CHAPTER XI.

THE THIRD RETURN TO GALILEE.

ABOUT this time John was cast into prison; and when Jesus heard of it he departed into Galilee, and began more openly to proclaim his own mission. He went with his disciples to Capernaum, and on the sabbath day entered into the synagogue and taught. He now performed many miracles: among others he cured Peter's wife's mother of a fever, and restored many insane persons to their right senses. then went through all Galilee preaching in the synagogues, and healing all kinds of diseases among the people. The multitudes followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the country beyond Jordan, that is, on its eastern bank.

He

After he had gone through Galilee, he returned to the neighborhood of Capernaum, and on a mountain near that place delivered the discourse which is called the Sermon on the Mount, and which contains the substance of his divine teachings concerning practical religion.

As he came down from the mountain he

cured a man of leprosy, and afterward went into Capernaum. A centurion, that is, a commander of a hundred men, had a servant to whom he was very much attached, who was sick and ready to die. Hearing of Jesus, he sent and requested him to come and restore his servant. While Jesus was on his way, he sent other persons to say that he felt it was too much honor for him who was not a Jew, though a worshiper of God, to receive him into his house; and that if Jesus would only speak the word, his servant would be healed. Our Lord was greatly pleased with the clear and firm belief of the Roman officer, and when the messengers returned they found the man restored to health.

The next day he went to a city called Nain, with many of his disciples, and followed by a great many other people. When they came near the gate of the city they met a funeral procession: a young man was being carried out to his burial, the only son of his mother, who was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. When our Lord saw her, he pitied her desolate condition, and said to her, 'Weep not.' He then touched the bier, as a signal for the bearers to stop, and said, 'Young

man, I say unto thee, arise.' And the young man sat up on the bier, and began to speak. Jesus delivered him to his mother. What a change was that to this poor widow! Her son had been dead, and was alive again! What a wonderful deed to all who witnessed it! Jesus had performed many great and good miracles; but this surpassed them all. They might well say as they did, 'God hath visited his people.' The report of this miracle spread not only through Galilee, but through Judea and all the neighboring regions. Still it did not convince his enemies, the Scribes and Pharisees, for their hearts were set against him.

After this event Jesus appears to have been more followed by the people than ever, so that their presence became troublesome; and, having again gone down to the sea of Tiberias, he gave directions for sailing over to the other side. Wearied with his journeying, preaching, and other acts of his ministry, he retired to the hinder part of the vessel, and soon fell asleep. While he slept, one of those sudden and violent storms arose, which are not unfrequent on that little sea, and the waves beat into the ship, and threatened to sink it. They

awoke him, saying, 'Master, master, we are perishing.' He arose at the call, rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, 'Peace, be still.' The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, 'Who then is this? for he commandeth both the winds and the water, and they obey him.'

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When they came to the other side of the sea, Jesus cured two raging madmen; but the people of that country requesting him to go away, he crossed again to Capernaum, which St. Matthew calls his own city, because he had made it his chief place of residence. there cured a man of palsy, who was brought to him, because of the crowd, over the roof of the house, and was let down upon his matress before Jesus, by uncovering the slender roof of the balcony or gallery running round the inner courts of the house, and where Jesus most probably sat or stood, as a convenient place for addressing the multitude crowding the court below. When the paralytic went to that house he was carried by four men when he returned he carried his own matress. The people in amazement said, 'We never saw

it thus.' We have seen strange things today.'

Jesus went again to the sea-side, and saw Matthew sitting at the place where certain taxes were paid to the Roman government; for he was a publican or tax-gatherer. Jesus said to him, 'Follow me.' He immediately arose and followed him.

The tax-gatherers were often guilty of extortion; and besides, the Jews thought that they ought not to pay taxes to any one but God, or to a king of their own nation; and they, therefore, both despised and hated the tax-gatherers of the Romans, and especially those of them who were Jews. Jesus did not partake in their undistinguishing prejudice; and knowing Matthew to be a good man, one who would think for himself, and do whatever his conscience told him was right, he invited him to be one of his constant attendants. Matthew did not hesitate to leave his profitable occupation for that purpose. He also made a great feast in honor of Jesus, and among the guests invited many publicans, doubtless because they had been his intimate friends and associates. Jesus went to this feast. This gave great offence to the Pharisees, who thought that a prophet should not keep such company.