and in
the strong wind crack like pistols; the
smaller boats, like petrels. poise on the
cliffs Of the waves and then plunge.
Overheard 90 cargo, tackling and masts.
and the drenched disciples rush into the
back part Of the boat and lay hold Of
Christ and say unto him. Master, carcst
thou not that we perish?'
That great parsonage lifts his head
from the pillow Of the fisherman coat.
walks to the front Of the vessel and
looks out into the storm All around
him are the smaller boats. driven ia the
tempest, and through it comes the cry Of
drowning men. BY tho fash Of the light.
ming | see the calm brow Of Christ as
the spray dropped from his beard lie
has one word for the sky and another for
the waves. Looking upward. be- cries.
Peace" Looking downward. hr says.
BE still. The waves fall dar on their
faces, the foam melts, the cxtingui4hcd
stars relight their torches. The tempest
falls dead, and Christ stands with his
foot on the neck Of the storm. And
while the sailors are baliue out the boats
and while they are trying "a uutaugle the
cordage the disciples stand in amaze
ment, now looking into the calm sea.
then into the calm sky. then into the
calm Saviour's countenance, and they
cry out, What manner Of man Is this,
that even the winds and the sen obey
himT'
The subject, in the first place, ira
presses me with the fact that it is very
important to have Christ in the ship; for
all those boats would have gone 20 the
bottom Of Gennesaret II Christ bad not
been present. Oh, what lesson for you
and for me 10 learn, Whatever voyage