Part 2

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were four Hebrew boys who were prisoners at Babylon. They thought it was wrong to eat the meat and drink the wine the king sent, and refused both when offered them. They asked for plain food and pure water instead. But the servant was afraid they would grow thin if he gave them nothing else. Then the king would be angry at him and he would lose his life. Daniel told him to give them plain food and water for ten days. He did so. At the end of the ten days they seemed so much better than those who ate the meat and drank the wine that the servant was glad to do as they wished.

DANIEL AND THE LIONS.

When Darius was king at Babylon he liked Daniel so well that he made him the chief officer in his kingdom. This made the other officers hate Daniel. They got Darius to make a law that every man who prayed to any one except Darius himself should be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel kept on praying to his God three times a day. When Darius heard that Daniel prayed he was very sorry he had made the law. But he could not change it, so Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. That night Darius could not sleep, he felt so bad. Very early next morning he ran to the den. But Daniel was safe, for God had shut the lions’ mouths.

ESTHER BEFORE THE KING.

Ahasuerus was king of Persia. Esther, a Jewess, was his queen. Haman was next to the king. He was a cruel man, and hated the Jews because one of them, a servant of the king, would not bow down to him. So he got the king to make a law that all the Jews in his kingdom should be killed. Esther felt very sorry for her people. She made up her mind to save them if she could. But first she spent three days in fasting and prayer. Then she went to the king and begged him to save the Jews. The king loved Esther so much that he did what she asked. So the Jews were saved from the cruel decree of the king Ahasuerus.

DAVID AND JONATHAN.

Saul loved David at first. Then he hated him and tried to kill him twice by throwing his spear at him. David escaped and hid himself. Now Saul had a son named Jonathan, who thought a great deal of David. It made him feel very bad to see his father trying to kill him. Jonathan thought that Saul might get over his anger in two or three days and take David back. But when he was sure that Saul really meant to kill David, he went to his hiding place and told him how he might get away. After they had wept and kissed each other and promised always to be friends, David fled and Jonathan went back to his father.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

One night certain shepherds were out in the fields taking care of their sheep. Suddenly they saw a light brighter than the sun, and in the glory of the light, an angel. They felt afraid.

But the angel spoke to them; he said: “Fear not. I have good news for you, and for all the people in the world. There was born to-day, in the city of Bethlehem, a little child who is to be a Saviour; his name is Christ the Lord. You will find him lying in a manger.” As he spoke, suddenly there appeared a great company of angels, and they sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, _peace_, good-will toward men.”

When the angels were gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: “Let us go right away to Bethlehem, and find this wonderful baby that the Lord has sent us word about.”

So they started in haste. When they reached Bethlehem, they found the stable, and the manger, and there was the baby with his mother. Then the shepherds told what the angels had said and sung. The people wondered at it; the mother remembered every word, and thought about what it all meant. Then the shepherds went back to their work praising God as they went, for all that he had told them, and for all that they had seen.

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS.

The child Jesus grew strong in body and mind. He was so unlike any other child that he was “filled with wisdom.” God’s favor was with him all the time. When he was twelve years old he went with his father and mother to Jerusalem to the great yearly feast called the Passover. Having been there eight days, they started for home. But Jesus stayed behind at Jerusalem. His father and mother didn’t know it; they supposed him to be with some of the friends. At night when they stopped to rest, they found he was not to be found. They went among the friends and acquaintances who were travelling with them, but they got no news of him; so they turned back toward Jerusalem, looking for him all the way. In this way three days passed; then they found their son sitting in the church among the learned men, listening and asking questions. And the people who listened were astonished at the questions which Jesus asked, and at the words which he spoke. When his parents saw him, they were very much astonished. His mother said to him: “My son, why did you treat us in this way? Your father and I have hunted for you in great sorrow.”

Then he made this strange answer: “How is it that you sought me? Didn’t you know that I must be about _my_ Father’s business?”

They didn’t understand what he meant; they forgot that their son was not simply a boy; he was God. But he came at once from the church, and went home with them, and obeyed his father and mother in everything. But his mother never forgot any of the strange words that he spoke.

MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

When Jesus had grown to be a young man, there came a minister through the country about Jordan, preaching to the people that they repent and be baptized. Some thought he was the Christ for whom they had been waiting. But he said to them: “I baptize you with water, but there is coming one, so much mightier than I, that I am not even worthy to untie his shoes [this was the work of the lowest servant]; He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He will make clean the hearts of his people. He will gather them in as wheat is gathered into the garner. But the wicked will be like chaff which is burned up, with a fire that cannot be put out.” Many other solemn things, also, this minister preached to the people. A man named Herod, ruler over part of the country, was angry with John because he had been reproved for many sins, among them marrying a woman whom he had no right to marry; and he put John in prison. But before that happened, one day, when John had been preaching and baptizing many people, Jesus came, and asked to be baptized also; and as he was praying, a wonderful thing happened. The Holy Ghost came down out of heaven in the form of a dove, and rested on Jesus, and a voice out of heaven said: “Thou art my beloved son; in thee I am well pleased.”

JESUS AT NAZARETH.

We find Jesus to-day in Nazareth, where he lived in his boyhood. It is the Sabbath-day, and he has gone to church, and stands reading to the people from the Bible. He read in the book named Isaiah; read about himself. These are the words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” When he had read these wonderful words he closed the book, and gave it to the minister, and sat down. All the people looked at him, wondering what he would say. Then he began to talk. He told them that the promises he had been reading to them were fulfilled. All listened and wondered at the tender and beautiful words that he spoke. They whispered to each other, saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Then he said to them: “You will surely remind me of the proverb, ‘Physician, heal thyself.’ Do some of the wonderful things here that we have heard of you doing in Capernaum. But, remember, no prophet is highly thought of in his own country. Remember that during that time of famine in Israel, when it didn’t rain for three years and six months, there were many widows, but the prophet Elijah was sent only to one at Sarepta, a city of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel while the prophet Elisha lived there; but Naaman, the Syrian, was the only one that was cured.”

This preaching made the people angry, and they started up in wrath and thrust him out of their city, and wanted to push him headlong down the hill on the top of which Nazareth was built. But just there he showed his power, in passing quietly through the crowd of angry people, holding them back by the power of his gaze, and went away.

THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

Jesus stood by the shore of Lake Gennesaret, and the people pressed about him, to hear him talk about God. He saw two ships near the water; they were empty, for the fishermen to whom they belonged were gone to wash their nets. One of the ships belonged to a man named Simon. Jesus stepped into it, and when Simon came asked him to push out a little from the shore; then he sat down in the ship and taught the people. When the sermon was over he said to Simon: “Push out now where it is deep, and let down your net.” Simon answered: “We have been at work all night, Master, and have caught no fish; but we will do as you say.” So they let down the net into the water, and at once it became so full of fish that it began to break. Then Simon and the other fisherman called to their partners, who were in the other ship, to come and help. They came and filled both the ships with fish; then the ships began to sink. Simon Peter, seeing that, fell on his knees and began to pray; he said: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” He meant that he was not worthy to be near the Lord. He was astonished and frightened, and so were the others—James and John, and they were the sons of Zebedee. Jesus spoke kindly and tenderly to Simon; he said: “Fear not; after this you shall catch men.”

THE CENTURION’S FAITH.

Next we find Jesus at Capernaum. A certain Roman military officer lived there, who had a servant lying very sick. The officer loved his faithful servant. He saw that he was going to die. He had heard of Jesus, and he sent some of the elders to him, begging that he would come and cure the sick man. The messengers came to Jesus and urged him to go at once to the sick one; they told him how kind the officer had been to their people. He went with them. When they were near the house, other friends came out to meet the Saviour, and presently the officer came himself. He told Jesus that he did not feel himself worthy to have so great a man in his house; that he did not want to trouble him to go there, and at first he thought he ought not even to come to him, troubling him. He begged that Jesus would just then and there speak a word that should cure his servant. He said that he was a man in authority, having servants who obeyed orders. Jesus, he believed, had but to give orders, and his invisible servants would obey him. Jesus wondered at his faith.

He turned, and said to the people who were following: “I haven’t found such great faith as this in all Israel.” Some of those who had been sent to Jesus, now reached the house where the sick man had lain, and behold he was well! This story is also told in Matthew viii. 5-13.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN.

Once Jesus went to the city of Nain. His disciples went with him. Many people followed him. As he reached the city gate he met a funeral procession. It was a long procession, for the young man who was dead had been his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. The people were very sorry for her. Jesus, when he saw her, felt very sorry for her, too. He spoke to her. He said, “Weep not.” Then he went towards the frame on which the dead body was laid, and touched it; and the men who were carrying it stood still, and Jesus spoke to the dead. He said, “Young man, I say unto thee, arise.” Immediately the dead man sat up and spoke to Jesus; and Jesus called his mother to him. This wonderful thing made the people afraid; they said, “A great prophet has come among us.” And they praised God for sending him. This story was told all over the country, and for many miles around. When the people came together they said, “Have you heard how that poor widow who lives in Nain had her son given back to her after he was dead?”

THE FRIEND OF SINNERS.

Jesus was invited to dine with a man named Simon. While at table, a poor woman came in and poured sweet-smelling ointment over the feet of Jesus, weeping so that she washed his feet with her tears. Simon did not like this, for the woman was very wicked. He thought if Jesus were a prophet he would know what sort of a woman this was, and would not allow her to touch him. Jesus saw these thoughts in his heart, and told him he had something to say to him. Then he told him this story: “There was once a man who was owed by two men; one owed him five hundred pence, and the other fifty. Both were poor, having nothing with which to pay their debt. The good man knowing this, forgave them both. Tell me, which of them will love him most?”

“Why,” said Simon, “I suppose the one who owed the most.”

“Yes,” said Jesus, “that is true. Simon, do you see this poor woman? You gave me no water to wash my feet, but she has washed them with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she continues to kiss my feet. You did not even anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet. Now I tell you this: her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loves me very much. If people feel that they have but little to be forgiven, they have but little love.” Then he spoke to the woman; he said: “Your sins are forgiven.” Those who were sitting with him at table began to say among themselves, “Why, who is this man who can forgive sins?” Jesus spoke again to the woman; he said: “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

RETURN OF THE SEVENTY.

Seventy people were sent out in many directions to tell the people of the Lord Jesus. They had blessed meetings. They came back filled with joy. They told Jesus that they had found even devils who had to obey their words when they spoke in his name. Jesus told them that he had long known that Satan would be subject to him. Also he promised them that nothing should hurt them in their work, neither that serpent Satan, nor any of his helpers. But he reminded them, that though they had such great power given them, there was something better than that for them to rejoice over forever: that their names were written in heaven. Then Jesus, with great joy in his heart, thanked God that he had hidden many things from the worldly-wise and the selfishly prudent, and had made them known to the humble-hearted who were willing to be like little children and learn of him. He reminded his disciples that no man knew about the mysteries of God, but that all things were delivered to him, and that no one could understand the Father unless he made him plain to their hearts. And he said to those disciples aside, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see; many prophets and kings desired to see them, but were not permitted.”

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

A lawyer once asked Jesus who was his neighbor, and Jesus told him this story:—“Once a man went from Jerusalem to Jericho, and on the road he met a party of thieves. They stripped his clothes from him; they wounded him, and at last went away, leaving him lying half dead. A little while after a certain minister passed that way; he saw the man, but he crossed the street and went on. Then there came a Levite; he stopped and looked at the poor man, and then he too crossed the street and went on his way. Then there came a Samaritan; he stopped and looked at the poor man, and his heart was filled with pity. The man was nothing to him, not even one of his own nation; but he bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them to soothe the pain; then he lifted the man to his own horse and took him to a place where he could be cared for. In the morning before he went on his journey, he took from his pocket some money, and gave it to the host, and asked him to have the sick man taken care of. If he had to spend money, when he came that way again he would pay the bill.”

“Now,” said Jesus, “which of these three people do you think treated the poor man like a neighbor?”

“Why,” said the lawyer, “the one who took care of him.”

“Then,” said Jesus, “see that you follow his example.”

IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER.

At one time when Jesus was with his disciples they asked him to teach them to pray. Having talked with them about the Lord’s Prayer, he illustrated prayer by the following:

Said he: “Suppose you had a friend to whom you should go one night at midnight, and ask him to lend you three loaves of bread, for a friend had arrived unexpectedly, and you had nothing for him. Suppose he should answer, ‘Don’t trouble me; I’ve shut my house for the night, and my children and I are in bed; I can’t get up and attend to you.’ Now I tell you, though he wouldn’t attend to you on account of friendship, yet if you persist in urging your need he will get up and give you what you want. Now I say to you: ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Every one that asks shall receive; he who seeks shall find; to him who knocks it shall be opened. Suppose your son asks for a piece of bread, would you give him a stone? Suppose he asks for a fish, would you give him a serpent? If he ask for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Now, if you with evil hearts and ignorant minds, yet know enough to take care of your children and give them proper things, don’t you suppose that your Heavenly Father knows what you need, and will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

WARNING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS.

Jesus had been talking about the loving care of the Heavenly Father, and one of the listeners interrupted him with a request that he would talk to his brother and get him to divide equally between them the property that had been left. Jesus asked him who he thought made him a judge, or a divider over them; and then, by the story he told them, he showed the covetous thought that was in the man’s heart. He reminded them that the important thing in a man’s life was not to have a great deal of property. Said he: “There was a certain man who grew rich; his harvests were so great that he wondered what he should do with all his grain. At last he decided to pull down his barns and build larger ones, and then say to his soul, ‘Soul, you have plenty of food, enough to last you many years; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But just then God spoke to him; He said, ‘Foolish man, this night your soul shall be called to leave the body; then who will have all these things which you have provided?’—Now,” said Jesus, “the man who plans for himself, laying up treasures for himself, and has none of the riches that God could give him, is like this poor, foolish man in the story.” Then He turned to His disciples and told them that living meant more than simply keeping the body alive and clothed.

WARNING AGAINST FORMALISM.

Jesus was traveling through the cities and villages on his way to Jerusalem, teaching as he went. One day a man asked him if many would be saved. He said all must strive to enter in at the straight gate, for many would try some other way and would not get in. He said, “It was like a feast spread for guests; and when once the master of the house had closed the door, no more could get in. Those who stood outside saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us,’ would only be answered with ‘I don’t know you.’ They might answer, ‘We have eaten and drank with you, and you have taught in our streets,’ for some of these people who would not follow Jesus had sat at table with him and heard his teachings. But he said the answer to any such would be, ‘I don’t know you; go away, you are wicked people.’—Then,” said Jesus, “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth;” Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob would be inside, but those who would not come to him by the right way would be thrust out. People from every quarter shall come together and sit down in God’s kingdom. The Gentiles, who were the last to hear the good news, shall be among the first in heaven, and some of the Jews (God’s dear people who would not love Him) will not get in.

THE GOSPEL FEAST.

One Sabbath-day Jesus was taking dinner at the house of a Pharisee. He talked with the people at the table about humility of manner at the great feasts which were given in those days. Then one of the company said to him, “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” I do not think he meant heaven, but rather the kingdom that he hoped the Messiah would set up on the earth. Jesus answered him in the form of a story about a man who made a great supper, sending out many invitations. When everything was ready he sent for his guests to come, and every one of them sent an excuse. One said he had bought a piece of ground and must go and see it, and begged to be excused; another said he had bought five yoke of oxen, and was going to prove them; another said he had just been married and couldn’t come. When the servant came back and told his master he was angry. He told his servants to go out quickly through the streets and bring all the lame people, and the blind people, and the poor people of every sort. So the servant did as he was told; but he said to his master, “There is room yet.” So the master told him to go out in the highways and hedges, and coax people to come to the supper, and fill the house, for none of those who were first invited should be allowed to taste of the supper.

THE PRODIGAL SON.