Chapter 1

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Garcia, Jeannie Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

MOTHER

STORIES

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

A Book of the Best Stories from the New Testament That Mothers Can Tell Their Children

With Forty-five Illustrations

PHILADELPHIA HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY

ALTEMUS' MOTHER STORIES SERIES

* * * * *

MOTHER STORIES A Book of the Best Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER NURSERY RHYMES AND TALES A Book of the Best Nursery Rhymes and Tales that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER FAIRY TALES A Book of the Best Fairy Tales that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER NATURE STORIES A Book of the Best Nature Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT A Book of the Best Old Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT A Book of the Best New Testament Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER BEDTIME STORIES A Book of the Best Bedtime Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER ANIMAL STORIES A Book of the Best Animal Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER BIRD STORIES A Book of the Best Bird Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

MOTHER SANTA CLAUS STORIES A Book of the Best Santa Claus Stories that Mothers can tell their Children

Profusely illustrated and handsomely bound in cloth, with ornamentation in colors

$1.00 PER VOLUME

COPYRIGHT 1906 BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS.

PAGE THE WISE MEN'S VISIT 7

THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS 10

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 12

THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES 14

THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND 16

HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT 18

ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS 20

THE RICH FOOL 22

THE UNFRUITFUL TREE 24

SOWING THE SEED 26

THE ENEMY SOWING TARES 28

THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN 30

SEEKING FOR HIDDEN TREASURE 32

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE 34

THE PARABLE OF THE NET 36

THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEVILS 38

CURING THE INCURABLE 40

JAIRUS' DAUGHTER 42

THE TWO BLIND MEN 44

FEEDING FIVE THOUSAND 46

CHRIST WALKING ON THE SEA 48

THE WOMAN OF CANAAN 50

PETER AND THE TRIBUTE MONEY 52

THE GOOD SAMARITAN 54

IMPORTUNITY REWARDED 56

THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 58

THE GOOD SHEPHERD 60

THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY 62

THE PRODIGAL SON 64

PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER CURED 66

THE UNJUST STEWARD 68

THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR 70

"AVENGE ME OF MY ADVERSARY" 72

THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX-GATHERER 74

THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD 76

THE BARREN FIG TREE 78

THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN 80

WITHOUT THE WEDDING GARMENT 82

THE FOOLISH VIRGINS 84

THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS 86

MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND 88

JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN 90

THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER 92

TIMOTHY AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE 94

CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN 96

NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

THE WISE MEN'S VISIT.

The birth of Jesus Christ was announced by two remarkable events: the coming of wise men from the East, and the appearance of angels to some shepherds at Bethlehem.

The wise men were probably astronomers; and in watching the stars they had seen one that had led them to leave their own country, and take a long journey to Jerusalem. Most likely they rode on camels, and their journey was a tedious one. But at last they reached Jerusalem, where they inquired saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East and are come to worship Him." Tidings of these inquiries were brought to King Herod, and when he heard them he was much troubled. He was a wicked king; and feared that if another king had been born, he would grow up and take the crown away. Herod was also cruel and treacherous, and while pretending to act rightly, often did many evil things. And now he intended to destroy the infant King, who might one day take his sceptre away.

So he first sent for the learned men of the Jews, the chief priests and scribes, and demanded of them where Christ should be born; and when they had replied that it was to be in Bethlehem, he secretly called the wise men before him, and inquired of them what time the star appeared. After getting the information he needed, he dismissed the wise men, bidding them to go to Bethlehem "and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him," said Herod, "bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also."

So the wise men left King Herod and Jerusalem, and journeyed onward towards Bethlehem; and the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child lay. And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, for they knew they had found Him whom they had come so far to seek.

But the wise men did not bring Herod word where Jesus was; and he was so angry that shortly afterwards he sent his soldiers, and slew all the children under two years of age that were in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood. He thought by so doing to kill Jesus among them, but God prevented him from doing so.

THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS.

It was night. In the fields near Bethlehem a company of shepherds kept watch over their flocks. Probably they were holy men, and often thought of God in the stillness of the early morn. And now they may have been thinking of the coming of the promised Messiah.

While watching their flocks, the angel of the Lord came to these shepherds, and a dazzling light shone round about them. They were much afraid; but the angel said, "Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

When the angels had departed, the shepherds returned to Bethlehem; and there, in a stable, they found the infant Jesus, lying in a manger, watched over and cared for by His mother Mary and Joseph. And so great was the surprise and joy of the shepherds that they went out and told all they met of the wondrous things which they had seen.

Shortly after the visit of the shepherds, the wise men from the East reached Bethlehem, and in a house they found Joseph, and Mary, and Jesus. Then they fell down and worshipped Jesus, opening the treasures they had brought, and offering Him precious gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. But God warned them not to go back to Herod, to tell him where the new-born King of the Jews was, and they returned to their own country another way.

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

When Jesus was twelve years of age, His parents took Him with them to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. Great numbers journeyed from different parts to keep this feast; and travelled in companies or caravans, the women and old men riding on asses or mules, and the rest going on foot. Thus Joseph and Mary, with Jesus, left Nazareth, and with many others journeyed to Jerusalem, where they kept the Passover.

When the feast was ended, as they returned homewards, Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus was missing; but supposing Him to have been somewhere among the company, they continued their first day's short journey. When, however, evening came, and the caravan halted, and Jesus was nowhere to be found, His parents sorrowfully returned to Jerusalem seeking Him. At last, on the third day, they went to the Temple, and found Jesus sitting in the midst of the aged and learned Jewish doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. "And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

His parents were amazed when they saw Jesus in such company. But Mary, while she rejoiced at finding Him, gently said, "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." Jesus replied, "How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?"

Jesus was the Son of God, and doing God's work was being about His Father's business. Years afterwards He said, "I came not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me."

THE WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FISHES

One day, as the crowds pressed round Him to hear the Word of God, Jesus came to the Lake of Gennesaret and saw two boats drawn up on the shore. Now one of these belonged to a man named Simon Peter, who was at the water's edge washing his nets. Jesus entered into this boat and asked Simon to push it off from the land a little. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when He had done speaking to them He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught of fishes." Simon, answering Him, said, "Master, we have toiled all through the night and have taken nothing, but as you wish it I will let down the net again." And they let down the net into the sea, but it enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that they could not draw them up; and the net brake. Then Simon beckoned to his partners, James and John, who were in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both boats with the fishes, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it he fell down before Jesus, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all that were with him were astonished at the marvellous draught of fishes which they had taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not, Simon Peter; from henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men." Meaning that he was to go about winning souls for God, instead of being a fisherman.

And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all they had and followed Christ.

THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE SAND.

What a foolish man the builder of the house shown in our picture must have been! Of course, when the wind blew and the waves dashed against his house, it would fall. Look how the sea has washed the foundation away, and how the roof is falling in! And the people; see how they are fleeing to save their lives! And all this calamity because he built his house upon the sand. But the other house, shown in the distance: how firmly that stands! What a bold front it offers to the waves, and how safely it resists the fury of the storm. Its foundations are sure, because they rest upon the solid rock.

Jesus had been teaching the people. He had taught them many wonderful truths, which you will find written in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew; and in closing He said, "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." The lesson Jesus sought to impress upon the people by this parable was, that it is not enough simply to hear what He says. Many will do that; but it is only those who remember Christ's commandments and keep them, whose work will stand when the time of trial comes.

HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT.

Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain. When this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought the Jewish elders and implored them to go to Christ and beseech Him to cure the sick servant. And the elders came to Jesus and besought Him urgently to do this miracle, saying, "He is a worthy man, this Roman captain, for he loveth the Jews and hath built us a synagogue."

So Jesus went with them, and when He had come near the house, the Centurion himself came to meet Him, saying, "Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter my house. Speak the word only, and this sickness shall depart and my servant be made whole. For I am a man under authority of the Emperor, having many soldiers under me, and I say unto this man, 'Go,' and he goeth; to another, 'Come,' and he cometh, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he doeth it. Wherefore, if I can so readily command my servants to do my bidding, I know that if Thou biddest this sickness to go out from my servant it will surely go."

Jesus marvelled at the man's words, and said to His followers, "Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in all Israel." And to the Centurion He said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour, and when those that had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant whole that had been sick.

ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.

On one occasion, a proud Pharisee, whose name was Simon, invited Jesus to eat with him. But the invitation was a cold one. There was no kiss of welcome, no water to bathe His hot and dusty feet, no perfumed ointment for His head: nothing but a bare admission to a vacant place at the table was granted to Jesus. But there He reclined, His left elbow resting on a cushion, and His feet projecting beyond the edge of the couch.

Now it happened that a poor, sinful woman was passing, who, discovering that Jesus was in the house, timidly entered, and stood behind Him. She had an alabaster box of ointment, and, as she looked on Jesus, she wept. Her tears fell upon His feet; so, stooping down, she tenderly wiped them away with her long hair; then she kissed the Saviour's feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment. This was done as a token of respect and love.

But an evil eye had noted the kindly act; and the proud Pharisee thought within himself, if Jesus were the prophet He professes to be, He would certainly have known that the woman was a great sinner, and would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus came to save sinners. He loves them, though He hates their sins. He rebuked the haughty Simon; and showed him how he had neglected the commonest rites of hospitality towards his guest, while this poor woman had treated Jesus with the greatest reverence. Then Jesus said, "Her sins which are many are forgiven, for she loved much"; and He bade her go in peace.

THE RICH FOOL.

There was a certain rich man who owned much land. And his fields and vineyards were so productive that when the time of harvest came, he had not room enough to store his corn and fruits. So after much thought he said, "This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater ones, and there will I store all my fruits and my goods. Then I can say to myself, 'I have great store of goods laid up, enough for many years; now I can take mine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'"

But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast hoarded?"

Jesus says it shall be so with all those who set their minds upon storing up riches in this world, rather than laying up treasures in heaven by pleasing God and working in His service. Death will come when they least expect it, and they will have to leave all their earthly riches, and go where no treasure has been laid up for them.

And He said unto His disciples, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on; for the life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye have and give alms; provide yourselves a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, or moth corrupteth."

THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.

A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then he called to the gardener who attended to his vineyard, and said to him, "Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it down. Why does it encumber the ground?"

The gardener answered him and said, "Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and manure it. And if it bear fruit then, it is well; but if not, then, after that, thou shalt cut it down."

In this parable the vineyard means the world, and the fig-tree ungodly people whose lives do not produce good works--do not produce fruit in the service of God. The Lord of the vineyard, that is, God, would destroy such people, but Christ intercedes in their behalf, that time for repentance may be given. "He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Christ came and sought to change men's hearts, and make their lives fruitful for God. The warning has been given, and when the Lord of the vineyard comes again to seek good fruit the unfruitful trees shall be destroyed.

Am I a barren tree, dear Lord? A cumberer of the ground. Oh! give me grace to fruitful be, And in Thy work abound.

SOWING THE SEED.

A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell by the wayside and was trodden down, and birds came and devoured it. And some fell upon a rocky place, where there was not much soil, and as soon as it sprang up it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns and weeds, and they sprang up with it and choked it. But other fell on good ground, and sprang up bearing ears, some with thirty, some sixty, some a hundred seeds.

When Jesus had told this parable, His disciples asked Him to explain it to them. He said that the seed is the Word of God. The wayside signifies the people who hear the Word but do not understand it, and Satan comes and takes all thought of it out of their hearts as quickly as the birds devour the seeds. The rocky places without much earth denote those who, when they hear the Word, receive it with great joy and profession of faith; but it never takes deep root in their hearts, and when they are tempted they fall away and the good seed in their hearts is withered up. The thorns and weeds are the pleasures and riches of this life, which root so deeply and strongly in men's hearts that the good seed has no chance, and is soon killed off.

But the good ground is the hearts of good people, who remember God's Word and try, every day of their lives, to do as He wishes us to do, and to live holy and useful lives. The seed falling upon their hearts becomes strongly rooted and grows up vigorously, bearing good fruit.

What shall be said of _your_ heart, my young friend? Is it like the wayside? the rocky place? the thorny ground? or like a good field that has been well prepared for the seed?

THE ENEMY SOWING TARES.

A certain man sowed good seed in his field, but in the night, whilst men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. When the wheat-blade had sprung up and showed the ear, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came to him and said, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence then come these tares?"

He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this." Then the servants asked, "Shall we go, then, and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay, lest whilst you gather up the tares, you root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in that time I will say to the reapers, 'Gather ye together first the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Jesus' disciples asked Him to explain this parable to them, and He said: "The field represents the world, and He that sowed the good seed is Christ Himself. The good seed is the Word He preached; the wheat plants are the good people who believe in Christ and do as He teaches. The enemy who sows the bad seed is Satan, and the tares that spring from them are wicked people who follow the promptings of the evil one in their hearts. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels of God. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world with wicked people. Christ shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them that do evil, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

"For the Lord our God shall come, And shall take His harvest home; From His field shall in that day All offences purge away;

"Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast, But the fruitful grain to store In His garner evermore."

THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN.

Christ said that the kingdom of heaven could be likened unto leaven (or yeast), which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till the whole was leavened.