VOLUME FOUR
LIFE OF JESUS
ARRANGED AND EDITED BY
REV. NEWTON MARSHALL HALL, D.D.
MINISTER OF THE NORTH CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
AND
REV. IRVING FRANCIS WOOD, PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION AT SMITH COLLEGE
Authors of "_The Early Days of Israel" "Advanced Bible Studies" Etc._
THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
CHICAGO CLEVELAND
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COPYRIGHT, 1906, COPYRIGHT, 1917,
BY THE KING-RICHARDSON COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
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PREFACE.
In this volume is told the story of the life of Jesus as it moves on steadily through the gospels. The story shows a life not simply "good," but heroic. A life with a mighty purpose, nobly planned, splendidly carried out. It is a life which appeals to the love of the heroic in character that exists in every child's mind. The second part is simply a continuation of the first. The heroic spirit, the love of humanity which was in Jesus was communicated to his disciples. These disciples went forth "into all the world," to teach men the gospel of the "man of Nazareth." The adventures they had, the sufferings they endured, the victories they won, are recorded here.
The book aims especially to show the development of the heroic life of Jesus through its different stages. The text is a reproduction of the New Testament accounts, being drawn from all the Gospels. Here and there, as in the other volumes, a sentence or two of introduction and connection has been prefixed to certain sections, to furnish needed information. It is hoped that the book may in some measure help its readers, whether young or old, to see more clearly the beauty and the heroism which these stories portray.
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CONTENTS.
THE LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS.
PALESTINE IN THE DAYS OF THE LORD JESUS 17
1 _How the Lord Jesus Spent His Boyhood_. 33
I The Nativity. 37 II The Wise Men. 41 III A Journey to the Land of the Pharaohs. 45 IV The Boyhood of Jesus. 49
2 _How the Lord Jesus began to win the love of many people_. 61
I The Baptism of Jesus. 65 II The Temptation in the Wilderness. 70 III The First Disciples. 74 IV The First Miracle. 78 V At the Passover. 79 VI Jesus at Jacob's Well. 82 VII The Good Samaritan. 88 VIII Jesus and the King's Officer. 92 IX The Choosing of the Twelve Disciples. 94
3 _How the Lord Jesus went about doing good, teaching and healing, and how He grew in favor with the people_. 103
I The Sermon on the Mount 105 II The Roman Soldier's Faith. 121 III Days of Service. 125 IV The Miracle at Nain. 130 V The Great Teacher. 133 VI The Tempest. 136 VII The Little Girl Who Died. 141 VIII Learning to Serve. 143 IX The Feeding of the Multitude. 144 X Jesus and John the Baptist. 149 {10}
4 _How, while He was still teaching and healing, many began to turn against Him, and how He, seeing that He must suffer to save the people, took up the journey to the cross_. 159
I The Beginning of the End. 161 II The Enemies of Jesus. 167 III A Long Journey. 172 IV The Shadow of the Cross. 178 V The Transfiguration. 180 VI Teaching the Disciples. 185 VII Jesus and Little Children. 188 VIII Jesus at Jerusalem. 190 IX At the Feast of Dedication. 197 X Stories of the Divine Forgiveness. 202 XI The Rich Young Man. 211 XII The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead. 215 XIII Zacchaeus the Publican. 221
5 _How the Lord Jesus spent His last days in Jerusalem, how He loved His friends unto the end, how He fell into the hands of His enemies, and how He crowned a life of service with an heroic death_. 227
I The Supper at Bethany. 229 II The Entry into Jerusalem. 233 III In the Temple. 237 IV Last Days at Jerusalem. 238 V The Last Supper. 248 VI The Betrayal. 264 VII The Trial. 268 VIII The Judgment. 272 IX The Crucifixion. 281 X The Burial. 286
6 _How the Lord Jesus rose again from the dead, how He comforted His disciples, and how He sent them out, to teach all men in His name_. 295 I The Resurrection. 297 II On the Way to Emmaus. 301 {11} III Doubting Thomas. 305 IV "Feed My Sheep". 307 V The Ascension. 310
LEADERS AND VICTORIES OF THE NEW FAITH.
1 _How the new faith spread from Jerusalem_. 323 I The Day of Pentecost. 325 II A Miracle of the New Faith. 330 III Ananias and Sapphira. 335 IV The First Martyr. 339 V Simon the Sorcerer. 346 VI Philip and the Queen's Officer. 348 VII Peter and Dorcas. 350 VIII Peter and the Roman Captains. 353 IX The First Missionary Journeys. 357 X Peter in Prison. 359
MISSIONARY JOURNEYS AND ADVENTURES OF PAUL.
PAUL THE APOSTLE. 367
1 _How Paul the Persecutor laid aside the old life and took up the new_. 371
2 _The First Missionary Journey_. 376 I Paul and Barnabas Sail for Cyprus. 376 II From Cyprus to Antioch. 380 III Through the Towns of Galatia. 385 IV A Disturbance in the Church. 388
3 _The Second Missionary Journey_. 392 I Revisiting the Scenes of Former Victories. 395 II "The Macedonian Cry". 396 III Preaching in the Macedonian Cities. 403 {12} IV Paul at Athens. 404 V Tentmaking in Corinth. 408
4 _The Third Missionary Journey_. 417 I Far and Wide by Land and Sea. 418 II A Riot in Ephesus. 418 III Farewells to the Churches. 422
5 The Captain of the New Faith in the Hands of His Foes. 433 I The Jews Stir Up a Riot. 433 II On the Castle Stairs. 434 III A Citizen of the Empire. 441 IV Paul Before the Council. 442 V A Conspiracy Against Paul. 445 VI The Accusation of the Jews. 448 VII A New Examination Before Governor Festus. 452 VIII Paul Makes His Defense Before King Agrippa and Queen Bernice. 455
6 _The Captain of the New Faith in the Capital of the Caesars_ 462 I Paul's Voyage to Rome. 462 II A Winter's Storm on the Mediterranean. 469 III At Malta. 474 IV Paul at the City on the Tiber. 478
NOTES. 483
MEMORY VERSES. 499
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The Life of the Lord Jesus
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Jesus was ever replying, "The kingdom of God is not outward, with courts and armies and a great parade. It is inward, and means obeying the will of God." So Jesus lived in that busy world of his day, but few understood him. At last, because he would not be the kind of a Messiah they wanted, they crucified him. About forty years after this, the busy, proud people attempted to fight the Romans. They were defeated, and Jerusalem was taken. The temple was burned, the stone walls were thrown down, and the Jews were killed or sent away. So the story of Palestine and of its great hope ends very sadly for the Jews, who so looked and longed for their freedom. But we shall always love the land where the Lord Jesus lived and the people among whom he worked, because he loved them so much himself.
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IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; Peace on the earth, good-will to men. From heaven's all-gracious King; The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lonely plains They bend on hovering wing. And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow! Look now, for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing: Oh, rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophets seen of old, When with the ever-circling years, Shall come the time foretold, When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing. --_Edmund H. Sears_.
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BRIGHTEST AND BEST
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid. Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edam, and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gifts would His favor secure: Richer by far is the heart's adoration; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid. Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. --_Reginald Heber_.
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THE THREE KINGS.
There came three kings, ere break of day, All on Epiphanie; Their gifts they bare all rich and rare, All, all, Lord Christ, for Thee: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are there, Where is the King? O where? O where?
The star shone brightly overhead, The air was calm and still, O'er Bethlehem fields its rays were shed, The dew lay on the hill: We see no throne, no palace fair, Where is the King? O where? O where?
An old man knelt at a manger low, A Babe lay in the stall; The starlight played on the infant brow, Deep silence lay o'er all. A maiden bent o'er the Babe in prayer:-- There is the King! O there! O there! --_Christmas Hymn of the 16th Century_.
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JOY TO THE WORLD
Joy to the world, the Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns: Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground: He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love. --_Isaac Watts_.
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I
THE NATIVITY
_How the Lord Jesus Was Born in a Stable_.
(In the days of the Roman Emperor Augustus, a census of all the people of the empire was taken. Everyone went to his own city to be counted in the census. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enroll himself with Mary.)
And it came to pass while they were there that she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were much afraid.
And the angel said unto them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,-- {38}
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased."
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see what has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made public the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
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III
A JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS.
_How the Lord Jesus Was Taken to Egypt, How He Was Brought Back, and How He Lived in Nazareth_.
Now when the wise men had departed behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,--
"Out of Egypt did I call my son."
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,--
"A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not."
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But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life."
And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.
And the child grew, and waxed strong, becoming full of wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
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IV
THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS
_How the Lord Jesus Went to a Feast at Jerusalem for the First Time_.
And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and when the feast was over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing."
And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?"
And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to {50} Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
The New Testament tells us very little about the boyhood of Jesus, but fortunately we know from other sources much of the life of children in Palestine in those days. Among the earliest memories of the boy Jesus must have been the tender voice of his mother, as she sang or repeated to him the beautiful songs which we call psalms, and told him those wonderful stories of the heroism and faith of his ancestors, of which we read in the Old Testament. When he was five or six years old, he began to go to school. There he sat on the floor with the other little children of the village, forming a semicircle about their master. He was taught at school to read and write, and to repeat from memory large portions of the Old Testament. He no doubt had a boy's gladness in freedom and play when school was out. It must have been very pleasant to sit in Joseph's shop, and watch the shavings curl from the plane, to see the wood fashioned into various shapes of usefulness. When he grew older he learned the carpenter's trade in this shop. Every Jewish boy had to learn a trade. The home life was very simple. The family was poor, and it was not always easy to make both ends meet. Jesus no doubt helped his mother about her work, especially in drawing water from the village well. Every Sabbath he went to the village church, or synagogue, as it was called, and listened attentively to the service. In the village he often caught glimpses of the outside world, for Nazareth was on one of the main caravan routes. Here he would see merchants from the far East, strange, bearded, swarthy men with trains of camels, laden with bundles of precious merchandise, rugs, and gems, and sweet smelling sandal wood. Here he might see a company of Roman soldiers, marching under command of a centurion, short, stern men, helmeted, with shining armor, sword, and spear, in perfect discipline, showing the pride of the race which had conquered the world by force of arms. Here he saw, too, the poor and the suffering, the beggar, the outcast.
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He began to see, no doubt, as a boy, how much the world needed a saviour, and he began to form his resolution to be a hero, not a hero like the Roman soldier, but a hero of peace, one who should help and uplift humanity. So the days of his boyhood passed, in study, and work, and play, as he steadily grew toward manhood.
Every year three great feasts were kept by the Jews. The greatest of these was the Passover. People who could do so, left their homes, and journeyed to Jerusalem, the great sacred city of the Jews, to keep this feast; so that all the houses of the city were full of guests, all the villages near by were crowded with people, and the hills about were covered with the tents of those who could find no shelter in the houses. Women and little children were not required to take the hard journey, though they sometimes went. The journey had to be made on foot, or on the backs of horses or mules, the men carrying their food with them, and stopping at night where the dark found them. When they could arrange it, groups of friends and neighbors liked to go together, for company and safety. It was then often a happy journey, though it was never easy, and much as the boys looked forward to it, they often found that it was tiresome to tramp all day over the hills, and that they did not sleep as well at night on the open ground, with the cold stars looking down at them, as they did in their own beds at home. Yet the boys liked to go. Boys no doubt liked to "camp out" then, as they do now, and there was always a touch of adventure; the possibility of meeting robbers, or wild beasts. Besides, it was taking a part in man's work; for they were sometimes allowed to go when they were twelve years old. When they reached this age, they were to "keep the law," as their fathers did, and that made them feel like men. So it must have been a great day for Jesus, when he, now twelve years old, was allowed for the first time to start by his father's side, while his mother rode on an ass beside them, for the long walk of sixty miles in the soft spring air, over the hills to the city and the temple of which he had heard so much.
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IMMORTAL LOVE
Immortal love, forever full, Forever flowing free, Forever shared, forever whole, A never-ebbing sea.
Blow, winds of God, awake and blow The mists of earth away! Shine out, O Light Divine, and show How wide and far we stray!
We may not climb the heavenly steeps To bring the Lord Christ down: In vain we search the lowest deeps, For Him no depths can drown.
But warm, sweet, tender, even yet A present help is He; And faith has still its Olivet, And love its Galilee.
The healing of His seamless dress Is by our beds of pain; We touch Him in life's throng and press, And we are whole again.
Through Him the first fond prayers are said Our lips of childhood frame, The last low whispers of our dead Are burdened with His name.
O Lord and Master of us all! Whate'er our name or sign, We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call, We test our lives by Thine. --_John Greenleaf Whittier_.
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JESUS, I MY CROSS HAVE TAKEN
Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee; Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shalt be: Perish every fond ambition, All I've sought and hoped and known; Yet how rich is my condition, God and heaven are still my own.
Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Saviour, too; Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like man, untrue; And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might, Foes may hate, and friends may shun me, Show Thy face, and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure; Come, disaster, scorn, and pain! In Thy service, pain is pleasure; With Thy favor, loss is gain. I have called Thee, Abba, Father; I have stayed my heart on Thee: Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, All must work for good to me.
Man may trouble and distress me, 'Twill but drive me to Thy breast; Life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. O 'tis not in grief to harm me, While Thy love is left to me; O 'twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee. --_Henry Francis Lyte_.
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AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS
Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord; I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy word.
Thy saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer, though they die; They view the triumph from afar, And seize it with their eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Thine armies shine In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine. --_Isaac Watts_.
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How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of Many People.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY.
_The LORD JESUS_. _John the Baptist_. _The Disciples of Jesus_. _Mary, the Mother of Jesus_. _Nicodemus, a great teacher at Jerusalem_. _A woman of Samaria_. _A king's officer_. _The Evil One_. _Pharisees, Sadducees_. _Soldiers, a wedding party, money changers, priests, Samaritans_.
PLACES OF THE STORY.
_The Jordan River. The Wilderness_. _Cana in Galilee. Jerusalem. Samaria_. _Galilee_.
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I
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
_How John Preached to the People, and How the Lord Jesus Was Baptized by Him in the River Jordan_.
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,--
'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.'"
Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him the people of Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, "Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham to our father': for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
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"And even now is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he who cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
And the multitudes asked him, saying, "What then must we do?"
And he answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise."
And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, "Master, what must we do?"
And he said unto them, "Extort no more than that which is appointed you."
And soldiers also asked him, saying, "And we, what must we do?"
And he said unto them, "Do violence to no man, neither take anything wrongfully; and be content with your wages."
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?"
But Jesus answering said unto him, "Permit it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."
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Then he permitted him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying,--
"This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."
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II
THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS.
_How the Lord Jesus Fought with a Great Foe_.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he ate nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.
And the devil said unto him, "If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread."
And Jesus answered unto him, "It is written. 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"
And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, "To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine."
And Jesus answered and said unto him, "It is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'"
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And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, "If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: for it is written,--
'He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee:
and,
'On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.'"
And Jesus answering said unto him, "It is said, 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'"
And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and he was with wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
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III
THE FIRST DISCIPLES.
_How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of His Friends_.
One day after Jesus had returned from the wilderness, where he had met the temptation, John the Baptist saw him approaching, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me cometh a man which is become before me: for he was before me.' And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing with water."
Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, "What seek ye?"
And they said unto him, "Rabbi (that is, Master), where abidest thou?"
He saith unto them, "Come, and ye shall see."
They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hoar.
One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, Christ).
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He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, "Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas" (that is, Peter).
On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
And Nathanael said unto him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip saith unto him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathanael saith unto him, "Whence knowest thou me?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
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IV
THE FIRST MIRACLE.
_How the Lord Jesus Went to a Wedding_.
The third day after Jesus had started for Galilee with his new friends, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, with his disciples, to the marriage.
And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said unto him, "They have no wine."
And Jesus said unto her, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come."
His mother said unto the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."
Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews' custom of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jesus said unto them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said unto them, "Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast."
And they bore it. And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, and said unto him, "Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now."
This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
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V
AT THE PASSOVER.
_How the Lord Jesus Went Again to Jerusalem, What He Did, and the Friends He Made There_.
And the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money and overthrew their tables; and to them that sold the doves he said, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise."
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came unto him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him."
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
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Nicodemus said unto him, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'Ye must be born anew.' The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?" Jesus replied to him, "Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and bear witness of that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things? And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life."
(This is the end of the story of the Lord Jesus and Nicodemus. What follows is added by the writer of the gospel.)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son {81} into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one that doeth ill hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
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VI
JESUS AT JACOB'S WELL.
_How the Lord Jesus Made Much of Two Days in Samaria_.
Afterward Jesus left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs pass through Samaria. So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: and Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat by the well.
It was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, "Give me to drink."
For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered and said unto her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, 'Give me to drink'; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
The woman saith unto him, "Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?"
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And on the morrow he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.'
"Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?"
And he said, "He that showed mercy on him."
And Jesus said unto him, "Go, and do thou likewise."
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VIII
JESUS AND THE KING'S OFFICER
_How the Lord Jesus Went Back to Galilee, and How He Healed the Son of a King's Officer_.
And after the two days in Samaria he went forth from thence into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. So when he came into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain king's officer whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said unto him, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe."
The king's officer saith unto him, "Sir, come down ere my child die."
Jesus saith unto him, "Go thy way; thy son liveth." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived. So he {93} inquired of them the hour when he began to recover. They said therefore unto him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."
So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, "Thy son liveth": and himself believed, and his whole house.
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IX
THE CHOOSING OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES.
_How the Lord Jesus Gathered About Him the Men Who Were to Be His Closest Friends_.
Passing along by the sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.
And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, "He eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners."
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And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
And he went up into the mountain, and called unto him whom he himself would: and they went unto him. And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons: and Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
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The Glorious Company of the Apostles Simon Peter. Andrew. James. John. Philip. Bartholomew. Thomas. Matthew. James "the less". Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot. Judas Iscariot, the traitor.
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_Simon Peter_. Brother of Andrew. Fisherman. Residence Bethsaida. One of the leaders of the apostles. Said to have founded the church at Rome and to have suffered martyrdom under Nero.
_Andrew_. Brother of Simon Peter. Fisherman. Residence Bethsaida. Tradition says he was crucified at Patrae by the proconsul AEgeas.
_James_. Brother of John. Son of Zebedee. Fisherman. Home Bethsaida. Beheaded by Herod Agrippa only fourteen years after the crucifixion. The first of the "glorious company of the apostles" to join "the noble army of martyrs."
_John_. "The beloved Disciple." Fisherman. Brother of James. Son of Zebedee. Home Bethsaida. Reputed author of Gospel of St. John, the Epistles of John and the Apocalypse. Said to have lived to an extreme old age, dying a natural death at Ephesus.
_Philip_. Fellow townsman of Peter and Andrew, and probably, like them, a fisherman. Said by tradition to have been crucified head downwards in the reign of Domitian.
_Bartholomew_. Native of Cana of Galilee. Tradition says that he suffered martyrdom in India.
_Thomas_. "The Doubter." Occupation unknown. Residence unknown. Tradition says that he was sold as a slave to an Indian merchant; that he preached the gospel there with great effect and died a natural death at an advanced age.
_Matthew_. "The Publican." A customs officer near Capernaum. Author of the Gospel of Matthew. Nothing is known of his subsequent life or of his death.
_James_. The son of Alphaeus. Called "the less." No details of his history are known.
_Thaddaeus_. Occupation not known. Thought to have lived at Jerusalem. Tradition says he preached the gospel in Africa. Fate unknown.
_Simon, the Zealot_. No details are known of his life.
_Judas Iscariot_. The Traitor and Betrayer of Jesus. Iscariot means "the man of Karioth." He was the only Judaean among the apostles. He committed suicide by hanging after the crucifixion.
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OH, WHERE IS HE THAT TROD THE SEA?
Oh, where is He that trod the sea? Oh, where is He that spake? And demons from their victims flee, The dead their slumbers break; The palsied rise in freedom strong, The dumb men talk and sing, And from blind eyes, benighted long, Bright beams of morning spring.
Oh, where is He that trod the sea? 'T is only He can save; To thousands hungering wearily, A wondrous meal He gave: Full soon, celestially fed, Their mystic fare they take; 'T was springtide when He blest the bread, 'T was harvest when He brake.
Oh, where is He that trod the sea? My soul, the Lord is here: Let all thy fears be hushed in thee; To leap, to look, to hear, Be thine: thy needs He'll satisfy: Art thou diseased, or dumb? Or dost thou in thy hunger cry? "I come," saith Christ, "I come." --_Thomas T. Lynch_.
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JESUS, SAVIOUR, PILOT ME
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me, Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal; Chart and compass came from Thee: Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boisterous waves obey Thy will When Thou say'st to them "Be still!" Wondrous Sovereign of the sea. Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar 'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee!" --_E. Hopper_.
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JESUS CALLS US
Jesus calls us: o'er the tumult Of our life's wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."
Jesus calls us, from the evil In a world we cannot flee, From each idol that would keep us, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."
Still in joy and still in sadness We discern our own decree; Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, Softly, clearly--"Follow Me."
Thou dost call us! may we ever To Thy call attentive be; Give our hearts to Thine obedience, Rise, leave all, and follow Thee. --_Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander._
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HAIL TO THE LORD'S ANOINTED.
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, Great David's greater Son; Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free, To take away transgression, And rule in equity.
He comes with succor speedy To those who suffer wrong; To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light, Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in His sight.
For Him shall prayer unceasing And daily vows ascend; His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand forever; That name to us is Love! --_James Montgomery_.
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How the Lord Jesus went about doing good, teaching and healing, and how He grew in favor with the people.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY.
_The LORD JESUS_. _A Roman Captain and his servant_. _The Disciples of Jesus_. _Peter's mother-in-law_. _A widow of Nain and her son_. _Jairus, his wife and little daughter_. _John the Baptist_. _Herod_. _Herodias and her daughter_. _A little lad with loaves and fishes_. _Multitudes of people, lepers, palsied, and those having all manner of diseases_.
PLACES OF THE STORY.
_The "Mount of Beatitudes_." _Capernaum_. _The region of Galilee_. _The lake of Gennesaret_. _Gadara_. _The city of Nain_. _The Jordan_. _The prison in the "Black Fortress" of Machaerus_. _The banquet hall of Herod_.
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I
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
_How the Lord Jesus Taught the People the Way of Right Living_.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,--
THE BEATITUDES.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
"Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of {106} evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
THE NEW WAY OF RIGHT LIVING.
_Be Right in the Heart, and Not in Outward Appearance Only_.
"Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven."
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_It is a Sin to Get Angry_.
"Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment': but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, 'Worthless fellow,' shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, 'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of the hell of fire. If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the last farthing."
_It is a Sin to Swear_.
"Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou shalt not perjure thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths': but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be, 'Yea, yea; Nay, nay': and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one."
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_It is a Sin to Be Revengeful_.
"Ye have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth': but I say unto you, Resist not evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."
_It is a Sin to Think Evil of Others_.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, 'Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye'; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
_The Right Way is to Love Your Enemies_.
"Ye have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy': but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them {111} that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
_The Right Way to Do Good Deeds_.
"Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
"When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee."
_The Right Way to Pray_.
"And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard {112} for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye:"--
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done In earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen."
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
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THE GOLDEN RULE.
"All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, then so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets."
_The Right Way to Be Rich_.
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also."
_Trust God, and He Will Take Care of You_.
"The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be right, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.
"Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for {116} your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto his stature? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
"Be not therefore anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
_God Wants Deeds, Not Words_.
"Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many be they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and strait the way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it.
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"For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
"Not everyone that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
"Many will say unto me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, Did we not prophesy in thy name, And by thy name cast out demons, And by thy name do many mighty works?' And then I will profess unto them, 'I never knew you; Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'
"Everyone therefore who heareth these words of mine, And doeth them, Shall be likened unto a wise man, Which built his house upon the 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 the rock.
"And everyone who heareth these words of mine, And doeth them not, {118} Shall be likened unto a foolish man, Which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, And the wind blew, and smote upon that house; And it fell, and great was the fall thereof."
And it came to pass, when Jesus ended these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
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II
THE ROMAN SOLDIER'S FAITH
_How the Lord Jesus Healed the Captain's Servant_.
And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him, and he entered into Capernaum.
And a certain Roman captain's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant.
And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him: for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue."
And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the Roman captain sent friends to him, saying unto him, "Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goeth; and to another, 'Come,' and he cometh; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he doeth it."
And when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at {122} him, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, "I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."
And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole.
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III
DAYS OF SERVICE
_How the Lord Jesus Healed Many People_.
_A Sabbath Day at Capernaum_.
On the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him."
And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
And the news went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.
And when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James {126} and John. Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and they told him of her: and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
And at even, when the sun set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.
And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him; and they found him, and said unto him, "All are seeking thee."
And he saith unto them, "Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth."
And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
_Healing a Leper_.
And there came to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and said unto him, "I will; be thou made clean."
And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and {127} he was made clean. And he strictly charged him, and sent him out, and saith unto him, "See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
_The Man Let Down Through the Roof_.
And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he spoke the word unto them. And they came, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne by four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken through it, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.
And Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins are forgiven."
But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, "Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?"
And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said unto them, "Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Which is easier, {128} to say to the sick of the palsy, 'Thy sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk'? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house."
And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw it in this fashion."
_The Two Blind Men_.
And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, "Have mercy on us, thou son of David."
And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said unto them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?"
They say unto him, "Yea, Lord."
Then touched he their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done unto you." And their eyes were opened.
And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, "See that no man know it."
But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
_The Throngs About the Master_.
And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed: and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, {129} hearing what great things he did, came unto him. And he spoke to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him: for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him. And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, "Thou art the Son of God." And he charged them much that they should not make him known.
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IV
THE MIRACLE AT NAIN
_How the Lord Jesus Raised a Widow's Son from the Dead_.
And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and many people of the city were with her.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, "Weep not."
And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet is arisen among us": and, "God hath visited his people." And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea, and all the region round about.
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{133}
V
THE GREAT TEACHER
_How the Lord Jesus Told the People Stories by the Sea_.
And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there was gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, which was on the sea, and sat in it; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things in stories, and told them in his teaching,--
_The Story of the Sower_.
"Behold, the sower went forth to sow: and, as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. And other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other seed fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold."
And he said, "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Afterward he explained the parable to them thus):--
"The sower soweth the word. And these are they by {134} the wayside, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them. And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy; and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble. And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word, and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it; and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold."
_The Story of the Growing Grain_.
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come."
_The Story of the Mustard Seed_.
And he said, "How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what story shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, {135} though it he less than all the seeds that are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof."
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VI
THE TEMPEST
_How the Lord Jesus Stilled the Storm, and Did Miracles by the Sea_.
And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, "Let us go over unto the other side."
And leaving the multitude, they took him with them in the boat. And other boats were with him. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, that the boat was now filling. And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"
And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, "Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?"
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could bind him, no, not with a chain; because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
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And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him; and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not."
For he said unto him, "Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."
And he asked him, "What is thy name?"
And he saith unto him, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. And they besought him, saying, "Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them."
And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.
And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. And they came to Jesus, and beheld him who was possessed by demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. And they that saw it declared unto them what {140} had happened to him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, "Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee."
And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marveled.
And a woman who had been an invalid for twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.
For she said; "If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole." And straightway she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?"
And his disciples said unto him, "Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, 'Who touched me?'"
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
And he said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy disease."
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VII
THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DIED
_How the Lord Jesus Brought to Life Jairus' Little Daughter_.
And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him: and he was by the sea.
And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet, and beseecheth him much, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hand on her, that she may be made whole, and live."
And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.
While he was on the way, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"
But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, "Fear not, only believe."
And he allowed no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly.
And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, "Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth."
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And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was. And taking the child by the hand, he said unto her, "Talitha cumi"; that is, "Little girl, I say unto thee, Arise."
And straightway the little girl rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were greatly amazed. And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.
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VIII
LEARNING TO SERVE.
_How the Lord Jesus Sent His Disciples Out to Tell of Him_.
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, "Put not on two coats."
And he said unto them, "Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them."
And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
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IX
THE FEEDING OF THE MULTITUDE
_How the Lord Jesus Invited the Multitude to a Supper, and How, Having Won Great Fame, the People Would Have Made Him King, but He Refused_.
And the apostles gathered about Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.
And he saith unto them, "Come ye apart into a desert place, and rest awhile."
For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desert place. And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran there together on foot from all the cities, and arrived before them.
And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, "The place is desert, and the day is now far spent: send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves something to eat."
But he answered and said unto them, "Give ye them to eat."
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And he answered and said unto them, "Go, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me."
_Jesus Speaks of the Greatness of John_.
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, "What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled, and live luxuriously, are in kings' houses. But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,--
'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.'
"I say unto you, Among those who are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
"Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, 'We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.' For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, 'He hath a demon.' The Son of man is come eating and {154} drinking; and ye say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!' And wisdom is justified of all her children."
_The Cruel Murder of John_.
When a convenient day was come, Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those who sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee."
And he swore unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom."
And she went out, and said unto her mother, "What shall I ask?"
And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, "I wish that thou forthwith give me in a platter the head of John the Baptist."
And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his promises, and of those who sat and feasted with him, he would not reject her. And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring the head of John: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a platter, and gave it to the maiden; and the maiden gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
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O LOVE DIVINE
O Love Divine, that stooped to share Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear, On Thee we cast each earth-born care: We smile at pain while Thou art near.
Though long the weary way we tread, And sorrow crown each lingering year; No path we shun, no darkness dread, Our hearts still whispering, Thou art near!
When drooping pleasure turns to grief, And trembling faith is changed to fear; The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf, Shall softly tell us, Thou art near!
On Thee we fling our burdening woe, O Love Divine, for ever dear; Content to suffer, while we know, Living and dying, Thou art near! --_Oliver Wendell Holmes_.
{156}
O MASTER, LET ME WALK WITH THEE
O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; Tell me Thy secret; help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear winning word of love; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me Thy patience! still with Thee In closer, dearer company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong;
In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future's broadening way; In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live! --_Washington Gladden_. (Used by the kind permission of the author.)
{157}
THE ELIXIR
Teach me, my God and King, In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything To do it as for Thee.
Not rudely, as a beast, To runne into an action, But still to make Thee prepossest And give it His perfection.
A man that looks on glasse, On it may stay his eye, Or if he pleaseth, through it passe, And then the leav'n espie.
All may of Thee partake, Nothing can be so mean Which, with his tincture (for Thy sake), Will not grow bright and clean.
A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws, Makes that and th' action fine.
This is the famous stone That turneth all to gold, For that which God doth touch and own Cannot for lesse be told. --_George Herbert_.
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I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon my breast." I came to Jesus as I was, Weary, and worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting place, And He has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give The living water: thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's Light; Look unto me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun; And in that light of life I'll walk Till traveling days are done. --_Horatius Bonar_.
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How, while He was still teaching and healing, many began to turn against Him, and He, seeing that He must suffer to save the people, took up the journey to the cross.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY. _The LORD JESUS_. _The Disciples_. _A man born blind_. _A woman who was a sinner_. _A Syro-Phoenician woman and her daughter_. _Lazarus_. _Mary_. _Martha_. _Zaccheus_. _Bartimeus_. _Scribes, Pharisees, lawyers_. _Afflicted people, little children, priests, officers_.
PLACES OF THE STORY. _The Sea of Galilee_. _A rich man's feast_. _The country to the north of Galilee_. _Caesarea Philippi_. _The "Mount of Transfiguration."_ _Bethany_.
{161}
I
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
_How the Lord Jesus Tried to Turn the Minds of the People to Things Higher Than Crowns and Kingdoms, and How They Could Not Understand_.
When the Lord Jesus disappeared from the multitude, after he had fed them by the sea, they sought for him, and not finding him, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, "Rabbi, when earnest thou hither?"
Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled. Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you."
They said therefore unto him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
They said therefore unto him, "What then doest thou {162} for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'"
Jesus therefore said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is he who cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world."
They said therefore unto him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."
Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that of all those whom he hath given me I should lose none, but should raise them up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of heaven."
And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, 'I am come down out of heaven'?"
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Jesus answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father who sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is from God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: yea, and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?"
But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, "Doth this cause you to stumble? What then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who believe not."
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was who should betray him.
And he said, "For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father."
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Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, "Would ye also go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God."
{167}
II
THE ENEMIES OF JESUS
_How the Leaders of the People Had Already Begun to Turn Against the Lord Jesus and to Dispute His Teaching_.
_Conflict About the Sabbath_.
There was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, withered. And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his infirmity. When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been ill a long time, he saith unto him, "Wouldest thou be made whole?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."
Jesus saith unto him, "Arise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. So the Jews said unto him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed."
But he answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, 'Take up thy bed, and walk.'"
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They asked him, "Who is the man that said unto thee, 'Take up thy bed, and walk'?"
But he that was healed knew not who it was: for Jesus had gone away, a multitude being in the place.
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee."
The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. And for this cause did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father worketh even until now, and I work."
For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
At another time he was going on the Sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, "Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?"
And he said unto them, "Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and those who were with him? How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"
And he said unto them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: so that the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath."
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And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man who had his hand withered, "Stand forth."
And he saith unto them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill?"
But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at their hard-heartedness, he said to the man, "Stretch forth thy hand." And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored.
And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
_Conflict About the Treatment of Sinful People_.
And one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.
And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, and standing behind at his feet, weeping, began to wet his feet with her tears, and wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is who toucheth him, that she is a sinner."
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And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have something to say unto thee."
And he saith, "Master, say on."
Jesus said, "A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing with which to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"
Simon answered and said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most."
And he said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged." And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
And he said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven."
And they that were at the feast with him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who even forgiveth sins?"
And he said unto the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
_Conflict About the Wonderful Deeds of Jesus_.
There was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that {171} the dumb man spoke and saw. And all the multitude were amazed, and said, "Is this the son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man doth not cast out demons but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."
And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you."
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III
A LONG JOURNEY
_How the Lord Jesus Traveled to the North to be Alone with His Disciples, and How the People Still Thronged Him_.
And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.
And he entered into a house, and would have no one know it: but he could not be hid. Soon a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.
And he said unto her, "Let the children first be filled: for it is not fitting to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs."
But she answered and saith unto him, "Yea, Lord: even the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs."
And he said unto her, "For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter."
And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.
And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him.
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And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, "He hath done all things well: he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are come from far."
And his disciples answered him, "Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?"
And he asked them, "How many loaves have ye?"
And they said, "Seven."
And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke the bread, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed {176} them, he commanded to set these also before them. And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets. And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away. And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, "Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation." And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the other side.
And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
And they reasoned one with another, saying, "It is because we have no bread." And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, "Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?"
They say unto him, "Twelve."
"And when the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?"
And they say unto him, "Seven."
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And he said unto them, "Do ye not yet understand?" Then understood they that he bade them not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Seest thou aught?"
And he looked up, and said, "I see men; but I behold them as trees, walking."
Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked steadfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even enter into the village."
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IV
THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke Sad News to His Disciples_.
And Jesus went forth with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, "Who do men say that I am?"
And they told him, saying, "John the Baptist: and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets."
And he asked them, "But who say ye that I am?" Peter answereth and saith unto him, "Thou art the Christ."
And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spoke the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men."
And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and {179} whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it. For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and lose his life? For what should a man give in exchange for his life? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."
And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, "The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again."
But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Sometime later Jesus again tried to make them understand. Then they were going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were to happen unto him, saying, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles: and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again."
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V
THE TRANSFIGURATION
_How the Disciples Caught a Vision of the Lord Jesus' Glory and How They Were Afterward Taught a Lesson in Faith and Service_.
Soon after he spoke of what he must suffer Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John, and brought them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them: and his garments became shining, exceeding white; so as no fuller on earth can whiten them. And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
And Peter saith to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three lodging places; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he knew not what to answer; for they became greatly afraid.
And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son: hear ye him." And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen again from the dead. And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead might mean.
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And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked them, "What question ye with them?" And one of the multitude answered him, "Master, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth and pineth away: and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able."
And he answereth them and saith, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me."
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, at once the spirit tore him grievously; and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming. And he asked his father, "How long is it since this hath come unto him?"
And he said, "From a child. And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."
And Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth."
Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out {182} of him, and enter no more into him." And having cried out, and torn him much, the demon came out: and the child became as one dead; insomuch that most said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, saying, "How is it that we could not cast it out?"
And he said unto them, "This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer."
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VI
TEACHING THE DISCIPLES
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of Humility and of Forgiveness_.
And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, "Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee."
And he said unto them, "What would ye that I should do for you?" And they said unto him, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory."
But Jesus said unto them, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
And they said unto him, "We are able."
And Jesus said unto them, "The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized shall ye be baptized: but to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give: but it is for those for whom it hath been prepared."
And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation concerning James and John.
And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, "Ye know that they who rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them. {186} But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all. For verily the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
_The Story of the Ungrateful Servant_.
At another time came Peter, and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?"
Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make an accounting with his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, who owed him ten thousand talents. But because he had nothing with which to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hold of him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay what thou owest.'
"So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.' And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he {187} should pay that which was due. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, 'Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?' And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all that was due. So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not everyone his brother from your hearts."
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VII
JESUS AND LITTLE CHILDREN
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of Little Children, and How He Gave Them His Blessing_.
The disciples came unto Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: but whoso shall cause one of these little ones who believe on me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and he were sunk in the depth of the sea.
"See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth {189} over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
And they brought unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them,--
"Suffer the little children to come unto me: forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
"Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
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VIII
JESUS AT JERUSALEM
_How the Lord Jesus Visited Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles, and How He Taught of Light and Freedom_.
And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, "Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest. For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world." For even his brethren did not believe on him.
Jesus therefore saith unto them, "My hour is not yet come; but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil. Go ye up to the feast: I go not up yet to this feast; because my time is not yet fulfilled."
And having said these things to them, he remained still in Galilee.
_Jesus Goes Secretly to Jerusalem_.
But when his brethren were gone up to the feast, then went he also up, not publicly, but in secret. The Jews {191} therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" And there was much discussion among the multitudes concerning him: some said, "He is a good man"; others said, "Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray." Howbeit no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Jesus therefore answered them, and said, "My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or whether I speak from myself. He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."
Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, "Is not this he whom they seek to kill? And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no one knoweth whence he is."
Jesus therefore spoke in the temple, teaching and saying, "Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me."
They sought therefore to take him: but no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come. But of the multitude many believed on him; and they said, {192} "When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?"
The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him. Jesus therefore said, "Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come."
"_Is this the Christ?_"
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water."
Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is of a truth the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said. "What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the line of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said unto them, "Why did ye not bring him?" The officers answered, "Never man so spoke."
The Pharisees therefore answered them, "Are ye also led astray? Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees? But this multitude which knoweth not the law are accursed."
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Nicodemus saith unto them, "Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?"
They answered and said unto him, "Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet."
Again therefore Jesus spoke unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Pharisees therefore said unto him, "Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true."
Jesus answered and said unto them, "Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true. I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."
They said therefore unto him, "Where is thy Father?"
Jesus answered, "Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also." These words spoke he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.
_"The Truth Shall Make You Free."_
Jesus therefore said to those Jews which had believed him, "If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my {194} disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
They answered unto him, "We are Abraham's children, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, 'Ye shall be made free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Everyone that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's children; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you. I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father."
They answered and said unto him, "Our father is Abraham."
Jesus saith unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the works of your father."
They said unto him, "We have one Father, even God." Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the evil desires of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, {195} because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. But because I say the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God."
The Jews answered and said unto him, "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?"
Jesus answered, "I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me. But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word he shall never see death."
The Jews said unto him, "Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, 'If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.' Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God; and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad."
The Jews therefore said unto him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?"
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Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
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IX
AT THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION
_How the Lord Jesus Visited Jerusalem Yet Again, How He Restored Sight to the Blind, and How He Taught of the Good Shepherd_.
At the feast of the dedication in the winter season, Jesus came again to Jerusalem. And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?"
Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but this happened that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. When I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay, and said unto him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam."
He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbors therefore, and they which saw him before, and knew him as a beggar, said, "Is not this he that sat and begged?"
Some said, "It is he": others said, "No, but he is like him."
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He said, "I am he,"
They said therefore unto him, "How then were thine eyes opened?"
He answered, "The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, 'Go to Siloam, and wash': so I went away and washed, and I received sight."
And they said unto him, "Where is he?"
He saith, "I know not."
They brought to the Pharisees him that before was blind.
Now it was the Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and see."
Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath."
But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?"
And there was a division among them. They said therefore unto the blind man again, "What sayest thou of him, now that he has opened thine eyes?"
And he said, "He is a prophet."
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?"
His parents answered and said, "We know that this is {199} our son, and that he was born blind: but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not; ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself."
These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess Jesus to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, "He is of age; ask him." So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, "Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner."
He therefore answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
They said therefore unto him, "What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?"
He answered them, "I told you even now, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples?"
And they reviled him, and said, "Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is."
The man answered and said unto them, "Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. Since the world began it was never heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
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They answered and said unto him, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?" And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"
He answered and said, "And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?"
Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee."
And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. And Jesus said, "For judgment came I into this world, that they which see not may see; and that they which see may become blind."
Those of the Pharisees which were with him heard these things, and said unto him, "Are we also blind?"
Jesus said unto them, "If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, 'We see': your sin remaineth." Jesus then told them of--
_The Good Shepherd and the Sheep_.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the {201} sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father."
After these and other sayings, the Jews being angry with him, sought again to take him, but he escaped from them.
And he went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there he abode. And many came unto him; and they said, "John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spoke of this man were true." And many believed on him there.
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X
STORIES OF THE DIVINE FORGIVENESS
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of the Love of God for Poor Sinners_.
Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receiveth sinners? and eateth with them."
And he told them--
_The Story of the Lost Sheep_.
He said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons, which need no repentance."
_The Story of the Lost Money_.
"What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and {203} seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.' Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
_The Story of the Prodigal Son_.
"A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his property. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
"And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.'
"And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, 'Father, I have sinned against {204} heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.
"And he said unto him, 'Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.' But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and intreated him. But he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.'
"And he said unto him, 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine. But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.'"
_The Story of the Dishonest Steward_.
"There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting {205} his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, 'What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.' And the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' And calling to him each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, 'How much owest thou unto my lord?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said unto him, 'Take thy account and sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then said he to another, 'And how much owest thou?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He saith unto him, 'Take thy account, and write fourscore.' And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal habitations. He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
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And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him. And he said unto them, "Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
_The Story of the Rich Man and the Poor Man_.
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.'
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedest thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they who would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.'
"And he said, 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five {207} brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
"But Abraham saith, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'
"And he said, 'Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.'
"And he said unto him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.'"
_The Story of the Men Who Made Excuses_.
And it came to pass, at another time, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.
And he said unto those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats, "When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, 'Give this man place'; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, 'Friend, go up higher': then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all who are at the feast with thee. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
And he said to him also that had bidden him, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor {208} thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just."
And when one of those who sat at the feast with him heard these things, he said unto him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." But he said unto him, "A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 'Come; for all things are now ready.' And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, 'I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
"And the servant came and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.' And the lord said unto the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men who were bidden shall taste of my supper.'"
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XI
THE RICH YOUNG MAN.
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke of the Evil of Pride, and of the Dangers of the Love of Riches_.
And as he was going forth, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother."
And he said unto him, "Master, all these things have I observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, "One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, "With what difficulty shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the {212} kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looking upon them saith, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God."
And one of the multitude said unto him, "Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."
But he said unto him, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" And he said unto them, "Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
_The Story of the Foolish Rich Man_.
Jesus said, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my harvests?' And he said, 'This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said unto him, 'Thou fool, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?'
"So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God."
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XII
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD.
_How the Lord Jesus Showed His Love for His Friends_.
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."
But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby."
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode yet two days in the place where he was. Then after this he saith to the disciples, "Let us go into Judaea again."
The disciples saith unto him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?"
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him."
These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, "Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep."
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The disciples therefore said unto him, "Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover."
Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."
Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
So when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house. Martha therefore said unto Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee."
Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha saith unto him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
She saith unto him, "Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world."
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And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, "The Master is here, and calleth thee."
And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him.
(Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.)
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and were comforting her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, "Where have ye laid him?" They say unto him, "Lord, come and see."
Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, "Behold how he loved him!"
But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?"
Jesus therefore again groaning cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus saith, "Take ye away the stone."
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, "Lord, by this time it will be offensive: for he hath been dead four days."
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Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude which standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me."
And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."
He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, "Loose him, and let him go."
Many therefore of the Jews, which came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.
The rulers of the Jews then began to plot to kill Jesus. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.
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XIII
ZACCHAEUS THE PUBLICAN.
_How the Lord Jesus, Still Doing Loving Deeds, Began the Journey Which Was to Lead to the Cross_.
After some weeks of retirement, Jesus again went to Jerusalem. On the way, he and his disciples came to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the wayside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."
And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me."
And Jesus stood still, and said, "Call ye him."
And they called the blind man, saying unto him, "Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee."
And he sprang up, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered him, and said, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" And the blind man said unto him, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."
And Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." And straightway he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
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And he entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; who was a chief publican, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature. And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house."
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner."
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold."
And Jesus said unto him, "To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
(This is the close of Jesus' ministry outside Jerusalem. After this he and his disciples continued their journey to the city. The enemies of Jesus were plotting against him, and the storm of their hatred was about to break. Nevertheless, fully conscious of what his fate must be, the hero of humanity took up the journey to the cross.)
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GETHSEMANE
'Tis midnight,--and on Olive's brow, The star is dimmed that lately shone; 'Tis midnight--In the garden now The suffering Saviour prays alone.
'Tis midnight,--and, from all removed, Immanuel wrestles, lone with fears; E'en the disciple that He loved Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.
'Tis midnight,--and for others' guilt The Man of sorrows weeps in blood; Yet He, who hath in anguish knelt, Is not forsaken by his God.
'Tis midnight,--and, from ether-plains, Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe. --_W. B. Tappan_.
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RIDE ON IN MAJESTY Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin O'er captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! The winged squadrons of the sky Look down with sad and wondering eyes To see the approaching sacrifice.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! The last and fiercest strife is nigh: The Father on His sapphire throne Expects His own anointed Son.
Ride on! ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain; Then take, O God, Thy power, and reign. --_H. H. Milman_.
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CALVARY
There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified Who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell What pains He had to bear; But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good, That we might go at last to Heaven, Saved by His precious blood.
There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate Of Heaven, and let us in.
O, dearly, dearly has He loved, And we must love Him, too, And trust in His redeeming blood, And try His works to do. --_Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander_.
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THE VICTOR
Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious, See the "Man of Sorrows" now; From the fight returned victorious, Every knee to Him shall bow: Crown Him, crown Him; Crowns become the Victor's brow.
Crown the Saviour, angels, crown Him: Rich the trophies Jesus brings: In the seat of power enthrone Him, While the vault of Heaven rings: Crown Him, crown Him; Crown the Saviour "King of kings."
Sinners in derision crowned Him, Mocking thus the Saviour's claim; Saints and angels crowd around Him, Own His title, praise His Name: Crown Him, crown Him; Spread abroad the Victor's fame.
Hark, those bursts of acclamation! Hark, those loud triumphant chords! Jesus takes the highest station: O what joy the sight affords! Crown Him, crown Him; "King of kings, and Lord of lords." --_Thomas Kelly_.
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How the Lord Jesus spent His last days in Jerusalem, how He loved His friends unto the end, how He fell into the hands of His enemies, and how he crowned a life of service with a heroic death.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY. _The LORD JESUS_. _The Disciples_. _Lazarus_. _Mary_. _Martha_. _Judas_. _Annas_. _Caiaphas_. _Herod_. _Pilate, the Roman Governor_. _Joseph of Arimathaea_. _The people of Jerusalem, Pharisees, priests, soldiers, the two thieves_. _Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene and other women_.
PLACES OF THE STORY. _Jerusalem_. _Bethany_. _An upper chamber in the city_. _Gethsemane_. _Palace of the high priest_. _The Hall of Judgment_. _Pilate's palace_. _The palace of Herod_. _Pilate's Judgment Hall_. _Calvary_.
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I
THE SUPPER AT BETHANY
_How the Lord Jesus Was Bid to a Feast of Loving Tribute_.
The passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves. They sought therefore for Jesus, and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple, "What think ye? That he will not come to the feast?"
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.
Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; and Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, who was about to betray him, saith, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"
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But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying. And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
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II
THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.
_How the Lord Jesus Rode for Once in Triumph_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--SUNDAY.)
The next morning he went to Jerusalem, and when he drew near Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go your way into the village over against you; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him. And if any one ask you, 'Why do ye loose him?' thus shall ye say, 'The Lord hath need of him.'"
And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, "Why loose ye the colt?"
And they said, "The Lord hath need of him."
And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their garments in the way. And as he was now drawing nigh, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice {234} and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen; saying,--
"Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"
And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, "Master, rebuke thy disciples."
And he answered and said, "I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out."
And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall besiege thee, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."
And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.
But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him: and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.
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III
IN THE TEMPLE.
_How the Lord Jesus Drove the Money Changers from the House of God_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--MONDAY.)
On Monday, Jesus came into the city, and taught, but we know little of what he said on this day. Perhaps it was on this day that the following incident occurred, by which he taught that God's house should be pure:--
And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and he saith unto them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.'"
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple: and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David"; they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these are saying?"
And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea: did ye never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise'?"
And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.
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IV
LAST DAYS IN JERUSALEM
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke with Those that Hated Him_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--TUESDAY.)
And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; and they spoke, saying unto him, "Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?"
And he answered and said unto them, "I also will ask you a question; and tell me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, 'From heaven'; he will say, 'Why did ye not believe him?' But if we shall say, 'From men'; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
And they answered that they knew not whence it was.
And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." And he told them--
_The Story of the Wicked Husbandmen_.
Jesus said, "A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long {239} time. And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. And the lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him.'
"But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, 'This is the heir: let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' And they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others."
And when they heard it they said, "God forbid." But he looked upon them, and said, "What then is this that is written,--
'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner'?
"Everyone that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust."
And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they saw that he spoke this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which pretended to be righteous, that they might take hold of his {240} speech, so as to deliver him up to the authority of the governor.
_The Question About Tribute_.
And they asked him, saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?"
And they said, "Caesar's."
And he said unto them, "Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.
_The Greatest of All Commandments_.
And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "What commandment is the first of all?"
Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' The second is this, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' There is none other commandment greater than these."
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And the scribe said unto him, "Of a truth, Master, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."
And no man after that durst ask him any question.
_How the Lord Jesus Spoke with Those that Loved Him_.
_The Poor Widow_.
And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they which are casting into the treasury: for they all did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all that she had, even all her living."
"_We Would See Jesus_."
Now there were certain Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and said, "Sir, we would see Jesus."
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus. And Jesus answereth them, saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should {244} be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, "An angel hath spoken to him."
Jesus answered and said, "This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself."
_The Story of the Faithful Servant_.
Jesus said, "A certain man going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. Straightway he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. In like manner he also who received the two {245} gained other two. But he who received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
"Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. And he who received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, 'Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.'
"His Lord said unto him, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'
"And he also who received the two talents came and said, 'Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.'
"His lord said unto him, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'
"And he also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter: and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.'
"But his lord answered and said unto him, 'Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; thou oughtest therefore to have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. Take ye away therefore the talent from him, {246} and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
_The Judgment of the King_.
Then said Jesus, "But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.'
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?'
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.'
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"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.'
"Then shall they also answer, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?'
"Then shall he answer them, saying, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.'"
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V
THE LAST SUPPER
_How the Lord Jesus Showed His Love for His Friends on the Last Night of Their Fellowship_.
(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--WEDNESDAY--THURSDAY.)
(We do not know how Jesus spent Wednesday. Perhaps he did not go to the city, but remained in loving talk with his disciples and friends at Bethany. We do not know what he did on Thursday, until night. Then comes the story of the Last Supper, and the long talk between Jesus and his disciples.)
_Judas Plans to Betray Jesus_.
Now after two days was the feast of the passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by treachery, and kill him: but they said, "Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people."
And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them. And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him unto them.
_The Preparation for the Supper_.
And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, "Where {249} wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?"
And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, "Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him; and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the goodman of the house, 'The Master saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us."
And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
_The Last Supper_.
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. And he said unto them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."
And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you."
And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, {250} Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter."
Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
Jesus saith to him, "He that is bathed needeth only to wash his feet, and is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."
For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, "Ye are not all clean."
So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master,' and, 'Lord': and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them."
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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall betray me."
The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke. There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh."
He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, said unto him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him."
So when he had dipped the sop, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, "What thou doest, do quickly."
Now no man at the table knew why he spoke this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the bag, Jesus said unto him, "Buy what things we have need of for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.
When therefore he was gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, 'Whither I go, ye cannot come'; so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all {254} men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?"
Jesus answered, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow afterwards."
Peter saith unto him, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee."
Jesus answereth, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, before thou hast denied me thrice."
"_Let Not Your Heart be Troubled_."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way."
Thomas saith unto him, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?"
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
Philip saith unto him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us."
Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, 'Show us the Father?'
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Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask me anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I come unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him."
Judas (not Iscariot) said unto him, "Lord, why is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and {258} we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
"These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye heard how I said to you, 'I go away, and I come unto you.' If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."
_Jesus is the True Vine_.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches:
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He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples. Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye may love one another."
_Jesus Prays for His Disciples_.
These things spoke Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy {262} Son, that the Son may glorify thee: even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou didst send. I have glorified thee on the earth, I have accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine: and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept in thy name those whom thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the {263} world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. Father, I desire that those whom thou hast given me should be with me to behold the glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me; and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them."
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VI
THE BETRAYAL
_How the Lord Jesus Fell into the Hands of His Enemies_.
(FRIDAY, THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION.)
And he came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, "Sit ye here, while I pray."
And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be heavy-hearted, and deeply troubled. And he saith unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch."
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt."
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
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And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: It is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.".
And straightway, while he yet spoke, came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely."
And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, "Rabbi"; and kissed him.
Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said unto Peter, "Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
Then Jesus said. "Suffer ye thus far." And he touched his ear, and healed him.
And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, which were come against him, "Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
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VII
THE TRIAL
_How the Lord Jesus Was Falsely Charged with Crime_.
_The Trial Before Annas._
So the soldiers and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
Annas therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spoke I nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spoke unto them: behold, these know the things which I said."
And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"
Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
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_The Trial Before Caiaphas, the High Priest_.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there came together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. And there stood up certain men, and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"
And not even so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
And Jesus said, "I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, "What further need have we of witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?"
And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his eyes, and {270} to buffet him, and to say unto him, "Prophesy who is it that smote thee," and the officers received him with blows of their hands.
_How Peter Denied His Lord_.
But Peter had followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking steadfastly upon him, said, "This man also was with him."
But he denied, saying, "Woman, I know him not."
And after a little while another saw him, and said, "Thou also art one of them."
But Peter said, "Man, I am not."
And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, "Of a truth this man also was with him: for he is a Galilaean."
But Peter said, "Man, I know not what thou sayest." And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, "Before the cock crow this day, thou shalt deny me thrice."
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
_The Trial Before the Jewish Court_.
As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and {271} scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying, "If thou art the Christ, tell us."
But he said unto them, "If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask you, ye will not answer. But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
And they all said, "Art thou then the Son of God?"
And he said unto them, "Ye say that I am."
And they said. "What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."
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VIII
THE JUDGMENT
_How the Lord Jesus Was Unjustly Condemned to Die_.
_The Hearing Before Pilate_.
They led Jesus therefore into the palace: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the palace, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, "What accusation bring ye against this man?"
They answered and said unto him, "If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee."
Pilate therefore said unto them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law."
The Jews said unto him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."
Pilate therefore entered again into the palace, and called Jesus, and said unto him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?"
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?"
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Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Pilate therefore said unto him, "Art thou a king then?"
Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Pilate saith unto him, "What is truth?"
And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, "I find no fault in this man."
But they were the more urgent, saying, "He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place."
But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
_The Trial Before Herod_.
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he had been for a long time desirous of seeing him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him as one of no account, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became {276} friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
_The Sentence of Death_.
Now at the feast it was Pilate's custom to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. And Pilate answered them, saying, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"
For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have been much disturbed to-day in a dream because of him." But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, "What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?"
Then they shouted, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him." And he said unto them the third time, "Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him."
But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for.
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But Jesus he scourged. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they struck him with their hands.
And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, "Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him."
Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold, the man!"
When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him."
Pilate saith unto them, "Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him."
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."
When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the palace again, and saith unto Jesus, "Whence art thou?"
But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto him, "Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?"
Jesus answered him, "Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin."
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou release this man, thou art not {280} Caesar's friend: everyone that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."
When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, "Behold, your King!"
They therefore cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him."
Pilate saith unto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.
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IX
THE CRUCIFIXION
_How the Lord Jesus Died on the Cross_.
They took Jesus then: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
And they compelled one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
And there were two thieves led with him to be put to death.
And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And they crucified him, and parted his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him, and they crucified the thieves, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
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And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
And the superscription of his accusation was written over him,--
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, "Write not, 'The King of the Jews'; but, that he said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross."
In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe."
And they that were crucified with him reproached him. And one of the thieves railed on him, saying, "Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us."
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."
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And he said, "Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom."
And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."
But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold, thy son!"
Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "_Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?_" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calleth Elijah."
And one ran, and filling a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. But others said, "Let him alone; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down."
When Jesus therefore had received the wine, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.
And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up his spirit, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
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X
THE BURIAL
_How the Body of the Lord Jesus Was Buried in a Rich Man's Tomb_.
The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), and because bodies should not remain on the cross upon the Sabbath, asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.
And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councilor, a good man and a righteous (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
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Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, 'After three days I rise again.' Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, 'He is risen from the dead': and the last error will be worse than the first."
Pilate said unto them, "Ye have a guard: go your way, make it as sure as ye can."
So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.
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CHRIST, THE LORD, IS RISEN TO-DAY
"Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day," Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply.
Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won. Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er; Lo, He sets in blood no more.
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of hell; Death in vain forbids His rise: Christ has opened Paradise.
Lives again our glorious King: Where, O death, is now thy sting? Once He died our souls to save: Where thy victory, O grave?
Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head: Made like Him, like Him we rise; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven! Praise to Thee by both be given: Thee we greet triumphant now; Hail, the Resurrection Thou! --_Rev. Charles Wesley_.
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THE NEAREST FRIEND
Dear Jesus, ever at my side, How loving Thou must be, To leave Thy home in heaven to guard A little child like me.
Thy beautiful and shining face I see not, though so near; The sweetness of Thy soft voice I am too deaf to hear.
I cannot feel Thee touch my hand, With pressure light and mild, To check me, as my mother did When I was but a child.
But I have felt Thee in my thoughts, Fighting with sin for me; And when my heart loves God, I know The sweetness is from Thee.
Yes, when I pray, Thou prayest, too, The prayer is all for me; But when I sleep Thou sleepest not, But watchest patiently. --_F. W. Faber_.
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STILL, STILL WITH THEE
Still, still with Thee, my God. I would desire to be; By day, by night, at home, abroad, I would be still with Thee.
With Thee when dawn comes in, And calls me back to care, Each day returning to begin With Thee, my God, in prayer.
With Thee when day is done, And evening calms the mind; The setting, as the rising, sun With Thee my heart would find.
With Thee, in Thee, by faith Abiding I would be; By day, by night, in life, in death, I would be still with Thee. --_James D. Burns_.
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OH, WORSHIP THE KING
Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above, And gratefully sing his wonderful love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girdled with praise.
Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light, It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender! how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. --_R. Grant_.
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How the Lord Jesus rose again from the dead, how He comforted His disciples, and how He sent them out to teach all men in His name.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY.
The LORD JESUS. Mary Magdalene. Peter. "The Other Disciple." Cleopas. Thomas. Disciples, Angels.
PLACES OF THE STORY.
_The Garden of the Tomb_. _The Village of Emmaus_. _Jerusalem_. _The Sea of Galilee_. _The Mountain of the Ascension_.
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I
THE RESURRECTION
_How the Lord Jesus Rose from the Dead, and Appeared to Mary of Magdala_.
Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him."
Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, which came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home.
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But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She saith unto them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."
When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"
She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."
Jesus saith unto her, "Mary."
She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, "Rabboni"; which is to say, "Master."
Jesus saith to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and that he had said these things unto her.
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II
ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS
_How on the Same Day He Joined Two of His Disciples, as They Walked into the Country_.
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was three-score furlongs from Jerusalem. And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, "What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk?"
And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, "Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?"
And he said unto them, "What things?"
And they said unto him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and beside all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. Moreover {302} certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not."
And he said unto them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?"
And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew near unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. And they constrained him, saying, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."
And he went in to abide with them. And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, "Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us on the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?"
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And he said unto them, "These are my words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me."
Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; and he said unto them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high."
And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, blessing God.
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Leaders and victories of the New Faith.
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JESUS SHALL REIGN
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To Him shall endless prayer be made, And endless praises crown His head; His name, like sweet perfume, shall rise With every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love, with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His name.
Blessings abound where'er He reigns; The prisoner leaps to loose his chains; The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring Peculiar honors to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen! --_Isaac Watts_.
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FROM GREENLAND'S ICY MOUNTAINS
From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand, Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand,-- From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain.
What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle; Though every prospect pleases, And only man is vile; In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen, in his blindness, Bows down to wood and stone!
Shall we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high,-- Shall we, to men benighted, The lamp of life deny? Salvation, oh, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim, Till earth's remotest nation Has learned Messiah's name.
Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, And you, ye waters, roll, Till, like a sea of glory, It spreads from pole to pole; Till o'er our ransomed nature The Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, In bliss returns to reign! --_Reginald Heber_.
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GLORIOUS ZION
Glorious things of Thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! He, whose word cannot be broken, Formed Thee for his own abode: On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake Thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou may'st smile at all Thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply Thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove: Who can faint, while such a river Ever flows their thirst to assuage?-- Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver, Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near! Thus deriving from their banner, Light by night, and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which He gives them when they pray. --_J. Newton_.
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THE MORNING LIGHT IS BREAKING
The morning light is breaking; The darkness disappears! The sons of earth are waking To penitential tears; Each breeze that sweeps the ocean Brings tidings from afar, Of nations in commotion, Prepared for Zion's war.
See heathen nations bending Before the God we love, And thousand hearts ascending In gratitude above; While sinners, now confessing, The gospel call obey, And seek the Saviour's blessing-- A nation in a day.
Blest river of salvation! Pursue thine onward way; Flow thou to every nation, Nor in thy richness stay: Stay not till all the lowly Triumphant reach their home: Stay not till all the holy Proclaim--"The Lord is come!" --_Samuel F. Smith_.
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How the New Faith Spread from Jerusalem.
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PERSONS OF THE STORY, _The Disciples, especially Peter_. _A lame man_. _Ananias_. _Sapphira_. _Stephen_. _Simon, the Sorcerer_. _A Queen's Officer_. _Dorcas_. _A Roman Captain_. _Annas, Caiaphas, Priests, Officers, Messengers_.
PLACES OF THE STORY. _Jerusalem_. _The country of Palestine and surrounding regions_. _Joppa_. _Caesarea_. _Lydda_.
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I
THE DAY OF PENTECOST
_The First Meeting of the Disciples in Jerusalem_.
(After Jesus had left the company of the apostles, and was seen no more by them, they remained quietly in Jerusalem. They chose a man named Matthias to take the place of Judas, but they had no definite plan of action, not yet quite realizing the importance of the work which they were to do. Suddenly, on the day of Pentecost, there came the great inspiration from God to go forward and take up the work of redeeming the world where Jesus laid it down. They began to preach about Jesus, of his beautiful life, and his death for men upon the cross. And everywhere the people listened eagerly and gladly to this wonderful story, and believing, were baptized, becoming the disciples of the new faith. This is the story of the simple beginning of the great movement called Christianity, as the experience made its impression upon the disciples themselves.)
And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this {326} sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were amazed, because every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they marveled, saying, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language, wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God."
And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What meaneth this?"
But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke forth unto them, saying, "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day; but this is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel:--
'And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days {327} Will I pour forth my spirit; and they shall prophesy. And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden by it. For David said concerning him,--
'I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.'
"Brethren, I may speak unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that he would set one of his family upon his throne; he foreseeing this spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are {328} witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear. For David ascended not into the heavens: but he said himself,--
'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.'
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified."
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
And Peter said unto them, "Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him." And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders {329} and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, according as any man had need. And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.
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II
A MIRACLE OF THE NEW FAITH.
_How a Lame Man Was Healed, and What Came of it_.
Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man that was lame from his birth was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. This man seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, "Look on us."
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and knowing that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
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And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. By faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began. Moses indeed said, 'A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever {332} he shall speak unto you. And it shall be, that every soul, which shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'
"Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, 'And in thy race shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' Unto you first, God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
And as they spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in prison unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to a lame man, by {333} what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. He is the stone which was set at naught of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? that a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name."
And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard."
And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, not finding how they might punish them, because {334} of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.
And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say,--
'Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:'
for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel foreordained to come to pass. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus."
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
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III
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA
_A Lie and its Consequences_.
(The people began to have such an enthusiasm for the new faith, that many of them sold their property, gave the money to the apostles, and all lived together, like one great family. This custom was not altogether wise, and it did not prevail long. While it lasted, disaster came to two people. Ananias and Sapphira had become disciples of the new faith, and, like others, sold their property, but they kept back part, and tried to make the apostles believe that they had given all. The sin lay, not in keeping their property, for no one was required to give it up, but in the deceit.)
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that anything of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as anyone had need.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing about it, and brought a certain part, {336} and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up his spirit: and great fear came upon all that heard it. And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter said unto her, "Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much."
And she said, "Yea, for so much."
But Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out."
And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up her spirit: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
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IV
THE FIRST MARTYR
_How Stephen Died Heroically for the New Faith. The Beginning of Persecution. The Sermon of Stephen. The Martyr's Crown_.
(The new faith was not destined to win its victories in peace. As the rulers hated Jesus, so they hated the new faith which was now proclaimed in his name; as they crucified the Master, so they persecuted and killed the disciples. Stephen was the first of "the noble army of martyrs," thousands of men, women, and children, who gave their lives gladly for the new faith. It was an army without weapons. The command of Jesus, "resist not evil," was, in the first centuries, obeyed literally. It is worthy of note that the new faith never spread more rapidly nor won greater victories than during these years, when it never lifted sword against its enemies, but conquered them by the power of service and sacrifice.)
And Stephen, who had become prominent among the disciples, was full of grace and power, and wrought great wonders and signs among the people. But certain of the Jews disputed with Stephen. And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they bribed men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God."
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, and set up false witnesses, who said, {340} "This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place; and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us."
And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
_The Defense of Stephen_.
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"
And he said, "Brethren and fathers, hearken. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, 'Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.' Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell: and he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his family after him, when as yet he had no child. And God spoke in this wise, that his family should sojourn in a strange land, and that the people of that land should bring them into bondage, and ill treat them four hundred years. 'And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge,' said God: 'and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.' And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before {341} Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's family became known unto Pharaoh. And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself, and our fathers; and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
"But as the time of the promise drew nigh, which God promised to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. The same dealt craftily with our race, and compelled our fathers to cast out their babes to the end they might not live. At this season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father's house: and when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
"And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works. But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian: {342} and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not. And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have made peace, saying, 'Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?' But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wouldest thou kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?'
"And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he had two sons. And when forty years were passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord, 'I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.'
"And Moses trembled, and dared not behold. And the Lord said unto him, 'Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.'
"This Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made thee a ruler and a judge?' him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
"This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, {343} 'A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me.' This is he that was in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying unto Aaron, 'Make us gods which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has become of him.' And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. But God turned, and gave them up to serve idols.
"Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he appointed who spoke unto Moses, that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen. Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations, which God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made by hands; as saith the prophet,--
'The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?' "Ye stiffnecked and unregenerate in heart and ears, ye {344} do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which one of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them which showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers; ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not."
_Martyrdom_.
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they raged against him. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
But they cried out with aloud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men buried {345} Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging out men and women committed them to prison.
(The martyrdom of Stephen gave a fresh impulse to the new faith. The disciples had been content to stay in Jerusalem, and preach to their own people. But persecution drove them out of the city, so that the gospel came to a wider circle of hearers. We shall see, as the story goes on, how Philip was directed to the officer of Queen Candace, and how Peter, against his will, at first, was sent to the Roman captain. So the new faith broadened, not as the apostles planned, but as God willed.)
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V
SIMON THE SORCERER
_The New Faith Spreads. The Story of the Man of Samaria Who Wished to Use It for His Own Selfish Advantage_.
They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he