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"GRANNY'S CHAPTERS"
(ON SCRIPTURAL SUBJECTS)
BY
LADY MARY ROSS.
=THE NEW TESTAMENT=,
WITH A SKETCH OF THE SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE JEWS.
_NEW EDITION._
LONDON:
HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY.
1882.
PREFACE TO VOLUME IV.
The New Testament has been treated in a manner somewhat different to
that adopted in regard to the Books of the Old Testament.
The object has been, to sketch out the earthly Life of our Blessed
Lord, and to draw attention to a few important points.
It was obviously impossible to dwell particularly upon the details of
every Miracle, Parable, and Conversation, recorded by the Evangelists.
Nor was such a course necessary.
The language of the Gospels is so simple and clear, that details are
better read from Holy Writ itself.
That this volume may lead the young to a reverent study of our
Saviour's character, and an earnest endeavour to "follow the blessed
steps of His most Holy Life," is the earnest prayer of the Author.
MARY ROSS.
_November, 1871._
PART I.
Chapter I.--JOHN THE BAPTIST BORN.
We have now seen that the Sceptre had departed from Judah. The whole
country was subject to the Romans, who had appointed Herod to govern
it for them; and the time was now come when the blessed promises, that
"the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head," and that "in
the seed of Abraham all nations of the earth should be blessed," were
to be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer; born of a woman, that thus being as
Man upon the earth, He might suffer for man, and make that atonement
for man, which He could only make because He was the Son of God.
Unless the Messiah had been at once God and Man, He could have been no
Saviour for man; no mediator between a holy God and His sinful
creatures.
Very soon after the death of Herod's sons, Alexander and Aristobulus,
the last princes of the Asmonean family, the wonderful events related
in the New Testament began to take place. No doubt we are all well
acquainted with the story of the priest Zacharias, a good and holy
man, who, whilst performing his duty in the house of God, saw an Angel
standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias was an
old man, and his wife Elisabeth was also an old woman, and therefore
when the Angel told him that the Lord would work as great a miracle as
He had done in Abraham's case, and give a son to Elisabeth, as He had
given Isaac to Sarah, Zacharias must indeed have been greatly
astonished.
The Angel moreover told Zacharias, that this child, whom God would
give him, was to be named John; and that he should be in an especial
manner guided and protected by the Holy Spirit, for that he was to be
the messenger spoken of by prophets, as sent to prepare the way for
the Messiah, and give notice of His coming. Such particulars should
have overcome any doubts which Zacharias might at the first moment
have felt; but his faith failed him, and therefore, considering only
the impossibility of such an event happening without the special
interposition of the Lord, he, guided by sight and not by faith,
presumed to ask for some sign, to assure him that what the Angel spake
would really come to pass.
This sinful unbelief was punished, even whilst his faithless request
was granted; for Zacharias immediately lost the power of speaking, and
remained speechless for many months: but his unbelief was gone, and he
certainly made his wife Elisabeth acquainted with the promises and
directions spoken by the Angel.
About six months after this appearance of the Angel Gabriel to
Zacharias, He "was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named
Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." The Angel told Mary,
that she had been chosen by the Almighty to be the mother of the
promised Messiah, whose birth was to be a miracle; inasmuch as He
would have no earthly father, but should be called the Son of God.
Gabriel also told Mary, that when she had brought forth her son, she
should call His name Jesus; that is, a Saviour. Mary was greatly
troubled when the Angel first spake to her, and when she expressed her
wonder and astonishment, He comforted her, and told her that her
cousin Elisabeth, the wife of Zacharias, was also about to become a
mother; adding, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Mary's
faith now showed itself, and she said, "Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Meaning that she was
willing to serve the Lord in everything, and suffer whatever might
come upon her in consequence. For, as she had no husband whom she
could name as the father of her Child, she was liable to punishment.
When Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, or promised in marriage, found
that she would have a Son, he was astonished, and had some thoughts of
putting her away from being his wife; but being a just, or good and
kind man, he meant to do this quietly and secretly, or "privily," so
as not to expose Mary to blame or punishment. But while he thought on
these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
dream, and told him not to fear about taking Mary to be his wife, for
that the Holy Spirit had worked a great miracle, and that Mary was to
be the mother of the promised Messiah; and as the Angel had said to
Mary herself, so He now repeated to Joseph, "she shall bring forth a
Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people
from their sins." Then all Joseph's doubts and fears were at an end:
he did as the Angel bade him, and thus was looked upon by men as the
father of Mary's holy Son, who had in truth no Father but God.
The Scripture tells us, "Now all this was done, that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel; which being interpreted is, God with
us." That is, God taking the form and nature of man; living as man
amongst men; dying as man for men. "Emmanuel--God with us."
The next thing we read of is, that "Mary arose and went into the hill
country with haste, into a city of Judah" where Zacharias dwelt, that
she might talk over with Elisabeth all those wonderful things which
the angel Gabriel had said to her. "And she entered into the house of
Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth"; who, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, "spake out with a loud voice" words that must have greatly
comforted Mary. Elisabeth told her, that she was blessed among women
in being chosen for the mother of the Messiah, and said, "Whence is
this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" meaning
that she was not worthy of the honour of receiving in her house one
who was to be the mother of the Son of God. Elisabeth ended by
commending Mary for her faith and trust, saying, "blessed is she that
believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were
told her from the Lord."
Mary now uttered that beautiful hymn of praise, beginning, "My soul
doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
A hymn familiar to us all, as part of our Liturgy, or form of public
worship, used in our Churches. This hymn, called "The Magnificat," is
said or sung after the first Lesson in the Evening Service.
Mary abode with her cousin for about three months, and then returned
to her own home, at Nazareth, in Galilee. Not long after Mary's
departure, John the Baptist was born; "Elisabeth brought forth a son.
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great
mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that
on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child," and give him a
name, as amongst us is done in Baptism; for Baptism in the Christian
Church, takes the place of Circumcision in the Jewish Church.
When the friends of Zacharias wished to give the infant his father's
name, Elisabeth spoke out at once, and said, "He shall be called
John." This surprised them so much, that they at once asked Zacharias
"how he would have him called." Zacharias immediately, by signs, asked
for a writing-table, or rather for a tablet, upon which to write, and
then wrote down, "His name is John. And they marvelled all." They must
have marvelled, or wondered, still more, when suddenly Zacharias
recovered his power of speaking; for "his mouth was opened
immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God." Now
he could tell all that had happened to him, and how his unbelief in
the Angel's promise had been punished by temporary dumbness. "And fear
came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were
noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea: and all they
that heard" these things "laid them up in their hearts": took notice
of them, and remembered them, "saying, What manner of child shall this
be!" The extraordinary events connected with the birth of John, made
all men believe that a child so born must be intended to do great
things during his lifetime. Zacharias, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
then uttered the hymn called "The Benedictus," sometimes said in our
Churches after the second Lesson in the Morning Service, instead of
the Psalm (c.), "Jubilate Deo," also belonging to our Liturgy. In this
hymn, Zacharias praised and blessed God for the coming of the Saviour;
and then, addressing the unconscious infant John, he foretold that he
should be the messenger to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and incline men to listen to, and believe in, Him.
Of John's infancy and childhood we are told nothing, except that he
grew in body, and waxed strong in spirit, and that "the hand of the
Lord was with him." "And he was in the deserts till the day of his
showing unto Israel." He passed a quiet and retired life, until he was
called upon to baptize the people, and point to the Son of Mary as the
Son of God; the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.