[Illustration]
"LO! I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK"
By Carl Schoenherr
[End illustration]
{185}
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."
{188}
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.
{190}
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."
{193}
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?"
{196}
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.
{197}
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."
{198}
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."
{200}
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.
{202}
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."
{206}
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.'"
{209}{210}
[Illustration]
CHRIST AND THE RICH RULER
By Heinrich Hofmann (1824- )
[End illustration]
{211}
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."
{213}
[Illustration]
Map of Palestine showing Jesus' last Journey.
by E. R. Hooker
[End illustration]
{214}
{215}
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."
{216}
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."
{217}{218}
[Illustration]
BETHANY.
The ruins to the right are the traditional house of Mary and Martha
From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her
kind permission.
The little town of Bethany, nestling among the hills, was one of the
favorite resting places of Jesus. Here he would come when weary of
the world and his incessant struggle against evil, and seek the
peace and quiet of the home of his friends.
[End illustration]
{219}
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."
{220}
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.
{221}
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.
{222}
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.)
{223}
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_.
{224}
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_.
{225}
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_.
{226}
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_.
{227}
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.
{228}
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_.
{229}
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?"
{230}
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."
{231}{232}
[Illustration]
THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM.
[End illustration]
{233}
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.
{235}{236}
[Illustration]
JESUS AND THE MONEY-CHANGERS.
By Heinrich Hofmann
[End illustration]
{237}
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.
{238}
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."
{241}{242}
[Illustration]
ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
From a photograph taken by Mrs. Fontaine Meriwether, and used by her
kind permission
This view is near the top of the mountain on the road which winds
over it towards Bethany.
[End illustration]
{243}
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.'
{247}
"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.'"
{248}
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."
{251}{252}
[Illustration]
THE LAST SUPPER.
By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan. It has been
damaged and mutilated, and now is almost faded out.
This is one of the greatest pictures ever painted. The following is
an explanation of the picture: "Judas half turns to discover of whom
St. Peter is speaking so passionately, and is preparing himself to
deny everything. But he is already discovered. St. James the Less,
passing his arm over the shoulder of St. Andrew, touches St. Peter
to tell him that the traitor is at his side. St. Andrew looks at
Judas with horror, and St. Bartholomew, at the end of the table, has
started up from his seat to regard him more intently. At the left of
Christ, St. James protests his innocence by a natural gesture. St.
Thomas, pressing near to Christ, seems to ask 'One of us?' St.
Philip, the youngest of the apostles, places his hand over his heart
and rises to protest his fidelity. St. Matthew repeats the terrible
words to the indignant St. Simon, who refuses to believe them. St.
Thaddeus, who has first told them to him, points to Matthew to
confirm them. The dying rays of evening light add deeper somberness
to the sad face of the Christ."
--_Stendhal, "History of Italian Painters"_
[End illustration]
{253}
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?'
{255}{256}
[Illustration]
HEAD OF CHRIST.
By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was a study made by the great master for his picture, "The Last
Supper."
[End illustration]
{257}
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:
{259}{260}
[Illustration]
MOUNT OF OLIVES--GETHSEMANE.
The Mount of Olives, the traditional site of Gethsemane, on the
right--the space inclosed by a wall.
"It was a garden or orchard marked probably by some slight
inclosure. The name Gethsemane means 'the oil press,' and doubtless
it was so called from a press to crush the olives yielded by the
countless trees from which the hill derives its designation."
[End illustration]
{261}
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."
{264}
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."
{265}{266}
[Illustration]
CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE.
By Heinrich Hofmann (1824-
[End illustration]
{267}
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."
{268}
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.
{269}
_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."
{272}
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?"
{273}{274}
[Illustration]
CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.
By Munkacsy
[End illustration]
{275}
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.
{277}{278}
[Illustration]
A STREET IN JERUSALEM, LEADING TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER
From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her
kind permission
This picture shows the street leading to the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, one of those streets which have steps and are therefore
accessible only to foot passengers.
[End illustration]
{279}
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.
{281}
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.
{282}
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."
{283}{284}
[Illustration]
THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER, JERUSALEM.
Over the traditional site of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus.
Used by special permission of the Detroit Photograph Company.
[End illustration]
{285}
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."
{286}
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.
{287}
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.
{288}
{289}{290}
[Illustration]
THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB.
By Bouguereau (1825-1905)
[End illustration]
{291}
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_.
{292}
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_.
{293}
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_.
{294}
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_.
{295}
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.
{296}
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_.
{297}
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.
{298}
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.
{299}{300}
[Illustration]
THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB.
[End illustration]
{301}
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?"
{303}{304}
[Illustration]
CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS.
By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- )
"He blessed the bread, but vanished at the word
And left them both exclaiming, "T was the Lord!
Did not our hearts feel all he deign'd to say?
Did they not burn within us by the way?'
--_Cowper_.
{305}
III
DOUBTING THOMAS
_How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples Twice at Jerusalem_.
Those disciples with whom Jesus had eaten at Emmaus rose up that very
hour, and returned to Jerusalem, in the evening, and found the eleven
gathered together, and them that were with them. The eleven told them in
secret, the doors being shut for fear of the Jews, "The Lord is risen
indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." And the two disciples told the
others the things that happened on the way, and how he was known of them
in the breaking of the bread.
And as they spoke these things, he himself stood in the midst of them,
and said unto them, "Peace be unto you."
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a
spirit. And he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do
questionings arise in your heart? See my hands and my feet, that it is I
myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye
behold me having."
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And
while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them,
"Have ye here anything to eat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled
fish.
{306}
And he took it and did eat before them.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when
Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen
the Lord." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the
print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and
put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with
them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and
said, "Peace be unto you."
Then said he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and
reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless,
but believing."
Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God."
Jesus said unto him, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:
blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."
{307}
IV
"FEED MY SHEEP."
_How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples as They Fished at the Sea
of Galilee_.
After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at
the sea of Galilee in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and
Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of
Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said unto them, "I
go a fishing."
They say unto him, "We also come with thee."
They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took
nothing. But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: but
the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said unto
them, "Children, have ye ought to eat?"
They answered him, "No."
And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and
ye shall find."
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the
multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto
Peter, "It is the Lord."
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about
him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. But the other
disciples came in the little {308} boat (for they were not far from the
land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of
fishes. So when they got out upon the land, they saw a fire of coals
there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them, "Bring of
the fish which ye have now taken."
Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great
fishes, a hundred and fifty-three: and for all there were so many, the
net was not rent. Jesus said unto them, "Come and break your fast."
And none of the disciples dared inquire of him, "Who art thou?" knowing
that it was the Lord.
Jesus came, and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise.
So when they had broken their fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon,
son of John, lovest thou me more than these?"
He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."
He said unto him, "Feed my lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou
me?"
He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."
He said unto him, "Tend my sheep."
He said unto him the third time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?"
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, "Lovest thou
me?" And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest
that I love thee."
{309}
Jesus said unto him, "Feed my sheep."
And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, "Follow me."
Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; and
said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?"
Jesus said unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that
to thee? Follow thou me."
{310}
V
THE ASCENSION
_How the Lord Jesus Appeared Again in Galilee, and How He at Last Went
Away from Earth to Heaven_.
But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus
had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some
doubted. And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying,--
"All authority hath ben given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye
therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am
with you always, even unto the end of the world."
Then they all went again to Jerusalem, where Jesus appeared once more to
them, and spoke with them about the kingdom of God. They, still thinking
that he meant an earthly kingdom of which he would be king at Jerusalem,
and wondering when it would come, asked him, saying, "Lord, dost thou at
this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons,
which the Father hath set within his own authority. But ye shall receive
power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my
witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth."
{311}{312}
[Illustration]
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
By G. Biermann
[End illustration]
{313}
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.
{314}
{315}
Leaders and victories of the New Faith.
{316}
{317}
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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[Illustration]
THE GOLDEN GATE, EAST OF THE TEMPLE AREA.
JERUSALEM LOOKING TOWARD THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
[End illustration]
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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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