Rev. Richard Johnson, a thirty-two year old Englishman, and graduate of Cambridge University, arrived in New South Wales with the first fleet in January 1788. As the first, and for some time the only Christian preacher in Australia, Johnson had sole responsibility for the spiritual needs of the infant white population.
His flock numbered over one thousand souls and was made up of the governor, Captain Arthur Philip with his staff, and a large number of convicts (568 males, 191 females with 13 children).
Within a month of Johnson’s arrival the first service of public worship in Australia was organised for Sunday, February 3, 1788 at 10am with Governor Philip ordering that ‘No man to be absent on any account whatever.’ That first service was held by ‘a great tree’ close to the harbour with Johnson preaching from Ps.116:12,13 “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.’
While no record of what Johnson said on that historic occasion exists, Lieutenant Ralph Clark, who was present at the service, reported. “We had a very good sermon . . . the behaviour of the convicts was regular and attentive.” Moreover in the first piece of Christian literature written in Australia, Johnson tells us of how he preached to his congregation : “I do not address you as Churchmen or Dissenters, Roman Catholic or Protestants, as Jews or Gentiles . . . But I speak to you as mortals and yet immortals . . . The gospel proposes a free and gracious pardon to the guilty, cleansing to the polluted, healing to the sick, happiness to the miserable and even life for the dead.”
Rev. Richard Johnson, an Englishman, an Anglican, and Australia’s first preacher not only believed the biblical gospel but preached it in all of its glorious fullness.
In December 1788, Rev. Johnson along with his wife Mary, celebrated their first Christmas on Australian soil.
It can hardly have been the happiest of festive seasons for them both. Life in the colony was hard and the Johnsons fully shared in those hardships. Life in the colony was hard and the Johnsons fully shared in those hardships. In October 1788, they had moved into their ‘first’ home, a hut made from cabbage tree palms and rushes (it would be three years before they lived in a brick house) at Sydney Cove and it was there in that same month that they buried their first child.
Nonetheless the Johnson’s persevered in their adopted homeland and on that first Christmas we find Australia's first preacher going about the Master’s business.
His journal entry for Sunday, December 28, 1788 informs us that he “Rose about 4 o’clock. At five took boat; went to Rose Hill; arrived about eight o’clock; between nine and ten began public service. Preached from 2nd chap. Eph.17. After sermon I distributed some books among the convicts. Returned about three o’clock, and arrived at Sydney about eight. Bless God, O my soul, for this day’s mercies and protection.”
Johnson’s text at that service was Ephesians 2:17. It reads “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh”. It is a text whose chief subject is the Lord Jesus Christ. In particular, it refers to Christ in his role as our mediator. As mediator, Christ is the one who makes peace between God and man. He is the mediator who reconciles man to his holy God.
As Hebrews 2:17 declares concerning the Saviour “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people”.
Christ in his role as our great high priest has made reconciliation for our sins. On our behalf and to our eternal benefit he has obtained peace with God for us.
But Johnson’s text not only alludes to Christ as the ultimate priest who obtains peace with God for us but also declares him to be the prophet who comes and preaches peace to us. How can this be as Christ was bodily absent from the earth in the time of the apostles and remains absent to this day? How does Christ preach peace to sinful man who is at enmity with God? He does so through his church. He is with his church always and particularly with its faithful preachers.
Men like Australia’s first preacher, Richards Johnson, who set forth Jesus Christ as humanity’s only hop and emphasised in their preaching the necessity of saving faith in Christ. Through such pulpiteers of the past and preacher of the present Christ comes and preaches peace to all.
Today, as you have read this article, let me ask you,
Do you know Richard Johnson’s Saviour?
Are you at peace with your God?
Are you trusting in Christ and his finished cross work for your salvation?
We encourage you to do so and to hearken to the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
When you do so you will discover for yourself that Christ is not only the priest who obtains salvation, and the prophet who proclaims salvation, but the king who governs the recipients of salvation. With the Hymn writer you will be able to say,
King of my life, I crown thee now,
Thine shalt the glory be;
Lest I forget thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
May God give you the grace this day to take Jesus for your Saviour and crown him King of your life.
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