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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 PALESTINE IN THE TIME OUR LOR D^ 7>^^ :£^f •■/? 1 '^Z IWAT ^!'i« ^fr^V,;*'"!^'*''' MEROI l\ ~\ rnd 'r''''';:« SHI LOW ■- 1 jL3l Jdppj^ HgA« ^ ^ y- »-*'h.- .y ■*( m JERICHO* ^JERUSALEM Jtolle-"^' lyA *'^'^^ l iGaza 1UM.C Beersheba ;«0ic I I> F M ^ JL M^^^^ 01- • • •'**' SCALE OF ENGLISH MJLES. e iO 20 30 v> ' \ V *> > td,hmimfi id,nlinT^ ^,onrat». THE LIFE OF JESUS: STUDIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. BY Rev. O. C. S. WALLACE. M. A. ^ »> !^^^ LiiLi"'r.-riia WS^ .1U«J PHILADELPHIA : AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 1420 Chestnut Street. \ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1893, bj the AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. _ - 6^307 PREFACE. The thirty chapters of this volume appeared in suc- cessive issues of the "Young Peoples Union" during 1892-93, and were used as Bible lessons by Baptist Young People's Societies in the United States and Canada. In the preparation of the lessons, an attempt was made to present a brief, clear, and vivid narrative of the events of Christ's life, such as might be used advantageously both in private reading and in class-room work. Questions, etc., for use in class work have been placed at the end of the chapters ; but in order that the flow of the narrative might be interrupted as little as possible, no reference has been made to those har- monistic and chronological questions on which scholars differ, matters of this kind not coming properly within the scope of a volume of this character. It is hoped that the book may find its sphere as a manual for use in Bible classes and Young People's Societies, and as a helper of those parents who, following the example of our wise and godly fathers, endeavor studiously to teach their children at home the things which have been written in the Holy Scriptures for our learning. 0. c. s. w. ToHOKTO, January 1, 1894. a U 6'L- ANNOUNCEMENT. To THE Bafhst Youno Peopi^ op America: It gives me pleasure to commend the ^'Life of Jesus," published in this volume. It is the extension of a series of lessons which first appeared in ih92-93 in the columns of the *' Young Peoples Union," and constituted a part of the initial studies of the present ** Christian Culture Courses" of the Baptist Young People's Union of America. The lessons were so comprehensive and scholarly in their presentation of the facts of the Wonderful Life, and withal so simple in language and so natural in their narrative, that a large number of pastors and leading young people's workers requested that the International Union approve of the lessons as a part of the *' Christian Culture Courses." This has been done, and this book is therefore given a permanent place in our educa- tional system. Yours sincerely, - ' > Frank L. WiLKiNS,, General Secretary. CONTENTS. Lbmoh 'A«« I. The Holt Land, ..... 7 II. History to the Time or Ghbibt, .... 12 III. The Jews in the Time ov Ohsxst, .... 18 ' lY. The Birth of Jesus, 24 • y. Incidents ov the Infancy, 80 VI. Egypt AND Nazareth, 86 VII. Childhood and Youth 41 VIII. The Baptism, 46 IX. The Temptation, 60 X. Jesus Made Known, 66 XI. The Ministry Begun, fl& XII. The Ministry in Judea, 67 XIII. The Ministry in Samaria, 72 XIV. The Ministry in Galilee Begun, .... 77 XV. The Beginning in Capernaum, 82 XVI. The First Preaching Tour in Galilke, . 87 6 C CONTE-NTS. t Lksson PAOB XVII. Orowino Hostility of thb Leaders, XVIII. The Cuoosinq of the Twelve, . . . 92 98 104 XIX. Miracles and Mercies, XX. A Crisis ik the Galilean Ministry, 110 XXI. The First Parable, . . 117 ^ XXII. A Day of Miracles, .... . . 122 « XXIII. The Galilean Ministry Ended, . . 127 XXIV. The Withdrawal from Galilee, . . 186 XXV.. Public Tkachino Besumed, ^jiv«pijri .^. . 146 ; XXVI. The Ministry in Prrea, :Vi\*>5va^?' • ?^1 . 164 XXVII. Thb Ministry in Perea Concluded, . • • 162 XXVIII. The First Three Days of Passion Week, 170 ■ XXIX, The Last Days of Passion Week, . • • 177 XXX. The Forty Days, . ,^,; **( ^ • • 186 >■ ;V ■. ■«'- « * «. • y * v~ ' -' '-'"■'• ' ■■•'. " > ,■■■*"■' 1 ,-,'»•.■*■',», V'-'V . . »■ -■■ •- • .f"'-*" ■■'^ >-'^' i'W- . . !:.:'{ ;• '- - f . -' ■-'1' ':''* "*..;\. ■-.,«_, . ', .. '.■ ^X.':-;!^"^: WSf^'^'i ■' --j.; ^i. . ■ ki • r- .','..;..'..'. .>' ''*-,'■■' -,.'>'■ '■^:: " ..•\, % ,■ ^ ■■'-;.* Vr , A ' ^^^H - . , ^^ ',' M'"!', i': itii'i!*-t.cj,. ■•.. T. " .' •■■- •;. i'-'.; , ■' ,. ■, . .■' ,:>i;^A-^y^ '*'■•' "••^■' v-i ■■ "■■ ;• ' . ■/"' --" •. r j.t-4-^.l .-r , • ~ ■'■• ■■•t.'>- I' f J • ,' . •/■ '., ., ^ . - .:. AV -^ ■■■■■. ' '.• . '-- - ., - -■ *. \A ' THE LIFE OF JESUS. THE HOLY LAND. Area.— On the map of the world, Palestine occupies but a email space. The distance from Dan in the north to Bcer- sheba in the south is barel}' one hundred and forty miles. It is about twenty miles from Dan to Tyre, less than thirty from the sea of Galilee to the bay of Acclio, and not fifty from the mouth of the Jordan to the Mediterranean. And yet this narrow strip of country, only about one-third the size of the little province of Nova Scotia, has been the theatre of the most momentous events in the history of the world, and though now occupied by a languid and scattered population, still surpasses in interest every other portion of the earth. Configuration. — Palestine is a country of lowlands and highlands, the -latter predominating. In the north, Lebanon, ' ' white mou n ti in, ' ' the Mont Blanc of Palestine, has an average elevation of from six thousand to eight thousand feet. Jesus crossed this range when he left the region of Tyre and Sidon to avoid the crowds that gathered on account of the healing of the Syro-phoenician's daughter. Not far from Lebanon, just across the valley eastward, great Hermon rises to a height of ten thousand feet. This is the most conspicuous mountain in Palestine or Syria. From its stet o slopes flow the waters which form the sources of the Jorc' n. Its head bears a crown of snow perpetually. Hermon ' ds named the 7 8 THE LIFE OF JESUS. (I , ** elevated " by the anoienta, and is called the "snowy niotin- tatu" by the moderns. A spur of this mountain wus proba- bly the scene of tlie transfiguration of Jesus. The highest points of the tableland which extends the whole length of Palestine are, beginning from tho soutii : Hebron, throe thousand feet above the sea ; Jerusulcui, two thousand six hundred ; Mount of Olives, two thousand seven hundred ; Bethel, two thousand four hundred ; Ebal and Qerizim, two thousand seven hundred ; Little Hermon and Tabor, one thousand nine hundred ; Sufed, two thousand eight hundred ; and Jebel Jermuk, four thousand. Stand- ing on Gerizim, one can see the dunes near the ancient Joppa, the ridge of Curmel, the bay stretching away toward the north, the sea of Galilee, and can trace the winding course of the Jordan. This central tableland is like a narrow sea of hills broken by countlesij waves. Valle3's run east to the Jordan and west to the Mediterranean. Through these the waters of the high- lands rush in noisy torrents to the river and the sea. On tho eastern side, the valleys are remarkably steep and rugged. These gorges, besides serving as drains, furnish opportunity for roudways, and without them cowmuiiication with the hills would be almost impossible. Anciently, the villages, towns, and cities were built on the hills. Throughout the country to-day there is scarcely an eminence without its ruins to speak of the former an! better days. The Jew lifted up his eyes unto the mountains, whence came his help, and hav- ing chosen for his dwelling a site difficult of access and ensy to defend, long found his native land a stronghold and refuge while the tides of war engulfed the nations around him. Nearly opposite the sea of Galilee, the highlands of Pales- tine are broken by the plain of Esdraelon, which extends from the Jordan to the 3Iediterranean. This is the most illustrious of Palestinian lowlands, partly because of its won- derful fertility, but chiefly because it has been the battlefield I THE HOLY LAND. 9 of tlio ouuntry. Hero Saul and Jonathan full ; and David, lunionting thoir untiuuly dcatli, prayed that ncighborinK Gilboii might bo dewlcss forever. Nazureth, where JesuB spent nearly all of the first thirty years of his life ; Gana, where lie perfurnicd his first mirucle ; and Nain, where he raised tu life the young wan who was the only son of hia widowed mother, were near this plain. South of Ksdraelon abrupt Mount Carmel interrupts the maritime plain which, but for this, would extend the whole length of Palestine. The plain adjaeent to Carmel on the south is called the plain of Sharon. Next to this lies the plain of Philistia. While in the earlier history of the country, this long strip of fertile lowland was of cc > iderable importance, it is not connected with the story of Christ's life, his journeys apparently not having reached as far westward as its villages and cities. , . The Jordan is one of the most remarkable of the physical features of Palestine. Its sources are found in the valley between Heruion auater than the number within it. Those wiio returned with Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah wore few compared with those who remained in the Eastern country. Doubtless many of those who refused to return were among the richest of the people, whose possessions or business interests were of such extent or character thnt a removal would have been calamitous to them commercially. By the time of Christ these Jews had increased to a great multi- tude, and in their own eyes, were the very Hebrews of the Hebrews. Recalling the terms of the promise of 'Abraham, and the extent of David's kingdom, they held that they were within the borders of the Holy Land, and instances were not wanting in which they claimed for their territory a sanctity even exceeding that of Palestine. They were jealous for the Jewish pnst, and while prosperous in the present, looked for a better day when the promises made to the fathers should be gloriously fulfilled. Representatives of this great Jewish population were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in the persons of "Parthians, Medes, Elan)it(es, and the dwellers in Mesopotaiiiia." In Egypt, also, a great multitude of Jews had their home. Nearly one half of the population of Alexandria, which in the time of Christ had three hundred thousand free citizens, besides slaves, were Jews, while not less than a million of that race dwelt in the valley of the Nile. The Jews of Egypt diflFered from their brethren in the East= Their eyes were IS THE JEWS IN THE TIME OF CHRIST. 19 moire upon the present than the past. They were greatly influenced by the Greek civilization with which they came into contact. It was in Egypt that the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures was made, a translation which very widely supplanted the original, and from which quotations were commonly made by the New Testament writera. Among those who heard Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost there were Jews from "Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene." Jews were found also in Italy, in Greece, and in all the populous cities of Asia Minor. It will be interesting to observe at this point, that Jesus personally reached a com- paratively small number of the Jews of his day. Although dwelling with Gentiles, the Jews were still a "separate people." Whether their liomes were in Alex- andria, Babylon, or Rome, in a very peculiar sense Jerusa- lem was to them "The City." The temple was the centre of their religious life. From all parts of the known world foreign-born Jews came up to the annual festivals. Not only did the revenues of the temple increase greatly by the offerings of these prosperous pilgrims, but by them the people nt large must have made no slight gains. The exchangiivi^ of the foreign coins, which the pilgrims carried, for Jewish money, created a business both lucrative and extensive. And what- ever may have been given to the pilgrims without cliurue, in harmony with the Jewish idea of hospitality, the demand of the worshipers for sacrificial animals and for sustenance while they journeyed through the land, or tarried in the Holy City, must have made an excellent market for the increase of the fields, herds, and flocks. Roman Rule.— Herod the Great died not long after the birth of Christ. His attempt to destroy the new-born King of the Jews, by ordering all the male children in Bethlehem under two years of age to be slaughtered, gives a hint of his character. Though he was the ruler of a territory equal in 90 THE LIFE OP JESC8. airea to that over which David reigned, he was still only a voiisal of Borne. ' In the division of the kingdom which occurred upon the death of Herod, Judea fell to Archelaus, and Galilee to Herod Antipus. After reigning ten years^ with the title of ethnarch, Archelaus was banished to Gaul. He died when Jesus was about ten years old. Upon the banishment of Archelaus, Judea was annexed to Syria, and thereafter was ruled by a procurator, who was subject to the governor of Syria. The first of these procurators was Coponius ; the second, Marcus Ambivius; the third, Annius Kufus ; the fourth, Valerius Gratus ; and the fifth, Pontius Pilate, by whom Jesus was sentenced to death. The headquarters of the procurator was at Gaesarea. As the representative of the emperor, he had the power of life and death over his subjects. The reign of Herod Antipas as tetrarch over Galilee and Perea was long and base. John the Baptist rebuked his infamous marriage with the beautiful Hcrodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip I., and was rewarded by impris' onment and death. Herod was in Jerusalem attending the Passover at the time of Christ's crucifixion. About nine years later, urged by Herodias, he went to Borne to gain the title of king, but received instead a decree of perpetual ban- ishment. He died in exile. ^ ' .» v^:; •-. •: R/ :s^: Herod the Great, who ordered the death of the Bethlehem babes ; Archelaus, who was like his father ; Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist ; and Pontius Rlate, who sent Jesus Christ to crucifixion, are the representatives of Bome, ruling over the Jews whom we meet as we follow the story of Christ's life. OflSces for the collection of the tribute exacted from the Jews by their Boman masters were found in every town. The collectors were called publicans, and being looked upon as hirelings of hated masters, as well as themselves oppr^- THE JEWS IN THE TIME OP CHRIST. 21 sore and renegades, were detested by the people. Tiio con- scientious opposition of many Jews to the payment of tribute led to frequent disturbances and occasional revoltn. The Frieitl.— During the Maocubean period the high priest was both the civil and ecclesiastical head of the nation. But when the Herodian family came into power, under the Romans, a groat change occurred. Aristobulus, the last high priest of the Maccabean family, was murdered by Herod the Great. During the next one hundred and seven yean there were no less than twenty-eight high priests, chang'es being made in the office whenever it suited the caprice of the ruler. The gospel history brings into notice Annas, the ninth after Aristobulus, and Caiaphas, his son-in-law. The former was a cunning and unscrupulous man, whose revenues from that sacrilegious traffic in the temple which Christ on two occasions rebuked so vigorously, must have been immense. Even after completing his term of office, Annas retained his influence, and was still called high priest. Caiaphas, who was actually high priest when Christ was taken before the San- hedrin, was a worldly nnd brutal man. During all this period the high priests, on account of their subserviency to the Homans, and their gluttonous, licentious, and cruel lives, shared with the publicans in the detestation of the people. Of priests of the various orders it is stlpposed that Judea contained twenty thousand in the time of Christ. Tliese took turns in serving in the temple. During their term of service they lived in rooms in the temple building ; at othelr times they lived with their families, either in Jerusalem, or in one of the neighboring towns set apart for their use. The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, each of which was on duty at the temple twice a year for a period of one week. The heads of these courses were called chief priests. It was while Zach arias was on duty at the temple, during one of the half-yearly services, that the angel foretold to him the birth of John the Baptist. ^ ? j *.,;. ,u, ;^ . •., :? TIIK MFR OK JFISIIS. , .' I The Oonnoil — Tim Hmiliodrin wom tlio HUproint nounoil of tho Jowith p(H)|)lo. It waa ooinpoHod, nn ih gonerully ocliuvnii, of tlio tw(Mity-tbur cliiof priodts, twenty- four oldurci, and twonty-twu acrihcH. No luati wiih uligiblo ior eluotion uiiIush ho woM " luiddlo-Rgod, tall, goud-iuuking, woalthy, and lonrnod.*' Tlio high prioBt wun oflon, if nut oomniunly, tho pro^idont of tho council. Although all important written law ; tho Sadducecs denied it. The Pharisees were Ecalous in making proselytes, and as a class were decent in character, and frugal in their manner of life. Formalism wiis their great fault, and their sins were those which naturally flow from formalism. The Sadducees were wealthy and aristocratic. Tho £sscnes were an ascetic people, striving aflcr an ideal purity, and bound by awful oaths to observe "piety, justice, obedience, honesty, and secrecy." 'iiiv priaci pal settle- ments were on the northwest shore -f t\. "^ ;»d Sea. ^n doctrine they were Pharisees. The .i.uerness" in which the voioe of John the Baptist was heard summoning the people to repent, and prepare for the new kingdom, was near the Essenes' settlements, and it is quite likely that John was ■n>ldeuced considerably by the people of this sect. The /iete'^ica are not mentioned by name in the New Testament ^^. THE JKWf IN I irK TIME OK CIIIU8T. unoii of liiivod, ra, mid uiilosn I and nly, the uoHtiuns rill, tiiQ roiti it (««:„'(♦. }|., )tlOtl to >ut the I88CI1QB larldecs former ininns ; Jducoos, ral Inw, ;. The n class of life. ' I those !8 were r 1 ideal iistice, settle - a. ^n which g the 8 near n was The !Qt. MeMianio Hope*' — Thf i ' '»i» were IMiarlm'CH ill dm-trine and |)«>daiitH in McholarMliip. KicriM* ))iK(>try and noiiHeiiHlual piicriliticH characterized their rcligiouH mid ("■*'l«'MlaMhcalo|>iii- ionH. Thoy were looiiiiiK laKuriy for a MeHHi.iK who would rHlabliiih at unco, by force of annu, a HpU'iidiil tJcwiMh i(ifiK< doui. When he appeared, cxtraordiniuy prohperity wituld dawn. Tiiat tiio Jews iniKlit be rich and at cil>«(;, luurveU would bu accumpliMhcd. At the touch of God'H winds the wiiito flour would drop from the ripened cars of wheat. From a Hinglegrnpo, wine would bo ;cd immensoly, and ns houic believed, filled with houses tlirce miles high. There would bo no sickness or pain, and nothing would occur to mar the ^I'ry and happi- ness of the new kingdom. QUESTIONS AND SUGOESTIONfl. 1. Whoro, outside of PrtloBtlno, were Jews found n the time of Christ? 2. On what ground could the Jews of thi East clnim that thoy wore in the "Holy Land?" 8. How wn^ Archobius related to Horod the Great? 4. Who was Herod A ntipns, and what was his charactor? 5. "What offlco did Pontius Pilate hold? 6. Why did tax-gathering result sometimes in riots? 7. What was the character of tho high priests in tl o time of Christ? 8. How wore Annas and Caiaphas rolateu to each , other? 9. What was their character? 10. Into how many courses were tho priests divided? 11. Who were he chief priests? 12. State tho principal differences between tlio Phari- sp' s and Sadducees? 18. What wore the peculmriti< h of tho Kssonos? 14. What did tho rabbis teach respecting ' le Mes- siah? NoTK.— Those who have time and accoss to tho bool< neces- sary, will do well if they will read somewhat thoroughly on the topics touched in this study. Geikio's "Life and W )rd8 of Christ"; Smith's " Bible Dictionary"; Edersheim's "Sketches of Jewish Social Life"; and Conybearo and Howson's "Life ftnd Epistles of St. Paul," Vol. I., ch. 2, .3, are among the Oooks which may bo consulted. IV. THE BIRTH CP »£SUS. m Joseph and Mary. — Nnzarcth was situated among the hills tliat border on the phtin of Esdraclon. Joseph, one of the carpenters of the town, was engaged to be married to a young woman named Mary. Although Joseph and Mary were peasants, they had royal blood in their veins ; and their spiritual quality may be inferred from the fact that God had chosen them from among all the people of the earth to be the makers of that homo life in which the Ciirist should spend his first thirty years. Mury was studious and thoughtful, and her mind had become well stored with Scripture. Feeling keenly the misery and humiliation of her people, she dwelt with special fond- ness upon those passages which predicted the dawn of a more glorious day, and, in common with the Jewish race at large, longed for the appearance of the Messiah. Perhaps she even prayed that she, being a descendant of David, and about to marry one who was also of David's royal line, might have that highest honor which could come to womanhood — that she herself might become the mother of the Messiah. Dur- ing the days of betrothal she learned that this supreme honor was to be hers. The Annunciation — One day there appeared to Mary an angel, who announced thatshe had " found favor with God," and that she should give birth to a son whom she should name Jesus. "He will bo great," said the angel, "and will be called the Son of the Most High ; and the Lord God will give unto him the throne of his father David." Some months later a similar announcement was made to Joseph 2A THE BIRTH OP JESUS. 25 concerning Mary, the spiritual character of the Messiah's mis- sion being stated in the words: "And she will bring forth a son ; and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." "^ ? i^ Less than six months before the annunciation to Mary, the angel Gabriel had carried a similar message to a Judean priest, named Zacharias, concerning his wife Elisabeth. Zaclnrias was now an old man, and Elisabeth was childless. This was a great grief to him, and until hope was passed, he had prayed that God would give him a son. On a certain week in October, that one of the twenty four courses of the priests to which Zacharias belonged was on duty in the temple, and one morning it fell to his lot to enter into the holy place to burn incense. Without, the people were praying ; within, the priest was intent upon the solemn office in which he was engaged, when suddenly an angel appeared before him and announced that his supplication was heard, and that Elisabeth should bear a son, whom they should call John, and who should "make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him." The surprise of Zacharias made him skeptical, and, as a sign of the authority of the angel who had borne the message, he was stricken dunib. The circumstances of these two annunciations are noticq^bly different. Zacharias heard the message as he lingered in the holy place, tlie candles on the golden candlestick giving their dim light, and the incense still burning on the altar ; Mary heard the message in her simple home in Nazareth. Even the annunciation of Christ must be accompanied by singular simplicity and humility. Mary, having learned from the angel that Elisabeth, who was a relative of hers, was soon to become a mother, hastened to Judea to visit her, and spent three months amid the hills south of Jerusalem. Her beautiful hymn, which is preserved to us in the first chapter of Luke, was composed during this neriod. 26 THE LIFE OF JESUS. The Birth of Joha the Baptist.— Not long after Mary's return to Nazareth, a son was born to Elisabeth. When it became necessary to name him, a diflFerence of opinion arose. Elisabeth's relatives and neighbors insisted that ho should be called Zucharias, after his father, but Elisabeth declared that his name must be John. When these friends protested, the matter was referred to Zacharias, who supported his wife's decision. In that moment he recovered the power of speech, and pronounced a hymn of great exultation and hope. Dur- ing the nine months in which he had been dumb, he had learned a lesson of faith. The Birth at Bethlehem— Micah had prophesied that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, and Gabriel had announced that Mary's first-born should be the Messiah. But Mary was living in Nazareth, and the birth of her child was near. God brought about the fulfillment of the prophecy through the decree of a pagan monarch. Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, ordered a census to be taken throughout his dominions for purposes of future taxation. Jewish custom required that the people should be enrolled according to their tribes and families ; and as Joseph and Mary belonged to the family of David, it became neces- sary for them to go to Bethlehem, which was the ancient seat of David's family, for enrollment. Bethlehem was one of the oldest towns in Palestine, and one of the most interesting. It was the birthplace of David. Near by, Benjamin was born and Rachel died. It was the home of Naomi, whither she returned after her sad sojourn in Moab, bringing with her Ruth, her beautiful daughter-in-law. In the fields outside of the town, Ruth gleaned and won the admiration of wealthy Boaz, her future husband. The book of Ruth is taken up wholly with annals of this little town. Its present name is Beit-Lahra, and it has a population of about three thousand, all of whom are nominal Chris- tians. Um^iscm/iii'i^ Ti- I1IF THE BIRTH OP JESUS. 27 AVhen Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem they found it crowded with visitors. "There was no room for them in the inn ; " and as no hospitable door was thrown open to them in their need, they were compelled to seek rest in a stable. Here, in the solemn night, Jesus was born, and because no woman was there to aid, Mary with her own hands wrapped her babe in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger by her side. No throiigs waited in eager service, as befitted the greater son of great David's royal line, and no radiancy of glory shone about the place to declare the divine origin of the new-born babe. In a quiet stable, away from tlie noise of the world and from the tender help of women, the young Mary gave birth to this divine descendant of David the mighty, and Solomon the magnificent. The Visit of the Shepherds.— On the plains near the city, flocks were lying, as had lain the flocks of youthful David a thousand years before. The shepherds guarding tbese now watched the skies to admire the glowing stars, or again eyed the fields to prevent surprise from skulking wolf or bear, when suddenly an angel was by their side, and all around them there slione a strange and glorious light. Awed, alarmed, and wondering what this might portend, they stood silent , but the angel bade them dismiss their fears, for the hour of joy had come. The Messiah was born ; in Bethlehem they might find him ; and the sign by which they should recog- nize the babe was the place where he lay : "Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and Ij'ing in a manger." The announcenient of the angel was followed quickly by another wonder. Throngs of celestial beings grouped them- selves about the angel who had brought the message to the shepherds, and sang while the shepherds listened. Centuries before, Isaiah had heard the seraphim calling to each other in the temple, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory" ; but now the shepherds hear a more wonderful song : 28 THE LIFE OF JESUS. Glory to Ood in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. At length the song died away. Noiselessly the angelio multitude withdrew. The strange light faded. There was silence. This was broken by the shepherds saying one to another: '^Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." Hastily they left their flocks and went in quest of the Lamb of God. Remembering the words of the angel, they visited neither mansion nor inn, but searched the stables. In all Bethlehem no other birth was so lowly, no other infancy so humble ; and therefore, when they found " Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in the manger," they knew that this was he whose birth had brought a ** multitude of the heavenly host" to the earth to declare ''good tidings of great joy" which should be "to all people." After the shepherds had told Mary and Joseph of all that the angel had said, and of the song of the celestial host, they returned to their humble duties, praising and glorifying God for all the things which they had seen. Meanwhile, '* Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart." Jesus was born in a manger. A carpenter's family re- ceived him. His mother was one of the poorest in the land. His birth was announced by an angel to workingmen in a field. Humble shepherds were the first to greet the new- bom Saviour. The poor and the toiler may reflect on these facts with peculiar delight. i. Eelatkd Scripture.— John 1 : 1-18; Mieah 5:2; Matt. 1 : 1-25 ; Luke 1 : 1-2 : 20 ; 3 : 23-38. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Locate Nazareth on the map. 2. Recall what was said in the first of these lessons concerning Esdraelon. 3. What, in the physical features of the country, would make Mary's journey to THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 29 the "hill country of Judea" difficult? 4. Find on the map some of the highest summits which she would puss on her journey southward. 5. Name the two seas near which she would come on her journey, and descrihe their size and distinguishing features. 6. Find evidence in Mury's hymn (Luke 1 : 46-55) that she was a student of the Scriptures. 7. To whom did the angel announce the birth of John? 8. To whom did he announce the birth of Jesus? 9. Who was Zacharias? 10. Who composed the hymns which are recorded in the first chapter of Luke ? 11. Bead these hymns until you can state clearly the substance of each. 12. How did it come to pass that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? 13. Who, after Joseph and Mary, first saw Jesus? 14. Learn the words of the angels' song. t ■ R V. INCIDENTS OF THE INFANCY. The Ciroumoision and Naming of Jesus —In any land the naming cf the first child is au event of no little import- ance. It was so in Bethlehem when Jesus lay in the arms of Mary. Often the name which pleases the parents is not satisfactory to their relatives. This was so in the '*hill country of Jude^" when the neighbors and cousins of Elisa- beth learned that her son was to bear the name of John. But in Bethlehem it would seem that there were no inter- ested friends or relatives to protest when Joseph and Mary gave to the child the name which the angel had announced. The name Jesus is the Greek form of tlie Hebrew Joshua, and means Saviour. Jesus was a common name among the Jews. The circumcision of the babe, in connection with which the naming occurred, took place according to the Jewish custom, when he was eight days old. By this rite, Jesus became a nusmber of the Hebrew commonwealth, and was thenceforth subject to the law as were the rest of his race. The rite may have occurred in the place where Mary was lodging or in a synagogue of Bethlehem, or in the temple at Jerusalem, six miles away. Tiie temple was preferred by the devout, and was chosen when convenient. Presentation in the Temple.— About a month after Jesus was circumcised, Joseph and Mary appeared with him in the temple to observe two other Jewish rites, one of which re- lated to Jesus and the other to Mary. Jesus, as the first- born male, belonged in a special sense to the Lord, and the parents must formally relinquish possession in him by pre- till INCIDENTS OF THE INFANCY. 31 scnting liim to a priest of the Lord in the temple. This dune, they were at liberty to buy him buck by making u stipulated offering to tlio temple treasury. The offering hav- ing been made, they received the babe again as their own. This was called the redemption of the first-born. Tiie fact that Jesus was accepted in this rite is proof that, as a babe, he was physically perfect, since no child was accepted who was in any way imperfect or blemished. The purification of Mary, according to the requirements of the ceremonial law, demanded separate offerings, one of these being a lamb for a burnt offering, or in case the lamb could not be afforded, a turtle dove or young pigeon. ]Mary, being a poor woman, made the less expensive offering. In all this there was nothing unusual. First-born sons were often carried into the temple by proud and happy young mothers. Frequently too, the poor were there offering, instead of the lamb, the dove or pigeon. But now an extra- ordinary thing occurs. There was in the temple that morn- ing, when Joseph and Mary entered, an aged and devout man named Simeon, to whom it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should see the Messiah before he died. When this holy man saw the infant Jesus, that Spirit who had given the promise made him aware that its fulfillment had come. Taking the babe in his arms, Simeon uttered a hymn of gladsome praise, and then turning to the wondering Mary, said: "Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel ; and for a sign which is spoken against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul ; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." While Simeon was speaking, a venerable woman drew near the group, who joined in giving thanks to God, and spoke of the babe "to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. " A romantic interest attaches to this woman. She became a bride when young. After seven years of wedded life her husband died, and she never married again. 32 THE LIFE OF JESUS. She had been a widow eighty-four years when her dim ej'efi were gladdened by u sigiit of the Messiah. She belonged to the tribe of Aulier, one of the lost ten tribes, a tribe cele- brated fur the beauty of its women. Her name was Anna. Simeon and Anna in their Messianic hope-', differed widely from the majority of their race. The rabbis taught the people to look for a splendid conqueror, who should bring in a kingdom of extraordinary earthly riches and power. This was the common expectation when Jesus was born. But Simeon and Anna saw with more spiritual eyes, and it was no surprise to them to find the infant Messiah in the arms of a poor and humble mother. While the rabbis hud been interpreting in a material sense the promises which spoke of a coming king of vast dominions, these two saints were pon- dering the meaning of those Scriptures which described a suffering deliverer who should heal the sores which sin had made. Nor aie we to suppose that Simeon and Anna were alone in holding these opinions. Doubtless there were others in Jerusalem and throughout the land who had laid aside their Jewish national pride, and looked for a kingdom whose glories should be spiritual rather, than material, and whose victories should be the triumphs of righteousness and mercy, rather than of armies. God has always a remnant who are acquainted with his secrets. ; i,, • , \ r „ v ;; ^! f The Visit of the Wise Men —When the ceremonies in the temple were ended, Joseph returned with Mary and the child to Bethlehem, where evidently he had decided to make his home, instead of returning to Nazareth. But an event was soon to occur which would interrupt the even flow of his life, startle him with its threat of danger to Mary's child, and lead him to return, after distant journeyings, to Galilee. Herod the Great was now an old man, and monstrously cruel and vicious. The loathsome disease which was consum- ing him increased his inhuman irritability and ferocity. Being a usurper, he was suspicious of every one who might INCIDENTS OP THE IK FANCY. 33 appear to have any claims to the throne. He had murdered many, and among them certain of his own sons, because their title seemed to endanger his own position. Old age and the near approach of death, instead of turning his thoughts from earthly cares, added heat to his jealous suspicions and cruelties. At this juncture a*new terror seized the wretched old king. There appeared in Jerusalem certain strangers of distinction, who asked the startling question : *' Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him." The Eastern country from which these wise men came was the home of the purest paganism then known, and they rep- resented a class who were looking for the birth of a king of the Jews, whose coming should affect all the nations of the earth. The source of their knowledge we cannot tell with pusitiveness, but since the Jews had been scattered through- out all that region of country for generations, it is not unrea- sonable to suppose that from them the pagan nations had learned that great Jewish hope which had been the chief comfort of the Hebrew race in all the years of their exile and humiliation. Of those who believed that a great Jewish king was to appear, there were some whose astrological studies led them to suppose that his birth was at hand, and these set out for Palestine with offerings which should express the homage of their land to the new-bom monarch. They went directly to Jerusalem, supposing that in the nation's capital the knowledge of this great event would be general, and that there they could learn where to find the King whom they sought. Thus it came to pass that they entered the streets of the city, asking that question at which Herod *' was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." Had Herod been a Jew he would have known where the Messiah was to be born ; but being an Idumean he was ignor- ant of the Hebrew Scriptures. In answer to his inquiry, the C 34 THE LIFE OF JFJ5U8. priests told liiui of Micah's prophecy, tliat tiio Messiah should bo born in Bethlehem. Eluving obtained the answer of the priests, he recalled the wise men, gave them the information they desired, and requested that when they had found the babe, they would report to him where he was, that he also might go and worship him. This was Herod's lie, his pur- pose being to murder this new rival, as he had murdered many others. A daring purpose truly to kill the Anointed of God, and d^jfeat the promises of the Most High ! As the wise men were departing from Jerusalem, they were delighted to see in the sky the star which had }teen their guide in the East. Following its guidance again, they found themselves soon in Bethlehem, and there, without difficulty, discovered the house of Joseph ; '"and they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother ; and they full down and worshipped him ; and opening their treas- ures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Their homage ended, they departed to their Etistern home, God having warned thea. in a dream that they should not return to Herod. The wonder of the shepherds, the words of Simeon and Anna, and the lioraage of the wise men, would hereafter blend in the memory of Mary, as she pondered all these things in her heart. Herod, though deceived in his hopes by the action of the wise men, determined that his murderous purpose should not be balked. The infant King of the Jews must die ; and though he did not know in what house the babe was lodged, and was too enraged t'o make patient inquiry, he issued an order which he believed would compass his purpose. He com- manded that every male infant in Bethlehejn under two yeare of age should be slaughtered. Probably the number of the slain was not more than twenty, but the tragedy was sufficient to shake the little town to its fojindations, and to create a new horror of the vicious and terrible Herod. But while the mothers at Bethlehem were wailing over their dead babes. INCIDENTS OP THE INFANCY. 36 Mary was giving Ood thanks that he had delivered her child from the bloody hand of the murderer. * Bklatxd Scriptubk.— Luke 2 : 21-39; Mutt. 2 : 1-18. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Find Bethlehem on the map. 2. Huw far was it fVom Je- rustilem? 8. Givo the present name and population of the town. 4. Uuw old was Josus when he was named? 5. Whut is the meaning of Jeauaf 0. How old was he, prubably, when he was presented in the temple? 7. What did Simeon say on seeing Jesus, and what did he afLorward say to Mary? 8. Describe Anna's peculiarities. 9. What was the character of the com- mon Messianic hope? 10. How did the hope of Simoon differ from the common hope? 11. Where did Joseph and Mary go to reside after the presentation in the temple? 12. What ques- tion, asked by strangers, alarmed Herod and disturbed Jerusa- lem? 18. Did the wise men find Jesus in a stable or a house? 14. Name the three occasions on which the infant Jesus was greeted as the Messiah. 16. How did Herod attempt to make sure of the destruction of Jesus ? ORDER OF EVENTS, Lessons I-V. Note.— Commit this "order of events" to memory, and locate each event in the Gospels. 1. Annunciation to Zacharias. 2. Annunciation to Mary. . 8. Annunciation to Joseph. 4. Mary's Visit to Elisabeth. • • >, 6. Birth of John the Baptist. ' 6. Birth of Jesus the Christ. 7. The Message of the Angels to the Shepherds. 8. Visit of the Shepherds. 9. The Circumcision. . '^ 10. The Presentation in the Temple. V 11. Visit of the Wise Men from the East. •^. -t' VI r'^^. EOYPT AND NAZARETH. The Flight.-— More than oDoe during liis ministry Jesus found safety in flight : that tlie Son of God should flee before the Btorui of human hate and fury, was a part of his selF- ohosen humiliation. Of the troubles which his later years should know there were tokens in his infancy. Simeon, with prophetic eye, saw the soul of Mary pierced by the sword of a great grief Joseph fled hastily from the domin- ions of Herod while Jesus was still a babe, to save him from the jealous wrath of the fiei-ce old king. These were shadows of the calamities which would beat heavily and thickly upon him when he faced the sin of the world with his divine rebukes and self-sacrificing compassion. The infancy of Jesus was guarded tenderly by angels. From an angel, Mary, and later Joseph, learned that ho should be born, and now, while Herod is gathering a com- pany of murderers for the work of death among the babes of Bethlehem, an angel hastens to Joseph with the message : ''Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy it." Joseph obeyed promptly. Under cover of night he fled from Bethlehem, and as quickly as possible made his way to Egypt. And thus it came to pass that the land into which Abraham fled from the famine of Canaan, and Joseph was carried captive because of the jealousy of his brothers, and in which the Israelites were in bondage until led forth by Moses, became the asylum of the infant Saviour. The land of bondage became the land of refuge. 36 ^ EGYPT AND NAZARETH. 87 In Egypt. — Among tlio million or more Jews then in Egypt, thoro would bo many to give a liospitublc welcome to this worthy family from Judea. Ah in imagination we follow Joseph into Egypt, the picture before our eyes is an inter- esting one. The Egyptian Jews would have many questions to nsk concerning the condition of Palestine, and concerning Herod, of whose atrocities they had heard much from pil- grims who had gone up from Egyt)t to Jerusalem to the great feasts. What new murders had he instigated? From what recent oppressions were the people suffering? Were there rumors of other conspiracies against the foul and cruel old man ? Did he seem to suffer remorse for the murder of the beautiful Mariamne ? With these, and many other questions, Joseph would be plied ; and his listeners would burn with resentment, or grow tender with sympathy, as ho told of the cruelties of the king, the extortions of the tax- gatherers, the vices of the high priests, or the unrest and misery of the people. Then these sad themes would give way to a brighter and sublimer topic. One and another would recall the promises made by God of a deliverer, who should rescue his people from their oppressors, and lead them into glorious prosperity and honor. They felt that the dawn was near. Surely the cup of their sorrow and humiliation was full to the brim. The Messiah must soon come. We can hear the Egyptian Jews asking Joseph what hopes were current in Jerusalem, or seeking his own opinion as to whether the day of deliverance was just at hand. And what would Jos^^ph say ? He knew that the Messiah lay in Mary's arms. Did he breathe to them a word concerning the nngelio messages that had come to his ears in Nazareth and Bethle- hem ? Probably not. Joseph and Mary seem to have been singularly digniJSed and prudent. They were content to watch in silence while God worked out his wonders beforo their eyes. ■>•.-? -?>■■•.:"■. -vi.-r, „,»:-.,• .'v^r.-----^^ ■: • Galled Ont of Egypt. — In a burning bush God had spoken 38 THE LIFE OP JESUS. to Moses, commanding him to lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt ; in a dream he commands Joseph to take the Saviour of Israel back to Canaan. ' ' But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egj'pt, saying : Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead that sought the young child's life." But for this divine command it is possible that Joseph might have remained permanently in Egypt. Probably the sojourn in Egypt was brief Soon after the slaughter of the Bethlehem babes, the loathsome disease from which Herod suffered brought his life to a terrible close. To the last he was almost inconceivably vicious and cruel. It is stated on the authority of Josephus that, while in his last sickness, knowing that he must die, and certain that his death would be hailed with delight all over the land, he gave orders to assemble all the nobles of the Jews and shut them up in the hippodrome, and keep them there under guard until he died. Then, before a knowledge of his death reached the guards, they were to be commanded in the king's name to slaughter the nobles, that there might be real sorrow throughout the lond on the occasion of his death, even though the grief was for others. Whether this story is true or not, such a deed would have been quite consistent with the character of this terrible descendant of Esau. In Nazareth Again.— When Joseph left Egypt, he in- tended to return to Bethlehem : but on reaching Palestine he learned that Archelaus ruled over Judea, and at once changed his purpose. Arohelaus had received the dominion of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria ; Herod Antipas received Galilee and Perea; and Philip, Batanea, Trachonitis, and Gaulnnitis. Archelaus closely resembled his father, a fact which Joseph evidently knew. Herod Antipas also was vicious. Where Joseph would have sought a home, under these circumstances, if he had been left to himself, it is not easy to say ; but he ■am EGYPT AND NAZARETFT. 39 was saved from all doubt by another divine communication : "Being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Naza- reth." This was his old home. Here he had leari..?d to love the gentle woman who was now his wife. It was here that, a few years before, " an angel of tlie Lord appeared to him in u dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, lear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." As he entered the town he would go over again the wonderful incidents which had occurred since that first strange message came to him : the birth of Mary's child in the Bethlehem stable, the visit of the shep- herds, the words of Simeon and Anna in the temple, the visit of the Magi, the warning of the angel, and the flight into Egypt, the slaughter of the babes of Bethlehem, the angelic message bidding him return to the land of Israel, his fear and bewilderment on learning that Archelaus was the ruler of Judea, and finally the direct command from God to return to Nazareth and make his home there. And Mary's thoughts would be not less busy than his. Pcrhai>s they con- versed together concerning these things as they journej^ed ; but it is easier to think of them as proceeding in silence, each pondering the strange and wonderful events in which they had been given so singular a part. On their arrival in Nazareth, Joseph returned to his trade as a carpenter, and Mary entered upon her humble duties as the wife of a poor artisan. "And the child grew and waxed strong, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of God was upon him." Related Scripture.— Matt. 2 : 13-23. Read again carefully Matt. 1 : 1 to 2 : 12; Luke 1 : 1 to 2 : 39 ; John 1 : 1-18. 40 THE LIFE OP JESUS. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. > r, 1. Why did Herod seek the deuth of Jesus? 2. How many communications concerning Jesus had been made by angels up to this time? 8. How many Jews were Jiving in the Nile valley in this period ? How many in Alexandria ? 4. What was the Septuagint, and where was it made? 5. Why did Joseph leave Egypt? 6. Why did he not return to Bethlehem? 7. Who ruled over Galilee at this time? 8. Review all you have learned concerning Herod the Great, Archelaus, Herod Antipas, and Philip. 9. Where is the flight into Egypt recorded ? 10. Repeat aloud the " Order of Events " as given in connection with Les- son V. i ■^■•^t^y^-V ■ -i* '■^■•■•'■Ti f^:.->\-^. ■ri- . VII. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. The First Oronp of Silent Years.— From the time of the return of Joseph to Nazareth to that of the baptism of Jesus we have only one glimpse of our Lord's life. Luke describes his visit to Jerusalem to attend the Passover when he was twelve years old, but the years both before and after are "silent years." However, we are not left in total ignorance of the conditioni in which he grew up. From other sources we know something of Jewish family life in that age, and from the records of Jesus' ministry we are able to infer a few facts concerning the pursuits of his youth. '^^.'.^:.-'?^/-'.T^'^i' The Jews loved their children intensely, and trained them with tenderness and care. We may picture Jesus in the quiet home of Jossph and Mary, receiving the careful train- ing of these two, whose hearts were tender by nature, and made more attentive to this babe by the wonders and prom- ises which accompanied his birth. We must believe too, thai Jesus as a child was peculiarly winsome and affectionate. That he was a favorite among the people of Nazareth, is stated by Luke, and that ac a man he was affectionate, is shown by his relation to his disciples. If Jesus' life resembled that of othc Jewish boys, and we have every reason to believe that it did, as soon as he could talk he was taught the simpler texts used in the daily morn- ing prayers, and later, when he could master them, longer and moife difficult passages. F4ven very poor families com- monly had some portion of the Old Testament Scriptures in their possession, and it is not unlikely that this devout family possessed the whole Old Testament. Mary's many allusions 41 42 THE LIFE OF JESUS. to the Scriptures in her hymn, show that she knew and loved them, and was, therefore, competent to be the instructor of her child. The picture of Mary, witli her young son by her side, teaching him liis earliest lessons in the sacred Scriptures, is full of domestic beauty and charm. At the age of five or six, Jesus would begin to read the Bible. Probably when about six or seven he began to attend day school in the synagogue, that very synagogue out of which his infuriated fellow-townsmen years later led him, eager to slay him on account of the sermon he had preached to them. In the synagogue school he would study the Bible attentively, and become interested in the rabbinic interpreta- tion of the law. He would also learn to write, though to this accomplishment some Jewish children did not attain. There is no doubt that the penetrating mind of Jesus, even in his childhood, discerned the hoUowness and falsity of many of those rabbinic teachings which, in later years, he was to oppose. Jesus' First Passover.— The Jewish boy came of age at thirteen, when it was his duty to attend the passover feast in Jerusalem. Jesus anticipated this date in his life by one year. As his first Passover would be an event of most solemn import to him, it may be that Mary took this occasion to tell him the story of his infancy. This story would be told with swelling heart, and heard with absorbing interest. We can imagine Mary and her son walking a little apart from the company of pilgrims, while she told him those "sayings" which she had pondered in her heart for twelve years, and perhaps discussed with him the Messianic promises of God which were contained in their ancient Scriptures. On this journey, Jesus would join with the other pilgrims in chanting the Songs of Ascents (Ps. 120-134) as they travelled southward. If, in these later daj's. Christians repeat these psalms with holy delight, who can measure the .spir- itual uplift of those oppressed but hopeful Jews as, recalling CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 43 the promises of God, they sang such words as the follow- ing : " He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep: Jehovah is thy keeper." " Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sitteth in the heavens." " They that trust in Jehovah Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the Lord is round about his people, * From this time forth and forevermore." When their duties in connection with the Passover were ended, Josepii and Mary starred homeward, accompanied by many others from Galilee. At the end of the first day they discovered that Jesus was not with the caravan. Filled with anxiety, they hurried back to Jerusalem in search of him ; but their quest was not successful until the third day, when they came upon him, sitting in the temple with a group of learned Jews, listening to their discussions and asking them qu(?stions. It is likely that his questions related to the paschal feast, the ceremonies of which had begun a few days before • and we may suppose that he pointed out from the Scriptures the spiritual meaning of the slain lamb, and pro- posed to the rabbis questions concerning the identity of the Messiah and the Lamb of God. When Joseph and Mary at length found him, Mary, wearied by the journey and search, and fretted by her fears, said to him : "Son, why hast thou dealt thus with us ? Behold thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. ' ' It may be believed that Mary never spoke more sharply to Jesus than on this occasion. His answer shows that, even as a boy, he was distinguished by that calmness and dignity of spirit which characterized so remarkably his 44 THE LIFE OP JESUS. maturer years : " How is it that ye sought me ? Wist ye not that I must be in my Father's house ? " Already this meek and gentle boy felt the anointing hand of his Father upon him, setting him apart to be the Messiah of the Jews, the Saviour of the world, the Son of God with power. Joseph and Mary did not understand the answer of Jesus. They could not see the horizon which his vision reached. Sublim- ity and simplicity are joined in this wonderful hour : his answer to Mary is sublime ; his simplicity is matchless, as ^<) turns from his Father's house to accompany these Nazareth peasants to their humble home. ** And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth ; and he was subject unto them ; and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." There, in picturesque Nazareth, he grew to manhood, his wisdom increasing with his stature. He was loved by his neighbors, and the devout regarded him a^ one upon whom the favor of God rested. ^^■'^.-■^-■v-v,t...v., ';:•?;' -W'"-'" ■' The Second Group of Silent Years.— Eighteen silent years t It is almost certain that during this period Jesus worked as a carpenter with Joseph : "Is not this the carpenter?" asked his fellow-townsmen when he preached at Nazareth. It is certain that he studied the Scriptures profoundly. That he studied nature and affairs also is shown by the illustrations which illuminate his discourses. He noticed the growing grain, the weeds which troubled the farmer, the lilies, the birds in their nests, the burrowing foxes, the sparrows offered for sale in the markets, the skies with their signs of sunshine and rain, the sports and jests of the children in the market- place, the sheep in the fold and the field, the dress and food of the rich, the mercies of dogs to diseased beggars, and so on. Je.«ius was not a dreamer, but a man keenly observant of the life about him. He was a boy among boys, a youth among youths, a man among men. He felt disappointment, as boys and men do now, and knew the force of temptation ; and therefore he is not a Friend '^that cannot be touched CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 45 with the feeling of our infirmities ; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." The years of discipline and temptation in Nazareth were as really preparatory to his work for men as the forty days' tempta- tion in the wilderness after his baptism. Rklatbd ScRiPTURB.— Luke 2 : 40-52. QUESTI0N8AND SUGGESTIONS. ' 1. Name in order all the events of Jesus' first thirty years. 2. Note which of these are named by Matthew and Luke respec- tively. 8. Describe the early educational training of a Jewish boy. 4. Bepeat aloud the story of Jesus' visit to Jerusalem when twelve years old. 6. Find evidence that, as a boy, Jesus v/as popular among his neighbors. 6. State reasons for believ- ing that he had an observing mind. 7. Find evidence that he was a carpenter. 8. In what respect was Jesus most conspicu- ously different from others of his own age? ^. Vlil. THE BAPTISM. \ I I John the Baptist. — ^The desolate country on the west of the Dead Sea is furrowed by torrents which, in times of freshet, flow swiftly eastward to the sea. It is called the "wilderness of Judea." About the year 26 A. D., there appeared in this wilderness a strange preacher, a strong, stern man, rugged in character and rude in dress, who solemnly called upon Israeli to prepare for a crisis, which he declared was just at hand. This was that John, the son of Elisabeth and Zacharias, whose birth and name were announced by the angel Gabriel, and at whose circumcision, thirty years before, the neighbors and cousins of Elisabeth strongly urged that his name be Zacharias instead of John. Of the early life of John the Baptist even less is known than of that of Jesus. Except the brief record, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel," no glimpse of his life is afforded from the day of his circumcision until the beginning of his ministry. When at length he emerged from the obscurity which enveloped his first thirty years, he spake in the manner and with the daring of one of the ancient prophets. Although he had lived in seclusion, his rebukes proved that he was not ignorant of prevailing evils. No mention is made of Zacharias and Elisabeth after the day on which their son w'as circumcised ; and, as they were both old then, doubtless they died some years before his ministry be- gan. Perhaps as an orphaned and only child his sorrows and fculitariness helped to turn him toward that asceticism in which he was prepared for his stern work as the Elijah of his age. 46 THE BAPTISM. 47 The Message of the Baptist.— ''Repent ye," was John's exhortation; "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," was his argument. The phrase ''kingdom of lieaveu," was not understood in a spiritual sense by the Jews. To their ears John's message meant: '^The rule of the Jewish nation by God through liis Messiah is at hand." They thought that their proud Jewisit hopes were about to be realized, and though many were slow to bow before the word of the new prophet, throughout the land there was intense excitement. "The people were in expectation." They felt that they were on the eve of extraordinary events. Some believed that this wilderness prophet was himself the Messiah. This mis- conception John corrected promptly, and bade the people be ready for the coming of one "mightier" than he, whose shoes he was " not worthy to bear." The preparation which he demanded was moral. When the crowds asked what they should do to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, he com- manded them to show a change of mind by ceasing to do evil. The sign of this repentance was the rite of baptism, to which he required all to submit who would prepare for the coming of the king. ; The Baptism of Je8as.~The message of John reached Jesus in his Galilean home, and he hastened to the Jordan to seek baptism. Though in his sinless nature there could be no response to the call "llepent j'e," he not less than others had a supreme duty in connection with the great fact stated by John in the words, " the kingdom of heaven is at hand." If others must prepare for that kingdom, he not less ; they by repentance, he by a public consecration of himself to the work for which God had anointed him, namely, the estab- lishment of the kingdom of heaven by the sacrifice of him- self He signified his readiness for his part in the new king- doji by seekin.a: baptism at the hand of John. John most likely did not know who Jesus was when he applied to him for baptism. Though related through 4a 'h THE LIFE OF JESUS. mothers, probably they had never met, except, perhaps, as little children before the death of Elisabeth. But as soon aa the Baptist looked upon the Christ he seems to have discerned the loftly spiritual character of the stranger. *' I have need to be baptized of thee," he said, *^and comest thou to me?" To this objection Jesus replied simply, ** Suffer it now ; for thus it becometh us to fulfill uU righteousness." John was silenced, and the two men went down into the Jordan ; and there Jesus was buried in baptism, and rose again, as three years later he would be buried in the grave and rise tri- umphant after three days. The Messiah Recognized.— When John baptized Jesus in the waters of the Jordan, he was not fully aware that his hands were upon the Messiah. He was waiting for a sign. In some previous hour of fellowship with God he bad learned that when he saw the Holy Ghost descending and abiding upon a man, he should know that the Messiah was before him. That sign he would see soon. After the baptism, Jesus went up out of the water immediately, and prayed ; and then a wonderful thing occurred. The skies seemed to be torn open, and through the rent there came downward swiftly a form having the appearance of a dove. This rested on the praying man at the river side. It was the Holy Spirit. John saw and believed. The Messiah had come. This was he who should baptize " with the Holy Ghost and with fire." A second wonder followed soon. As the Holy Spirit had come in dove-like form and flight from the skies, so now there falls "a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Christ had been baptized and had prayed ; the Spirit had descended ; the Father had spoken. Here in the hour of baptism were manifested God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. He who a short time before was dwelling in Nazareth, with no rank higher than that of carpenter, now in this sub- lime hour is recognized by John and proclaimed by the Father THE BAPTISM. 49 as tho **Son of God." The quiet and peace of obscurity end. Ho may never know again that unharassed home life in which he spent his first thirty years. He has entered the path in which he will find his work, and his woe, duty, and death. Though as his feet touch the threshold of his public ministry he hears the glorious testimony of Gud, ''This is my beloved Son," and feels as it were the kiss of his Father upon his lips, before he shall have crossed that threshold the storm of darkness and hate will break upon his head. Belated Scbipturk.— Matt 8 : 1-17 ; Mark 1 : 1-11 ; Luke 8 : 1-22. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Glance rapidly over the headings of the seven preceding studies. 2. Review the story of Qabriel's appearance to Zacba- rias in the temple. 8. Read Zacharias' hymn. 4. Read the account of the naming of John. 5. How much is known of John's first thirty years? 6. In how many of the Gospels do we find an account of John's preaching? 7. Which account is most complete? 8.^ Compare the various accounts, noting difierences and resemblances. 9. Find on the map the " Wilder- ness of Judea" (see Lesson I). 10. What was the moaning of John's message? 11. Find evidence that he had observed the common sins of his day. 12. Read the history of Elijah, and notice in what respects John resembled him. i IX. THE TEMPTATION. Driven by the Spirit. — Was Jesus quulified to be the Saviour of the world ? Could he demonstrate his supremacy in the realm of righteousness ? The innocent Adam had fallen before the cunning of Satan ; would the sinless Jesus come forth unstained if subjected to the assaults of this hitherto uu- conqucred intriguer of the world? The test was soon to occur. The baptismal hour was crowned with glory and honor. The Father, as if with divine luve and pride, acknowledged his Son. Who can measure the joy and holy exaltation of that Son in this hour ? Out of light Jesus was led immediately into darkness. From the Jordan he was "driven" by the Spirit into the " wilderness. ' ' Wild beasts were there, savage and treacher- ous. Satan also was there — malignant, cunning, and bent on the eternal ruin of this "Son of Man." It is certain that from the first Jesus understood fully that his work of saving the world must be done in a realm of sor- row, pain, and humiliation. The circumstances of the case lead to the supposition that when Vie went into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, these four thoughts were dwelling in his mind : First, that he was the Son of God ; second, that his life was to be lived and all his singular powers employed with a self-forgetful and lofty moral purpose ; third, that he was not to win the allegiance of his people by rushing suddenly upon their attention from some cloud of glory or mystery, but by revealing to them in the quiet of gracious teachings and tender compassions the cliarivcter of true man and true God ; and fourth, that his conquest of the nations of the world must 6U THE TEMPTATION. 61 be made sfowly and laboriously, in shame and suffering, and not by 8uddcn strokes or shrewd strategies and compromiHcs. Witi) such conceptions) of iiis work he met the terrible tempter. Ilia temptation was neither accidental nor the result solely of Satan's malice. Not by wicked men nor cunning demons, but by the Spirit of God, was he led forth to this mightiest battle known to the ages ; for only by vanquishing the supreme adversary could he demonstrate his competency, and at the same time qualify his soul, to redeem the lost and succor them that are tempted. The Forty Days' Fast.— ^For forty days the contest went on between the tempter and the tempted. Things which the eye s<\w not and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man, Jesus endured. So terrible was the agony of his soul, that during all these dark days and dreadful nights he was unconscious of physical needs, and ate nothing. Moses and Elijah fasted during a like period, but neither of these knew such wrestlings as wearied the soul of the Son of Man. Edersheim. cniuparing these three fasts, says : " Moses fasted in the v ' , jle, Elgah at the end, Jesus at the beginning, of his niiiuiitry. Moses fasted in the presence of God ; Elijah alone ; Jesus assaulted by the devil. Moses had been called up by Gt)d ; Elijah had gone forth in the bitterness of his own spirit; Jesus was driven by the Spirit. Moses failed after Iiis forty days' fast, when in indignation he cast the tables of the law from him ; Elijah failed before his forty days' fast ; Jesus was assaulted for forty d.ays and endured the trial. Moses was angry against Israel ; Elijah despaired of Israel ; Jesus overcame for Israel. " -, ,- ■•' "vv^im. At the end of forty days, Jesus becomes keenly aware of his need of food, and it is at this juncture that Satan, taking advantage of his physical distress, gathers all his powers for the culminating assault. Can the weary Jesus, exhausted and unnerved by long vigils and unspeakable struggles, endure this final and fiercest attack ? Awful conseauences are in the 52 THE LIFE OF JESCS. ill iii! balance. If he fails, heaven will be dishonored and hell triumphant. If he fails, the Son of God will become the serf of Satan and the world must be lost forever. The renewed assault takes the form of three temptations. The First Temptation.— First in order is tiie bread tempt- ation. Satan speaks : '* If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Jesus answers : " It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Only a famishing man can realize the force of the tempta- tion lying in the suggestion to change into wholesome bread the harsh stones of the wilderness. Nothing less than a self- control at once *neffable and glorious could rescue this man, whose nerves were shaken by his long struggle, and who was now suflFering the pangs of dire hunger, from the impulse to allay his tortures by creating bread. But perhaps a yet more subtle and powerful temptation lay in the crafty insinuation that he was deceived in believing himself to be the Son of God. An "if" is often more piercing and destractive than a sword. After enduring diabolical persecution for forty days, it would have comforted him infinitely to receive renewed assurance of his divine sonship, especially by a transaction which would silence his persecutor. But using a text as a defending shaft, the tempted foiled the craft of the tempter, and the Son of Man was yet "without sin." The Second Temptation.— In the temple temptation, Satan makes his appearance from another side. * There is again that subtle insinuation of the phrase, "If thou art the Son of God " ; for the tempter, if he can, will arouse a doubt, knowing that battles are half won when faith weakens ; but the supreme force of this assault seems to lie in its appeal to Jesus to launch himself upon the notice of the Jews in a manner which will command at once their admiration and /,/•. THE TEMPTATION. • I' 53 allegiance. They arc looking for the Messiah to appear sud- denly and strangely. If he will drop among them in the temple, his coming glorified by the companionship of angels, wi.n shall check his downward speed to prevent him from being dashed to pieces as he alights, all the Jewish nation will hail him with acclamation and homage, and instantly his leadership will be put beyond dispute. To gain command of the Jewish people was an immediate purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry, and Satan now suggests a method by which this can be done without pain, and quickly. Jerusalem is the scene of the temptation. Jesus and the tempter are looking down from a pinnacle of the temple. -' Satan speaks: "If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written. He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; And on their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus answers : "Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." A second time the tempter is foiled by the Son of Man. The Third Temptation.— Like the first, the scene of the tliird temptation is laid in the wilderness. It is the world- kingdom temptation. Satan does not again attempt to in- sinuate a doubt into the mind of Jesus in regard to his divine sonship, but, as if granting that this is no longer to be ques- tioned, offers him great gain in return for a momentary act of homage. Jesus desires to possess the kingdoms of the world, not that he may enjoy the glory of them, but that he may purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. In his days of meditation in Nazareth, and in those luminous moments of revelation which followed his baptism, he doubt- less saw that this goal could be reached only by a long and dreary path which led sadly onward through savage wilder- nesses of hatred, anguish, and death. But here there i? pre' I 54 ( I THE LIFE OP JESUS. sented to him an opportunity to reach tlie goal at a bound. Let him perform this single act of homage and the kingdoms shall be his. Then he can mold them to his will. Why may he not do momentary evil for the sake of enduring good ? It is the net in which myriads have been taken captive by Satan at his will. But on this day the temptation is thrust away with a swiftness and scorn which could have been no less than appalling to the tempter. In form, the third temptation was as follows: r Satan speaks: "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. " ;» ^ v ;■'..? ..;. Jesus answers : "Get thee hence, Satan ; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Thus the sublime duel ended. In the first and second cases the temptation was thrust away, in the third case the tempta- tion was resisted and the tempter put to flight. " Then the devil leaveth him." Who can measure Jesus' exhaustion in this hour of victory ? In imagination we can see him sinking to the ground, like one whose strength is utterly spent. Now, if ever, he needs to be "ministered unto"; and as by angels his birth had been heralded and hailed, and his infancy tenderly guarded, so now his weariness and hunger are alleviated by their ministries. "And behold, angols came and ministered unto him." ■'•'i •■' •■ ■ ' .« ' n?;".:',. -s: * Related Scripture.— Matt. 4 : 1-11 ; Mark 1 : 12, 18; Luke 4: 1-13. ^ ;;.^.. . -i .'. .. :*- s' . ','i^-!s^s; ^ »" '*■' - ' ' '' . ■^•*- f ?. -. . . -r ■ .- Note —Read the accounts of the temptation as given by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Observe that Luke changes the order of the second and third temptations. Notice the differ- ences in the three accounts. Study this lesson alone. Try to realize the scene, and to appreciate the significance of Christ's victory. ^ .„ . . ..;.,; , ., ..... THE TEMPTATION. 55 QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. "What happened to Jesus immediately after his baptism? 2. Which of the evangelists speaUs of " wild beasts" in the wil- derness? 3. Which states that Jesus was " driven " into the wil- derness? 4. During how long a period was Jesus tempted? 5. Compare the fasts of Moses and Elijah with that of Jesus? 6. Name the three temptations in the order given by Matthew? 7. Commit to memory Satan's words and Jesus' answer in each of the temptations. 8. Wherein lay the peculiar force of each temptation? ■ „ . ^ REVIEW QUESTIONS. ->* 1. What are the names of the principal highlands and low- lands of Palestine? 2, Describe the Maccaboan period, 8. Who were the Pharisees, and how did they differ from the Sadducees? 4. Where was Zacharias when the birth of John was foretold? 6. Tell the story of the presentation in the temple. 6. Give an account of Jesus' first Passover. 7. Describe his baptism. X. ■H JESUS MADE KNOWN John the Baptist Tempted. — On one occasion Jesus said : "Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John." Nowhere is the 'greatness of this man more conspicuous than in those scenes in which his disregard for himself and his own popularity are made to appear. From egotism and envy he was totally free. As the Christ tri- umphed over temptation in the solitudes of the wilderness, so the Baptist, though in less agonizing wrestlings, triumphed over temptation amid the multitude that came to the Jordan as he preached and baptized. Jesus met three teniptations ; John met three tempting questions ; and the narrative war- rants the conjecture that these two men, the harbinger and the Saviour, were both tempted on the same day. Jerusalem was so stirred by rumors concerning the rugged prophet of the wilderness, that a deputation of priests and Levites was sent to the Jordan to question him with respect to his character and authority. When i.hey arrived, John had been living for forty days 't. the n»emory of the events which att >ded the baptism of Jesus. Doubtless he had been tell- ing his own disciples that the other Baptist, that one greater than he, who would baptize "with the Holy Ghost and with fire,' had come and might be expected to enter upon his high mission at any time. If perplexed by the disappearance of Jesus fo so many days, his faith did not waver, as appeared when the deputation began to question him. The' dialogue was as follows : "Who art thou?" "lam not the Christ." 66 JESUS MADE KNOWN. 67 " Art tljou Elijah?" ''I am not." '' Art thou the prophet ? " "No." • The questions were in a descending scale, which woula put the temptations in an ascending scale. But even the greater temptation to claim the smaller eminence, or at leasi to hint at his resemblance to Elijah or the prophet of whom Moses spoke, had no power over him. Sinca John disavowed so much, it was inevitable that he should be challenged to show by what authority he exercised the functions of a prophet. His questioners again addressed him : "Who art thou? That we may give an answer to them that sent us." "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord." "Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? " "I baptize with water; in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose." Here was & man who magnified his office, but welcomed self-eflFacoment in the presence of one who was higher than he. Such humility the world has rarely seen. Jesns' First Disciples.— On the following day Jesus re- turned from the wilderness. As John saw him coming near, he said to those who stood with him, " Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." Then he made known that this was that Greater One of whom he had spoken in all his teaching, for whose coming he had been sent to prepare, and whom he had recognized after his baptism by a sign which God had given him ; adding. " And I have seen, and haveborne witness that this is the Son of God." "Lamb of God," "Son of God:" by these titles John announces ^' THE LIFE OP JESUS. the Anointed to the world. Was he thinkinaj of the lamb slain in the daily sacrifices ? or of the paschal lamb, whose blood, in a figure, sheltered the homes of the Israelites ? or of that "servant" of the Lord, whom Isaiah described "as a lamb that is led to the slaughter?" It maybe that his thought included all three of these, the terms of prophecy, and the symbols of the sacrifices, growing luminous as he looked upon the Son of God manifested in the flesh, to be "wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our iniquities." But though John's testimony was so clear and impressive in that day, no disciple was won to Jesus. The next day John was standing with Andrew and John, the brother of James, when Jesus passed near. Pointing him out to them, he said, as on tlie previous day, "Behold, the Lamb of God ! " On the former occasion he had spokea to many, apparently, and no one followed Jesus ; now he speaks to two, and both of them leave the Baptist that they may abide for a day with the Christ. If at ten o'clock in the morning they began to follow, somewhat doubting, when the day was spent they returned fully believing. A third disciple was added that same day. These two men had no will to conceal their glorious discovery. Andrew " findeth first his own brother, Simon, and saith unto him, we have found the Messiah. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, "Thou art Simon the son of John ; thou shalt be called Cephas." On the following day Jesus set out for a short visit in Gali- lee, accompanied by his three disciples, John, Andrew, and Peter, Perhaps it was while they were on the way that a fourth was added, in the person of Philip. He was .a fellow- townsman of Andrew and Peter, and it may be that their testimony regarding his devoutness had something to do with Jesus' invitation to him, "Follow me." Philip's worthiness was soon made known by his works. Before the day was ended he had brought Nathanael to Jesus. Nathanael's JESUS MADE KNOWN. 59 home was in Cana, whither they were journeying, and it is probable that Plaiip hurried on ahead of the little company to make known that the Messiah, for whose coming he knew that his friend was praying, had already appeared and was near Cana. Nathanael's first doubts were instantly scattered when he saw Jesus, and he became the fiftii disciple ; and when Jesus entered Cana, where he would soon work his first "sign," he was attended by five " believers," who were of such quality that when, long after, he selected twel.e men to become apostles, each of these was chosen. The First Miracle.— On the third day after their arrival in Cana, Jesus and his disciples, who probably had been the guests of Nathanael in the meantime, attended a marriage feast to which they had been invited. Among the guests was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who had come across from Naza- reth to join in the festivities of the occasion. It was duriner the progress of this feast that Jesus performed his first mira- cle. Mary discovered that the wine was becoming scarce, and reported this fact to Jesus, perhaps expecting, from her knowledge of his sagacity and inveniiiveness, that he would devise some means of securing a new supply. Something in her manner must have manifested a sense of pre-eminence over him, and a failure to realize that he had gone out from her home into the world to do the work for which he had been anointed by his Heavenly Father ; and as eighteen years before he had said to her, " Wist ye not that I must be in my father's house," so now he says, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." Henceforth he must stand before the world, not as the son of Mary, but as the Son of Man. That there was tenderness in his tone and manner as he spoke these repelling words is clear from their effect on Mary. Turning quietly and confidently to the ser- vants, she said: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, doit." This they did soon after, when he bade them bring water and fill six largo stone jars which were standing near, and 6a THE LIFE OP JESITS. I again when he directed them to draw out from the jars and bear to the "ruler of the feast." Tliia functionary, having tasted of the water which liad been made wine, called to the bridegroom, with much of heartiness and something of rough- ness, to applaud the superior quality of the beverage, quite ignorant of the miracle by which it had been produced. "But the servants which had drawn the water knew," they being the first, doubtless, to discover that the water had be- come wine. The news, however, spread quickly, and the five disc'ples were confiriiied in their faith. Within a week, Jesus had been made known in three wsys. First there was the testimony of John tiie Baptist; then came his self-revelation to his disciples, first to John and Andrew, then to Peter, next to PhiUp, and finally to Nathan- ael, or Bartholomew, as he is commonly called in the New Testament. The third manifestation was at Cann, where he did " this beginning of signs . . . and manifested his glory. " By this three-fold cord these five men, the nucleus of the Christian church, were bound to him for life and for death. When the marriage feast was ended, Jesus, accompanied by his mother, "brethren," and disciples, went northward and visited for a few days in Capernaum, a city which he afterward chose as his headquarters during his Galilean min- istry. His first disciples had been won, and his first miracle performed, but his public ministry was not yet begun. It would begin soon in Judea. Relatkd Scripture.— John 1 : 19 to 2 : 12. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. During his first thirtj' years, how was Jesus connected with the following places : Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth, the "Jordan," the "wilderness," Bethany (A. V., Be'thabara), and Cana? 2. What relation to his life had the following per- sons: Caesar Augustus, Simeon, Anna, Herod the Great, Archelaus, and John the Baptist? 3. Find evidences of great- JESUS MADE KNOWN. 61 ness in John tho Baptist. 4. Describe the interview between John and the deputation of "priests and Lovites" from Jerusa- lem. What happened on the day after this interview? 6. What two titles did John give Jesus on that day? 7. Show the appro- priateness of the title, "Lamb of God." 8. Who were Jesus' first two disciples? 9. Whose disciples had they been be/ore? 10. Consider whether their readiness to forsake John for Jesus was the intended result of John's own teaching. 11. Who was the first man to bring an "inquirer" to Jesus? 12. Who was the firbt man to whom Jesus said, "Follow me"? 13. Who ^vaa the second man to bring an " inquirer" to Jesus? 14. How was Nathanael persuaded that Jesus was the Messiah ? 15. Describe Jesus' first miracle. 16. In what three ways was Jesus made known as the Messiah within a week after his temptation in the wilderness? 17. Name the first five disciples. • ORDER OF EVENTS, Lesson VI-X. NoTS.— The student should compel himself to commit this to memory. 12. Flight into Egypt 18. Slaughter of the Innocents. 14. Return to Nazareth. 15. Childhood at Nazareth. 16. Visit to Jerusalem when Twelve Years Old. 17. Eighteen years at Nazareth. 18. Ministry of John the Baptist. 19. Baptism of Jesus. 20. Temptation of Jesus. 21. John's Testimony before the Priests and Levites. 22. Jesus Anointed as the Lamb of God. 23. The First Five Disciples. 24. The First Miracle. 25. Sojourn in Capernaum. % 4 .11 ijlijll . 1 . r * THE MINISTRY REQUN. * *' ' '" The Freparaticn Complete. — Jesus was now ready to enter upon his public ministry. The quiet years in Nazareth had prepared him to ^o in and out among men with tliat compre- hension of their daily lives which is born of experience. His baptism had been his announcement that he was ready for his part in the establishment of the heavenly kingdom, and had furnished the occasion for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him, and the proclamation of the Father that this was the Son in whom he was well pleased. The temptation in the wilderness had completed his spiritual preparation for his great conflict with the sin of the world, and had demonstrated his supremacy in the realm of righteousness. As he returned from the wilderness, his face was turned resolutely toward all that awaited him as the Redeemer of the human race. Within the few days following the temptation, a threefold witness had been given to his Messianic character. John, who had come to bear witness of him, declared to the choicest of his disciples that this was the Son of God. These disciples of John, when they had spent a day in the company of Jesus, came back telling eagerly that they had found the Messiali. Almost immediately after this, the miracle at Cana added confirmation to what these early disciples believed. His cre- dentials were suflScient ; and when he returned from Galilee to enter upon his public work, he was accompanied by at least five well-taught, sagacious, and holy men, who believed that he was the Anointed of God. The Passover. — After spending a few days in Capernaum, Jesus went up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover. As this 62 THE MINISTRY REQUN. was the first Pussovor of his public ministry, it was nn occa- sion of grent interest. A fow days before, lie had been an- nounced as the Lamb of God ; at this feast the Lamb of God would see the slaying of the paschal lamb in those ceremonies which for centuries had pointed to his own coming and death, and to the salvation of men through the shedding of his blood. Hero also he would exhibit that zeal for his Father's house which should make for him constant friends and bitter ene- mies ; for until the day of his death Annas hated him as a meddlesome upstart, and Nicodcmus retained memories of him so tender that when he was dead lie brought for liis burial a ''mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight." ' • • - • • • ' IMultitudes came to the Passover from all parts of Pales- tine, and from the distant cities whither the Jews had scat- tered or where proselytes had been won. In the throngs that crowded the thoroughfares leading to the temple, Jesus might see strangers from Africa, or the far East, or the provinces of Asia Minor, or from Home. Dare we attempt to imagine the emotions with which he witnessed the formal zeal of these lost sheep of the house of Israel? As the feast went on, among these worshipers there stood One whom they knew not, even he who had come to baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; but though he was with his own, they that were his own recognized him not. The First Cleansing of the Temple.— When Jesus entered the court of the Gentiles, he found theie a noisy and sacri- legious scene. Money changers were busy receiving the coins of Egypt, Tyre, Syria, Persia, Greece, and Rome, in exchange for the Palestinian coins, in which alone the temple tribute could be paid. Their greed for large commissions, and their customers' eagerness. to pay as low a rate as possible, doubtless led to much clamorous bickering. Meanwhile, within the same enclosure, the oxen, sheep, and doves, which the wor- shipers would need as they made their offerings, were exposed 64 »t THE LIFE OP JESUS. for sale. The bleating of the sheep, the bellowing of the cattle, and the erics of buyers and sellers, must have made the place bear a closer resemblance to a cattle market than to the courts of the Lord. Burning with zeal, Jesus at once rebukes the desecration of ]ps Father's house. With his own hands he drives the cattle and sheep out of the sacred enclosure, their keepers not daring to hinder him. Turning to the money changers, he pours out their money and overturns their tables, none venturing to offer resistance. To the sellers of doves, he siiys : "Take these things hence ; make not my Father's house a house of mer- chandise" ; and these, alarmed, hurry away before the irjdig- nation of his bearing and the sharpness of his rebuke. Some- thing in the manner of Jesus made him irresistible in this hour of asserted majesty. No doubt too, the consciences of these offenders made cowards of them all. The spectiiturs probably sympathized with Jesus, partly because the traffic in the temple was a public scandal, and partly because of the unpopularity of the family of the high priest, whose revenues were largely increased from this source. His Authority Challenged. — As soon as tho.se who were engaged in this illicit traffic in the temple, or were privy to it, recovered from the consternation into which they had been thrown by the suddenness of Jesus' attack, they gathered about him and demanded his authority for what he had done. They dared not use violence, because the righteousness of his act was apparent to all ; but if he could show no sign to prove that he had a right to interfere, they might hope to turn the tide of popular feeling against him, or at least to secure immunity from another similar interruption of their business. The answer of Jesus to their demand was quick and start- ling: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ' ' What could he mean ? The Jews misunderstood him ; but whether stupidly or willfully we cannot tell. If there was something in tone or gesture to indicate that he was referring THE MINISTRY BEGUN. 65 to his own body, and not to tlio temple building, tboy misun- deratood iiiui williully, in order to give point to thoir dnecr- ing ri\joindcr and juHtiBuution to their hoHtility. Tiiey could find no legitimate cause for this in either his character or work, und hence they must neok the more earnestly for the best one that could be trumped up. *' Forty :Mid six years," said they, scornfully, "was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?" dcsus made no reply to their objection, as was ever afterward his habit when men caviled or scoffed. Even his disciples did not understand his meaning that day, though the explanation uecame lain to them afterward. ''When, therefore, ho was raisp''. iVom the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake thi-i; and they believed the Scriptures aua the word wl ::. Jesus had said." The Jews' demand for Jesus' authority, and his answer, are both deeply significant. As on this occasion, so on all future occasions, they would attempt to dress their hatred of his person and works in the garb of religion, while he, on his part, as he crosses the threshold of his public ministry, in a figure points to his resurrection as the great evidence to the world of his authority on the earth. Signs. — Although when the Jews questioned him Jesus volunteered no miraculous exhibit' n to convince or confound them, yet as the feast proceeded •' gave so many tokens of his supernatural power that, as in Cana "his disciples be- lieved on him " when they saw the water turned into wine, so here "many believed on his name, beholding the signs which he did." The opinion that the greater number of these, though filled willi wonder at his power, did not give him their full allegiance, is supported by the dubious statement of John the evangelist: " But Jesus did not trust himself with them, for that he knew all men, and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man ; for he himself knew what was in man." B 66 THE LIFE OF JESUS. Krlatku Scripture.— John 2 : 13-25. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Whoro wfts tho first mirnclo porformod? 2, Whoro did Jesus next use his mirftculous power? 3. Compare the two scenes carefully. 4. Describe the origin and meaning of the Passover. 6. What evil needing correction did Jesus find in the temple? 6. Why wore "money changers" in the temple? 7. Why did not the people with whose business Jesus interfered resist him? 8. What did they demand of him? 9. What was the meaning of his answer? 10. Under what circumstances was this answer used against him? 11. In what sense did the many "believe" who were moved by his signs only ? 12. What reason is there to believe that the most of them failed to become at that time true disciples? 13. Compare the beginning of Jesus' public ministry with that of John, noting contrasts. 14. Why was it fitting that Jesus should begin his public ministry in the temple ? 15. Set down upon paper, and then commit to memory, the steps in Jesus' preparation for this ministry. ( , • '. T •• XII. THE MINISTRY IN JUDEA. '■i' "- Jesus and Kioodemus.— Tiio first act of Jesua' public min- istry was an act of cluuiising, and his first teaching related to his resurrection from the dead. In respect to his own and the nation's Hfe, he laid the axe at the root of the tree. Ho had come to baptize with tlid Holy Ghost and with fire. He would consume that which was evil, and give power to the things that remained. His scourge of cords was u symbol of his conquest of sin, and his answer to those who challenged his authority when he used that scourge in cleansing the temple, was a prophecy of his conquest of death. His early claims in Judea were suftported by early signs. The temple was thd scene of his miracles as well as his teach- ings and rebukes. His fame spread quickly, and the common people heard him gladly. But the humble and unlearned were not alone in their wonder and admiration. Among the rulers was one at least who became convinced that this young Nazarene was a divinely appointed teaclier. Nicodemus was an eminent citizen of Jerusalem, of generous sympathies and most amiable character. He had the excellencies of the Pharisees without their bigotry and intolerance. Led by both his convictions and sympathies, he desired eagerly a private interview with Jesus, that he might learn fully the doctrines and purposes of the new teacher. To go openly to Jesus would involve him in serious difficulties with the leaders of the Jews, and, being a cautious man, this he wished to avoid. In order therefore to secure the quiet which he desired, and to shun the publicity which ho dreaded, he visited Jesus at night. 67 68 THE LIFE OP -JESUS. i i I Nicodemus greeted Jesus deferentially. " Rabbi," said he, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these signs that thou doest, except Cod be with him. " Jesus answered Nicodemus abruptly. '' Verily, verily, I say unto thee," was his reply, "except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus referred to two spiritual things, a spiritual birth and a spiritual kingdom, but Nicodemus' ideas could not rise above material things. He instantly ihought of a physical birth and a material Messianic kingdom ; and his answer, half incredulous, half scornful, shows that for the moment his reverence for the Galilean teacli^r was shaken. Jesus re-asserts his first proposition, and Carrie.^ the thought of his visitor forward into the myste- rious realm of the Spirit : "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the Spidt." The reverence of Nicodemus now returns, but his perplexity deepens. "How can these things be?" lie asks. In answer, Jesus, after chiding him for his lack of spiritual discernment, presents to his i viikened mind two other great truths : "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up ; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life." Though it may be that these words became precious to Nico- demus later, they must have shocked him inexpressibly when they fell upon his ears that night, for they were violently contrary to his preconceived opinions. We may believe that Jesus did not end his discourse until he had made clear to this ruler of the Jews that the Messiah would conquer in his dying, and that "eternal life," which came by faith in a crucified Messiah, was infinitely richer than the life which he had anticipated under the prosperous roign of a splendid Jewish king. Probably the interview lasted long. Perhaps the morning was near, when Nicodemus turned his steps toward his own house. It is not stated how far he E THE MINISTRY IN JUDEA. 69 surrendered to the truth that night, but he was ever after a friend of Jesus, defending him courageously, though cau- tiously, six months before his death, and when he was dead, joining with Joseph of Arimathea in giving honorable burial to his body. It is easy to believe the tradition that after Jesus' ascension he became an avowed Christian. Preaching and Baptizing in Judea.— Jesus began his ministry in Jerusalem, which was the spiritual centre of Palestine, and in the temple, which was the heart of Jeru- salem. Having spoken in the temple and city, it was fitting that he should go next to those lost sheep of the liouse of Israel who were scattered thoughout Judea. This he did : "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of J:idea ; and there he tarried with them and baptized." We know little of the events of this period. It is clear, how- ever, that for a time Jesus followed the path taken by his forerunner. His early message was the same as that of John : "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ; " and, by the hands of his disciples, he also baptized the multitudes who submitted to his teaching. The ''Decrease" of John— From the beginning of his ministry John had pointed steadfastly to one who was to overshadow him, and for whose coming he counted it sufficient honor to be permitted to prepare the way. If, as we have reason to believe, the explanation of the abrupt departure of John and Andrew from the number of the Baptist's followers to become disciples of Jesus is found in his purpose to make disciples only that he might turn them over to the one who came after him; we may infer that during the last months of his ministry he did what he could to persuade those who still came to his baptism to seek Jesus and believe on him as the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." If this was his purpose, it was in part successful. His popularity waned, and his following melted away, while throngs were attracted to the ministry and baptism of the new prophet ''■'il 70 THE LIFE OF JESUS. I!lt John saw the eclipse of his greatness not only with com- posure, but also with triumph. He knew that his light had appeared only that it might be lost in the glory of a greater light. But some of his disciples were unable to look with satisfaction upon the success of one whom tlMy regarded as a rival of their master ; and these said to him one day : ''Eabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him." Nothing more clearly reveals the sublime character of the Baptist than the manner in v/hich he received this communication. He manifests his submission in the words : "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven ;" and as he adds, " My joy therefore is frlfilled," his exultation becomes apparent. " He must increase, but I must decrease." Was there anything of petulance, murmur- ing, or sadness in these words? The context forbids the sus- picion. That which Heaven had ordained, he had desired ; and in that hour he could give God thanks that he had decreased in order that Jesus might increase. This man, who was great in his humility, was great unto the end. Related Scripture.— John 3 : 1-36; 4 : 1, 2.* A QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. State carefully all that is known concerning Nicodemus. 2. What was his early opinion of Jesus? 8. What three great truths did Jesus reveal to Nicodemus? 4. Where did Jesus go when he left Jerusalem? 6. What was the character of his work ftt this period? 6. Did he preach in the synagogues or in the open air? 7. What was the effect of Jesuu' preaching on John's popularity? 8. What were John's feelings toward Jesus at this time? REVIEW QUESTIONS. 1. State the length and breadth of Palestine, and of the sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. 2. Locate on the map, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Sychar, wilderness of Judea, Cana. 3. THE MINISTRY IX JUDEA. U What was the position of the high priest in the Maccabean period? 4. Who were called chief priests? 6. What was the occupation of Joseph? The office of Zacharias? The office of Nicodemus? 6. Recite the song which the angels sang when they announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus. 7. What did Simeon say when he saw Jesus? 8. What did Anna say? 9. To what tribe did Anna belong? 10. Describe the baptism of Jesus. 11. Name the three temptations in the wilderness. 12. Name the first five disciples. 13. Which of these lived in the tuwn in which Jesus performed his first miracle? 14. Describe the first cleansing of the temple. I vv^ jftTi » I XIII THE IrflNISTRY i? SAMARIA. The Departure from Judea.— Jesijs' poprlarity, at iviiich soirie of tiie. disciples of 1 >hu were grieved, was oxecorlingiy irritating to the Pharisees. They Lid been suffix Mtly anncfy&d when liiultitudos flocked to tlie Jordnn to iioarken to the it' .;ihic^^i tf the 'Japtist; but their annoyance hardened into a daugiica:- hostility when they learned that Jesus, who hitd arsgort (i tlion) months before by his words and acts in puriryijiii the teniple, was creating even greater popular ex- citement than haetite had forsaken him. ''I have meat to eat that ye know not of," was his answer to their importunity. Then after a puuse he added, " My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. ' ' The disciples are held and thrilled by his emotion, and wait to hear a further word, feeling that they will be called to some part in the high duty which he is announcing. They are not to be disappointed. He bids them look forth upon the white harvef^s of the field, and then as he points them to the spiritual harvest which awaits their reaping, their souls feel something of an emotion akin to his own. And so the hour which all had expected to spend in the quiet enjoyment of ii noonade meal is hallowed as by transfiguring light. A soul has been won to the truth. Duty has been glorified. The disciples have been led out of a blundering sympathy with the physical needs of Jesus into a sacred fellowship of spirit with him. Two Days in Sychar.— When the women left Jesus she was laboring under great excitement. Forgetting the errand which had brought her to the well, she hurried into the city to spread the tidings of her great discovery. Jesus' knowl- edge of aH her past life was the fact whifh she told, and it was this which made a profound impression upon the groups that gathered about her. ^\ hatever may have been her sins in the past, evidently she had a reputation for truthfulness, for " many of the Samaritans believed on bins because of the word of the women who testified. He told me all things that ever I did." As the result of her testimony a throng of the people of the city went out to Jacob's well, and invited Jesus to tarry in their town and teach. He complied with their request and spent two days there. "And many more believed because of his word ; and they said to the woman : Now we believe, not because of thy speaking, for we have ii 76 V THE LIFE OP JESnS. heard for ourselves, and know that tliis is the Saviour of the world." Judea had rejected him ; Samaria received him gladly. The despised Samaritans had a clearer spiritual sight than those who boasted that they were in possession of all knowledge uf God. It is better to be a humble heathcQ than an arrogant Pharisee. ^ BRLA.TKD 6CRIPTURE.— John 4: 1-42; Matt. 4:12; Mark 1:14. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. What report concerning Jesus' popularity reached the Jews? 2. Give two reasons why Jesus loft Judou. 8. Why was John the Baptist imprisoned ? 4. How was Herod Antipns related to Philip? 5. Why did Jesus pass through Samaria? 6. Whore did ho rest? 7. Name some places of interest which are near Jacob's well. 8. Why was the Samaritan woman surprised at the courteous request of Jesus? 9. What convinced her that he was a prophet? 10. What great truth concerning God did Je&us declare to her? 11. What great truth concerning him- self did he announce? 12. Why were the disciples surprised when they saw Jesus talking with the woman? 18. Who prob- ably were thjse disciples? 14. What lesson did Jesus teach, them at this time ? 15. Find evidence that this sinful Samaritan woman was not a liar. 16. How long did Jesus stay in Sychar? 17. What was the success of his ministry there? f4 XIV. THE MINISTRY IN QALILEE BEGUN. Syohar to Cana. — We have Rcen that Jesus choso Jerusa- lem, which was tiie citadel of Judaism, us his earliest mission field, and that his first public Messianic acts and words occurred in the temple, which was the heart of that citadel. In offering himself to the nation he went to those who were the very Hebrews of the Hebrews. When the leaders in Jerusalem rejected him, he went forth into the province and preached there until perils and difficulties had so multiplied as to make it prudent to curry his message elsewhere. The tragedy which wus enacted just outside the gates of Jerusa- lem nearly three years later wus but the harvest from seed sown during the days of this early Judean ministry. Having been rejected in Judea, Jesus turned to Galilee, as after Judea, the most Jewish community in Paicf ',• He had been absent from the northern province nearly u \ .; . During this time reports concerning his miracles and tear in Judea had been carried back to his former neighbor acquaintances, and his absence and these reports doubtless served to diminish somewhat the prejudice which naturally rises against a prophet " in his own country." The Galileans too, were by nature and training less bigoted and intolerant than the Judeans. His journey northward gave him opportunity to preach the gospel in Samaria, where his spirit was refreshed by the eagerness with which the Samaritans listened to his word. They demanded no signs, an'^ proposed no questions in casuis- try or theology ; but, persuaded by his supernatural knowledge of their hearts and needs, and drawn irresistibly by his teach- 77 i 1 1 2S ai. 78 THE LIFE OF JESUS. ings, believed on him so frankly and in such numbers, that hia two days' ministry among tiiem was one of the brightest spots in his life. His ministry having ended in Samaria, he resumed his journey to Galilee. Where shall he go first? Shall it not bo to Nazareth, where dwelt the people with whom ho grew up from infancy and in whose company he had worshiped in the synagogue on many holy Sabbaths? As hi; began his Judean n inistry in tiie temple in Jerusalem, so we might expect that he would begin the Galilean ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth. But fii*st ho must go to Cana, whore he made the water wine, and where was the home of his friiind and disciple, Nathan- ael. It is likely that the chief reason for going to Cana at this time was that he might secure rest before entering upon the arduous work of his Galilean ministry. Doubtless he was the guest of Nathanael during his stay in Cana. The Healing of the Nobleman's Son.— While Jesus was resting in Cana, a nobleman of Capernaum came alter him one day in great haste, asking him to go ovor to Capertmun. and heal his son, who was at the point of death. It may bo that this nobleman was that Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas, whose wife, Joanna, was afterward one of Jesus' most devoted followers. In that case her attachment to him can be traced to her gratitude for the miraculous recovery of her son. Although the officer was in great distress, the answer of Jesus to his appeal was at first critical, rather than compas- sionate : " Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe." The nobleman had no just conception of Jesus' character. Perhaps he loo ^ upon him as no more than a mere Jewish rabbi who had been unusually successful in eifecting cures, as it was alleged other rabbis had been some- times. But his mind, spurred by the answer of Jesus, and clarified by anxiety, came quickly into a truer light, and his new prajc: conquered : "Sir, come down, ere my child die." THE MINISTRY IN GALILEE BEGUN. 79 '" Go thy way ; thy son liveth," was tho rhysician's answer ; and tho distressed lather, who had come to Cana supposing that the only hope of saving his child's life lay in securing tho presence of tho rabbi in tho sickroom, now believed that tho word of Jesus was sufficient, and started homeward immedi- ately. His ftiith had risen sublimely. Something iu tho manner of Jesus had carried complete conviction to .lis pre- I)arcd soul, and ho who had wished to carry with him a per- son was content with a promise. His faith was rewarded. As ho hurried homeward he was met by his servants, who declared that his son was well. " When did he recover? " he asked, eagerly. " Yesterday at the seventh hour," tlicy answered. *' 'J'he very hour in wlach Jesus said: 'Thy son liveth,'" was his subdued comment, and from that moment his faith was complete. With swell- ing heart he told tho story of his experience in Cana, and t.3 his wife and servants heard, they share his faith in the Great Physician : ''and himself believed and his whole household." The First Rejection at Nazareth.— -When his stay was ended in Cana, Jesus " came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up." It would appear that in this journey and mis- sion he was alone, his disciples having gone to their own homes while he was resting in Cana. It may be too, that he visited his mother a short time in Nazareth before formally announcing himself as the Messiah. But at length the hour had come to speak forth his message, and to face another crisis in his life. As hud been his custom he went to the synagogue on the Sa'ubath. The chief ruler, either before Jesus entered the building, or soon after, invited him to be the leader of the devotions for tho day. It is likely that this was known or anticipated by the people of the town, and ihat the place was crowded, as was usual when a popular preacher was announced to speak. If they obeyed the teachings of the rabbis they walked to the synagogue rapidly that morning, to indicate 80 THE LIFE OF JESUS. their eagerness to join in the services. Returning, they would walii: lingeringly, to show their reluctance to leave the liouse of teaching and prayer. The opening part of the service consisted of various recit- ings, prayers, and benedictions, with appropriate responses. When these were ended, the "minister," that is, the official whose duty it was to attend to the details of the service, went to the ark, which was kept at the southern end of the syna- gogue, and brought forth a roll of the law, from which the selections for the day were read. Then followed the selection from the prophets, which on this day was read by Jesus, and formed his text. The lesson chosen was from Isaiah 61, and the people watched and listened intently as Jesus read : The Spirit of the Lord is upon mo, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He hath sent mo to prochiim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. He stood as he read, but sat down to speak. While every eye was watching, and every ear attentive, he opened his ser- mon with the extraordinary statement, "To-day hath this Scripture been fulfilled in your ears." What he said further in the sermon proper is not recorded, but it was of such remarkable and commanding quality that "all bare him wit- ness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth," At the close of the sermon, according to custom, the people had an opportunity to propose objec- tions or ask questions. Their first question this day was, " Is not this Joseph's son?" Released from the spell of liis eloquence, they recalled his first s ;ntence, and would have him tell why he, the son of r, village carpenter, '.nown to them all, dared make such claims. Jesus, perceiving that they would be more aiFected by such "signs," as had been done ia THE MINISTRY IN GALILEE BEGUN. 81 Capernaiira and elsewhere, than by the grasioua words which they had just heard, quotes the proverb, '" No prophet is acceptable in his own country," and then by illustrations from the lives of Elijah and Elisha, shows that strangers some- times seize the blessings which the prophet's own people reject. This thrust wjis too much for their forbearance. Jewish pride and prejudice lashed Jewish fury to the murder- ing point, and they "rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto tlie brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong." But the majesty of his bearing, before which the offenders 'n the temple many months before had been silent and obedient, now subdued these railing Nazarenes, and at his will ho passes through the midst of them, and went his way. ee- ls lis lim em ley in Rklated Scripture.— Luke 4 : 14-30; Mark 1 ; 14, 15; John 4 : 43-54. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Describe the iniuistry in Samaria. 2. Why did the Jews hate the Samaritans? 3. What in Jesus produced fiiith in the Samaritans? 4. Describe Jesus' former visit to Cana. 5. Find reasons for believing that on tjiis occasion he went there to rest. 6. Where was Jesus when he healed the sick boy in Caperruiup> ? 7. Note the stages in the nobleman's faith. 8. What were the meaning and purpose of Jesus' first answer to his request? 9. Why did Jesus begin his Galilean ministry in Nazareth? 10. Who invited Jesus to preach in the synagogue in Nazareth? 11. What was his text? 12. What was the eifect of the confer- ence which followed the sermon? 13. Why were his citations regarding Elijah and Elisha off:.Misive to tlie Jews? 14. Re])rat in your own language the story of this first rejection nt Naza- reth. 15. Diseovor whether this marks the beginning of his teaching in synagogues. V XV. r !■» [mI II THE BEGINNING IN CAPERNAUM. Jesns makes Capernaum his Headquarters.— From the time of the rejection of Jesus in Nazareth, Capernaum be- came his " own city." Capernaum was near the sea of Gali- lee, and in the midst of a populous and prosperous plain, and on many accounts was suitable to be his headquarters during the Gahlean ministry. There was a synagogue in the city, which had been built by that centurion whose servant Josus at a later date healed, and the ruler of the synagogue was that Jairus whose daughter he raised from tlie dead. Here, also, lived the nobleman who, with all his family, had lately become a believer in Jesus because of the healing of his child. Matthew, afterward numbered among the twelve, was the collector of taxes at this station. At this date, also, John and James, and Andrew and Simon, seem to have had their homes there. During his Galilean ministry no city was so highly favored as this. la its streets and homos many of his miracles were performed. It was in the synagogue of Caper- naum that ho delivered his extraordinary sermon on the bread of life. But that the people did not avail themselves of their opportunities may be learned from the sad and ]/ -rtentous words of Jesus: ''And thou, Ciperuaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven ? Thou shalt go doTn unto hades ; for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would remain unto this day. Howbeit, I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." The Calling of the Four.— Jesus went to Nazareth alone. No disciple shared the humiliation and peril which met him 82 THE BEGINNING IN CAPERNAUM. 83 4 so his >er- read )ne. lim in the city in which he had been '* brought up." If the f e who became his followers immediately after his return from the temptation, accompanied him during his Judean ministry, journeyed with him through Samaria, and were the "disci- ples" referred to in the record of the incident at Jacob's well, we may suppose that when he went to Oana to rest, they returned to their own families. But whether it was at this time or earlier that Peter, Andrew, and John returned to their old occupation, the narrative shows that while Jesus was passing through his trouble in Nazareth, they were fishing on the sea of Galilee. Here he found them on his return to Capernaum. One day, probably not long after his arrival in Capernaum, he was standing by the seaside, preaching. As he spoke, the multitude so increased and pressed upon him that preaching became difficult, and a fishing boat being near, he stepped into it, and requested Peter to push out a little from the shore. Sitting in the boat he finished his discourse, and then directed Peter to put out into deep water and let down the net. This seemed strange advice to the weary fisherman, who with his companions had been toiling all night without success ; but in deference to the Teacher he did as directed. To his great surprise the net was immediately filled with fish and, because of the unusual strain put upon it, began to break. Fortu- nately, James and John, the partners of Peter, were within sight, and promptly responded to the excited beckoning of Peter. Drawing the people who witnessed it, and they went out of the syna- gogue, nut liice the Nazareth congregation on a previous Sub- bath, with murder in their hearts, but with praise upon their Ups, so that in a siiort while the whole province had heard of this extraordinary miracle. Before, in Galilee, he iiad shown his authority over water, disease, and fishes ; now he showed his authority over demons, Peter's mother-in-law had been detained from the syna- gogue service that morning by sickness ; and when, after the service was over, Jesus went to Peter's house, some one told liim she was sick. Instantly his power was engaged on her behalf. "And he came and took her by the hand and raised her up, and the fever left her." So complete was her re- covery that she was able at once to attend to such duties as the law i)ermitted on the Sabbath and as were necessary for the comfort of her guests and the household. .Meantime, the events of the morning were bcii«g discussed in every street and home in the city. The sick, being told of the great Physician, began to hope. Anxious friends asked eagerly whether the diseased and demon-possessed in their families might not be set free. Sufficient answer was found in a narration of what had been done in the synagogue. So universal was the interest of the people, and bo widespread the faith in his power to heal, that at sunset Peter's house was sought by multitudes. The Sabbath being over, it was lawful to carry the sick. These were brought, therefore, by solicitous friends and relatives. Crowds followed them. Thousands were soon gathered about the door. All classes and ages were present. The aged were there, wondering at what their dim eyes saw. Children were there, receiving impressions which would never forsake them. And in that hour Jesus " healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many devils. ' ' The demons knew that he was the Son of God and would have told ; but not desiring evidence from a source so unclean, ' ' He suflfered not the devils to speak. ' * Ijl? :til 86 THE LIFE OF JESUS. Thus ended the Sabbath Day of luiracles. Though he would leave Giipernauni the next morning, there would remain in many homes witnesses to his power and grace. If signs and wonders liad been enough to convert a city, Capernaum would have been Christian from that day. Related Scripturk.— Mutt. 4 : 13-22; 8:14-17; Mark 1 : 16-34; Luke 4 : 31 to 6 : 11. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Describe tho first rejection at Nazareth. 2. Describe Jesus' first preaching by the sea. 3. Describe the miraculous draught of fishes. 4. Describe the calling of the four. 6. Which of those were among the first five disciples? 6. Tell how these three were first won to him? 7. Compare the incidents of the service in the synagogue in Capernaum with those of the service in Nazareth. 8. Describe the casting out of tho unclean spirit. 9. What miracles had he performed before this? 10. Describe the second miracle of this day. 11. Why were not the sick brought to Jesus before sunset ? 12. How general was the heal- ing? Compare the accounts by Mark and Luke. 23, 27. 28, 29, 80, ORDER OF EVENTS, Lessons XI-XV. First Cleansing of the Temple. Conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus Preaching in Judea. John's Testimony at -^non. The Imprisonment of John. 31. Jesus' Departure from Judea. 32. Conversation with the Woman at the Well. 33. Two Days in Sychar. 34. Rest in Cana. The Nobleman's Son. Beginning of Galilean Ministry ; First Rejection at Naza- reth. 37. Removal to Capernaum. 38. Miraculous Draught of Fishes; Call of the Four. 36. Sabbath Day of Miracles. 35. 36. ■ II f XVI. THE FIRST PREACHIN1 TOUR IN GALILEE. The Outlook. — The only voices raised against Jesus in Capernaum were the voices of demons, and these he instantly silenced by the exercise of his irresistible authority. The people, astonished by his teachings, and carried to a liigli pitch of enthusiasm by his miracles, were eager to hear more from his lips, and were ready to tell strangers of the extra- ordinary events which had come to pass in their city. From Capernaum, therefore, a rumor went forth into the villages and cities of the province vhich did much to prepare the way fur his visits. If in any community adverse reports from Nazareth met the favorable rumors from Capernaum, the effect doubtless was to 'increase the popular interest, the people being eager to see the man concerning whom such contradictory things were sj-i ' Jesus at Prayer. — Althcu^''i the Sabbath Day of miracles had been full of exhausting labor, very early the next morn- ing, "a {^reat while before day," Jesus rose and went outside the city into a secluded place to prjiy. 'J here would come another first day of the week when, from a deeper sleep and after a greater victory, he w uld rise very early in the morning and go forth to meet his disciples. Now he has vanquished disease and demons ; then he will have vanquished death and the grave. Wiiilo Jesus was praying o'ltside the city, the people were waking, recalling the strange events of the Sabbath, and turning their steps toward Pete!''s house, that they might listen again to the Teacher and witness othor miracles. To their surprise and disappointment, t^iey discovered when §7 they 88 THE LIFE OP JESUS. f P-. reached the lunisc that Jesus was not there, nor could Peter tell tiiem just where they might find him. However, as their numbers increased constantly, and the inquiries for Jesus became more urgent, Peter and other disciples began a search. Probably they were aided in their quest by their knowledge of his habit of praying in solitude. When they had found him, they said : "All are seeking thee." To them, this state oF excited inquiry seemed to make an opportunity which Jesus ought to seize ; to him, the contrary was known to be the fact ; for when men are anxious to see the marvelous, they are in no mood to be profited by exalted teachings. Mean- while, Galileo was dotted with villages and cities which had not yet heard his voice nor witnessed the display of his attesting power. To these he must go, for he came not to call Caper- naum only, but Galilee to repentance. Present favor in this populous town must not chain liis feet, while throughout the province nmltitudes were scattered as sheep having no shep- herd. He IhfM'efore answers Peter and the others in words which, while 'iiclaring his own purpose, summoned them to a wider iiic/,1 : Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth." From this day began that training by which the four fisher- men of Galilee became qualified to he fishers of men. The Tour of Galilee.— The preaching of Jesus during his Judean ministry seems to have been done in the open air ; during his Galilean ministry he preached in the synagogues. This brought him into contact with the leaders of thought in the province. How they felt toward him at the first is not shown by the narrative, but that he was heard with toleration, if not with sympathy, may be inferred from the fiict that he met but little opposition until a fierce wave of hostility swept northward from Jerusalem and Judea, creating distrust and bitterness on every side. Be&ides preaching the gospel, he scattered mercies with a generous hand. Diseases of all kinds were healed and demons cast out. Particulars of the mission THE FinST PUEACHING TOUU IN fiALILFE. 89 arc not given ; only one miracle is '1 '^cribed ; but so populous was ilic district at this time, and fn> ^Tcat the t'uvor with which lie was received, that we may believe multitudes heard his message, and not a few bel ved on him. It is not improbable that of those who wci o w day of his ascension, and w Holy (ihost was given won to him during this a. ah The Healing df the Lept tin Oh 'lie mount of Olives the ried in Jerusalem until the iaj' «>f Pentecost, some were io tour. lie healing of the leper was a prophecy anil u picture ; it predicted and set forth hia attitude toward sin and the sinful. Others shuimed outcast lepers and sinnei^s ; ho, when they prayed, touched and healed them. Mark makes this simple and touching record : "And there cometh a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him. If thou wilt thou canst make me clean." Than this unaflfocted statement of the extraordinary conduct of this loathsome and wretched outcast, no assertion could set forth more graphically that Jesus was looked upon as a man utterly unlike the rabbis of his day. The attitude of the ordinary rabbi toward a leper was coldly indifferent or bitterly cruel. But this leper, instead of running away from Jesus, as he might have done from an ordinary rabbi, came near and, kneeling, prayed for healing. We caimot measure the agony of longing in this prayer. From the moment that the disease was discovered in his body he had been no better than a dead man. Dressed as a mourner, and wandering in lonely places, upon liis lips, as often as any person drew near, there had been the cry, "Unclean! unclean!" — a ])leading cry, craving the prayers of those who heard, and a warning cry, bidding them shun him, for the touch of his body or clothes brought ceremonial defilement when it did not bring contagion. AVhat, then, must have been the intensity of this poor creature's prayer as he knelt before Jesus, and declared his faith in the cry: " If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." I II ,%. IMAGE EVAiLUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4' z 1.0 V^ I I.I 11.25 2.5 S^l 2.2 Ui 2.0 U IIIIII.6 y] W Oa y /^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 k° .Mp I/a \ \ ^ 90 THE LIFE OF JESUS. :x Never was the conipassion of Jesus more quick in its outgoing. He saw the loathsome body ; he heard tlie distressful prayer; and he "stretched forth his hand and touched him." What grace was this ! What disregard of Jewish prejudice ! What audacity of compassion ! But before the leper had time to wonder that his diseased body should be touched pityingly by this Great Physician, Jesus said: "I will; be thou made clean." And instantly his flesh became whole and sound as that of other men. ; In touching the leper, Jesus, the Son of Righteousness, had taken no more risk of defilement than if he had been a sunbeam ; but his regard for tlie ceremonial law leads him now to command the healed man to attend immediately to the Mosaic requirement in such cases : " See thou say nothing to any man, but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and oflFer for thy cleansing the things which Moses corau)anded, for a testimony unto them. ' ' Not j'et had the new superseded the old. Therefore, the cleansed leper, even though Christ was his healer, must obey all that was written in the -book of the law. Perhaps too, Jesus desired him to present himself to the priest in Jerusalem, and observe carefully the Mosaic law, in order that the Jewish authorities there might have a new opportunity to perceive his regard for the law and receive additional evidence of the divine power which dwelt in him, witnessing to his clainl that he came forth from God. The leper was not obedient to the command of Jesus. In- stead of keeping secret the means by which he was healed, he went everywhere proclaiming Jesus as his healer. As a result, Jesus suffered great embarrassment in his work. The crowds that gathered about him were greater than ever, but they were too curious to be receptive of the truth, and too wonder- struck to discern spiritual realities. On this account he fouod it necessary to avoid the cities. But even the desert became populous when it was known that he was there, for "tiiey came to him from every quarter." Thus, until the time was THE FIRST PREACHING TOUR IN GALILEE. 91 ripe for him to return to Capernaum, he continued, by open- air preaching, tiie work which he had begun in the syna- gogues, making known the ^.ay of life more perfectly, and healing as many as were brought to him. Belated Scripture.— Matt. 4 Luko4:42-44; 5:12-16. 23; 8:1-4; Mark 1:36-46; QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. What use did Jesu3 make of synagogues during his first tour through Galilee ? 2. Why did he cease to preach in synagogues? 3. What happened on the morning after the Sabbath Day of mira- cles? 4. Did Jesus perform many miracles during this tour? 5. Who were his companions at this time? 6. Tell the story of their former relations to him. 7. How did the Jews regard lep- rosy ? 8. Jn what words did the leper named in this lesson appeal to Jesus? 9. How did Jesus respond? 10. What did he com- mand the leper to do after the healing? ] 1. Why did Jesus give this command ? 12. How did the disobedience of the healed man interfere with Jesus' plans ? .■■!•■•' ;;^- :, A- "' JfV'^;>n'ir,V'-^:' 'vvvfj'^^t//^-*'^ ^''VV :/'vi'-;'- ?■»■;,. ^.-.>> xvn. \;-<.- l^ ,f «■ GROWING HOSTILITY OF THE LEADERS. The Healing of the Paralytic— Though it is likely that the absence of Jesus on his preaching tour had extended over a considerable period, the people of Capernaum had not ceased to feel a deep interest in hiiu ; and, therefore, on his return to the city they gathered about hiiu in throngs. Again he was their Teacher and Healer ; but now enemies mingled with those w^p admired his wisdom or wondered at his power. So startling were the rumors which had gone out into all parts of Palestine, that the leaders of thought through- out the whole country deemed it necessary to weigh carefully his teachings, and to watch closely the movement which he was leading. It therefore came to pass that on a day when he was teaching in the house, among those wh ' vonged the place to listen, there were f jund scribes and .risees from many Galilean villages, and from Jerusalem and other parts of Judea. No friendly purpose had brought them into thafe company ; they were es'eing him keenly, that they might dis- cover something which could justify them in open opposition. A sensation was in store for them that day. While these hostile critics were listening suspiciously to his words, four men of Capernaum were engaging their strength and wit in behalf of a helpless paralytic. Believing that Jesus could heal him, and finding it impossible to penetrate the crowd that filled the house, they made their way to the roof with their burden, broke a hole in it above Jesus' head, and .let the paralytic down before him. Jesus, recognizing their faith, said to the sick man, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven." The scribes and Pharisees, hearing 92 GBOWIifG HOSTILITY OF THE LEADERS. 93 ; i these words, were horrified. Had he not spoken during blasphemy? Who could forgive sin save God alone ? They said nothing openly, however, their opposition on this day being sly rather than clamorous ; but Jesus, reading their hearts, perceived their irritation, and by a sign demonstrated his right to utter the words by which they had been shocked. Turning to the stiflF, bed-ridden paralytic, he bade him rise, take up his bed, and go home ; a command which was obeyed immediately and with great joy, to the wonder of the multi- tude and the confusion of the scribes and Pharisees. The people in transports of admiring delight said to one another, " We never saw it in this fashion ! " The objectors, on the other hand, though they could say nothing against it, were none the less hostile, because of his rebuke, but lodged in their memory the words he had spoken, and awaited their time. The Call of Matthew.— Levi, thenceforth to be called Matthew, sat at the receipt of custom, near the seaside. He was a serious man, anxious for good, but, because of his occu- pation, was scorned by the rabbis, who taught that repentance was particularly difficult to such as he. Probably he had given a sympathetic hearing on many occasions to the merci- ful doctrines of Jesus, and, therefore, when one day he heard the call. " Follow me," at once " he forsook all, and rose up and followed him." He entered upon his disci pleship with the joy of a soul liberated from oppressive bondage. By a feast in honor of Jesus, he sought to express his admiring devotion to his Master, and at the same time to give his acquaintances and friends an opportunity to hear the teach- ings which had revealed to him a new world. Jesus accepted the proflFered courtesy, and sat down with Matthew's guests, the " publicans and sinners," upon whom the Pharisees were accustomed to look with disdain. His condescension was a grievous affront to these arrogant separatists ; but instead of complaining directly to him, they with more subtlety spake 94 THE LIFE OF JESCS. aside to bis disciples, '*Why do ye eat with publicans and sinners?" If possible, they would persuade his own follow- ers to distrust him, and thus further their hostile purposes. But he surprised and confused them by answering the ques- tion which they had been careful he should not hear : ''They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." This answer was not only a defense of his own conduct, but strongly rebuked that of his critics, who piided themselves on being Pharisees, the separated, and called to themselvos only those whom they deemed righteous. This incident was a fitting sequel to the call of the tax-gatherer, Matthew. The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda.— The hostility against Jesus, already formidable because he was the friend of sinners and claimed authority to forgive sin, was soon destined to grow murderous. Events were approaching which would cause the smoldering opposition of his enemies to blaze forth furiously. These events related to the Sabbath. While in Jerusalem attending a feast,— perhaps the Pass- over, though this cannot be affirmed confidently, — he went down to the pool of Bethesda, and was looking upon the multitudes of poor, sad creatures who were lying there with the hope of receiving benefit from bathing in the medicinal waters of the pool. They were a motley and miserable com- pany. Some were blind, some halt, some withered. One case, perhaps the most pitiable of all, attracted Jesus' atten- tion. The man beside whom he paused was infirm and help- less, and had been in that plight for thirtj'-eight years. The dispirited creature heard the pitying words, " Wouldest thou be made whole?" and answered sadly, revealing his friend- lessness, " Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool ; but while I am coming, another step- peth down before me." To this confession of helpless infirm- ity, Jesus replied : " Arise, take up thy bed and walk." The amazing command was immediately obeyed. GKOWING HOSTILITY OP THE LEADERS. 95 M The healed man had not taken many steps before he was challenged by certain Jews who, instead of being moved to wonder at seeing this poor creature whole, were stirred to wrath because, contrary to rabbinic law, he was carrying a burden on the Sabbath. When questioned, he defended him- self by declaring : ^' He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk." Instead of asking, "Who made thee whole?" they revealed their temper by demanding: '* Who is t)ie man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed and walk ? " The healed man could not tell. Jesus was a stranger to him, and was no longer in sight. But later his healer met him in the temple, and said to him, " Behold, thou art made whole ; sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee." Thereupon the man, with strange stupidity, went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. To Jesus the results were both unpleasant and dangerous, for from that hour persecution became open and malignant. The storm grew yet more fierce when, in answer to their accusations, he said, *' My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Thenceforth "the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Thus the Sabbath controversy opened in Judea. The Disciples Plucking the Ears of Grain.— The disci- ples were hungry one day as they passed through the grain fields with Jesus, and gathering the ripe heads of grain, they rubbed out the kernels and ate them. It was the Sabbath, and certain Pharisees, who saw the act, were scandalized ; for siccording to their absurd laws, the plucking of the ears of grain was equivalent to reaping, and rubbing out the kernels was equivalent to threshing and winnowing ; and therefore these acts were included in the list of prohibited labor. When these Pharisees remonstrated with Jesus because of the conduct of his disciples, he reminded them that David, in an hour of great need, ate the shewbread, contrary to law. 96 THE LIFE OP JESUS. and that the priests, though they served in the temple on the Sabbath, were blameless because they were discharging relig- ious duties ; thus compelling them to see that their rigid laws after all admitted of exceptions ; and then he asserted his right to make laws for his own discipies by the statement, " The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath Day." The Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand.— The controversy over the Sabbath question, which arose in the grain field, was continued, probably, on the following Sabbath, in the synagogue. The Pharisees, who were seeking grounds of accusation against him, called his attention to a man with a withered hand, who was present in the congregation. "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?" they asked. They believed it was not, and their question was sinister. But though he penetrated their cunning, and perceived their malice, lie made no attempt to avoid the trap which they had set. Reminding his questioners that any one of them would be very prompt in saving an imperilled sheep on the Sabbath Day if it belonged to himself, he made tlie -comment : " How much then is a man better than a sheep ? Therefore it is law- ful to do well on the Sabbath days." Having stated the principle, he acts upon it. "Stretch forth thy hand," said he to the man. Though the hand was withered, the will to obey was there, and the power to obey was given. " And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole, like as the other." In Jerusalem, as a result of the Sabbath controversy there, the purpose to murder him was formed. A like thing happens now in Galilee. The Pharisees go out of tiie synagogue and, in conference with certain Herodians, conspire to destroy him. Having failed to silence him by argument, they are ready to resort to murder. .^w^sr - The Betreat. — Wher nothing could be gained by incurring danger, Jesus was in the habit of avoiding it. On the pres- ent occasion he sought safety by withdrawing into a less popu- lous part of the country. But where he went the crowds n GROWING HOSTILITY OF THE LEADEBS. 97 80on followed. They came from all parta of the laud ; from Galileo aud Judca, from the regloD of the Tyre and Sidon in the north, from Iduuiea in the south, and from beyond Jor- dan in the eaat. The uiurduruus resentment of the scribes and Pharisees could not stay the progress of his glorious and compassionate work. The sick were healed, the miserable were comforted, the ignorant were taught. But though he was blessing multitudes, and harming none, the hate of the Jewish leaders, like the fierceness of a bloodhound, was upon his track, and wanted opportunity only to rend him to pieces. Rblatkd Scriptuek.— Matt. 9 : 1-17; 12 : 1-14; Markp : 1 to 8 : 6; Luke 6 : 17 to 6 : 11 ; John ch. 6. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. In what three ways, as recorded in this lesson, did Jesus offend the Pharisees? 2. How did he prove that he had author- ity to forgive sin ? 8. How did he justify himself for associating with sinners? 4. How did he justify his attitude toward the Sabbath? 6. Describe the three occasions on which there were Sabbath controversies 6. Find in these authority for teaching that works of "necessity," "religion," and "mercy" maybe done on the Sabbath. 7. What parts of Pnlestino were repre- sented by the nr.ultitudes who followed Jeuu v when he retreated before the murderous hostility of the Pharisees? 8. By what were these multitudes chiefly attracted? G XVIII. o THE CHOOSINQ OP THE TWELVE. .'■«•;■ ' The Personal Gall —From conflicts with foes Jesus was in the habit of turning for comfort to fellowsliip with friends. After his awful wrestling with Satan in the forty days' temp- tation, he returned from the wilderness to win the five disci- plus who should be his companions during the early weeks, and perhaps months of his labors. After his rejection in Nazareth also, as he turned away from the home of his child- hood as solitary as when he returned from the wilderness, he went to Capernaum and thence to the sea of Galilee, where he found and called to constant companionship, Andrew, Peter, James, and John. And now another storm burst upon him. The first victories in the controversies over the Sabbath question, were with Jesus; but now the Pharisees are waiting their turn. He won by means of truth ; they are willing to win by murder. What they are seeking they will find ; but their triumph will be their eternal defeat, and his defeat will be his eternal triumph. But though there will be future joy, the present trouble is real and terrible. Calvary is in sight. The cross cast upon him, as he entered the tem- ple to perform the first act of his public ministry, a thin, nar- row shadow. "Destroy this temple," he said, "and in three days I will raise it up;" but now, as in both Galilee and Judea murderers are going apart stealthily to plot his destruction, thsit shadow grows thick and great. Now is his heart troubled ; what shall he do ? He prays. The whole night is not too long for his communion with his Father con- cerning the afiaira of his ministry. "And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray ; and 98 I THE CHOOSING OP THE TWELVE. 99 he continued nil night in prayer to God." And when the morning came lie called twelve of his disciples to himself, and set them apart to a new intimacy and work. He foresaw the day when the purposes which the Jews were now cherishing should be accomplished. He must make ready for that day. Tiiese twelve are therefore set apart now, that by teaching, chastening, and a supernatural investiture, they might be qualified for the great tasks to which they will be set. " And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have authority to cast out devils." As his life darkens because of Jewish hate, he desires their fellowship ; hence- forth, therefore, these shall be "with him." By-and-by his voice will be no more heard in synagogue, in field, or by the sea; therefore, he will "send them forth to preach" while he is still with them, that when he is gone they may know how they ought to bear themselves in the midst of a perish- ing world. And now, also, while he is with them to check their pride, and chide their boasting, he will give them " authority to cast out devils," that when in a later day, mighty works are done in the name of the risen Lord, they shall say frankly and humbly to those who wonder and watch : "Why fasten ye your eyes on us? ... In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . , . doth this man stand here before you, whole." Luke gives the list of the twelve as follows: "Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, and James, the son of AlphsBus, and Simon, which was called the Zealot, and Judas, the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, which was the traitor." If Iscariot is derived from Ish Keric/th, i. e., a man of Kerioth, as many believe, Judas, the traitor, spent his early days in the " bor- der of Edom in the south" (Josh. 15 : 21-25), and, there- fore, was a Judean. All the others were Galileans. The five who first became his disciples arc found in this list — i 100 THE LIFE OF JESUS. John, Andrew, Poter, Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael). James, also, whom with Peter, Andrew, and John, he called from fishing nets that he might make him a fisher of men, is now one of the twelve as then ho was one of the four. Two of these, Matthew and John, were ailcrward chosen by the Holy Spirit to write histories of the Teacher who that morn- ing called them to the apostleship. Three of them, Peter, James, and John, became in respect to certain privileges of fellowship, the chosen three of the chosen twelve. The Sermon on the Honnt. — The choosing of the twelve was preceded by a night of prayer, and followed by a sermon. Others than the twelve heard it. Matthew records that when it was ended the '^ multitudes were astonished." It is likely that the mountain on which he spent the night was not far from Capernaum, and his presence there being known, great throngs had come out to secure from him blessings for their bodies or their souls. While probably the greater number of these were from the nearer Galilean towns, doubtless many were present also from other and more distant parts of Pales- tine. The hour was favorable for a formal statement of his doctrines. He was the Messiah, a King. He had chosen his ambassadors, and set them apart to their solemn duties. The occasion was ripe for him to make a full statement of the principles on which his kingdom was established. Therefore, while multitudes hearken he delivers the "Sermon on the Mount." This sermon stands alone in the literature of the world. Though one were ignorant of his miracles and resurrection, yet, reading this discourse intelligently, he would find ample proof that Jesus was ** a Teacher come from God." The sermon opens with beatitudes. They are Jesus' gifts to his disciples of "gold and frankincense and myrrh." When he instructs his beloved, the teachings full from lips that bless. Having declared the privileges of those who belong to his THE CH008INO OP TIIE TWELVE. 101 kingdom, ho oorreots a possible mistake. Some may cnnjco- turo that ho has oomo to destroy tlie luw and the propiicts; he affirms that he has not come to destroy, but to fulfil. The old law, grown to its full stature wlien sot free from rabbinio bondage, shall be the law of his kingdom. No jot or tittle shall pass away unfulfilled. What he would destroy is that false interpretation of the law which foolish and formal teachers had made current. ''Ye have heard that it was said, . . . but I say" is the formula with which he opens various criticisms of the law as they had learned it, and then ho brings out those deeper meanings which a stupid literalism had hidden. Alms, prayer, and fasting, which had lost all reality because of the Pharisaic example, he sets forth as true only when born in the heart, and when there is a willingness to keep them from the eyes of men. As the relation of the heart to murder and lust determined guilt, whether the act had fol- lowed desire or not, so the relation of the heart to alms, prayer, and fasting determined their value in the sight of God. Worldliness is shown to bo unworthy of the kingdom of God. Goods are for scattering and not for heaping; heaven is the true treasure-house ; anxiety ii* atheistic ; faith is righteous. Thus he teaches his disciples the true relation of the outward to the inward, and of the temporal to the spiritual ; and bids them give themselves to God in artless trust. The final division of the sermon teaches them how they shall advance the kingdom. If they would learn who may be received, let them not lean upon their own understanding, but seek wisdom from God. Let them take heed how they deny the kingdom to any. "Judge not that ye be not judged." On the other hand, let them not be too brave in their offers of it to all. *' Give not that which is holy unto the dogs." "Ask," "seek," "knock" and the Father will give unto them the Holy Spirit ; and he shall guide them into all truth. 102 IV ; THE LIFE OP JESUS* 'Y '«r*^-v Then shall they be wise in winning subjects for the King, and shall be discriminating and strong in the presence, of traitors and foes. :! The sermon concludes with a gracious promise and a 3olemn warning. Of those who heard him that da}', some listened with conviction, while others were ready for doubtful disputations. The former he assures, the latter he warns, by declaring that those who, on hearing his words obey them, are builders upon the rock, from which no storm can sweep them away, while all who hear without giving heed are builders upon the sand, whose ruin waits only the coming of the tempest and the flood. . y. ;■.'; When the discourse was ended the people were filled with delight. Accustomed to rabbinic teaching, with its mazes of casuistry and masses of cited "instances" and quotations, the positive and authoritative manner of Jesus both aston- ished and charmed them ; " for he taught them as one hav- ing authority, and not as the scribes." ; Eklatkd Scripturb.- Luke 6 : 13-49. -Matt. 10 : 2-4 ; oh. 5-7 ; Mark 3 : 7-19 ; QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Name the first five disciples. 2. State the circumstances under which each became a disciple. 3. How long, probably, did they remain with him at the first? 4. Describe the calling of the four. 5. "What great conflict preceded the calling of the five? 6. What great sorrow preceded the calling of the four? 7. What great controversy and danger preceded the calling of the twelve? 8. Name the twelve. 9. How many were Gali- leans? 10. Why is it thought that Judas was a Judean? 11. How did Jesus spend the night before the choosing of the twelve? 12. What reasons are given in the Gospels for the appointing of the apostles? 13. Where was the "Sermon on the Mount" delivered? 14. Make an analysis of this sermon. THE CHOOSING OP THE TWELVE. 103 REVIEW QUESTIONS. 1. What was the name of the angel who appeared to Zacha- rias? 2. On how many occasions was Joseph supcrnaturally directed? 3. Describe the visit of the Wise Men. 4. Discover whether the Scriptures record* the number of these. 5. Why did Herod desire the death of Jesus? 6. Which Herod was this? 7. Where did Jesus begin his public ministry? 8. Give two reasons why he left Judea for Galilee. 9. In what part of his public ministry was his work similar to that of John the Baptist? 10. Write out in your own language the conversation with Nico- demus. 11. Describe the first rejection at Nazareth. 12. Where did Jesus go aftor the Sabbath Day of Miracles? 13. What miracle belonging to his first preaching tour through Galilee ig recorded? 14. Describe the healing of the paralytic. 15. What offense did ho give the Jews at this time? 16. How did he offend them at the pool of Bethcsda? In the grain fields? When ho healed the man with the withered hand? 17. How did ho offend them at the feast given by Matthew? 18. Classify these grounds of offense. • 'V XIX. MIRACLES AND MERCIES. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant.— Afler the sermon on the Mount, Jesus returned to Capernaum, the city of his temporary home, where so many of his mighty works were done. His coming brought healing to the sick, comfort to the sad, and hope to the sinful. Among the troubled in Capernaum at this time was a cen- turion, probably an officer in the employ of Herod Antipas, whose favorite servant was suffering from a paiuful and dan- gerous malady. All that could be done by careful nursing and medical skill had been done, but without effect ; and the servant was now about to die, when word was brought to the centurion that Jesus was in the town. This message awak- ened hope ; and he decided at once to seek the Teacher's lielp. Not knowing that Jesus was no respecter of persons, he thought he would make his appeal more effective by per- suading the elders of the Jews to intercede for him. This they were very willing to do, because attached and grateful to him on account of his generosity in building them a syna- gogue. When the Jews came to Jesus they made the appeal as urgent as they could, and were successful in securing an instaiit and sympathetic response. The whole company set out immediately for the centurion's house, but before they reached it, Jesus was strangely interrupted. After sending his message, something had occurred to the mind of the cen- turion, which in his great anxiety, he had for the time for- gotten. He was a Gentile. He was not worthy tlmt Jesus should come under his roof. This unusual humility was accompanied by marvelous faith. "Say the word," so ran ivr* \ ■■-'/f^- MIRACLES AND MERCIES. 105 the message which was now brought to Jesus by the friends whom the centurion had sent forth to meet him, "and my servant shall be healed." His military life had suggested to his mind the figure which gave form to his faith. He was under authority, and obeyed ; others, who were under his authority, obeyed his word. He believed that Jesus sus- tained a similar relation to heavenly authority above, and to all things beneath him. As the centurion's servant obeyed his word, so he believed disease would obey the word of this greater Captain. A multitude was following Jesus at this time, curious to see what he would do when he reached the house of the centu- rion. To this he turned, and said: "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Then there came to him thoughts of the gentile world, of which this centurion was a representative, and out of which, contrary to the belief of the Jews who now thronged him, many would come into his kingdom. He felt that he must use the occasion to warn these Jews. There was need that their false security should be shaken. Therefore he said : "Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." This state- ment alone was enough to fill them with amazement, but he added a more appalling prediction: "But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast into the outer darkness." Gentiles received as sons of the kingdom, and Jews rejected as out- casts ! What teaching was this? It shocked their opinions, and outraged their pride ; and it is not unlikely that as they heard these words, so full of gracious promise to Gentiles and of solemn chiding to the Jews, there was an immediate illustration of the "gnashing of teeth," if not of the "weeping," which should make more awful the "outer dark- ness " of which he spoke. Having taught the multitude, he healed the servant. "Go thy way," he said to the suppliant ; "as thou hast believed. 106 THE LIFE OF JESUS. SO be it done unto thee." Once there had come from this Capernaum to Oana a nobleman who had pleaded for the presence of Jesus, in order that his child migiit be healed, and Jesus had taught him that a word was sufficient. Now a centurion, another of Herod Antipas' officers, because of his humility declines the presence of Jesus, believing that a word from his lips is enough to heal the sick. Jesus regards his wish, speaks the word, and turns away. ''And the ser- vant was healed in that hour." The Baising of the Young Man of Nain.— From Caper- naum Jesus went to Nain, about twenty-five miles distant, accompanied by his disciples and a multitude of the people. Much excitement must have been occasioned as this great company journeyed. While the procession from Capernaum was drawing near Nain, another procession was coming out of the city. In the one procession was the Prince of Life, in the other one who was dead. It may be that a funeral orator walked at the head of the procession, proclaiming the good deeds of the young man whose body was being borne to burial, and that just behind him, and in front of the bier, women were walking and lamentincr. The body lay uncovered upon the bier, with face upturned and hands crossed upon the breast. Behind the bier followed the relatives, friends, and a great company of sympathizers. The chief mourner was the mother of the dead, a widow, and now childless. Her tears, flowing freely, declared the anguish of her heart. "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her. Weep not." A strange command from him, who himself had made the eyes for tears, and the heart for love I But its meaning became apparent in a moment. Going to the bier, he touched it; "and the bearers stood still," perhaps amazed at his disregard of ceremonial defile- ment, or commanded by the majesty of his look. All the crowd wondered. In a moment their wonder was mixed with fear, for Jesus spoke to the dead, saying : "Young man, I MIRACLES AND MERCIES. 107 ser- say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up and began to speak. ' ' Then he gave the son to the mother ; the son no longer dead^ the mother no longer childless. And some of the people said : ''A great prophet has arisen among us;" and others, "God hath visited his people." All wondered and feared, and the report which went forth from Nain pene- trated Judea as well as Galilee. John the Baptist's Last Message.— While Jesus was teaching in Samaria, resting in Gana, preaching in Nazareth, performing mighty works in Gapcrnaum, and extending a knowledge of his kingdom throughout all parts of Galilee, John the Baptist was enduring the loneliness and hardship of imprisonment in Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea. At this time reports reached him of the miracles which accompanied Jesus* teaching. While these glorious reports rebuked his doubts, he was not able yet to harmonize his wearisome cap- tivity with his former hopes. He therefore d.icided to ask of Jesus some direct word, which siiall assure his faith ; and for this purpose he sent two of his disciples, who evidently were permitted to visit the captive prophet, to put to Jesus the question, "Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?" The messengers of John reached Jesus opportunely, for in that very hour he was healing diseases, giving sight to the blind, and casting out demons^ Instead of answering Yes or No to John's question, he bade the messengers return and tell the Baptist what they had spen and heard, knowing that these signs would be recognized at once by the forerunner as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy. The messengers departed and Jesus began to preach, tak- ing John the Baptis^, as his text. Perhaps some of his own disciples, because ot the doubt which John's message betrayed, began to regard the Baptist as a reed shaken with the wind. Perhaps too, there were some in the multitude who, as their thoughts turned to the rugged prophet, whoso -V. 108 THE LIFE OF JESUS. severity of speech was matched by the rudeness of his dress, felt some revival of their former scorn of his unUkeness to those who "are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately." For all these there was a rebuke in the eulogy which Jesns delivered. No other man ever received such praise from his lips. "Among them that are born of women," he said, "there is none greater than John." As many as had been baptized by John heard with satisfaction this praise of their former teacher, but the Pharisees present, because they had not submitted to his baptism, showed their disapproval in a manner which called forth from Jesus a rebuke which was both ironical and crushing. Some of the men before him act like children at play in the market place, whom nothing pleased. They disliked John because he was austere ; they dislike Jesus because he is aocial. But while they, in their unreasonini? petulance, reject both John and Jesus, the true children of the kingdom, discerning the fitness of variety, receive the teaching of John, though he dwelt in the wilder- ness, and become disciples of Jesus, though he mingles famil- iarly with men. The First Anointing of Jesns. — While Jesus was a guest in the house of Simon the Pharisee, he gave the Jews a new occasion of anger and suspicioi. As he was reclining at a table, a sinful woman of the city, knowing that he was there, stole in and taking her place at Jesus' feet, began to weep quietly as she remembered her sins. Perhaps there had been repeated to her some of his gracious words, which had brought the dawn of hope to her troubled, darkened soul, and she had felt that she must seek him out and hear from his lips that her sins were pardoned. Having found him at table she will not speak to him until the meal is over ; but, because she cannot endure the thought of losing sight of him she stands at his feet waiting and weeping. Noticing that teara from her eyes have wet his feet, she hastens to wipe them with her long, flowing hair, and then as her heart over- MIRACLES AND MERCIES. / 109 flows with penitence and hope, Sorrow and love, she kisses his feet. Simon sees all and grows suspicious. He reasons that if Jesus were a prophet, he would know the character of the woman who had touched him, and he infers that if he were a good man and knew, he would spurn her. Simon is right in one inference, and wrong in the other. Jesus does know her character, and because he knows he does not drive her away. By an illustration he shows the Pharisee that this woman has aright to love much, because she has been forgiven much, and rebukes at the same time Simon's own scant cordiality. As Jesus was speaking, the courage of the poor woman must have risen, for the words with which he rebuked Simon con- tained a gracious message for her heart. But a better moment comes as he turns to her and says, in the hearing of all, '' Thy. sins are forgiven. " Related Scripturk.— Matt. 8 : 5-18 ; 11 : 2-19; Luke 7 : 1-50. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Compare the accounts of the healing of the nobleman's son and of the centurion's servant, noting similarities and differ- enees. 2. Repeat the story of the raising of the young man of Nain. 8. Find on the map, Capernaum, Nain, Nazareth. 4. What was John the Baptist's message? 5. Why, and by whose orders, was he in prison? 6. Give the points of Jesus' eulogy of John. 7. Tell in detail the story of the first anointing of Jesus. XX. A CRISIS IN THE GALILKIN MINISTRY. The Second Preaching Tour.— Jesus was now in the midst of his second preachiLg tour through Galilee. These days were characterized by immense labors on his part, and by multiplying sorrows and dangers. When ho made his first tour of the Galilean cities he encountered little opposi- tion, but at this later day his enemies were many and bitter, and persecution was wakeful and inventive. On his first preaching tour, Jesus was accompanied by the four disciples whom he had lately called from their fisiiing nets ; on the second tour, the twelve whom he had just set apart to the apostolate and certain godly and grateful women were with him. Thus, though he was harassed by tireless foes, he received comfort from the unwearying ministrations of constant friends. The number of women found among his followers at this time was large: "Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven devils had been cast out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others which ministered unto them of their substance." All of these had received blessings from his hands. Mary Magdalene had been a demoniac, while others had been the victims of diseases of various kinds ; and when these women found themselves healed they were impelled by gratitude to aid his work by giving of their means to the sustenance of the evangelizing company. Tlie home of Mary was in Magdala, a wealthy and wicked town, famous for its dye-works and woolen manufactories, which were situated near Bethsaida. There is nothing in the Scriptures to show that Mary was a 110 A CRISIS IN THE GALILEAN MINISTRY. Ill woman of corrupt morals : and the prevalence of this shock- ing slander is a sad illustration of the perversity of the human mind in clinging to an opinion which originated in ancient ignorance. If Chuza was that nobleman of Cupcrnuum whose son was healed by Jesus — an attractive opinion which, how- ever, rests only on conjecture — Joanna's devotion to him would find its first explanation in the miracle wrought for her child. Of Susanna, nothing more is known than her name. Only one of these three ministering women appears in the later history, but that one occupies a place at once unique and sacred. Mary Magdalene was one of the fiiends who stood within sight of the cross while Jesus was dying. She also aided in preparing the spices for his body, and was one of the women who, on going to the place of burial very early in the morning on the first day of the week, found the tomb empty. And to her, first of all, Jesus appeared when he was risen from the dead. ' . : < An Infamous Charge. — During this second preaching tour the miracles of Jesus were so many and of such quality that his enemies could say nothing against their reality or marvel- ousness. When for instance he raised from the dead the young man of Nain, he furnished a "sign " which must have convinced tlieni had their minds not been willfully blinded. Instead, however, of becoming less zealous in their opposi- tion, or less eager in their malice, as his miracles became more extraordinary, they gave themselves up to an enmity more determined than before, and more scandalous in its methods. They could not deny that his deeds were marvel- ous ; they, therefore, in the face of all gracious and cumula- tive evidence, resorted to a denial of their righteousness. Instead of attributing his healings and casting oat of demons to the Spirit of God, whose marks were suflGlciently apparent in all these great mercies, they charged that these wonderful deeds were the direct result of Satanic operations . "He huth a devil, and is mad," the cry which was heard later in Jeru- 112 THE LIFE OF JESUS. salem, was only an echo of the infamous charge which was made against him at this time. Secretly at first, and then more openly, the Pharisees declared that he was a possessed man, and that he was able to do great works simply because there dwelt within him a strong devil ; and, in order to cover all possible cases in which he might exhibit miraculous skill and power, they gave him credit for being inhabited by no less a spirit than Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. If they could succeed in convincing the people that the mighty and terrible Beelzebub dwelt in Jesus, and that he was there- fore simply an extraordinary demoniac, powerful because in league with the whole dreadful realm of wicked spirits, he would be looked upon wherever he went with distrust, or dread, or loathing. A crisis, resulting from this sinister accusation of the Phari- sees, came one day in connection with the healing of a demonized man who was both blind and dumb. The multi- tudes were amazed at the miracle and, ready to believe that such a miracle-worker must be the Messiah, said, " Is this the son of David ? " The tide tor the moment was setting with overwhelming force against the pbarisaio opinion. In their enthusiasm, because of the good deed done to the blind and dumb man, the people were forgetting the damaging rumors which had reached their ears. The Pharisees, seeing and being exasperated by all this, replied irritably, "This man doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils." Jesus instantly made reply to this charge, though not in his own defense nor for the sake of his accusers, but in order that the multitudes, who were in danger of being deceived by the cunning lie, might know ihe truth and be saved from the awful condemnation into which the Pharisees had plunged. "If Satan casteth out Satan," he answered, "he is divided against himself; how then can his kingdom stand?" This argument appealed instantly to the people. They had seen poor, troubled souls, who had been in bondage A CRISIS IX THE GALILEAN MINISTBY. 113 long through dcmonioo possession, set free at a word from Jesus. Such deeds they cuuld not but deem righteous, and therefore they were constrained to believe that he who did tiiem was righteous also. Beholding the good fruit they called the tree good. As soon, therefore, m he stated his argument they gave him their sympathies anew. How could they decide against the accused when they saw that the accu- sation was absurd ? An Eternal Sin. — Having delivered an argument for the help of the common people, Jesus turned upon the Phari- sees with a 8y a tuultitudo, they sent lor him to come out to thorn. Those ^ho were Hitting near liim said, ''Behold thy mother and thy hrethren without seek thee. ' ' That hio w jthcr should »o far yield to the i'ulso opinions of the Pharisees as to bcliovu him mad, and that there should still remain in her mind the thought that phe Imd a right to oxcrciso authority over his actions, grieved him ; and therefore to the gentle lesson given her at the marriage in Cana, ho at this time added another, the meaning of which it was not posHihle i'^v her to misunder- stand : *' Looking round on them which sar round about him, ho saith, Behold my mother and my breti en I For whoso- ever shall do the will of God, the same iis my brother, and sister, and mother." This clear statement tf the principle of spiritual kinship was never forgotten. Tl.Teafter, Mary, instead of attempting to exercise tho authorii v of a mother, rejoiced to claim the privileges of a disciple. Rblatkd Scripturk— Matt 12: 22-50; Mark 3 19-86; ^uko 8:1-3; 11 : 14-36; 8: 19-21. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Describe the first preaching tour in Galilee. 2. Who ac- companied Jesus on tho first tour? 8. Who accom lunied him on the second? 4. Recall all you know of Mary Mag lalene. 5. Recall the story of the healing of the nobleman's soi . 6. How tlid the Pharisees explain Jesus' miraculous power? 7. What miracle led them to make this charge openly? 8. B\ what ar- gument did Jesus reply to their charge? 9. Of what id he de- clare them guilty? 10. Discover, from the answer of Jesus, why tho scribes and Pharisees asked a sign. 11. What sign did he promise? 12. On what occasion did he first predict his resur- rection? 13. Why did Mary come to take Jesus hoiio? 14. What is the meaning of his answer to her message? ORDER OF EVENTS, Lessons XVI-XX. 40. First Preachin;. Tour in Galileo. 41. The Paralytic Borne of Four. It • 116 .«>..-;■•;>,'«! ■ THE LIFE OP JESUS. 42. The Call of Matthew. ' 48. The Impotent Man at the Pool of Bethesda. 44. The Disciples Plucking Grain. 45. The Man with the Withered Hand. 46. The Choosing of the Twelve. 47. The Sermon on the Mount. „ ' i 4«. The Centurion's Servant. 49. The Raising of the Young Man of Nain. 60. John the Baptist's Last Message. 51. The Anointing of Jesus in the House of Simon the Pharisee. 62. Second Preaching Tour in Galilee. 63. Jesus Declared to bo Demonized. 64. " An Eternal Sin." 65. A Sign Asked. 66. His Mother KeT)uked: The True Kindred of Christ. NoTK— Locate each of these " Events" in the Gospels, mit the "Order of Events" to memory. Com- -.■:../:.:. XXI. THE FIRST PARABLES. The Purpose of Jesus' Parables —Jesus did not use the parable in his teaching until after tiie Pharisees had charged him with being a possessed man ; but from that day parables were used constantly, partly, we may believe, for his own protection, and partly for the more eflFective instruction of his disciples. The Pharisees scrutinized all his utterances with the hope of finding in them some new occasion for accusing him of something which they could use for turning the com- mon people against him. This being their attitude, the para- bolic form of teaching was safer for Jesus than any other, there being enough of ambiguity in a parable, as studied by their unspiritual minds, to present obstacles to their sinister purpose ; for to fasten a serious charge upon a figure of speech would not be easy. At the same time this ambiguity, which was necessary to hinder their malevolent purposes, hid the truth from their minds — the blessing of light being lost to them because of their willful self-blinding. v >y; ; To the disciples, however, the parable was singularly help- ful. A picture is better remembered than a precept ; a story is more luminous to the ordinary mind than a syllogism, and these parables, graphic, simple, ingenious, and in their reality appealing to the every-day incidents and motives of life, take quick possession of the memory and imagination, and guide the heart into the truth. ■ -' - < '» Teaching from a Boat — ^The day on which Jesus called the four from their nets in order that he might make them fishers of men, he sat in a boot and spoke to the people as they stood upon the sliorc. His first parables were uttered under similar 117 118 TiiK LiFJis OF J Earn, uonditiunt). Multitudes wuru pruMHiiiK upuii him, cuuHiiiKhim disuumturb and making touoliing diiliuult. \\y uiitoriitg iuto a boat and {tushiii^,' uil a uhort diMtancu IVoiu tlio bhuro, ho obtained ruliuf iVuiu tito pruMining, eager, exeited tiirong, and at the 8t\mu time neeured a pu.siiiun IVom whieh lie euuld make all hear. Tile hour and the plaoo were favorable for the beginning of the parabolic teaching. The seu, a place for netH and com- lueree, and the fields, where the sower had cast in the seed and where there wore suggestions of the conditions and changes wrouijht by growth, were at hand. The common people to whou» ho spoke, and whom his teaching was in- tended to bless, know the fields and the sea perhajjs bettor than they knew the history of their fathers ; and while, be- cause of foolish rabbinic interpretations, citations from the Scriptures were liable to drag Ibrward a mass of blinding priyudiocs, no such danger beset illustrations from tho wheat, the tares, tho leaven, or the net. The First Five Parables —On this day iJomn spoke eight parables. Seven of these aro recorded by Matthew in his thirteenth chapter — The Sower,'rhe Tares, Tho Mustard Seed, The Leaven, Tho Hid Treasure, The Pearl of Great Price, and the Draw Net. Mark supplies tho other in his fourth chaptei^— Tiio Growth of tho Seed. Five of these parables wore spoken to tho multitudes while Jesus was in the boat, tho other three were spoken to the disciples after he had gone with them into the house. 1. By tho parable of The Sower Jesus showed that tho varying effects of his teaching were duo to the soil and not to tho sower or the seed. The hand of the sower was unchange- ably strong and apt ; the seed too contained always possibili- ties of glorious harvests ; but because of hardnesses and an- tagonisms the harvest might fail to appear. Josus spoke of three grades of good soil and of three kinds of bad soil. Some good soil yielded one hundred fold, other TIIK PIIWT PAIIAULKS. no Nijcly, and ulhcr tliiity. Oi' the bud Koil, buiuo wivh iiard, utliur thin, and utliur pruoccupiud. liy tlicHc li^nreH lie was describing ItiH huureiH. Tbusu whu woru becoming disciplcM would vary in Hpiritual utlainiuentH and acliicvenionlH, while ut thuHO witu wuuld not comu to him that they might havu life, Bumu wcio unret^ponHivu bccauKu lliu uvil condition of thuir heartH, hardened by unbehet', Ivept Satan liovering near, wiio Nnatehed awiiy their opportunities ; otherH oi^piiek emo* tioiiM but blow eonneieneeH gave ready heed while JeHus Hpoke, but ibrsook him when op[)oMition arose or their emotiouH Hub- Hlded ; and others, who heard uonseientiouHly and received enough oi' truth to save them, had conditions been tavorablo, being unwilling to cast the world out oi* their hearts, h^st at length even the o]>portuni(y of eternal lil'e which had been given them. ' 2. IJy the parable of The Tares Jesus explained two mys- teries — the mystery of the malignant opposition which h'm kingdom was meeting, and the mystery of delayed judgments. Besides llie hindrance of evil hearts, there was the cunning resistance of a groat evil spirit. The Son of Man, scattered wheat by day ; iSatan scattered tares by night ; therefore, the Jewish field was occupied by both wheat and tares. Hecauso Satan liad deceived the scribes and TMiarisoes, mixing error with truth, evil was crowding constantly and dreadfully upon good, imperiling the souls which Ood would save. Were any suri)rised that he did not, by a swift Judgment, destroy the.se hinderers? Tie teaches them that the immediate destruction of the oifenders, thougli it would be no more than a. just pen- alty, would endanger those whom he was making his own. Meanwhile, for the warning of the malignant and the infor- mation of the meek, he shows that though judgtnent is de- layed, it is sure ; for a day is apjiroaching when he shall say to the reapers : "Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them ; but gather the wheat into my barn." 3. By the parable of The Growth of tlie Seed ho taught 120 THE LIFE OP JESUS. a lesson of hope. They might become disheartened in the presence of such hindrances as he had pointed out in the other parables, especially since the growth of the kingdom was slow. He therefore bids them remember that he who casts seed into the ground sleeps and rises many times before he sees any result from his sowing, and that, even when re- sults appear, *'he knoweth not how" the growth is com- pelled. So there is a secret growth of the kingdom, with its unobserved beginnings, its modest progress, its ample promise and, at the last, its joyful harvest. His enemies need not moek when his disciples are few, nor need his disciples despair because the harvest is distant. Divine forces are working and the harvest cannot fail. I.'- 5^"'";/T *; • ^<>,v-: :?r'^ ^j.--. .v,^,:i«^^„.*;:^•t^«: 4. By the parable of The Mustard Seed Jesus showed that the results of his work among men would be vast as well as sure. Was his kingdom, in this day of few disciples and bitter enemies, so small that the proverb of tlie mustard seed might be applied to it? Be it so. He would accept the challenge. But they must follow the seed into the plant, which in its growth passes every herb and shrub in the gar- den, and at length puts out branches like a tree ; so his king- dom, smaller than the sects among the Jewish people, shall grow until it is greater than any plant in the Hebrew garden, and, standing in solitary and majestic greatness, with wide- spreading branches, shall invite to shelter all creatures that fear the storm or long for a resting place. 5. By the parable of The Leaven Jesus taught that his kingdom would permeate the society which seemed unfriendly to it, and, by its conquering influences, change into a new nature that upon which it wrought. There shall be great growth, he says, as in the case of the mustard seed ; but there shall be great mistery also; for as a little leaven changes to its own nature a mass of meal, so the kingdom of heaven shall transform the human society in which it is placed. The Three Parables in the House.— When Jesus had Icfl TliE FIR3T PARABLES. 121 the multitude and, with his disciples, retired to the privacy of the house, he addressed to them further teachings. Hav- ing explained some of the more obscure figures in the other parables, he adds the parables of 'J'he Hid Treasure, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Draw Net. By the first and second of these he teaches them the reasonableness of leaving all the world for the sake of the kingdom of God, thus as- suring their hearts in the choice they had made, and teaching them that the hid treasure and pearl of great price were in their possession. Having cheered, he warns. The gospel will prove attractive outwardly to some who will not receive inwardly its cleansing message. These, though apparently drawn in by the net, shall be cast out ; and when at last the delayed judgment is executed, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. - The Conclusion.— Although when he began to speak in parables that day the disciples were perplexed, not under- standing the reason for his change of method ; and although they needed to have him explain the first two parables ; yet, as soon as they understood his purpose and the trend of his new teaching, the lessons of the liour became clear to their minds and captivated their hearts ; and, therefore, when he said to them, " Have ye understood all these things? " they say unto him, "Yea." Rklatkd Scripture.— MiVtt. 13 8 : 4-18. 1-63; Mark 4: 1-34; Luke QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Why did Jesus begin to speak in parables? 2. How many parables did he speak on this day? 3. In what chnpter are seven of these recorded? 4. Where was Jesus sitting while speaking the first five of these eight parables? 5. Where, and to whom, did he speak the last three ? 6. Tell the story of each of the eight. 7 What parables did Jesus explain that day ? 8. To whom did he address the explanations? ■ f •: XXII. A DAY OF MIRACLES. The Stilling of the Tempest.— After the day of parables Jesus sought rest ar»d quiet by making a journey to the east side of the lake. But neither on the lake nor on the land did he find the rest which his weary body and mind needed. As the little boat made its way eastward, a. furious storm swept down out of the mountain gorges and fretted the waters until the waves broke over the boat and threatened death to the company. While the disciples struggled for their lives, Jesus was lying on the cushion in the stern of the boat, sleep- ing the sleep of utter exhaustion . At their wits' end at length, and terrified beyond measure, they woke him, crying, " Master, Master, save, we perish I " Waking, he spoke to the raging tempest and foaming waters, and instantly tlie winds were still and the lake smooth. He whose strength had been so far spent that he slept through all the noise of the roaring storm and dashing waves, shows at once the might of God. Turning to the disciples, he asked, " Why are ye so fearful? Have ye not yet faith?" Their unbelief needed rebuke as surely as the rioting elements. Surprised at his mastery over the storm, "they feared exceedingly, and said one to another. Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" The Demoniac of Gerasa— As the little party landed on the eastern shore of the lake, two wild men came toward them. One of these was conspicuous because of his unequalled mad- ness and ferocity. His was not a case of ordinary mania, but of terrible demoniac possession. " My name is Legion, for we are many," was tlK* confused answer given when Jesus asked 122 A DAY OP MIRACLE.". 123 the man his name. The mixture in his answer of the singuhir and plural of the first personal pronoun shows how this human spirit was confused in its identity with the evil spirits which inhabited the man. During all his ministry no such manifestation of demoniac possession met Jesus as that of this wild, fierce creature. Naked, beastlike, and covered with sores, which ho had made by cutting himself with sharp stones, he was a figure both shocking and pitiable. Although attempts had been made to hold him with chains and fetters, and to control him by guards, his extraordinary and unnatural strength had enabled him to snap the fetters asunder and to overpower thope who had been set to watch him. Fortunately, his preference for solitary places had freed the city from his frightful presence, but such were his wolfish and murderous tendencies that no one dared pass near his haunts. When this demoniac saw Jesus landing, he was drawn irresistibly toward hini, although the presence of Jesus filled him with unutterable dread and dislike. "Torment me not ! " he cried, when Jesus bade the evil spirits come out of the man. Thev were tormented when hindered from tormenting others ; and in order that, if sent out of this man, they might not be compelled to leave the country and return to the abyss, they begged permission to find residence in a herd of swine which was feeding not fur away. When Jesus said, "Go!" they fled from the man and seized the swine, which, maddened on the instant, rushed wildly down the steep lakeside and, plung- ing into the water, were drowned. The swine were lost, but the man was saved. His cure was complete and instantaneous, and clothes were put upon him immediately. Sane, grateful, afiijctionate, he sat at the feet of his Deliverer. Here he was found by the Gerasenes, who came hurrying forth when they heard the excited report of the swineherds, who had fled in terror when they saw the miracle of Jesus and the destruction of their charge. When the Gerasenes saw the man at Jesus' feet, though they could not 124 THE LIFE OF JESHS. doubt the healing, they feared the healer ; and because they were more superstitious than religious, and more terrified by the supernatural than attracted by the holy, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. The presence of the demoniac, terrible as it was, they had eudured ; the presence of Jesus they were not willing to endure. Their prayer was granted. He at whose word the tempest was stilled and a legion of demons put to flight, suffered himself to be thrust out by the unbelief and impiety of the men of Gerasa. As Jesus went to the boat the healed demoniac followed, and begged that lie might return with him. But this propo- sition did not accord with the purposes of Jesus. The con- duct of the Qerasenes had shown that they were not prepared for the kingdom of heaven, and this healed man must become among them the forerunner of the Messiah. " Return to thy house," Jesus commanded, *'and declare how great things God hath done for thee. " The man obeyed. ''And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesua had done for them." Months later Jesus would return to this country, and then he would not be thrust out, but would find many ready to believe on him because of the testimony of this healed demoniac. *•.'/; ^ ; / The Woman with an Issne of Blood.— If on the cast side of the lake a multitude begged him to depart, on the west side a greater multitude gladly welcomed his return. Among the crowd that gathered about him as he drew near to Caper- naum, Jairus came, a ruler of the synagogue ; "and he fell down at Jesus' feet and besought him to come to his house." His plea was urgent, because his only di.agliter, a girl of twelve years, was dying. The sympathies of Jesus were touched, and he proceeded toward Jairus' house. As he walked, the throng followed, crowding and jostling him in their eager enthusiasm. Suddenly he stopped. The crowd stopped too. "Who is it that touched me?" he asked, though probably scores had been pressed against him A DAY OP MIRACLES. 125 as they sought to be as near him as possible. Every one began to say, "Not I." Tlien Peter, and others, recovering fioin their surprise at the suddenness of the question, said: " Mas- ter, the multitudes press thee and crush thee ; and sayest thou. Who touched me?" Jesus replied, "Some one did touch mo ; for I perceived that power had gone forth from Those who had jostled against him had acted upon me, their curiosity only, and had obtained no blessing ; but one, a woman, a sufferer for twelve years, moved by faith, had touched his garment, believing that she could be healed thereby ; and according to her faith it was done unto her. ..vi The Baising of Jairus' Daughter.— While the woman was hearing a gracious message from the lips of Jesus, a message of unutterable sadness was brought to Jairus : "Thy daughter is dead," said the messenger; "trouble not tho Master. ' ' But before Jairus had time to feel the agony which such tidings would cause, Jesus turned to him and said, "Fear not, only believe, and she shall be made whole." They went on to the house, which they found full of the noise of those who were weeping and wailing because of tho child's death. " Weep not," he said ; "for she is not dead, bat sleepeth." At this they stopped their wails to laugh in his face, for they knew that she was dead. Then, taking the girl's father and mother, and his three favorite disciples, Peter, James, and John, he went into the chamber where the dead girl lay, and lifting up one of the lifeless hands, said, TaUthacumi, that is, "Maiden, arise," and at his command she arose and walked. Confused by their great joy, the pa- rents did not remember that their child needed food. Of this he reminded them, and then bade them keep the miracle a secret, probably dreading the discomfort and inconvenience which would be caused him if, as he went out, the multitude knew what had happened within the house. Sight Bestored to two Blind Men. — As Jesus was on his way from the house of Jairus to the house where he stayed 126 THE LIFE OP JESUS. while in Capernaum, a cry was heard in the street : " Have mercy upon us, thou Son of David. ' ' And two blind men came groping and hurrying after him, eager to have their sight re- stored. As Jesus neither paused nor replied, they followed him to the house and renewed their supplication. "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" he asked. "Yea, Lord," they answered. "According to your faith be it done unto you," was his reply. And their eyes were opened at once. " See that no man know it," he commanded ; but their glad- ness made them disobedient, and they went forth telliug of the miracle everywhere. This was the first recorded miracle of giving sight to the blind. Several others occurred afterward. These sight-giv- ing signs were valued highly by his disciples as evidences of his Messiahship. The Healing of the Dumb Demoniac— As the two who had been healed of their blindness vt^ c leaving the house, others were entering, bearing " a dumb man possessed with a devil." The demon was cast out, and the dumb tongue was set free. "It was never so seen in Israel," was the wondering comment of the multitudes that witnessed the miracle. " By the prince of the devils casteth he out devils," muttered some of the Pharisees who were present. The more the sick and suflFerinp found blessing, the more were the hearts of his enemies filled with cursing. Related Scripture.— Matt. 8 : 23-9 : 34 ; Mark 4 : 35-5 : 43; Luke 8 : 22-56. QUESTIONS. 1. Name the eight parables which Jesus spoke on the Day of Parables. 2. Namo the seven miracles which he performed the next day. 3. In which of these did he show his authority over nature? Disease? Demons? 4. Which of these miracles con- tains most help for you ? . I XXIII. 43; THE GALILEAN MINISTRY ENDED. The Second Rejection at Nazareth.— Before entering upon his third and final tour of Galilee, Jesus made a second visit to Nazareth. Although at the beginning of his Galilean ministry the Nazarcncs, in their furious anger, had sought to kill him, he would give th«m another opportunity to secure the blessing which then in their pride and rage they had thrust away. For about a year reports had been coming to them from all parts of Galilee concerning his matchless teach- ings and wonderful works, and knowing that he was in the town, they doubtless filled the synagogue on the Sabbath morning, that they might hear and see for themselves. As Jesus spoke they felt the spell of his eloquence, and marvelled. ''Is not this the carpenter's son?" they said. Because in one of their own townsmen they had found unpre- cedented wisdom and inexplicable powers, they were irritated. "We know him," they grumbled; "we know his mother; we know his brothers ; we know his sisters. ' ' Being both narrow and envious, "they were offended in him." Once they had been deprived of blessings by their rage ; now they are robbed by their unbelief No mighty work was done " save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them." They, when they heard him speak, " marvelled be- cause of his wisdom" ; he, as he heard them complain, " marvelled because of their unbelief." As their hands had thrust him out before, ^o now their hearts cast him out ; and he lefl the town never to return. The Mission of the Twelve.— After Jesus' first rejection at Nazareth, he called the four and, attended by them, made 107 128 THE LIFE OP JE3U3. his first preaching tour of Oaldcc. After his second rejection at Nuzurctli, he entered at once upon hi,s third prcaciiing tour. If he had gone to Capernaum from Nazareth at this time, ho would have found no comfort there, for his "own city " had become even more hostile, through the presence in it of his pharisaio foes, than tho city where ho had been "brought up." Dangers were thickening in his path, for enmity had become impatient and murderous, and soon every city of Galilee would have heard his voice for the last time. Jesus fuels that tho time has come for hastening. Ho sees the Jews scattered like lost sheep, and id moved with com- passion. His own arduous labors are insufficient for tiio exigencies of the hour. Other voices must speak his mes- sage, that the circle of his influence may widen more rapidly. Therefore he calls to him the twelve and sends them forth two by two, with authority to preach, to heal tiio sick, to cleanse lepers, and to cast out demons. Before they depart he makes an address to them which is distinguished for its force and solemnity. He bids them go to Jews only ; they have not time now to reach more than these; and the day has not come for their witnessing "in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." Ho gives them directions as to their equipment and conduct. They need not wait to gather money for their journey, but may go forth at once, relying for their sustenance upon tha fields which they are to cultivate. As he is speaking, his eye takes in a wider horizon than that limiting their immediate duty ; and he tells them of the work and perils whicli shall come to them later. They shall be broucht before Jewish councils, Koman governors, and Herodian princes. Thsy shall see families divided and kindred slaying kindred. But in all the trials of the days of their testimony they may be patient and brave. Let them flee when flight will save them ; let them endure calmly when insults are heaped upon them ; and when their bodies are killed, let them not fear, remembering THE GALILEAN MINISTRY ENDED. 129 ■'If in that the Qod who cares oven fur the sparrows will save their souls iVom deutli. If tliey confess him before iiieii, he will confess tliciii before his Father in heaven. '* 'le that fiudeth his life shall lose it, and he that losetli his life for my sake slullfindit." In this discourse, Jesus began that special training of the twelve by which they should be prepared to continue his work after his withdrawal from them into heaven Having given them their charge he sent them away, and himself began to preach in the cities of Galilee. The Death of John the Baptiit.— While Jesus and the twelve were hastening the work of the kingdom, John the Baptist was spending the last days of his imprisonment in the fortress of Machserus, the victim of Herod's fear and Herodias' spite. 13ut h\A Bufferings were near their end. The woman whom he had ofl'euded by rebuking for her adulter- ous and incestuous marriage to Herod Antipas, had been waiting for many months to find an opportunity to accom- plish his death ; and the occasion now came in con- nection with a feast given by Herod. When other amusements were exhausted, Herod called for Salome, the beautiful j'oung daughter of his wife, and bade her dance before him and his guests. Her graceful, shame- less dancing delighted the half-drunken company, and none was more enthusiastic than Herod liiniself. In his tipsy generosity, he promises with oaths tliatshe shall have anything she asks, unto "the half of his kingdom." Instead of asking for jewels or a new slave, Salome said, " I will that thou give me forthwith the head of John the Baptist in a charger," a request ini-tigated by her mother, to whom she had gone with the question, " What shall I ask ? " It was not the wish of Herod that the Baptist should be slain ; but, having given his oath, he would rather commit murder than discredit himself in the eyes of his guests by breaking his rash, drunken promise ; and soon, therefore, the 130 THE LIFE OP JESUS. bluudy head uf John the Buptist was brought to the gtr], who in turn took it to her mother ; and Herodias, if tradition may be trusted, ispat upon it, and mutilated tlie tongue which liad so fearlessly eondcnjncd her wickedness. Although John was dead, Herod's conscience was alive ; and when he learned of Jesus' great works and powers, ho said : "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him " ; and when others said, " It is Elijah," or "It is a prophet, even as one of the prophets," Herod, stubborn in his superstitious fears, declared again, "John, whom I beheaded, ho is risen." Jeans Seeks Rest and Feeds Five Thousand.— When the disciples of John had buried the headless corpse of their master, " they went and told Jesus." Already worn out with the fatigue of the third preaching tour, Jesus found these tidings hard to bear. Besides the grief he felt at the death of his friend, there doubtless came to him a vision of his own approachidg death. Just at this time, as it would appear, the twelve returned. They were weary, as well as he ; and he said to them, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." Takirig a boat, therefore, they started for Bcthsaida Julias, intending to find quiet in some unpopulated region near that city. But tliey were disap- pointed. The multitudes that had so thronged them in Ca- pernaum that "they had no leisure so much as to eat bread," followed by land. Jesus, when he saw them flocking over the country side, instead of feeling impatient at their trouble- some zeal, pitied them with a great pity. They were like " sheep not having a shepherd " ; and, "he began to teach them many things " ; and because some had brought their sick with them, enduring fatigue that these might secure a blessing, "he healed their sick." The multitudes that followed Jesus, having brought with them no provision for such a journey, as the day advanced became hungry. Jesus was the first to think of their need ; THE GALILEAN AIII^LSTUY ENDED. 131 the disciples were the first to feel anxiety on account of it. Their own store of food consisted of five barley loaves and two small fishes. To purchase supplies for thu five thousand was impossible. What should they do ? While they were still per- plexed, and were wishing that Jesus would send the multitude away to buy food for themselves, he said to them, ' Make the people sit down." The command was obeyed, and soon upon the thick, green grass tlie mc^u were seated to the num- ber of five thousand. A strange scene and strange prepara- tions for a feast ! The guests were numerous enough ; the broad earth formed an ample table ; the twelve could serve as waiters ; but where were the provisions? Jesus held them in his hands, five loaves and two little fishes 1 ''But what are these among so many ? ' ' The feast was begun solemnly with the giving of thanks. Then Jesus, breaking the bread and the fishes, handed por- tions to the twelve to distribute among the people. They went forth with these, and returned for new supplies ; sup- plied again, they went among the people once more, and again returned. There is more for them always. All eat; all are filled. And when the feast was over, from the frag- nients that remained each of the twelve disciples filled his willow basket. This n)iracle made a profound impression upon the people. Ordinarily, when tliey had seen his miracles, as in the cases of healing earlier in tlie day, a few were affected by his power, while the rest were witnesses only. But on this occa- sion every man had shared in the blessing, for all had eaten and all had been filled. With one voice they said, "This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world." As they thus spoke to one another their excitement grew. The Passover was near. All tlie land was looking for the coming of the Messiah. In every village and city, and on the hillsides, and in the valleys, were men ready to rise in rebellion the instant the leader appeared. The recent murder of the Baptist had I a i' 132 THE LIFE OF JESUS. > Stirred the hearts of the people witli new resentment against the Hcrods and their Ruiuan masters. And now, with the memory of Jesus' signs and wonders in their minds, and stirred in heart because by his miraculous power they had that hour been filled with food, they believed that he was indeed the Messiah ; and when some one there suggested that they there and then choose him as king and, putting him at their head, march to Jerusalem- to the Passover, the propo- sition was received with enthusiasm. In fancy they saw crowds hurrying to his standard as they marched. They heard shouts of welcome from the multitudes gathered in the Holy City for the feast. They saw a great popular revolution, their liberties secured, and the hopes of Israel realized. In that hour of tremctidous excitement, they thought of only one difficulty — his own unwillingness to accede to their de- sires; and this they determined to overcome by force. "Jesus therefore perceiving that they were abont to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew himself into the mountain, himself alone." They did not follow him there because, before withdrawing from them, he had quieted their excitement — perhaps had told them with a solemnity which for the moment drove their wild ambitions out of their minds, that he was about to retire for prayer. Stilled by his word, as they had been fed by his power, they scattered for the night. Jesus Walks npon the Water. — ^Before sending the mul- titude away, Jesus had bidden the disciples return by boat to the western side of the lake. It being clear that the rest which he and they so much needed could not be obtained so near Capernaum, he would seek it elsewhere. And now, while he is praying in the mountain, the disciples, making their way toward Capernaum, are overtaken by a storm and are distressed by the waves. He sees their peril, and that they may be rescued, goes to them, walking upon the water as upon the pavement. When they see this form moving \ I THE GALILEAN MINISTRY ENDED. 133 upon the sea, they are alarmed, and cry out, " It is a ghost." But hia familiar voice quiets them with the words, ''Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Reassured, they are willing to receive him inter the boat. But first, Peter, im- pulsive and daring as ever, must siiare more fully in the miracle and says, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the water." And Jesus, willing to show the too self-re- liant, but wholly devoted Peter, that his courage is still liable to faint, says, " Come." Peter obeys ; walks for a little upon the water ; then, beginning to reali/e the storm, fears, and is sinking. "Lord, save me!" he cries, "O thou of little faith; wherefore didst thou doubt?" is Jesus* gentle re- proach, as he supports the fearful man in the water. Wh'^n Jesus and Peter went up into the boat the storm was over, and the boat was near the Gennesaret shore. Traditionalism Rebuked.— As soon as it was known that Jesus was in the neighborhood, his healing mercies were sought. Wearied though he was, he allowed himself to be detained by these appeals for help, healing as many as came to him. ■■ ^' ■ ^:. - = . • ;.•,,-, -.;{* When he was doing this compassionate work, certain Phor- isees and scribes, who had come from Jerusalem to watch and oppose his work in Galilee, came out from Capernaum and began to charge him with fault, in that he permitted his dis- ciples to ignore the traditions of the elders. Jesus promptly seized this opportunity to rebuke the traditionalism which, in some cases, laid grievous burdens upon men ; which in others, permitted them to evade sacred duties ; and in yet other things, to insult the person of God himself . . v The Discourse on the Bre&d of Life— When morning came, the multitudes that had been miraculously fed, not finding Jesus nor his disciples, hired boats which the storm had driven into the harbor of Bethsaida Julias, and crossing the sea came to Capernaum, " seeking Jesus." Having found him, they began to ply him with qu 'esi,ions. TH il. !_ X'lUlll LUIS ■-■,-., I 134 THE LIFE OP JESUS. proceeded that extraordinary dialogue recorded in the sixth chapter of John, in which he taught that he was the Bread of Life. The time was ripe for the great crisis of his GaU- lean ministry. The people who^ere thronging him wher- ever he went, thougii not animated by the same thoughts or enmities as the Pharisees, were nevertheless cherishing opin- ions whicii were thoroughly antagonistic to the principles of his kingdom. They must be taught that his character and aims were totally opposed to those of the Messiah of their ambitions. Therefore, taking the miracle of the loaves as his starting point, he speaks truths whicii prove quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. First they wonder ; then they cavil ; tiien they oppose. But the more they question the sharper he makes his words. The hour for the wiimowing has come, and the strongest winds of truth are necessary to separate the wheat from the chaff. He shows that the manna received from the skies of old was not the Bread of Life which came down out of heaven, for those who ate it died ; and affirms that he is himself the Bread of Life, and that only by receiving him in his sacrificial death can the hunger and thirst of the soul be satisfied. The synajrogue must have presented a strange scene on that day. The Pharisees were at once angry and exultant — angry be- cause of his daring words, and exultant because they saw that he was destroying his popularity. Among the common peo- ple, those who had followed him with Messianic hopes were now completely alienated, as they found that he would not realize their ambitious desires. There was consternation even among his disciples ; the saying was too hard for them to bear; and "upon this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." In his grief, as he saw the people forsaking him in crowds, he turned to the twelve, and said, "Would ye also go away?" And while it may not be doubted that they THE GALILEAN MINISTRY ENDED. 136 shared the popular disappointment in Jesus that day, they knew cnougii of his character to understand that whether he would do what they had hoped, or would lead them by a way which they knew not, he was still the Lord of life ; and Peter answered, " Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God." Thus, while the mul- titudes forsook him, the twelve, because they endured tlie testing of this day, were more than ever his own ; all but Judas Iscariot, " for he it was that should betray him." With this discourse on the Bread of Life, the Galilean ministry proper ends. Jesus will speak other messages and do other miracles in Capernaum while visiting in Galilee, but the rest of his life will be spent almost wholly in upper Gali- lee, Perea, and Judea. The Galileans have had their oppor- tunity ; and though individuals here and there have been won to him, he has been rejected by the leaders and now is forsaken by the common people. RELATED ScRiPTURK. — Matt. 9 : 35-11 : 1 ; 13 : 54-15 : 20; Mark 6 : 1-7 : 53; Luke 9 : 1-17; John 6 : 1-71. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Describe the first rejection at Nazareth, 2. Name the four disciples whom Jesus called just after the first rejection. 3. Des- cribe the second rejection at Nazareth. 4. What did Jesus do immediately after the second rejection? 5. What powers were given the twelve when sent upon their mission ? 6. Make an analysis of Jesus' discourse on this occasion, 7. What led to the arrest of John the Baptist? 8. Describe the occasion of his murder. 9. Why did Jesus retire to the neighborhood of Beth- saida Julias? 10. Where is Bethsaida Julias? 11. Describe the miracle of the loaves. 12. What did the people attempt to do after this miracle? 13. Describe the miracle which occurred on the sea that night. 14 By whom was Jesus met when he reached the western side of the lake ? 15. Make a careful study of the discourse on the Bread of Life. ' ! XXIV. THE WITHDRAWAL FROM GALILEE. Jesus Seeks Safety and Quiet in Korthern Galilee.— Hos- tility had so increased that Jesus deemed it wise to withdraw from Galilee. Only a year remained to him on earth. Much of that he must spend in training his disciples. During the spring and summer forming the first half of this year he sought constantly to avoid the notice of the people, partly, doubtless, that plots might not thicken about him, and partly, it would seem, in order that he might not be interrupted in his work of teaching the twelve. At first he went northward into the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon, thence eastward past Hermon, and southward to Decapolis ; thence across the lake to the west shore, where he landed at Dalmanutha ; thence by water again to Bethsaida Julias ; thence as far north as Hermon ; and then back again to Capernaum for a brief stay. Everywhere, as soon as his presence was known, his seclusion was interrupted by those who, in their affliction, came to him for succor, or who had heard of his miracles and were eager to see him. The Healing of the Syro-phcenician's Daughter.— On reaching the borders of Tyre and Sidon, " he entered into a house," — perhaps one belonging to a believing family, — and " would have no man know it ; and he could not be hid " be- cause there was trouble in that neighborhood ; a mother's heart was burdened for her demonized child, and she appealed to him for help. The woman was a Greek, and had certain false opinions concerning his character which needed correc- tion as much as her heart needed relief By an apparent reluct- ance to help her he first of all purified her faith, and at length THE WITHDRAWAL FROM GALILEE. 137 was able to say to her, as she knelt at his feet, " woman, great is tliy faith ; be it done unto thee even as tliou wilt." In that moment her child was healed and she herself, because of her faith, was received as a true daughter of Israel. But by thus blessing this afflicted family he embarrassed himself; for aftrr such a miracle there could be no more seclusion for him in ihat region. Therefore, he turned his face eastward, crossing the Lebanon range ; passing near the source of the Jordan ; making his way through one of the passes of Her- mon ; and then going southward to Decapolis, on the east of the sea of Gahlee. / .*}:>: Miracles on the East Bide of the Lake.— When he ar- rived in the region of Decapolis, Jesus was sought out by multitudes, ''having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others," who had heard of his powers and believed in him as a miracle worker. It may be that this widespread faith in him was due to the testimony of the man of Gerasa, out of whom he had cast out the legion of demons many weeks before, and whom he had sent to his own home, contrary to the healed man's wishes, to tell of the great mercy which had been shown him. This man told the story of his deliverance not only at home but also throughout the city, and perhaps in other places; and thus tlie word extended throughout all the region round about, and might easily have been hoard in all parts of Decapolis before the arrival of Jesus. It is interesting, and the narrative encourages us, thus to connect the present attitude toward Jesus of the peo- ple on the east of the sea of Galilee with the testimony of this healed demoniac. • - >«, . •Among those brought to him for healing at this time was a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Jesus, when about to heal him, took him apart from the throng, put his fingers into the closed ears, with his own saHva touched the stammering tongue, sighed as if oppressed, even while he turned his eyes toward heaven, and then said : '* Be opened." 138 THE I IPE OF JESUS. The miracle was accomplislifcd at once, to tlie joy of the man and to the wonder of the multitude. "'He hath done all things well," they cried ; '' he maketh even the deaf to hea? and the dumb to speak." Their enthusiasm was unbounded, and, although Jesus charged the friends of the healed man to keep the mii-acle a secret, " the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it "; and the more they told the story the more the people of the country flocked from their homes to see this great healer. All quiet was de- stroyed ; the opportunity to teach special lessons to the twelve was lost ; and, therefore, he decided to go elsewhere. But before going away he would perform another miracle, iu which not a few diseased people only would be the sharers, but the whole multitude that thronged him. He would feed this multitude as he had fed the five thousand near Bethsaida Julias. More than four thousand people were with Jesus at this time, including a number of women and children. Some had come a great distance ; and all, or the greater part, of the throng had been there listening to his teachings for three days. Their food was gone, and the place was desert. The provisions which the disciples had brought with them were also so far exhausted that only seven loaves and a few fishes remained. But while the disciples manifested an anxiety which showed that they had learned not to depend on Jesus for miraculous supplies or deliverance in the ordinary exigen- cies of life, he deemed the few loaves and fishes enough. At his command the multitude sat down on the " ground" — the grass, which abounded in the early spring when the other miracle of the loaves was performed, having been dried up by the heat of the advancing summer. As before, the scanty jupply is multiplied in his hands. Soon all have eaten and are filled. On the former occasion, the people who were fed were Jews ; these are chiefly Gentiles. Then he pronounced the blessing on the bread only, according to the Jewish cus- THE WITHDRAWAL FROM GALILEE. 139 torn ; now he blesses both the bread and the fish, giving tlianks twice. At that time there were five loaves ; at this time seven. Then twelve small wicker baskets were filled with fragments ; now seven large baskets are filled. At .Bethsaida Julias he had sent the multitude away when they would have made him king, and then, after praying for a time in a mountain, had walked upon the water to las disci- ples, who had met the storm as tliey journeyed toward Ca- pernaum ; here he sends tho multitude away, and goes im- mediately into the boat with his disciples to cross to Dal- manutha. A Sign Demanded at Dalmanutha.— When Jesus landed on the west shore of the lake, Pharisees and Sadducees came to him with the old demand for a sign. " Sliow us a sign from heaven." No one can understand the sorrow of the Teacher in tliis hour. " He sighed deeply," his weariness as well as his sadness thus finding expression. " Wliy doth this generation seek after a sign," he asked, mournfully. " There shall no sign be given unto it," he added, "but the sign of Jonah." On a former occasion, when certain Pharisees had asked a sign, after he had rebuked with terrible warnings the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, he had promised them the sign of Joi)ah — the sign of burial and resurrection. This demand for a sign at Dalmanutha is an echo of that old cry, and his answer is a reiterr^ktion of his former solemn rebuke. The Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida Jnlias.— Still in quest of seclusion, Jesus left Dalmanutha at once and went to Beth- saida Julias. Burdened with the memory of the reception given him by the Pharisees and Sadducees at Dalmanutha, he warned his disciples to beware of their teachings, fearing, and with sufficient reason, that even among the twelve there might be some who would be led into fatal error by the in- flup;nces by which they were constantly surrounded. Having come to Bethsaida, the inevitable appeal for help 140 THE LIFE OP JESUS. is undo to liiiu. '' They bring to him a blind man." As in the case of the deaf umn in Decapolis, he took this blind mnn apart, in this instance outside of the village, put saliva on his eyes, laid his hands upon him, and said : *^ Secst thou aught? " " I see men ; for I behold them as trees walking." Then Jesus laid his hands a second time upon the man's eyes, and at once their restoration was complete. Being anxious to avoid the crowd, which the rumor of this miracle would attract, '' he sent him away to his heme, saying : Do not even enter into the village." Peter's Confession by the Way.— Leaving Bethsaida Julias, Jesus went northward to CaDsarea Philippi. He curried a heavy heart. Though the twelve were with him, he was a ^ad and lonely man. One day, after praying in solitude for a season, he asked his disciples the questiou : "Who do men say that I am?" "John the Baptist," "Elijah," "Jeremiah," "One of the Prophets"— these are the answers which lie received. Even those who followed him admiringly did not pas^ beyond this conception of his character. The common people, though they heard liim gladly, did not recognize in him the Christ of God. "But who say ye that I am?" he asked further. "Peter an- swered : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." This confession, instant, full, spiritual, is manna to Jesus' hungry soul. "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona," he says, quickly; his heart full— his eyes full too, it may be, for he was a man of finest sensibilities— " for flesh and blood have not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Once before Peter had said : " And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God " ; and a day or two earlier there had been those in the boat which he had rescued from the waves, who had said : " Of a truth, thou art the Son of God "; but now as Peter speaks, it is with full intelligence of the sicrnificance of the words he is using. The teachings of the spring and summer have not been in \ I THE WITHDRAWAL FROM QAULEE. 141 nth vnin, nur litis the Father withheld his help. The truth has laid its l>and upun these luen who have left all tu folluw him ; and therefore this is the hour choseu by Jesus to uiiiiouiice to thcni, first of all, their great honors and responsibilities, and then his own approaching death. ''Upon this rock 1 will build uiy church ; and the gates of Hades shall not pre- vail against it." Although Jesus had brought his disciples to the point where they could confess intelligently that he was the Christ, it was not his wish that they should proclaim this fact at present. He therefore commanded them to tell no man that he was the Christ. For a season his work must be done privately. At the eud of this period of special training of the twelve, and of recuperation of liis own wasted strength, he would again lift up his voice in the hearing of the people of the laud. Jesus Foretells his Death.— At this time Jesus makes the first clear and detailed statement of his approaching death at Jerusalem, foretelling his ill treatment by the " elders and chief priests and scribes," and the end of it all is his death and resurrection. All the disciples are shocked, and Peter, shrinking from the picture of Jesus' death, and losing tlie meaning of that part of the statement which referred to the resurrection, said : "Be it far from thee, Lord ; this shall never he unto thee." If Peter, when a little while before he hod confessed nobly, was honored, he now, as he puts himself with the great tempter who, in the beginning of Jesus' min- istry had sought to turn him aside by showing him an easy path to victory, is humiliated. " Get thee behind me, Satan ; thou art a stumbling-block unto me ; for thou mindest not the things of God. but the things of men." The way of honor and ease could not lead him to his sacrificial triumph. That he might lead others into the hght, he must himself plunge into the darkness. Not only so, but those who would" come after him must deny themselves, take up the cross and follow 142 THE LIFE OP JEaUS. liiiu. And all thcso should gain in luring ; for lie wlio in this way lost the wurld, uhuuld gain his liib. The Transfiguration.— They Imd coiuo near llcmion, and after some days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and ascended a spur of this mountain, and there pniyed. For days he had been walking in the shadow ; now a heavenly light crowns his head. He is transfigured ; his face is bright like the face of the sun ; his garments glisten. It is the hour of exaltation and glory. Although the weary disciples have fallen asleep, Jesus is not alone. M jses the lawuiver and Elijah the prophet are with him. They talk of the decease which he is to accomplish at Jerusalem. The past, the present, and the future lie in that glorious light upon the mountain ; and he who for days has been infinitely sad is comforted. At length the three disciples are aroused. Two of them in their amazement are silent, but Peter speaks, albeit with a blundering tongue. He asks that he may be permitted to build three booths, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. As he speaks he is interrupted by the sudden rising of a cloud which overshadows them all ; and out of the cloud there comes a voice, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ; hear ye hiiu." Amazed before, the three are terrified now, and fall upon their faces, not dar- ing to uncover fhoir eyes. Then J.^sus comes and touches them, and says : "Arise ; be not afraid." And lifting their eyes they see no one, save ' ' Jesus only. ' * The vision is past ; the voice is silent ; Moses and Elijah have withdrawn ; but the heart of the Son of Man is filled with peace. The Healing of the Demoniac Boy.— While Jesus was experiencing the exaltation of transfiguration on the mountain, the nine disciples whom he had left behind were suff*ering defeat atjd humiliation in the valley. A man had come to them with his demoniac child, a pathetic and deplorable epi- leptic; and they, undertaking to cast out the demon, had ! ? THE WITHDRAWAL FROM GALILEE. 143 failed. Thereupon a great diacudHion had ari»cn ; and doubt- less the disrepute into whiuh '.lie nine, by tlieir ill-guided zuul, had fallen, extended in the popular thought to the Master. At his eomin;;, therefore, he rebuked the demon, the throng, and the diseiples. •If thou canst," the father had said, asking help ; and then, when eluded for his doubt, hud cried : " 1 believe ; help thou my unbelief " Then Jesus cast out the demon with a word and with a touch restored the exhausted body of the boy. Demons disappeared ut iiis word more (luiekly than unbelief; and even in this hour of triumph he mourned because of the pcrversenesa of the people. " How long Bhall I bo with you?" he asked; "how long bhall I suflfer you?" Ihe Beturn to Capernaum.—Jesus now turns liis face toward Capernaum, On this journey lie once more predicts his death at Jerusalem. "But they understood not the siry- ing, and were afraid to ask him." When Jesus reached Capernaum, the collectors of the tem- ple tax ciiii to !*eter and said, perhaps with a sinister motive : "Doth net your master pay the half-shekel?" Peter an- swered, "Yes," promptly; an answer which Jesus endorsed whon P»eter met him, though tirst he made him understand tlut it was to avoid misunderstanding that he paid the tax, ajid not because he had not the right to be free. This was folWed by the miracle of the coin in the fish's mouth. During the journey from the north, the disciples, believing that the kingdom was at hiuid. h; I fallen into a dispute as to which of their number should have the highest place in it. Therefore, while remaining in Ca| ornauni, Jesus called them to him and, rebuking them for their ambition, delivered a solemn discourse on Ininiility and forgiveness. As an illus- tration of the spirit which should be in them he set a child in their midst ; he cliided them for interfering with one whom they had found casting out demons in his name ; and he taught them that they would better sacrifice a hand, a 144 THE LIFE OF JESUS. foot, or an eye, or anything else that might lead them to oifeud, rather than to expose themselves to danger from *Uhe worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched." " Have salt in yourselves," he added ; " and be at peace one with another. ' ' Related Scriptuke.— Matt. 15 : 21-18 : 85 ; Mark 7 : 24-9 : 50; Luko y : 18-60. ' QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Why did Jesus leave Galilee at this time? 2. "Where did he go first? 3. What miracle did ho perform there ? 4. Why did ho leave this region ? 5. Where is Decapolis? 6. What miracles did he perform there ? 7. Note the differences between the feed- ing of the four 'housand and the feeding of the five thousand. 8. Who questioned him when he landed at Dalmanutha? 9. What miracle did he perform near Bethsaida Julias? 10. What confession did Peter make on the northward journey? 11. Describe the transfiguration. 12. What miracle did Jesus perform after leaving the mountain ? 13. What prediction did he make just before and again soon after the transfiguration? 14. What question was put to Peter upon their return to Caper- naum? 15. What was the occasion of Jesus' discourse en hu- mility and forgiveness? EEVIEW QUESTIONS. 1. Who accompanied Jesus on his first preaching tour in Gali- lee? On the second? On the third? 2. During which of those tours did he send the twelve forth two by two? 3. Compare the first and second rejections at Nazareth, noting resemblances and differences, 4. Relate the circumstances leading to the im- prisonment and death of John the Baptist. 5. On how many occasions did Jesus still the sea? Find scriptural references 6 Discover the reasons why the Jews were offended by the dis- course on the Bread of Life. 7. Name the eight parables of the Day of Parables. 8. Which of these were spoken by the sea? 9. Which in the house? 10. Under what circumstances did Jesus speak of "An eternal sin" ? 11. Review your analysis of the sermon on the Mount. XXV. Gali- those Tipare ances e iin- Imany ncos e dis- les of y the ances alysis PUBLIC TEACHINQ RESUMED. The Final Departxire from Oalilee— The work of Jesus in Galilee was done, and he would now leave the province not to return until after his resurrection. The feast of the Tabernacles being near, his brothers, not believing that he was the Messiah,' because his methods were so diflFerent from the methods their worldly wisdom would have chosen, urged him to go up to the feast and pre- sent himself publicly to the nation: "If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world." But Jesus could neither gratify their wish nor approve their spirit ; and they therefore went their way, leaving him in Galilee. Soon after they had gone he also started for Jerusalem, seeking to make the journey as unobtrusively as possible. It was his purpose to go through Samaria, that route being shorter than the one on the east of Jordan, and less frequented by the Jews. This gave rise to an unpleasant experience, in which the Samaritans of a certain village showed their fierce bigotry, and two of the disciples, James and John, that they , were not possessed of the mild spirit of their Master. Because Jesus was going to Jerusalem, the villagers would not permit him to be entertained in their village, and because of this af- front the Sons of Thunder wanted permission to call down fire from heaven to consume them. The loneliness and poverty of Jesus at this period are revealed in his answer to one who professed great devotion to him: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head," At this time too. he tpsted other disciples, who, more K 146 ,.i 146 THE LIFE OF JESUS. F-' urgent than intelligent, had not yet realized all that disciple- ship would mean in the days upon which the Son of Man had come. If to these would-be disciples there seemed some- thing of severity in his demands, it was the severity of growing sorrow and unchanging love. In order that he might give life to men, they must become his own absolutely. The Seventy Sent Forth.— It was the intention of Jesus to go into Perea after the feast of Tabernacles to carry his gospel to the Jews of that region ; and in order that the minds of the people there might be prepared, so that they would quickly gather about him on his arrival, he sent seventy of his disciples forth into "every city and place where he himself was about to come." The commission given them was similar to that formerly given to the twelve, though differ- ing i"^ some points, as befitted the temporary character of their service. "I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves," he said ; and then as his mind was engaged for the moment with the guilt of those who were rejecting his teach- ings, he pronounced woes upon Ciiorazin, Bethsaida, nud Capernaum, and added : " He that rejecteth you, rejecteth me ; and he that rejecteth me, rejecteth Him that sent me." How long these thirty-five pairs of disciples were engaged in their work, we cannot tell ; but when they returned from their mission, whether it was soon after their appointment or not until after the feast of Tabernacles was over, they were greatly filled with the joy of success. "Even the devils are subject unto us in thy name," they said. As he heard these tidings, Jesus seeing in them the promise of future triumphs by his followers, exclaimed exultantly : " I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven." The Parable of the Good Samaritan. — Perhaps it was about this time that in reply to a question from a certain lawyer, Jesus delivered the parable of the Good Samaritan, by which he would show who may be regarded as our neigh- bors. This is one of the most precious of all t^^ose parables ..\ I, PUBLIC TEACHING RESU^^IED. 147 which our Lord used with sucli marvelous skill during his ministry. The pitiless indifference of the priest and Levite, and the practical sympathy of the Samaritan, — a name hate- ful to the Jews'— are set forth wit h great power ; and when the self-sufficient Jewish lawyer is bidden, in the words ''Go, and do thou likewise," to imitate the Samaritan, the lesson and the rebuke reach their climax. ] Jesus Visits Martha and Mary. — Luke places Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary immediately after the parable of the Good Samaritan. It was on this occasion that Martha was rebuked by Jesus, not because she was a good housekeeper, nor because she was not a godly woman, but because, though godly, she was unduly fretted by her household cares ; while Mary was commended for that religious temper whiQh,»i)i first to hear that Jesus was approaching, and came to meet him. 160 THE LIFE OF JESUS. Then a touching dialogue occurred, in which he used the words which have grown so dear to the Ciiristian world, " I am the resurrection and the life," and Martha made a noble confession, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God." .\t the request of Jesus, Martha returned and called Mary. As Mary left the house to go to him, her mourning friends, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there, followed her. These, therefore, were present when Jesus, witnessing the weeping of Mary and her friends, and being profoundly moved, asked, " Where have ye laid him?" " Lord, come and see," they replied. And as he went "Jesus wept." The Jews seeing his tears, began to ask if this Rabbi, who a few months before had given sight to the blind in Jeru- salem, could not have healed his friend Lazarus. While they were yet making their whispered comments, awed doubtless by the emotion of Jesus, they arrived at the tomb. At once Jesus commanded that the stone which was before the tomb should be taken away ; and thousrh Martha expressed the fear that corruption had already hegun in the body, his command was obeyed. We may believe that a strange hush was over all that throng as they waited in wonder to see what Jesus would do. At iSrst he prayed. Then in a loud voice he cried, "Lazarus, come forth." This extraordinary command was obeyed immediately, and Lazarus, all swathed in grave clothes, stood before them, alive. "Loose him, and let him go," said Jesus. With this command the record ends. What Mar ha and Mary said or felt or did is not described by the sacred writer. This reticence is striking evidence of the reatraint of divine inspiration. We are grateful for it. The scene was too sacred for description. The effect upon the people, however, is described. Some of them became believers, others went away and told the Phari- sees. Thereupon the Sanbedrin was called hastily together, and after consultation it was determined that Jesus must die. Gaiaphas, crafty and conscienceless as ever, in his character as THE MINISTRY US FEBEA. 161 ome iari- Lher, I die. 3r as high priest prophesied " that Jesus should die for the nation." **Thi8," says Ederslieini, ''was the last propliecy in Israel; with the sentence of death on Israel's true High Priest died prophecy in Israel, died Israel's high priesthood. It had spoken sentence upon itself." ''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 dis- ciples." His hour to die had not yet come. Not until tho feast of Passover shall the Lamb of God be offered in sacrifice. Therefore, until the Passover is near, he will not return to 'Judea. Belat£D Scbiptubk.— Luke 11 : 1-17 : 10 ; John 11 : 1-54. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTFONS. 1. How was Ferea prepared for the visit of .Tesus? 2. Name throe parables which wore spoken in Ferea. 8. Describe the Sabbath question discussion in Ferea. 4. Repeat the story of thia Frodigal Son. 5. Locate Bethany on the map. 6. Who sent a message from Bethany to Ferea, and why ? 7. Describe the raising of Lazarus from the dead. 8. What other incidents of giving life to the dead are recorded in the Gospels? 9. What did the Sivnhedrin resolve upon on learning of the raisit.g of Lazarus? 10. To what city did Jesus retire at this time ? .* •- ?. XXVII. THE MINISTRY IN PEREA CONCLUDED. Two Miracles. — After sojourning for a time in Ephraim, perhaps in quiet fellowship with the twelve and by special teachings preparing them for the events which were soon to occur, Jesus turned his face toward Judea. The end was near, and, without haste or excitement, he went forth to meet it. During the journey multitudes, hearing of his approach, flocked to him ; and as he went on his way he taught thum many things and performed many miracles of healing. Not many, however, of his teachings, and only two of the miracles belonging to this period, are recorded ; and we are again reminded that the sacred writers report but a few of the things which Jesus said and did. The healing of the ten lepers occurred on the borders of Galilee and Samaria. Standing afar off, these poor diseased creatures cried : " Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. " Turn- ing toward them, he looked on their wretchedness and, moved with great pity, answered : " Gro and show yourselves unto the priests. " The lepers, believing fully in him as a Healer, obeyed; and "as they went they were cleansed." As soon as the miracle occurred, one of them, a Samaritan, his heart full of gratitude, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, while the other nine, selfish in their recovered health, and more eager to be reinstated in the community by the word of the priest than to give thanks to their Healer, went on their way. "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the other nine ?" is Jesus' sad comment. Ten had been made free from their disease, but only one had become a disciple. Their faith had healed them. His faith had saved 102 '( :■/■ THE MINISTRY IN PEREA CONCLUDED. 163 a jr. him. ' Arise, " said the Lord, "and go thy way ; thy faith hath made thee whole. " The other miracle of this period occurred later in the journey, when Jesus had come near Jericho. Two blind men, one of whom was Bartimeus, as they were begging by the Wayside learned that he was passing, and asked of liim a greater gift than any they had ever asked before of any man. " Have mercy on us, " tliey cried ; and when the mul- titude bade them be still, they cried the more loudly, " Have mercy on us." " What will ye that I should do unto you ? " he asked. "Lord, that our eyes may be opened," they pleaded; and their prayer availed. Stepping forward he touched their eyes, and immediately they saw as other men, and joined the throng that followed him. Four Parables. — 1. When Jesus had spoken to the people of his second coming, he concluded his discourse with the 'parable of The Importunate Widow ; by which he taught that in all the years in which the church would be look- ing for the consummation of its hopes, though oppressed by enemies and delayed in its expectation, it would have always reason to trust and wait. "Howbeit, " added Jesus, " when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" 2. Whenever, in that age and land of Pharisees, Jesus was speaking to a promiscuous company, there were some present who " trusted in themselves that th< ^ vvere righteous and set all others at naught." Among the innumerable rebukes of the Pharisaic spirit which disi^inguished his teachings was the parable of the Pharisee and Publican, a parable which, though primarily ^(tended to rebuke self-righteousness, has proved a source of infinite con. fort to myriads of sinners in the hours when their guilt seemed greater than ; y could bear. Tlie parable is a graphic picture. Two men are stand- ing in the temple, one with head erect, the other with s downcast ; the former recounting his good deeds, the latter speaking only of his sins ; the one voluble in his boastings, i:^^ (5 ' ' it li XM Av:i4\m.^ THE.: LIFE. OF JESUS. • If ••..../■: the. other almtst too troubled to speak, aaying only, as He beats his breast : " God be merciful to me a siunor." Wheii Jesua had wmplcted the painting c/ the j* !i^iirciples that his kingdom is a kingdom of gi'tme. »'i the parable of The Laborer in the Vineyard, a bouse I solder u represented as going out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in his vineyard, and again at nine o'clock, again at twelve, again at three, aod again at five. At Hix o'clock, the day's work being ended, all appeared before- the householder to receive their wages ; and when he gave cv full day's wages to those who had worked only one hour» those who had worked all day and received no more, were dis^ pleased, and complained bitterly. The rebuke which Jesus puts into the mouth of the householder corrects the selfish and envious spirit which sc easily intrudes into all the thoughts of men, but which he would show could not be suffered in matr ters relating to the kingdom of heaven. 4. Those who heard the teaohincrs of Jesus at the house of Zaccheus in Jericho, feeling that both in his words and ruan- ner there were tokens of vast events near at hand, and turn- ing in thought, as was natural in a Jew, to the Messianic king- dom, asked him if that kingdom would appear immediately. In answer he spoke to them the paraWi of The Pounds.. Their expectations were doubly wrong ley erred as to times and s"»ason3, and equally as to the' v jper relations to. the .cflorif; hioh should come. 1?; v of gazing into the horizon, .ui^ waiting for marvels fi-.i. strong and glorious. THE MINISTBY IN PEREA CONCLUDED. 165 •."f 36 of man- turn- ing- [tely. LDds. to IS to. the :ioufl power, it was their duty to apply themselves diligently to the great tasks of the spiritual life which he revealed, and be in an expeetant attitude until he who was about to go away should return again to possess fully his kingdom. Id that day the faith- ful, whether their fidelity had won a ten-fold or a five-fold in- crease, should be rewarded. On the other hand, the unfaithful who came up sourly to return the pound which he had refused to use, would be forever impoverished ; while those who, being citizens of the country, declared themselves rebels against the king's authority, should be destroyed. Discourses and Incidents —1 . When children were brought to Jesus for his blessing, his quick sympathy was touched, and when the disciples would have isent the mothers away disappointed, he rebuked them with the words, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ' ' 2. Unlike tiie babes which fond mothers carried was that rich young ruler, who, not long after, came to him. Strong in his virtuous life, but not yet satisfied in heart, he desired t6 be taught the way of life by this great Teacher. Jesus, discerning that with all his nobility, there was in his character the fatal defect of covetousness, bade him dispose of his pos- sessions for the benefit of the poor. Had his heart been like that of "a little child," this test could have been endured, but, because he had become wedded to his possessions, he turned away from Jesus, " exceeding sorrowful ; for he was very rich." As Jesus saw him going sadly away, his own sadness exceeded that of the j'oung man, and he said, "With what -difficulty shall they who have riches enter into the kir^gdom of heavan ! " ' 3. ^s. they drew nearer to Jerusalem, the time came fiii* Jesus to tell with ^eater explicitness than ever before, that his present journey carried bim to his death. The twelve alone were permitted to receive this communication. To thein he first explained the ancient prophecies, describing thesnffep- ^<^K 166 THE LIFE OF JESUS. ';-^f ings of the Messiah ; and then, himself a prophet foretold all the incidents of his trial and death at the hantis of the Romans. But though he spoke so clearly, they could not understand. Stunned by words so terrible, and unable to com- prehend a meaning so appalling, "they perceived not the things that were said." 4. At this time, James and John, through their mother, made an appeal to Jesus, which at once revealed their ambi- tion and their total misconception of the character of his kingdom. They asked that they might be his chief counsel- ors in his future glories, the one fitting on his right hand and the other on his left. Apparently Jesus was both grieved and shocked by their request. " Ye know not what ye ask," he replied. When the ten heard that James and John had sought special honor for themselves in the kingdom of the Messiah, they were indignant at the two brotherfc, and Jesus perceiving that bitterness was arising, called the disciples to him and taught them again what spirit should prevail among them. " Whosoever would become great 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. '* Visit to Zaccheus. — As Jesus entered Jericho, which was one of his last resting places before reaching Jerusalem, crowds gathered and followed him. Among the number was a little man named Zaccheus, who was the chief of the publi- cans of the city, and had become rich by that extortion which was so common with men of his class. Finding himself at a disadvantage on account of his shortness of stature, he slipped out of the crowd, and, running ahead of the procession, climbed up into a tree by the side of the road. As he perched there on a bough, he had no thought that salvation was drawing nigh to him, or that he would be even noticed by the rabbi. What, therefore, must have been his feelings when he saw the face of Jesus upturned as he c.ime near the V nt a THE MINISTRY IN PEREA CONCLUDED. 167, sycamore tree, and he heard him saying, "Zaccheus, make haste and come down ; for to-day I must abide at thy house." Though Zaccheus had asked no grace, it is plain that this word of Jesus found his heart hungering after right43ousness. He had not found satisfaction in money-getting. Already ho had begun in a blind way to seek for better things. And now when the Master speaks to hiui, he obeys gladly. "And he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully." But while there is joy in the heart of Zaccheus, there is grumbhng in the streets. "He has gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner," murmur the Jewish haters of the tax-gatherers, as they see where Jesus stopped. Meanwhile Zaccheus was declaring to Jesus that the current of his life had been changed. " I give half of my goods to the poor," " When there has been extortion I restore four-foM " "To-day is salvation come to this hiiuse." Jesus unswored, and then, apparently turning to the Jews who stood neai ^ry and tiisapproving, he said, "Forasmuv.li as he also is a son of Abraham." And then he added that gracious word which was intended not only for Zaccheus, or the Jews, but also for all men in all times and lands : " For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that whicn was lost." The Second Anointing of Jesns.— In Galilee, on one occa- sion, while Jesus was at meat in the house of a Pharisee, a sinful woman of the city stole into the room and anointed his feet with ointment. Now another anoint. , curred at a feast, but this time in Judea ; and she who on this occasion anointed him was Mary, who early became one of his most intelligent and devoted disciples. On the former occasion, Jesus used the incident to show that those to whom much is forgiven, will love much ; on this occasion he makes the anointing lead the minds of the guests to his approaching death. The command had gone forth from the chief priests and -■■•* 1If wW'^-^ 168 THE LIFE OP JESUS. II Pharisees, tl.v > .; \', one knew wL ere Jesus was, the infor- mation ^K mli' I .c given to them, that they might arrest him, his dcpth having been determined upon some time before. But this fact, though known to Jesus, could not now turn his face away from Jerusalem. His hour had come, nnd the sacrifice was ready for tho p1' .• '^'oming early to the feast, ns many were accustotued to do, he visited for a few days his honored friends, Martha, Mary, and Jjazarus, whose home was in Bethany. While there, a supper was given in his honor. During the supper, Mary took a box of costly ointment — it was worth as much as a laborer could earn in a year — and anointed his head and feet. As Judas glanced up from his eating, he saw what Mary had done, and with darkening face, said, "To what purpose is this waste ? " By pretending that he felt indignant because by her extravagance the poor had been defrauded, he secured some sympathizers nmong the guests, and therefore Jesus, answering their ujurmuring, commended the action of Mary. This was not the tribute of affection only. While Mary had done him honor as a guest, she had also begun the anointing of his body for burial. Her action was done in the shadow of that great sorrow which she, with her fine spirit aal riiscernment, foresaw. None realized so fully as Mary that daj the significance of his words, "The pooi' ye hp-e alway with you: but me ye have not always." . v i . Jesus had come to Bethany six days before the Passover. As soon as tiie word reaches] Jerusalem, the common people flocked out to the village, eager to see uoth him and Lazarus, whom he had rnise" ' rom the dead ; and though the chief priests knew thai ' ^ was there, they could make no use of their knowledge, f(. he ommon people would have de- fended him irom open attack, and the crowd was too large and constant to make a secret arrest possible. But help came to them now from an unexpected quarter. Judas, who had long been yielding more and more to the greed which THE MINISTRY IN PEREA CONCLUDED. 169 distinguished him from the first, and who had habitually stolen from the scanty funds intrusted to him, was so angered by the incident of the anointing by Mary, and with that unreasonableness which is frequently found in miserly or thievish men, folt such resentment against the one who had hindered him from stealing, that, in .the frenzy of his disap- pointed greed he went to the chief prietsts and bargained for the betrayal of his Lord. "Me ye have not always," Jesus had said at the supper in Bethany ; and not many hours later, one of those to whom he spoke, sold him for thirty pieces of silver into the hands of the enemies who were watching their opportunity to kill him. BxLATSD ScRiPTURK.— Matt. 19 : 3-20: 84; 26 : 6-13; Mark 10 : 2-52; 14 : 3-9; Luke 17 : 11-19 : 28 ; John 11 : 66-12 : 11. •V . QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Tell the story of the healing of the ten lepers. 2. Where did the healing of Bartimeus take place? 8. Name the four parables which arc referred to in this lesson. 4. Why did the disciples attempt to prevent the bringing of babes to Jesus? 6. Tell the story of the meeting of the rich young ruler with Jesus. 6. What prediction did Jesus make at this time concerning himself? 7. On what pre- vious occasions had he foretold clearly his death? 8. What request was made of Jesu? on behalf of James and John? 9. Why should these brothers hope that gti^h a request might be granted? 10. Describe the character of /'Hccheus. 11. Where was Jesus on the occasion of his first anointing? 12, Note how the second anointing differs from the lirst. 13. Why did the chief priests resolve upon the murder of Lazarus ? 14. Who aided the chief priests in their murderous intentions respecting Jesus? . . f., . ;,: !,■' ti',. XXVIII. :v THE FIRST THREE D .YS OP PASSION WEEK. Sunday. — The end is at hand. Jesus will complete his tes- timony in Jerusalem within a tew days, and then die. All caution is laid aside. The hour has come in which he will make his claims fully known to the leaders of the nation, and when they in a frenzy of resentment seek to accomplish his death, he will not defeat their purpose. On the first day of the week he went from Bethany to Je- rusalem, attended by multitudes who offered him royal honors. Word reached Jerusalem that a Messianic demon- stration was about to be made in the city, and large numbers hurried out to meet the procession. At their coming the excite- ment grew greater. Garments were thrown upon the ground. Branches of trees were twisted oflF and scattered in the way. Shouts of "Hosanna!" filled the air, and the enthusiasm swelled like a swift and mighty tide. There were Pharisees in the throng, and some of these, shocked by a demonstration which offered Jesus Messianic honors, said to him, "Master, rebuke thy disciples." Where- upon he replied, "If these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out." Chagrined and defeated, the Pharisees said among themselves, " Behold, how ye prevail nothing : lo, the world is gone after him." As the procession swept into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred. " Who is this " was asked, on every hand. *' This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee," the multi- tudes answered. But though he was the prophet, he had no message for them this day. By his royal entry into the city he had asserted his Messiahship. This was sufficient for 170 '/' FIRST THREE DAYS OP PASSION WEEK. 171 l\ was Ihis is mlti- lid no city for ono day. Going up to tlio touiplo ho looked around upon all things there, and then with the twelve quietly returned to Bethany. It had been a day of triumph. Tiie night should be spent in prayer and rest. Monday. — As Jesus was returning to Jerusalem on Mon- day, he noticed by the wayside a fig tree in leaf, and as tho fruit of the fig appears before the leaves, in this green foliago he saw promise of fruit sufficient to sutisfy his hunger ; but when he went to the tree he found it barren. " Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward forever," he exclaimed; and the tree, blasted by the curse, withered r.way. The doom of the hypocrite lias come upon the fig tree, as it is coming upon the Jewish people ; and answering the questioning and wonder of his disciples, Jesus bids them have fuith in God in order that they may receive the things which in prayer they seek. The second great incident of this second day was the cleans- ing of the temple. Although Jesus at the beginning of hi > ministry, three years before, drove out the traders and mui changers whose unholy traffic defiled his Father's lie •. n permanent reform was effected ; and on this occasion ( » the same evils prevailing as then. "Is it not writ " ].'> cried, '* My house shall be called a house of prayer ft ' )■ nations ? but 5'e have made it a den of robbers. " Then as tho people crowded around him, he began to teach and to heal tho blind and the lame. Popular interest increased every mo- ment, and to swell the excitement, certain boys who had wit- nessed the miracles began to cry in the temple as thoy had heard the multitudes cry the day before, " Hosanna to the Son of David " ; and as on the previous day the Pharisees had bidden him rebuke his disciples when these gave him Messi- anic honors, so now certain of the chief priests and scribes said to him, indignantly, " Hearest thou what these are say- ing?" "Yea," answered Jesus, calmly. Then looking into their angry faces, he asked : " Did ye never read. Out of the 172 -? THE LIFE OP JESfTS; TH.:'; mouth of babes and suoklinffs thou hast perfected praise?" Thus ho concluded the work of that day, and went out again to Bethany to spend the night. -.t - ;». Tuesday.— 1. Authority Challenged. When Jesus reap- peared in the temple early Tuesday morning, the chief priests and elders were waiting there to demand of him on what au- thority ho presumed to take the position of i rabbi. "By what authority doest thou these things ? And who gave thee this authority ? " Three years before, at the former cleans- ing of the temple, in answer to their demand for a "sign," he had by a figure pointed to his death and resurrection. Now, when the temple of his body is about to be destroyed, instead of giving them the sign of the resurrection, he replies by a ques- tion which he knows they dare not answer. " The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men?" They were instantly embarrassed by this question. If they denied John's heavenly mission they would enrage the common peo- ple, who trusted him as a prophet and revered him as « mar- tyr. Nor could they confess John's authority with mt con- demning themselves, for they had not obeyed him. They escaped from their dilemma by a lie — " We know not." In this, therefore, their first encounter with Jesus on that day, they were shamed fcud silenced. ' • . ' • - 2. Three Parables. Jesus followed up his advantage by addressing his opponents with that irresistible authority which had from the first charmed the common people, and at the same time with a solemn severity which was full of pre- monitions of appro" "'"'-"g calamity. The three parables which he chose for t viS hour, as they are put into contrast with the three recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, are terrible in their rebukes and threatenings. " Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of Grcd before j-ou," the heart of the parable of The Two Sons, is the startling message which he addresses to these proud religionists who, but a few miautec before, had com- FIR5T THREE X>AYS OF PASSION WEEK. 173 Be?" again reap- >riest8 at au- e thee sleans- sign," Now, nstead % qaes- tism of . They denied dn peo- wmar- ,t con- They In t day, le by [thority and at )f pre- lavables )ntra8t :e, are I say [ngdom le Two these com- »» luanded him to give a reason why tliey should permit him to teach in tlie temple. " ^^ Tlien as he speaks the parable of The Wicked Husband^ men, the picture wiiich he draws holds them with its trugicul fascination. Under the spell of his singular eloquence they oan almost see tiie husbandmen as they beat, stone, or kill the servants whom the owner of the vineyard sends to collect his dues. The sinister conspiracy to murder the son, followed by the bloody deed, seems so real to them, that when Jusus asks, "What will he do unto those husbandmen?" many voices answered instantly, '' He will miserably destroy these miser- able men, and will let out the vineyard to other husband- men." Hardly have they spoken these words when they real- ize that they have pronounced judgment upon themselves ; and the chief priests and Pharisees are eager to arrest him at once, before he has opportunity to C3ndemn them further, but they are afraid to take action, on account of the multi- tudes of sympathizers who, believing him to be a prophet, throng about him and listen intently to all his words. ■ ' The Marriage of the King's Son is the third parable of this group. In the first, he showed that the Jews, though they had professed to do the will of God, had not done it ; in the second, he pointed out liow they had treated those ser- vants of God whom he had sent to ask his rights, and were about to treat his son ; and in the third, he illustrates their rejection of his grace. Some scorned the invitation to the heavenly feast, others murdered those* who invited them. What shall be done to these offenders against right and grace? With solemn emphasis, Jesus answered: "The King was wroth ; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murder- ers, and burned their city." Upon such rnin as this the Jew- ish people are rushing. Their nation shall be destroyed, and others shall be received into that grace which they have rejected. 3. Three Questions. When the Pharisees found that the 174 THE LIFE OF JESUS. ingenuity and force of his parables left them without reply, they withdrew and in council attempted to devise some weans of entrapping him into some statement which would either bring him into conflict with the civil authorities or discredit him in the eyes of the people. As a result of their deliber- ations, three questions were put to him, with the hope that one of these would snare him to his ruin. The first question was, "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? " If he said, "It is not lawful," he would be charged with seditious teachings ; while if he said, " It is lawful," he would rouse the fierce resentment of the many who contended that a Jew could not be lawfully taxed by the Gentiles. The seconvhat two great events did he refer as he sat with his disciples on the mount of Olives? 15. What parablec did be speak at that time? 16. Where did he then go? VI ibelUon; the cour s which IS warn'- le judg- uu shall iided his {ethany. 1:1-14: 2. Name 3. Trace ithdrawal ,h, Caper- ^rent with inointed? •aise from f Passion Who met and with at morn-' -^. What he iniiko Avo great mount of me? 16. K.:;j i: . i*. i'r .. i.-. ..- •).;•■••••;■ XXIX. THE LAST DAYS OP PASSION WEEK. Thnrsday.— When Jesus left the temple on Tuesday his teaching mission to the Jews was at an end. Wednesday he rested. Thursday he taught his disciples. Friday he died. Saturday he lay in the tomb. Peter and John, who were selected by Jesus to make arrange- ments for the paschal supper, probably went into Jerusalem about midday. A room was put at their disposal, as Jesus had directed and predicted. Then they went to the temple for the paschal lamb. This they killed, and having observed all the rites belonging to the occasion, went to the house where they were to eat, bearing the lamb upon tlieir shoulders. It has been conjectured, not unreasonably, that the supper was eaten in the house of John Mark's parents? About the middle of the afternoon, as we suppose, Jesus and the other ten disciples came into the city, and made their way to the supper room, where Peter and John were com- pleting the preparations for the solemn and joyous meal. Judas was in the company, attaching his pei-son as closely to the apostolic group as if his heart had not forever departed from his Lord, As the twelve were taking their places around the table, some of them betrayed a childish and shameful pride. Forgetting, or failing to realize, the siiadow which had fallen upon the heart of Jesus, they began to scramble for the places of honor at his right and left. There is reason to believe that Judas, though he had alrendy determined to betray Jesus, seized and held one of the chief seuf the twelve this symbolic cleansing had no meaning. " Ye are clean ; but," and there was a world of regret in the word, "not all." Rising from the feet washing, he resumed his place at the table, and the supper proceeded. But the gloom of his spirit deepened. Too troubled at length to contain his anguish, he said, "One of j'ou shall betray me." Cois founded and ap- palled, the disciples could only look at each other in doubt and consternation. At length they each began to ask, " Is it I ? " And while others^ full of self-doubt, are putting the qrestion tremblingly, Judas turns and says with matchless impudence, "Lord, is it I?" Not long after the traitor leaves the supper. John, record- ing this, adds significantly, "And it was night." For the traitor it was night indeed. In that hour he forsook the Light of the world and passed by the pathway of unrestrained greed into the night of betrayal, remorse, suicide, and perdition. At the conclusion of the paschal supper the Lord's Supper was instituted. For generations the former had spoken to the Jews of that Egyptian night when by the slaying of the lamb they had defended their firstborn from death ; the latter should speak to his disciples, of all generations and lands, " until he come," of the death of the Lamb of God to save a world exposed to the divine wrath. The farewell discourses which Jesus addressed to his dis- ciples that night are of incomparable sweetness. "Let not your heart be troubled," he said to them, as the desolateness of their approaching situation weighed them down. Tenderly he corrected their misconceptions ; chided their dullness ; described their vital relations to him ; foretold theii' future conflicts ; and promised them the Comforter. "It is expe- i-' ;, THE LAST DAYS OP PASSION WEEK. 179i dient for you that I go away : for if I go not away the Com- forter will not come unto you, but if I go I will send him unto you." Concluding his discourse, he said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye have tribulation : but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world." When the discourses were ended, Jesus prayed. That prayer is written in the seventeenth chapter of John. What love is there ! What compassion ! In his thoughts he weaves into one the Father, himself, and all who by faith have become his own or shall believe his name. Friday. — 1. Gethsemane. After offering the intercessory prayer, Jesus took the twelve and, crossing Kidron, went into a garden called Gethsemane, a quiet and retired place to which he had often gone probably for rest and praj'er with his disciples. "Sit ye here, while I pray," said he to the eight disciples as he entered the garden, and taking with him Peter, James, and John, he went apart, as we suppose, into the darkest part of the place. These three men had been with him when he raised the daughter of Jairus to life, and when he was transfigured ; now they will be near him in the culminating agony of Gethsemane. The hour of his arrest was near. The torture and anguish of Calvary were moving swiftly upon his soul. He would pray, and he must pray alone. Even tlie favorite three cannot share fully the horrors of that hour of wrestling. " Abide j'e here," he said to them, "and watch." Then as he went forward and fell upon his face he began to pray for relief from the terrible suffering ■which was now beginning to work death in him. " If it be pos- sible, let this cup pass," he prays again and again. It is the hour of his final temptation. It is the hour of human shrink- ing from immeasurable pain. But he who defeated Satan three years before in the wilderness is again the victor. " Never- theless, not my will but thine be done," is his conquering cry. The place is dark with shadows. The ground is wet with his 180 ^^m' THE WFU.OF JiSSUS. i'lii! !i tears and the sweat wliich has fallen like great drops of blood from his face. A worn and solitary figure, he has borne the supreme test of his terrible conflict. The three, weary with watching and recent cares, had fallen asleep. The eight were probably beyond hearing of his groans and low cries. The one, the dreadful traitor, was at the head of a company sent forth to arrest the Lord. *' Behold he that betruyeth me is at hand," is the word "which drives all drowsiness from the eyes cf the disciples. Listening they hear the tramp of many feet, and see the gleam of lanterns and torches. Then Judas strides forward lind kisses Jesus, as if to declare his devotion. It is the signal of identification ; and the officers go toward Jesus to put him under arrest ; but at first, as if seized by a mighty invisible hand, they are thrown backward and fall upon the ground. Peter, in his impulsive courage, ready single-handed to fight the whole mob, draws his sword and cuts oflF the ear of Mal- clius, a servant of the high priest. But he is rebuked by Jesus, who heals the wound, and then surrenders himself to the arresting party. At this the disciples, seized with panic, scatter and hide, the trees and darkness making concealment easy. Even Peter, who a few hours before when all were protesting that they would never forsake their Master had exceeded all others in his declarations of fidelity, seeks to save himself by flight, but very soon recovers himself and begins to follow the crowd as they lead Jesus into Jerusalem. There he will come as close to his Master as ho dares while the trial progresses; and there too. in an hour of panic he will deny his Lord ; and then he will go out and weep bitterly ; and from his weeping will enter upon a discipleship immeasurably nobler than that which is past. 2. The Jewish Trial Jesus was taken first to the palace cf Annas, ex-high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest then in office. Annas sent him still bound to Caiaphas — where an informal meeting of Sanhedrists was THE LAST DAYS OP PASSION WEEK. 181 )alace the md to Is "waa held ; md though nothing could be done legally fur his con- demnatiuu at this mectin";, various charges vrere made by many witnesses, who, for malice or pay, sought to dcHtroy him. «'-i-i .' vi?:"i.;".v J.i' .;y r. ..•'- ■•'•■^'; .? ...■:^; ^H.v'.rM :!;When all this false testimony had failed, a charge was made based upon his an jwer to those who demanded a sign from him on the occasion of his first cleansing of the temple. But even these witnesses failed to agree. Then the high priest, turning to Jesus, adjured him solemnly to answer whether he was the M ?ssiah : " Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? " Every eye was fixed upon the prisoner, as he answered calmly, " I am." This was enough. " Ye have heard the blasphemy; what think ye?" asked the high priest. "And they all condemned him to be worthy of death." Then followed a scandalous scone. Some spat on him, others cuffed him, others derided him. The shame of it no pen can de- scribe. •''*^ 3. The Roman Trial Early in the morning the Sanhedria met to decide upon their next step. They had not authority to put a person to death and therefore must put the case into the hands of the llomar jovornor. Before him, however, the accusation upon which they had condemned Jesus would have no weight, as it related entirely to their peculiar Jewish religion and hopes. When, therefore, they had brought him before Pilate, and he, dissatisfied with their firet vague charge, had told them plainly i hat he would not proceed with the trial unless something more definite was adduced, they pre- sented the three-fold accusation, " We find this man pervert- ing our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and . saying that he himself is Christ, a King." The falsity of these charges Pilate probuJy guessed as he noticed the ac- cusers' new and very suspicious zeal fur Caesar and Rome ; and after a brief inquiry hu turned to the priests and the multitude, saying, "I find no fault in this man." To this they answered by a ''"luge of accusations, in which he dis- 182 THE LIFE OF JESUS. covered that Jesus was from tlio province of liaiilee. Hoping, therefore, to escape from tiie necessity pf proceeding turtlier with the case, he scut him to Hero J, tetrarch of Galilee, who had come up to Jerusalem to attend the feast. But though Ilcrod, pleased with this attention from Pilate, with whom some time previously he had a quarrel, and curious to see Jesus, of whom he had heard much, tried to induce the prisoner to perform a miracle or answer a (juestion, Jesus stood in absolute silence before him, unmoved both by the tetrarch's questioning and by the clamor of the chief priests, who had followed to accuse him. Unable to persuade Jesus to amuse him with signs and wonders, Ilerod, with his sol- diers, amused himself by mocking and insulting him ; and hav- ing arrayed him in "gorgeous apparel," he sent him back to Pilate. On the feast day it was the custom to set free one prisoner, and tln(, privilege of choice as to who that should be was givth •','} Uie people. Pilate, knowing, doubtless, that Jesus li;)/i hen popular with the multitude, thought he saw in this a mtan'; of securing his release. He would let the people choose him for release that day. But the enemies of Jesus had been too shrewd. Probably suspecting that he might resort to this plan, they had their in.\ rmidoiis scattered through the crowd, and these, when Pilate made the propo- sition to release Jesus, raised the cry, "Away with tliis man, and release unto us Barabbas." "What shall I do with Jesus? " he asked. " Crucify him," they bawled. Pilate hated the Jewish leaders, and was reluctant to gratify their spite at the expense of this man, for whom he could not but feel sympathy. This reluctance was increased by the pleading of his wife on Jesus' behalf But when he attempted again to turn the Jews from their purpose, he was met with such a storm of demands, accusations, and threats, that he gave up the argument ; but that he might record again his solemn protest against the iniquity of their decision, t } THE LA^T DAYS OF PASSIdN WEEK. 183 he washed liis hands before th*^ people, saying, " I am inno- cent of the blood of this it sclit iiU8 man ; seeyetoit." "His blood be on us, and on ourcliildren," they shrieked, uiud with the fierce delight (^f tl *ir triu'upli. Wiien the scon gii the soldiers subjected I ing, bruised bod.v thorns, they hailca . lu hands. Pihite, hard ui eh preceded crucifixion was over, mockery. Dressing his blced- i p"vpie, and crowning him with n^i and buffeted hiiu with tluir ugh he was, would riot let him go to the cross without one more efiort to save him. Think- ing that if the people saw him now tiieir hearts would relent, he led him forth, the crown of thorns upon him, and his clothes all stained«with blood from the scourging, and said to the multitude, " Behold, the man ! " Had the people been left alone in that hour, it may be that they would have cried out for his release, but when the chief priest and ofiicers saw him, they instantly began to cry, " Crucify him, crucify him." They who had hated him in his innocence, are now unmoved by his sufferings. Unto the last he is despised and rejected of men, and Pilate delivers him to be crucified. 4. The Cmcifixwn. On the way to Calvary, Simon of Cyrene bears Jesus' cross, rudely compelled by the soldiers. Jesus, weak from recent labors, sufferings, and loss of blood, can scarcely carry himself to the sad place of death. And yet only five days before, he had entered Jerusalem, followed by thousands who hailed him with royal honors and joyous shouts of " Hosanna ! " At Calvary they placed the cross upon the ground, and having stretched the body of Jesus upon it, nailed him there. Then the cross, with its suffering burden, was raised to its place. As the soldiers performed their terrible task, and the torture of the nails became great, Jesus cried "Father, for- give them, for they know not what they do." Six other times he spoke before he died. When one of the thieves who were crucified with him, repenting, prayed to him, Jesus IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1^928 |2.5 S U£ in 2.0 1.25 III 1.4 1.6 < 6" ► V] >Q ^> y^ ^ 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation \ .§v <^ LV " o^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 '9) 4^^^ lU THE LIFE OF JESUS. answered, ^^Veiily I say unto you, to-day shalt thou le tvith me in paradise." Then, seeing his mother and John in the group of those who watched him in his agonies, he said to her, '^ Woman, behold thy son," and to him, ^^ Behold thy mother," thus providing for her future support and protection. It was three o'clock when the watchers vere startled by the cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me." Then a moment after, feeling the torture of the fever of the cruci- fixion, he cried, " I thirst." " It is finished," was the word of triumph with which be declared the end at hand ; and then with tbo cry, *' Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," the end came. From noon until three o'clock, the earth had been shrouded in darkness, and at his death, Jerusalem was shaken by an earthquake so severe that great rocks were reni asunder. And mofit significant of all, as the life of Jesus passed out of his spent body, the veil, which in the temple concealed the holy of holies from all eyes, was rent from top to bottom. That night, Joseph of Arimathea, aided by Nicodemui^, having obtained permission to bury the body, came and took it down from the cross. Reverently they wrapped the muti- lated corpse in linen and bore it away to a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock in a garden not far from the place of crucifixion. A great stone was rolled before th6 door of thd tomb, upon which later the seal of Bomo was put by the Jews, vyho feared that the disciples would steal the body and then declare that he had risen from the dead, as he had fore- told that he would do ; and to make sure of the body, in addition to the protection of the seal, they placed before the door of the tomb, a guard of Roman soldiers. - fZ-Siaf > The Jews are victorious. Judas, the detestable traitor, has committed suicide, and they have nothing to dread from his cold lips. The others of the twelve are scattered. Jesus, whom they have hunted relentlessly for many months, is at last dead, and a guard sits before his tomb, waiting until his THE LAST DAYS OP PASSIOX WE£K. 185 body has turned to dust. They have had their way, and they will not now allow the dread portents of the day of crucifixion to rob them of their fierce exultation. Related Scripture.— Matt 26 : 17-27 : 66 ; Mark 14 : la- 16 : 47 ; Luke 22 : 7-28 : 66 ; John 13 : 1-19 : 42. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. 1. Describe Christ's agony in the garden. 2. Describe the ar- rest. 3. Where was he first taken? 4. What accusations were made when he was before Caiaphas? 6. What charge was made against him before Pilate? 6. By what methods did Pilate seek to escape the necessity of condemning him? 7. Bepeat the " Seven Words " spoken by Jesus while on the cross. 8. By whom was he buried ? Id le REVIEW QUESTIONS. 1. On how many occasions did Nicodemus show interest in Jesus? ^ Repeat in order the events of Passion week. 3. Make a list of the miracles and commit it to memory ; also of the par* ables. 4. Make a list of the occasions on which Jesus was ac- cused of violating the Sabbath. 6. Narrate aloud the history of John the Baptist. 6 How many Galileans were there among the twelve ? Name them. 7. Where did Jesus spend the nights of Passion week? .. ■ = , -^ - ■ ,'--' "., . -, - '■■''- ■ .'- -/y'' in he laB IS 18, I at lis •'-"' ■' -^ K ' '•'R^' ''/'=:'• ■-'■■J-'i\j-M^:'\-lt<'^ ^'''''"^'i(■^:■jf'^''\h\■ "■■',*'» ■■"<■..' XXX. THE FORTY DAYS. The Besnrreotion. — Not one in all the world expected Jesus to rise from the dead. When Joseph and Nicodenius laid him in the tomb, they prepared the corpse with ''a mix- ture of myrrh and aloes," as was customary in burying bodies which would soon decay. The women also who went early to tlte tomb Sunday morning, carried spices to complete the em- balming, which they thought had been imperfectly done in the confusion and liaste of Friday. The disciples, for their part, were so certain that he would not rise from the dead, that when credible evidence of his resurrection was given, at first they would not accept it. As for his enemies, though they knew that he had predicted his resurrection, tl ^y be- lieved it to have been the foolish boast of a fanatic or de- ceiv I the first his own disciples, even the twelve, had not under&itood his prophecy respecting the resurrection. Just what interpretation they gave to his words, it is not possible for us at this distance to discover ; but that his bodily resur- rection on the third day was a vast surprise to them is clearly shown by the sacred narrative. For forty days Jesus remained on the earth after his resur- rection, and then ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. In these forty daj's he " showed himself alive ... by many proofs, . . . and speaking to them concerning the kingdom of God." The evidence of hia resurrection needed to be conclusive ; it was conclusive. His disciples needed special charges that they might know how to apply the teachings of his three years' ministry ; these he 186 THE FORTY DAYS. 187 2sur- light )wed ig to if his Bis ^w to he gave with such clearness that soon after his ascension these ''witnesses" were found preaching his gospel with singular fidelity, intelligence, and spirituality. By his death they were discouraged and scattered ; his resurrection drew them to- gether again, and this great fact became tho departing point of a faith at once remarkable and divinely fruitful. Nothing less than the appearance of Jesus in bodily form can now rescue the disciples from the p.iinful bewilderment into which they have been cast by the discoveries and events of the morning ; and his great compassion for them in their grief and anxiety hastens the evidence which alone can drive their fears and doubts away. The First Appearances.—!. After Mary Magdalene haethany. There he stops. The disciples gather about him. Every ear is hearkening, every eye is on him. Stretching forth his hands, he blesses these whom he has loved unto the end ; and, while he is blessing them, he rises slowly from the earth and a cloud received him out of their sight. "And while they were looking steadfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel ; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven ? this Jesus, wliich was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven." "Amen: Come, Lord Jesus," , Related Scripturk.— Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20, 21. ^ QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. i. Head carefully the accounts of the resurrection, and all that follows, in the four Gospels. Read also Acts 1 : 1-11 and 1 Cor. 15 : 1-11. 2. Make an attempt to arrange in order the events of the resurrection morning. 3, Name the various appearances, noting the particular incidents of each. 4. Describe the ascension. *'. ORDER OF EVENTS, Lessons XXVI-XXX. 87. Perean Ministry Continued. 88. Three Parables of Warning. • 89. Three Parables of Grace 90. Other Parables and Discourses. 91. The Raising of Lazarus. * ' 92. Withdrawal to Ephraim. 1^ THE LIFE OF JE8U8. 08. Two Miracles: Ten Lepers; Bartimeus. 04. Four Parables: Importunate Widow; Pharisee and Publican ; Laborers in the Vineyard ; The Pounds. 96. Various Discourses and Incidents. 96. Visit to Zuccheus. 97. The Second Anointing of Jesus. 98. The Triumphant Entry. 99. The Cursing of the Fig Tree. 100. Second Cleansing of the Temple. 101. Authority of Jesus Challenged. 102. Three Parables of Warning. 106. Three Insidious Questions. 104. Jesus' Unanswerable Question. 106. The Solemn Discourse Against the Scribes and Pharisees. 106. The Widow's Mites. 107. Greeks Seeking Jesus. 106. Discourse 'Concerning the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Bnd of the World. 109. Judas Conspires with the Chief Priests. 110. Last Supper. 111. The Farewell Discourses. 112i The Intercessory Prayer. 118. Gethsemane. 114. Betrayal and Arrest 116. The Jewish Trial. 116. The Koman Trial. 117. The Crucifixion. 118. The Burial. 119. The Watch at the Sepulchre. 120. The Besurrection : Visit to the Tomb. 121 The Beport of the Watch. 122. The First Appearances. 128. The Later Appearances. 124. The Ascension. t ( ariaoe and »ound». Pharisees, lem and