In December 1814, Samuel Marsden came to New Zealand.
He was already aware of the 1809 incident where the crew on the ship, ‘The Parramatta’ were killed for wounding three Maori when the ship tried to sail away without paying for goods acquired, from the Maori. Samuel also knew of the, ‘The Boyd Massacre’, where ‘Utu’ (revenge), was affected, the crew and passengers were slaughtered, eaten or kidnapped in retaliation for the mistreatment of ‘Te Ara’, son of a Whangaroa chief,’ who had sailed from Sydney on ‘The Boyd’.
There were other such encounters and as word spread of the dangerous land, New Zealand was known as the land to, ‘Avoid if at all possible’. A pamphlet circulated in Europe warning sailors away from the ‘Cannibal Isles’ and, ‘Touch not that cursed shore lest you, these Cannibals pursue’.
Despite the warnings, Samuel was determined to deliver the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ to the Maori people, whom he had become aware of through a Maori man named Ruatara,’ whom Samuel had nursed back to health in Sydney after Ruatara became sick onboard a ship and was then abandoned in Sydney. Ruatara happened to be the nephew of ‘Te Pahi’, who was a prominent chief from Rangihoua, of the Nga Puhi Iwi. Ruatara, was also a nephew of Hongi Hika. This act of kindness won Samuel audience and friendship with the Bay of Islands Maori and Nga Puhi.
Samuel Marsden arrived from Australia, 22nd December at North Cape off Hohi Bay, beside Ruatara’s Pa at Rangihoua on the ship ‘The Active’, with him was Ruatara. He preached the first ever sermon in New Zealand and it was on Christmas Day 1814. His text was Luke 2:10
‘Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy’, ‘te rongo pai o Te Harinui’ for all people, te iwi katoa.
Jesus Christ, Ihu Karaiti, Saviour of the world was born in a place made for animals. The Supreme God ‘Io’, was His Father. Jesus Christ was born to take the sin of the world so that all people everywhere would come to know His love. He was nailed to a cross by man, He was killed because the world hated Him even though He loved the world. He had committed no sin, His blood was sinless, and only His sinless blood could be the offering for all people to enter relationship with God the Father.
Salvation came to the people this day and the Good News continued to be spoken throughout Aotearoa, Maori embraced this new hope. Convicted of their sin they repented and asked Jesus their Saviour to forgive them. They were delivered from shame and guilt and left the hopelessness of tribal hatred and war, the laws of tapu and utu, they embraced this new law of love one another, forgive those who wrong you, love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength because Jesus Christ is your Deliverer. He is your Defender who defeats the ‘evil one’, and saves from hell. He is your Creator. He is, ‘The Truth’ ‘The One Truth.’
Kotahi te pono!
Ihu! Ihu Karaiti! There is ‘One Truth’. Jesus! Jesus Christ!