Part 4

We ought to thank God for the food we eat: before we eat breakfast, or dinner, or supper, we should say, I thank thee, O Lord, for this nice food.

Behold where on the green hill spread, Close by the water-side, The hungry multitudes are fed, At peaceful eventide.

Upon the grass they sit at ease, In rows of ten times ten, Women with children on their knees, Besides five thousand men.

In list’ning they had spent the day; Their homes far distant lie: They would have fainted by the way Without this kind supply.

The Lord, whose words they came to hear Has pity on their need, He loves the weary heart to cheer, The hungry poor to feed.

He gives them of his little store By his disciples’ hands: Though little, he can make it more, For all things he commands.

’Tis he provides the beasts with food, To him the ravens cry: He watches over us for good, And does our need supply.

He once himself did hunger bear, For forty days alone: And still the hungry are his care; He hears them when they groan.

LESSON XXV.

THE KINDNESS OF JESUS.

MATTHEW, xv. 21-28. MARK, x. 13-16.

I TOLD you that the disciples were sometimes unkind; but Jesus was always kind. Once a poor woman came crying after Jesus, saying, O Lord, I have a little daughter who is very sick. Jesus did not answer her at first, and the disciples were unkind, and wished her to be sent away. She cried so loud, they said to Jesus, Do send her away.

The poor woman fell down at Jesus’ feet, and said, Lord, help me! And Jesus had pity on the woman, and said, I will do what you wish.

The poor woman was glad to hear this, and she went home, and found that her daughter was quite well.

Another time the disciples were unkind to some little children. Some poor women brought their children to Jesus, but the disciples were standing round, and they would not let the women come near. Go away, they said; you must not bring the babies here to trouble us. But Jesus heard them speak, and was very angry with the disciples. Jesus would not let the children go away.

He said to the disciples, Suffer them to come to me; do not send them away.

Then he took the children in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and prayed to his Father, and blessed them.

O happy little children, to be taken into the arms of Jesus.

Jesus loves meek and gentle children. They are Jesus’ lambs. Jesus is their shepherd, and he will take them to heaven when they die.

Young children once to Jesus came, His blessing to entreat; And I may humbly do the same Before his mercy-seat.

For when their feeble hands were spread, And bent each humble knee, “Forbid them not,” the Saviour said; And so he says to me.

If babes so many years ago His tender pity drew, He will not surely let me go Without a blessing, too.

Then while his favor to implore My little hands are spread, Do thou thy sacred blessing pour Dear Jesus, on my head.

LESSON XXVI.

THE LORD’S PRAYER.

WHEN Jesus was in the world, he loved to think of his Father in heaven. He liked to be alone, that he might pray to his Father: sometimes the tears ran down his cheeks while he prayed. One night Jesus prayed all night alone upon the top of a high hill.

Sometimes Jesus prayed to his Father while his disciples stood near and listened.

Once when Jesus had been praying with them they said, Lord, teach us to pray. Then Jesus taught them a little prayer.

It was this: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven: give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

I know, little children, that you say this prayer night and morning. Your mothers taught you to say it. But did you know who said it first? It was Jesus, the Lord: so it is called “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is a very beautiful prayer, for Jesus said it; but it is hard for children to understand it.

What is the meaning of “Hallowed be thy name?” Let God’s name be praised.

What are “trespasses?” Trespasses are sins.

Ask God to forgive your sins, or your trespasses.

Do you ever pray to God when you are alone?

You may pray to him in any PLACE—in the house or in the garden.

You may pray to him at any TIME—in the night or in the middle of the day.

You may ask him for anything you want, just as you ask your father.

What will you ask him for? Will you ask him to give you bread, and clothes, and a house to live in?

Yes, ask him for these things, but most of all—ask him for his Holy Spirit.

It is better to have the Holy Spirit than to have all the toys, all the money, all the flowers, all the birds, all the beautiful things in the world.

Why is it better?

Because the Holy Spirit will make you love God, as the angels do, and will make you live forever and ever.

Will you say this little prayer to God?—“O my Father, pray give me thy Holy Spirit, for Christ’s sake.”

Our Father, seated in the sky, Thy holy name be praised still: Be thou obeyed as King most high, Let men, like angels, do thy will.

Do thou our daily bread supply: Forgive our sins as we forgive: Yet help us still from sin to fly: Great, glorious King, forever live!

LESSON XXVII.

JESUS FORETELLS HIS DEATH.

MATTHEW, xvi. 21 to end.

JESUS knew everything that would happen, and he knew that he must soon die.

He used to tell his secrets to his disciples; so he took them into a place by themselves, and said, I soon shall leave you: the wicked people will take me, and bind me with ropes, and beat me, and laugh at me, and nail me on a cross; but I shall soon be alive again.

The disciples could not bear to hear Jesus talk of dying, for they loved him very much. They all looked very sad, and Peter said, You shall not die; but Jesus said, I must die to save men, and to please my Father.

The Father had desired Jesus to die, and he would not disobey his Father.

Most of the people who wished to kill Jesus, lived in a great town called Jerusalem.

Jesus used to go to Jerusalem very often, and he used to preach there.

Why did some people hate Jesus?—Because he told them of their wickedness.

He used to say to them, You do not love God, who is my Father, but you are proud and vain. You wish to kill me. You tell lies. You are unkind to poor people. You pretend to love God, but while you are saying your prayers, you are thinking how good you are. Your hearts are full of wickedness. You are the children of the devil.

Jesus wished them to turn from their wickedness. It grieved him to see how they hated his Father, and that they would not turn from their wicked ways.

The wicked people were angry with Jesus, and said, God is not your Father. But Jesus said, He is my Father, and I came down from heaven, where he lives, and I shall go back to him some day.

At last the people took up stones to throw at him: but Jesus did not choose to die yet, so he easily got away and went to a place where they could not find him.

There he staid with his disciples a good while.

LESSON XXVIII.

LAZARUS.

JOHN, xi. 1-17.

JESUS staid with his disciples in a place by himself. The wicked people, who wanted to kill him, could not find him, but Jesus’ friends knew where he was.

Jesus had more friends besides his disciples.

One of his friends was called Lazarus. Lazarus had two sisters; their names were Martha and Mary. These three all lived together. They all three loved Jesus, and Jesus loved them. Jesus used often to come and see them, and sit in the house and talk to them. Martha liked to make a fine dinner when Jesus came, but Mary liked to sit and listen to his sweet words.

At last Lazarus fell very sick.

Martha and Mary loved their brother Lazarus very much indeed. They knew that Jesus could make Lazarus well; so they sent a man to tell Jesus that Lazarus was sick.

The man went a great way to look for Jesus. Lazarus grew worse and worse. At last he died. His friends wrapped white cloths round his face, and his arms and his legs, and put him in a great hole, and rolled a stone before it.

Martha and Mary waited and longed for Jesus to come.

Four days passed, and at last Jesus came. Martha and Mary did not think that Jesus would make Lazarus alive again, for he had been dead so long; so they sat upon the ground and cried.

When Martha heard that Jesus was on the road a little way off, she came to Jesus and said, If you had been here, my brother had not died; and even now you could make him alive.

Then Jesus said, Your brother shall rise again.

Yes, said Martha, I know he will rise again at the last day, when all the dead people rise.

Martha was afraid that Jesus would not choose to make Lazarus alive soon; but she knew that he was able to do it.

Martha went back to the house, and found Mary still sitting on the ground, and a great many friends round her.

Martha whispered in her ear, and told her that Jesus wanted to speak to her. So Martha and Mary went together, and found Jesus waiting for them in the road.

Mary’s friends went with her, and they cried; and Mary cried very much indeed: and when she saw Jesus she fell down at his feet and said, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.

Jesus was very sorry to see her so unhappy, and to see so many people crying: he felt very sad indeed, and he sighed very deeply. Jesus does not like to see anyone in trouble, he is so kind.

Then Jesus said, Where have you put Lazarus?

Martha and Mary and their friends said, Come and see; and they showed him the way.

As Jesus walked along, the tears rolled down his cheeks.

At last they came to the grave. It was a hole, and a very large stone was before the hole.

Then Jesus said, Take away the stone.

Martha thought that Jesus was going to look at Lazarus lying dead; and she said, Do not go in: his flesh has a bad smell by this time. He has been dead four days. But Jesus told her to believe that he could make him alive.

They then rolled away the stone.

Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to his Father in heaven, and thanked him for helping him to do wonderful things.

A great many people were standing by, looking at Jesus, and wondering what he would do.

Poor Martha and Mary were longing to see Lazarus alive again.

Then Jesus spoke loud and said, Lazarus, come forth.

Lazarus heard, though he was dead; for the dead hear the voice of Jesus. He got up and walked to the door of the hole. His hands were tied with cloths, and his feet wrapped round with cloths, and a cloth was over his face.

But Jesus said, Undo the cloths.

How pleased Martha and Mary must have been to see his face again! How they must have thanked the Lord Jesus for his kindness!

The people who saw all this were surprised, and said, Jesus must be the Son of God.

Why flow the blessed Saviour’s tears? Is it because the cross he fears? Because he knows he soon shall die, And shall within the cold grave lie?

He weeps to see the sisters weep Of Lazarus, who lies asleep; So tender is his heart, and kind, That all from him may pity find.

CHILD.

When I see others full of fears, I will remember Jesus’ tears; And not upon my pleasures think, While their sad hearts with sorrow sink.

LESSON XXIX.

JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM.

MATTHEW, xxi. 1-11, 14-17.

WHICH was the greatest miracle that Jesus ever did? It was making Lazarus alive again; because he had been dead four days.

Many of the wicked people who hated Jesus heard of it; but they only hated him the more. They said, We must kill him soon, or everyone will believe that he is the Son of God.

Jesus knew that they wanted to kill him, and so he went again and hid himself in a place they did not know of. They looked for him, but they could not find him.

But could Jesus always stay in that little quiet place, where he was hid with his disciples? No. He came down to die for us. He only waited till the time came for him to die. Then he said to his disciples, We must go to Jerusalem, and I shall be laughed at, and beaten, and killed; but I shall come out of my grave after three days.

The disciples did not like to hear this; but they chose to go with Jesus wherever he went.

Jesus walked fast along the road; at last he came near Jerusalem. Then he stopped and said to his disciples, I shall ride into Jerusalem upon an ass. Jesus had no ass of his own; he always walked from place to place. But Jesus could put it into a man’s heart to lend him one.

He said to two of his disciples, Go along the road a little way, and you will see an ass and a young ass tied, and a man standing near; bring the ass and the young one to me, for I know that the man will let them come.

So the two disciples went: when they had gone a little way they saw an ass tied up, and a young one. They began to untie the ass; but a man standing near said, Why do you untie the ass?

They said, The Lord hath need of them; and then the man let them go.

I suppose that man loved the Lord Jesus, and liked to lend him his things.

The two disciples brought the two asses to Jesus. They took off some of their clothes, and put them on the young ass, and Jesus sat upon it.

A great many people came out of Jerusalem to see Jesus, for they had heard of his making Lazarus alive again. The people began to praise Jesus, and call him king. They took off some of their clothes, and laid them down upon the road for the ass to tread upon; and they picked branches off the trees that grew near, and laid them too on the road.

So Jesus came to the great town of Jerusalem: all the people came into the streets to look at him, and even the little children began to praise him, and to call him King. The proud men, that hated Jesus, were very angry at hearing all these praises. They did not like to hear Jesus praised. They came to him and said, Why do you let these children call you king?

But Jesus liked to hear the children sing his praise, and he would not tell them to be silent.

Jesus loved little children, and these little children loved Jesus.

LESSON XXX.

THE TEMPLE.

LUKE, xix. 47, 48; xx. 19, 20; xxi. 37, 38.

THERE was a large place in Jerusalem, like a great church, called the Temple. It was white outside, and very beautiful. The doors were open all day, and people used to go in to pray to God. It was God’s house: Jesus used often to be there with his disciples. Poor blind and lame people came to him there, and Jesus cured them all, and talked to them about his Father.

The little children sang his praises in the Temple. All day long Jesus taught the people about God, and they listened to what he said, and liked to hear him.

The wicked and proud men came to the Temple to laugh at Jesus, and to speak rudely to him; but he bore all as meekly as a lamb.

At night he left the Temple, and went out of the town to a high hill, where he prayed to God alone in the dark.

The wicked men longed to catch Jesus to kill him. They said to each other, How can we get him? the people will not let us take hold of him if they see us, or we would go to the Temple to catch him. If we could find him alone in the dark, then we would put ropes on him, and take him to the judge. This is what the wicked people said to each other as they sat together.

Within the Temple fair and grand, (Where holy men are wont to pray,) Behold the gentle Saviour stand, Teaching sweet wisdom all the day.

And many round him fondly press, The blind, the lame, the weeping poor, Who suffer sickness or distress, Or grace or pardon would implore.

But see, another troop is near, And much his words their pride displease; Like hungry lions they appear, Who long a gentle lamb to seize.

The Saviour all their malice knows, And how his precious life they seek; But still his lips he will not close, Because his Father bade him speak.

Nor does his heav’nly patience fail, Nor does he cease his love to show; But while they mock, and jeer, and rail, He strives to save their souls from woe.

CHILD.

And if, when trying to be kind, I too should with unkindness meet, O let me show a patient mind, And ever let my words be sweet!

LESSON XXXI.

JUDAS.

JOHN, xii. 6. MATTHEW, xxvi. 3, 4, 14-16.

JESUS had twelve disciples. Did they all love him?

Peter loved Jesus, and John loved him, and all the rest loved him, but one; his name was Judas. He did not love Jesus, but only pretended to love him. He was like the devil.

Did Jesus know how wicked Judas was? Yes, he saw into his heart; but the disciples thought Judas was good; for Judas used to kiss the Lord Jesus, and speak kindly to him, and talk about God like the rest.

But Judas loved something; he loved money. He wanted to get a great deal of money.

He was covetous, and he was a thief. The disciples had a bag, and when they had money they put it in the bag; and all the disciples put their money in the same bag. But there was very little money in the bag, for they were very poor. Judas used to take care of the bag, and he used to steal some of the money out of it, and keep it for himself; but no one found him out, or thought he was a thief, except Jesus, and he knew it well.

Judas was always thinking, How shall I get money?

One day, when the proud men were sitting together, Judas came in. Judas said to them, You want to find Jesus when he is alone: will you give me some money, and I will show you where he goes at night?

The proud people said, Yes, we will.

Judas said, How much money will you give me?

They said, Thirty pieces of silver.

Then Judas said, Some night I will bring you to Jesus when he is alone.

The wicked people were very glad to hear this.

Now, thought they, we shall soon catch him and kill him.

Judas went back to Jesus, but he did not tell the disciples what he had done. Jesus knew what he had been doing; for Jesus could see all his thoughts, and he knew all that Judas did, both in the day and in the night. Yet Jesus did not tell Judas that he knew his wicked plans.

LESSON XXXII.

THE LAST SUPPER—PART I.

LUKE, xxii. 7-14. JOHN, xiii. 1-17.

JESUS said to his disciples, I am going soon to be killed, but before I die I shall eat a supper with you in Jerusalem.

Then Jesus said to Peter and John, Go and get the supper ready; but they said, Where shall we get it ready? For Jesus had no house in Jerusalem: but Jesus knew how to find a room.

So Jesus said to Peter and John, Go into Jerusalem, and you will meet a man carrying a jug; go after him: he will go into a house. The master of the house will lend me a room. Tell him that I am going to die, and that I want to eat a supper with my disciples.

Then Peter and John went into Jerusalem.

Whom did they meet? A man carrying a jug.

They followed him. He went into a house. Peter and John went in after him, and they said to the master of the house, Jesus wants a room to eat supper in with his disciples before he dies.

Then the master took them up stairs, and showed them a large room, with a table in it, and seats all round the table, and a jug, and a basin to wash their feet in, and a cup and dishes.

Then Peter and John got some bread and wine and other things, and made the supper ready; and they went back and told Jesus (who was a little way in the country) that supper was ready. So Jesus and all his disciples came to the house in the evening; they went up stairs, and they all sat down.

Jesus loved John better than all the rest, and John sat next to Jesus.

After they had been a little while at supper, Jesus got up and took a towel, and tied it round his waist; and he took a jug and poured water into a basin, and he began to wash his disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel round his waist.

But when he came to Peter, Peter said, You shall never wash my feet.

Peter thought it was too kind of Jesus to wash his feet, as if he were a servant; but Jesus was not proud, but loved to be kind to his disciples.

Then Jesus said to Peter, If I wash you not, you cannot be mine; but I have made you clean already. Jesus had made Peter’s heart clean.

Then Peter was glad that Jesus should wash his feet.

All the disciples had clean hearts, except Judas, and his heart was full of wickedness; Satan was in it. Yet Jesus washed Judas’ feet. He was kind even to wicked Judas, who hated him.

When Jesus had washed all the disciples’ feet he sat down again, and began to talk to them.

He said, Do you know what I have done to you? I have washed your feet, though I am your Lord and Master. I wish to teach you to be as kind to each other as I have been to you.

When the sad hour was almost come, That Jesus must depart, He gathered in an upper room Those dearest to his heart.

Ah! great was their astonishment When, rising from his seat, Upon the floor he lowly bent To wash his servants’ feet.

Beside the board again he sat, And thus expressed his mind: “If I, your Lord, upon you wait, O should not you be kind?

“O! let the love that I have shown By you remembered be; And by _your_ love let it be known That you belong to me.”

LESSON XXXIII.

THE LAST SUPPER—PART II.

JOHN, xiii. 21-30.

YOU know the wicked thing that Judas meant to do. Jesus knew that he would bring the wicked people to take him and kill him. Jesus had been very kind to Judas, and Jesus was sorry that he was so wicked.

As Jesus was sitting at supper, and all the twelve disciples sitting round, he said, One of you will give me to the wicked men to be killed! one of you, my disciples.

All the disciples were very sorry, and Peter said, Is it I? and John said, Is it I? and each of them said, Is it I? but Jesus did not tell them which.

Now John was leaning his head on Jesus’ bosom, and Peter whispered to John and said, Do ask the Lord which it is that will show the wicked people where he is?

So John whispered and said, Which is it?

And Jesus said, The one that dips the bread in the sop with me.

For there was a dish of sauce on the table, and Jesus dipped his bread in it, and as he dipped it one of the disciples put his hand in the dish too. Which was it?

Judas: he dipped his bread in the dish with Jesus. So John knew which it was that was so wicked.

Then Jesus said to Judas, Go, and do what you mean to do.

And Judas got up and went out of the room.

Where did he go?

He went to the wicked people, to bring them to Jesus in the dark. But the disciples thought he was going to buy something at a shop, or to give money to the poor.

One night the Saviour said, “My hours to live are few: I soon shall be betray’d, My friends, by one of you.” “Lord, is it I?” They all do cry.

Beloved above the rest, John lean’d his gentle head Upon the Saviour’s breast, And, softly whisp’ring, said, “Lord, tell me who This thing shall do?”

“One of this little band,” The Saviour, answ’ring, said, “Will hither reach his hand, And dip with me his bread. Who dips with me, The same is he.”

LESSON XXXIV.

THE LAST SUPPER—PART III.

MATTHEW, xxvi. 26-36. JOHN, xiv. 1-4; xviii. 1-3.

AFTER supper Jesus took some bread and broke it in little bits, and gave a piece to each of the disciples, and said, This is my body: I am going to die: eat this, and think of me.

Then Jesus poured some wine into a cup, and told them all to drink out of it. He said, This is my blood; I shall soon bleed and die; drink this, and think of me.

Jesus said, I shall not eat supper with you again before I die. I am going to my Father; I must leave you, but I shall come back again.

Then they all sang a hymn.