Produced by Al Haines
[Frontispiece: Jesus of Nazareth]
JESUS OF NAZARETH
A BIOGRAPHY
BY
JOHN MARK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
NEW YORK : : LONDON : : MCMXXII
COPYRIGHT 1922, BY
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
FOREWORD
"Jesus of Nazareth, a Biography, by John Mark," recognizes the author
of the second Gospel as that "John, whose surname was Mark" (Acts
15:37), whom Barnabas chose as companion when he sailed for Cyprus on
his second missionary journey. In making use of the new title, the
plan of the Editor is to present "The Gospel: According to Mark" as it
would be printed were it written in the twentieth rather than the first
century.
Mark's Gospel has been chosen for this purpose to make available in
more readable form this timely portion of the Bible. In John Mark the
missionary is revealed a man of action. This characteristic influences
strongly the point of view and style of his writing. As John, the
beloved disciple, in "The Revelation" beholds the victorious Christ as
"the Lion of the tribe of Judah," foretold by the prophets, so Mark
sees Jesus of Nazareth as the strong, vigorous man of action; he writes
of His mighty works in swift narrative at times so vivid it flashes
like a burst of flame, as though the facts presented must have been on
fire in the heart of the author. Written for the practical, energetic
Roman, the Editor feels that this biography of Jesus of Nazareth
exactly fits the mood of our own time, with its emphasis upon the
practical and its insistence that the man of action, the doer, is the
man for the hour.
Printed like a modern book, but in the fine old King James' version, it
is believed that all Bible lovers will welcome their old friend, "The
Gospel: According to Mark," in its new literary dress; it is hoped,
too, that in this popular form book buyers and lovers of good
literature may be led to purchase a book which needs only to be
thoroughly and thoughtfully read to be greatly reverenced.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. HAIL, THE GALILEAN
II. A TEACHER WITH AUTHORITY
III. A BROTHER TO ALL WHO DO THE WILL OF GOD
IV. THE WISDOM OF THE AGES
V. LORD OF LIFE AND LOVE
VI. IS NOT HE THE CARPENTER?
VII. NEVER A MAN LIKE HIM
VIII. "THOU ART THE CHRIST"
IX. STRONG SON OF GOD
X. MASTER OF MEN BUT SERVANT OF ALL
XI. HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
XII. IN CONFLICT WITH SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
XIII. JERUSALEM THAT KILLETH THE PROPHETS
XIV. DESPISED AND REJECTED BY FRIEND AND FOE
XV. CRUCIFIED, DEAD AND BURIED
XVI. JESUS OF NAZARETH RISES FROM THE DEAD
JESUS OF NAZARETH
CHAPTER I
HAIL, THE GALILEAN
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is
written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in
the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight."
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all
the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him
in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed
with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he
did eat locusts and wild honey; and preached, saying:
"There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes
I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you
with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up
out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove
descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying:
"Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was
there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the
wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying:
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the gospel."
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his
brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus
said unto them:
"Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their
nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father
Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he
entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at
his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as
the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean
spirit; and he cried out, saying:
"Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?
Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of
God."
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold thy peace, and come out of him."
And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice,
he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they
questioned among themselves, saying:
"What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority
commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round
about Galilee.
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered
into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's
wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And
he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately
the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were
diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city
was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick
of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the
devils to speak, because they knew him.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and
they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found
him, they said unto him, "All men seek for thee."
And he said unto them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may
preach there also; for therefore came I forth."
And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast
out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and
kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, "If thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean." And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand,
and touched him, and saith unto him, "I will; be thou clean."
And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from
him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith
sent him away; and saith unto him, "See thou say nothing to any man:
but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing
those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the
matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city,
but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every
quarter.