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V^w--3S5^^:?i«^4Si«>«;J^s«f , Cif c of €bri$t for m Vouiid By Qeorge Cuaindtoii oieea* erm tmu $impiy IM, $c. "I came down from Heaven. I came forth from the Father itnd am com* into the world : again I leave the world and go to the Father"— /««* Chriit. TORONTO : THE WESTMINSTER COMPANY, LIMITEDirCONFEDERATION LIFE BUILDINa 1899 _.. ..m,-!f.,U'. Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, by The Westminster Co., Limited, Toronto, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture at Ottawa. AUTHOR'S PREFATORY NOTE A life-size, marble statue of the Christ was to me the most interesting object in the art collection of the Colum- bian Exposition. Never-tiring visits, and different stand- points on its level and from the gallery above, gave oppor- tunity for discovering new and varied beauties. A young admirer, though seeing it from a single standpoint, unconsciously revealed her appreciative spirit by the tone and manner as well as the words of her sub- dued exclamation, '• Isn't it beautifu^ ! '* Such is the view we woul^. have al! the young take of the Christ. To secure It, we must place ourselves, not ' ' above ' ' their standpoint, but on a " level ' ' with them, measuring their field of vision, and pointing to what is within it ; meanwhile endeavoring to enlarge its scope. The publishers of this volume, contemplating a series of Christian Biographies, have fittingly arranged that the first shall be of Him who is the Inspirer of all worthy lives. In consenting to undertake this work, I am not unmindful of the declaration that, "Whoever thinks him- self capable of rewriting the story of the Gospels does not understand them." But that attempt is not herein made. The purpose, however short of fulfilment, is to direct atten- tion to such phases of the life and character of our Lord a author's prefatory note can be appreciated by the young, and to such of His teach- ings as are adapted to their needs. In short, it is to pre- sent Him as the God-man, the Great Teacher, the Perfect Example and the only Saviour, in a simple, connected nar- rative of His life on the earth. A journey through the Holy Land has helped to make that life real and vivid ; while such Christian scholar- ship as that of Farrar, Ge?kie, Andrews, Edersheim and Stalker, has greatly aided in its interpretation. The author, standing by the side of the young, where most of his life has been spent, hopes and prays that, by the Holy Spirit's a!d, they may gain such a view of our Lord as will cause them to echo the exclamation before the Columbian statue, " /j»'/ // beautiful !'' G. L. W. . « ..' , • • teach- :o pre- ^erfect - ■• d nar- CHAPTER I )ed to II III holar- IV V 1 and v^HH VI VII VIII oung, prays '^m XI iew of JH ^^^ ^B XIII Defore XIV XV XVI W. XVII 1 XVIII ^B XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII :' ■■■''■ V ;■.,.:■■ - XXVIII '^l XXIX XXX M XXXI m XXXII vnl XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX CONTENTS The Land Where Jes is Lived . The Shepherds' Plain .... The Manger of Bethiehem The infant Jesus in the Temple The Star of Bethlehem The Flight Ii.ito Egypt .... The Early Piome of Jesus . The First Journey to Jerusalem In the House of His Heavenly Father Jesus the Carpenter .... John the Baptist .... The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus . First Disciples The Lamb of God . .... The First Miracle .... Beautiful Land and Sea In His Temple. Nicodemus Atthe Well of Sychar .... Healing of a Nobleman's Son . Rejected at Nazareth .... The Fool of Bethesda Draught of Fishes A Sabbath in Capernaum . A Leper and a Paralytic Healed . The Call of Maithew— The Twelve Apostles The Sermon on the Mount Healing of the Centurion's Servant . R&.ising of the Widow's Son . , Penitent Woman Forgiven Christ Stilling the Tempest . Raising of Jairus' Daughter .... Second Visit to Nazareth — Mission of the Twelve Death of John the Baptist Seeking Rest ...... Five Thousand Guests Walking on the Sea .... Christ the Bread of Life— A Heathen's Faith— At His Feet The Deaf Made to Hear, and the Blind to See Four Thousand Guests—" Thou Art the Christ " PAGR 9 H 22 25 31 40 48 58 63 77 81 88 93 97 105 III 115 123 128 133 137 141 M5 149 154 158 161 168 173 177 185 187 193 197 202 209 213 217 CONTENTS CHAPTER XI The Transfiguration— Lunatic Boy Healed XLI The Child in the Midst XLII The Home in Bethany . XLHI The Feast of Tabernacles XLIV Healing of a Man Born Blind XLV The Shepherd— Saviour . XLVI The Lord's Prayer XLVII The Good Samaritan XLVI 1 1 Parable of the Lost Sheep XLIX The Prodigal Son L Dives and Lazarus — The Pharisee and the Publican LI The Raising of Lazarus LII Christ Blessing the Little Children .... LIII The Rich Young Ruler — The Request of James and John LIV Zacchaeus LV Bartimaeus LVI The Feast of Bethany . LVII The First Palm Sunday LVIII The Children's Hosannas LIX Farewell to the Temple— The Traitor and the Rulers LX The Upper Room LXI Parting Words LXII Gethsemane LXIII Christ Before the Priests and the Sanhedrin LXIV " Suffered Under Pontius Pilate " . LXV " Crucified, Dead and Buried " LXVI "He Is Risen" LXVII Mary at the Tomb — The Roman Guard— Jesus and LXVIII Emmaus. " It is I Myself " LXIX On the Sea Shore LXX '■' Feed My Lambs " LXXI On a Mountain in Galilee ..... LXXII The Ascension PAr.B 222 229 234 238 249 254 260 265 267 273 276 283 289 293 297 301 308 315 318 321 328 331 337 344 352 365 369 376 381 385 390 3^5 ^-^ ILLUSTRATIONS Jesus Blessing Little Children Map of the Land Where Jesus Lived Ruth Gleaning .... The Infant Jesus .... The Infant Jesus in the Temple . The Star of Bethlehem The Magi The Flight into Egypt The Child in the Carpenter's Shop God's Holy Commandment The Journey to Jerusalem . The Boy Jesus in t».e Temple . Jesus' Farewell to His Mother Nazareth Preaching of John the Baptist The River Jordan and John the Baptist The Lord's Messenger (John and the Lamb) The Wedding Feast at Cana . Turning the Water into Wine The Sea of Galilee . Christ Driving Out the Money Change Christ and the Woman of Samaria Cana in Galilee .... Christ in the Synagogue . The Pool of Bethesda . The Draught of Fishes . Christ Htdling the Palsied Man . Christ at Prayer The Sermon on the Mount . Raising of the Widow's Son Penitent and Forgiven . Christ in the Storm . Capernaum The Raising of Jairus' Daughter Christ Healing the Sick Ruins of Bethsaida . Christ Feeding the Multitude Christ Walking on the Water . Sidon Christ Healing the Blind . rs pac;r Frontispiece 18 23 28 34 39 44 50 55 60 66 71 76 82 87 92 98 103 108 114 119 124 130 135 140 146 151 156 162 167 172 178 183 188 194 199 204 210 215 « ' ILLUSTRATIONS Region of Cesarea Philippi and Mount Hurmoii The Transfiguration .... The Child in the Midst Jesus, Mary and Martha . " Never Man Spake Like this Man" The Li^ht of the World . ' The (Jood Shepherd . " Hallowed Be Thy Name " The (iood Samaritan . The Prodigal Son The Pharisee and the Publican The Raising of Lazarus . Christ Blessing Little Children Christ and the Rich Young Ruler Jericho Bethany Mary Anointing Jesus' Feet . Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Jerusalem .... Washing the Disciples' Feet The Last Supper . Christ in Gethsemane The Betrayal Peter's Denial .... Christ Before Pilate Bearing the Cross The Crucifixion . The Burial The Angel and the Women at the Tomb Mary and Jesus ..... Christ and Disciples on the Way to Emmaus Christ's Charge to St. Peter On a Mountain in Galilee .... The Ascension PACK 220 226 231 236 242 247 2.S2 25« 263 268 274 279 284 290 300 306 316 322 332 338 343 348 354 3^9 364 370 375 380 386 391 396 . V 1— *Ttr^ rr«3ir:r *ji:=:»-' Chapter I The Land Where Jesus Ltved There is a land, far away from our American homes, which has many names. Each of them reminds us of a part of its history — of the differ- ent things which have there happened. One of these names was given twenty-five hundred years ago by God Himself. He told a prophet that He had " espied " it, looking down from heaven upon it, as a good land for His people, the Jews. He called it '* the Glory of all Lands," because of its beauty and goodness, and the wonderful works He there performed. But it had a greater glory when He sent His son Jesus from heaven to make it His earthly home, and to do there greater wonders than He Himself had done. In it Jesus lived the only holy life in our world. So we call it "The Holy Land." We might think of such a country as great in size ; as the little boy thought Alexander the Great, having such a name and doing mighty 9 lO A Life of Christ things, must be as large as Goliath. But things of the greatest value may be small in size. A diamond is of more interest to us than a piece of coal a thousand times as large. A little hum- ming-bird, called "a winged jewel," flitting from bush to bush, pleases us more than a huge owl perched lazily upon a tree. The Holy Land is a small country for its history. The greatest length is one hundred and eighty miles. An even width would be about sixty-five miles. From many a height the whole breadth of the land can be seen. It is not as large as Massachusetts or Connecticut. Yet within these narrow bounds are rounded hills ; and rugged, lofty mountains with deep valleys ; fruitful fields and barren deserts ; rivers, lakes and upon and around which have happened the seas most wonderful things in the history of the world. On the northern boundaries are the Moun- tains of Lebanon ; on the east, the waters of the Sea of Galilee, the river Jordan, and the Dead Sea, separating it from the vast plains beyond ; on the south, barren deserts ; and on the west, the Mediterranean Sea, called by the people of long ago the Great Sea, because they did not know of the greater oceans. I ; ■ftrjrr^Mgj'-q Ullj'jy The Land Where Jesus Lived II Parts of tl J Holy Land are very beautiful, not more so than many other countries, but as a great contrast to the barren regions around it. The climate is varied, but generally warm or temperate. In winter there is no ice. The brooks become torrents because of heavy rains. The night winds are cold. Some mountain tops are always covered with snow, while there are valleys into which it never falls. Even in Janu- ary groves and meadows show the buddings of spring. The almond, peach and orange trees blossom. Such flowers as the anemone, crocus, narcissus, hyacinth, lily and violet begin to bloom. Sometimes even corn appears above the ground. In spring the w\\d tulips and poppies, and other flowers of brilliant colors, ''clothe the land with a dress of scarlet." But after a few weeks they wither in the burning rays of the sun, and the hot wind called sirocco. So varied is the climate that the productions ot all countries can grow within its borders — fig- trees and grape-vines on the sunny slopes of the south, and cedars among the rocks of the north. A boy from a distant land where he gathered apples, plums and quinces, and one from another country where he gathered pomegranates, bananas 12 A Life of Christ and almonds, could meet in the Holy Land, and from neighboring trees pluck such fruits as they had at home. They could play and rest under the shadows of oaks, maples, palms, evergreens, sycamores, fig and olive trees, such as are found in different parts of the. world. If we should now journey through the Holy Land, we would find its cities, villages and people greatly changed from what they were in the time of Christ. He is no longer there, but the coun- try, though changed in appearance, is still the same. We know where He journeyed and where He often stayed. I was permitted to go from place to place in which He had been, and read from my Bible of the things He said and did. And now, with the aid of the map prepared for this book, I ask my young readers to follow me in thought through the land where Jesus lived. ill fr^W.-'nibar--^ m % HI 51 i mi Chapter II The Shepherds' Plain Bethlehem In the Holy Land is a little plain, to which thousands of people go every year to see where happened some of the things of which the Bible tells. More than thirty-six hundred years ago there stood upon it a small house for shepherds when tending their flocks. It was called ** The Tower of the Flock." One day a traveler came, an old man with a young son, whom he greatly loved, and pitched his tent near the tower. They were both sad, because the mother had just died and been buried near the plain, by the road-side, where multitudes now go to visit her grave, thinking of her and of the beautiful and good son. The father's name was Jacob ; the son's, Joseph. Four hundred years later we find a lovely woman named Ruth gathering barley on the plain. She is remembered for her ^^oodness ; m The Shepherds^ Plain IS and also because among her children's children there was a shepherd boy who watched his sheep where she had gleaned among the sheaves. He tended them when lying down, led them to the quiet brook for drink, and defended them from the lions and bears that came down from the dark valleys of the mountains. What he did for his sheep reminded him of what God did for him, and so he sang, "The Lord is my Shepherd.*' His name was David. We are told that he was ** ruddy*' and of *'a beautiful countenance." But there was some- thing better than that : he was good like Joseph and Ruth. As Joseph went from that plain to become at last the ruler of Egypt, so David went from the same spot to become at last a Jewish king. Among his children's children there was to be a more wonderful child than Joseph oi he. A thousand years after David lived, the little plain had its greatest glory. We are told a third time of its flocks and shepherds. Six miles from it was God's Temple in Jerusalem, where lambs were used in worshipping Him. They must be perfect lambs, not sickly nor with broken bones ; and so the shepherds were very careful of them. These men were not common shepherds, but ■■■m i6 A Life of Christ m i somewhat like the priests in the Temple. They were good men, who had read and believed the promises in the Old Testament that the Messiah, whom we call Jesus, would come. They did not know exactly when or how He would appear. They were not looking for him one night, when they were watching their flocks, nor thinking He was near the plain. They were doing just as the shepherds of the Tower, or as David had done in the same field long before. Dressed in coarse cloth, or sheepskins with wool inside, with their loose cloaks around them, and bright-colored kerchiefs on their heads, they sat around the fire they had made to keep them warm in the chilly night, and to scare away the wild animals which were first prowling in the distance, and then lurking nearer for the lambs of the fold. The moon and stars shone brighter than in our American skies. But they beheld a light about them brighter than sun or moon or fire. It was such a light as w^e have never seen. It was called '' the glory of the Lord." : But this was not all. An angel of the Lord stood before them. He was a messenger from heaven sent to tell them that the Messiah, Jesus, whom they expected, had come, and how He had The Shepherds^ Plain 17 come, and where they might find Kim. So sud- denly did the angel appear, so holy did he seem, so different from themselves, that they were greatly afraid. But, with a kind look and a tender voice, he bade them "Fear not." Then with an earnest tone he cried, ** Behold," by w^hich he meant that he had something very important to tell them. They listened, wondering what it could be. He said, "I bring you good tidings of great joy." Then they wondered yet more. He told them that the good news was not for them only, but for ''all people." Let us listen as if we heard the angel telling the glad tidings to us as well as to the shepherds on the plain, in these words, " Unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." As the shepherds listened to the words of the angel, their great fear was turned to great joy. They were very glad to know that the babe was only a mile from them, in the City of David, which is Bethlehem. It was called the City of David because he was born there. The angel saw how deeply interested they were, and thought they would immediately go into the town and look for the infant child. So he told them where t\ vm 4i.i * ■','■■ f^l '^.■*''-',- ■ ■■" ^- :<■' ■'>■' "' ' ' ,■ . V J th Ruth Gleaning lilf The Shepherds^ Plain 19 they could find it — in a manger — and this would prove that all he said was true. This seemjed like a strange place in which to Vook for such a child. But Mary, its mother, and Joseph, her husband, having come from their hom€ in Nazareth, could find no room at the Bethlehem inn, because it was full of people ; so they had to do as other travelers often did in that country — they stayed in a stable. This was often a cave adjoining the inn. In such a place the babe would be found. Before the angel had left the shepherds they were astonished again, at a more glorious sight than he had been. It was such as none but these shepherds ever beheld. Far up in the sky they saw something like a cloud descending swiftly toward them. It was so bright that the moon and stars were dim. But soon they knew that it was not a cloud, but a multitude of angels. The sky was hidden by their outstretched wings, on which they came nearer and nearer to the earth. Their brightness lighted up the plain as if the sun had risen before the hour for break of day. Then the stillness of the night was broken by the sound of their voices— strange, sweet voices, such as those shepherds only have ever heard. Their music was 20 A Life of Christ purer and sweeter far than any of Sabbath-school, church or cathedrpl. T*- "r^s the music of heaven, such as holy beings * cixder around the throne of God. Their downward flight ended, and, like birds, they poised on their great, white, soft wings over the plain untouched by their holy feet, while their song floated over it and the sleeping town of Bethlehem. They sang of the babe in the man- ger, the Christ-Child, and this was their song : ** Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good wil! toward men." And so they were the first to sing the Christmas carol that old and young have sung for nineteen hundred years. The story is beautifully told in a hymn : * * It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old; From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold. Peace on the earth, good -will to men. From heaven's all-gracious king ; The worM in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. ' ' When they had finished their song, they soared away, a happy band, because of their love to God, tjrrx'SKirl-iiSrjffc- The Shepherds' Main 21 and to men whom they had taught to sing His praise. The shepherds, full of joy and wonder, watched them as they rose from the plain and disappeared beyond the moon and stars, which again shone with their own brightness in that midnight sky. ' m • ■ h Chapter III The Manger of Bethlehem Bethlehem "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to. another, * Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which the Lord hath made known unto us.' " We are tcJd that they went "with haste." No wonder ; for joy quickened their steps. They ran as children do on a pleasing errand. How short seemed the mile between the spot on the plain where the angel had stood and the place of which he had told them, where they would '* find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." They thought not of weariness as they climbed the steep hill of Bethlehem to its whitened walls of stone, so clear in the moonlight. The watchman at the gate must have wondered at the nighdy visitors, until hurriedly told why they had come. They reached the opening of the cave-stable, 22 .f 'I H ' U The Infant Jesus in the Temple. The Infant Jesus in the Temple 29 there with little children. No one thought she was different from them, or that her little boy was more wonderful than any other child in the temple that morning, or than all the other children in the world. The sound of the organ, which could be heard throughout the vast temple, called the parents to bring the children to a priest, called a Rabbi. Joseph gave to him the money he had brought, and then prayed, saying : ** Blessed art Thou, Q Lord our God, King of the Universe." The Rabbi took the coin and passed it around the child's head, upon which he put his hands, and prayed, saying: ** God keep thee from all evil and save thy soul." That Rabbi did not know for whom he was praying. It was the only one of all children and all people who would never sin, and the only one through whom all others must be saved. There was in Jerusalem an old man named Simeon, wiser than any priest or Rabbi, because he not only studied the Scriptures, but was also taught by the Spirit of God, who told him that he should not die until he had seen the promised Saviour.. He believed God, and was waiting for the wonderful sight. *•? % 1^ » i ; ■ * I ! I! io A Life of Christ The day for which he had been waiting had now come. "And he came by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus," he understood who it was. Mary saw the venerable, white-hairfed old man, perhaps tottering on his staff, coming toward her with a kind and joyful look upon her and her child. He tenderly ** took Him up in his arms." She listened, as only Mary could, as he ''btessed God, and said, ' Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,'" by which he meant that he had seen the promised Saviour. Then he told Mary of things that would hap- pen to her and her child. As she had remem- bered and thought about what the shepherds had told her in the stable, she ''marveled at those things which were spoken " by Simeon in the Temple. But the good old prophet was not the only one to rejoice over the infant Saviour, and to speak of Him. We are told that '* there was one Anna, a prophetess : she was of great age, which departed not from the temple, worshipping night and day, and, coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks unto God, and spake of Him" whom Simeon held in his arms. Chapter V The Star of Bethlehem Bethlehem In a country far east of the Holy Land lived wise men called Magi, who knew many things, and believed many others, about which they did not certainly know. They studied much about the stars. When they saw anything unusual in the sky, they thought some strange thing would happen on the earth. They believed that the stars had something to do with the lives of men. They thought that if a certain star was in a certain place in the sky when a child was born, it showed whether good or bad things would happen to the child when it was older. They had learned something about the Saviour, whom the Jews expected as their king. Their Scriptures, which we call the Old Testament of the Bible, told of His coming. They called Him the Messiah. But neither the Jews nor the Magi understood when He would appear. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, these 81 i' < . ? . t I 1 32 A Life of Christ Wise Men, In their distant country, saw some- thing strange in the sky. It was a bright star, different from all other stars. They wondered ^ what it meant — what strange thing had happened and where, and whose star it was. Perhaps God Himself told them in some way that the Messiah had come, and that somewhere He could be found as a babe ; but they did not understand that it was in Bethlehem. We do not know how long the star shone, but probably not long. As the Holy Land was the country of the jews, the Magi thought that He who was born their kincr could there be found. As Jerusalem was the capital of the Holy Land, they thought they would seek Him there. So some of them started to honor Him as a kinof and wor- ship him as God. We do not know how many went. Some think there were twelve ; others, only three ; of whom one was an old man, another a very young man, and the third a middle-aged man. Some think they were kings. They needed no star for a guide. They must go on camels, carrying food and water for their long, hot, weary, desert journey. They must take spears and swords for defence from robbers, who might take the gold and costly things they carried. -^^— vfH* The Star of Bethtehetn 33 So, as the shepherds went with haste from the plain to see Him whom the angel called "the Lord," the Wise Men went from their eastern home to Jerusalem to see and worship the same child, whom they called "the King." Some have thought that the star went before them and led the way ; probably it disappeared before they started, but appeared again. At last they reached the Holy Land, and from a mount called Olivet they looked down upon the Holy City and upon the Holy House, from which the Holy Child had been carried back to Bethle- hem. Their long, tedious journey was ended. They thought that soon they would see the infant King. They supposed the people of the city knew where He was, and rejoiced in His coming. But they were disappointed. They saw no flag or other signal, such as is raised on a palace in which there is an infant child who is to become a king. No anofel was there to tell them He was "in the city of David," as one had told the shepherds on the plain. No heavenly host was praising God over Jerusalem because He was born. The Wise Men earnestly asked of one and another whom they met, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews ? " They received only one !!■)' t 4 t 1 • r ;B -.• I I ■ ' l' " li I I The Star of Bethlehem :; L= The Star of Bethlehem Z^ answer, ** We do not know." But the Magi did not doubt that He was somewhere near. They still believed what they did in their distant home about the star and the Messiah. So they kept saying, "We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him." The words of the Magi were repeated to Herod, the king. He did not know much about the Jewish Scriptures. So he called together the priests and most learned men in Jerusalem, and asked what they said about where Christ the infant King should be born. They told him, in Bethlehem. Then he sent for the Wise Men, and invited them to his palace, and treated them kindly, and asked them about the wonderful star they had seen, and listened attentively to their story. He talked with them about Bethlehem as the place where they would find Jesus, and of how they would worship Him there, and what a proper thing it was for them to do. They were pleased to hear the king, who was called Herod the Great, talk so kindly about the infant King, whom they had come so far to find and to wor- ship ; so, when leaving his palace, they were very glad to hear him say : " Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found ! ll It; P '*l 1 1 1*1 lI-*-!' I I 111 36 A Life of Christ Him, bring" me word again, that I may come and worship Him also." They thought what a good man he must be, and what a good kmg, who seemed not to have an unkind thou<^ht toward Him who had been born Kin<^ of the Jews. ** When they had ht^ard the king, they departed ; and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding joy." They were sure that Jesus had come, and that ** His star," which they had seen in the east, was now shining as brightly over Bethlehem as it had shone over their distant homes. You remember when the angel parted from the shepherds on the plain, they said one to another, '' Let us now go even to Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us." And now the Wise Men, as they departed from Herod, could say the same words. Of the shepherds it is said, *'They came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." Of the Wise Men it is said, ''When they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary ii. I 1; ! I' i The Star of Bethlehem 2>1 His mother." 'I hey liad found Him iJi a better place than in the stal)U:. As Mary had HstcMied to the wonderful story of what the shepherds had ^v.vw and heard on the neighboring plain, she now listened to the story of the Wise Men ; of what they had seen, at probably the same hour, far away from Bethle- hem. She imderstood with joy that the same Father in Heaven had sent the briLrht an,t tj ,1 i! 42 A Life of Christ \ i t Mary, riding on the gentle and patient beast, carrying her precious child, hiding it as well as she could for fear that one of Herod's men might be lurking near, and Joseph walking by their side, passed through the gate of Bethlehem. vStarting while the morning star was yet in sight, they would be reminded of the Star of Bethle- hem, which had guided the Wise Men to the spot they were leaving. They would remember that the same God who set both stars in the sky, and warned the Wise Men to go one way, and them to flee in another, would be their guide. And so the long journey of eighty miles began. It must be slow, only as fast as the beast could carry -^is burden and Joseph could walk. But every hour of the day carried them farther from Herod, and so lessened their fears. For a while they went up and down steep mountain roads, between vineyards and groves, looking upon the green grass, and smelling the sweet flowers of spring. But in a few days all was changed for the hot, dreary, sandy desert, where nothing grew except a few low shrubs, and sometimes a grove of palms. Under the shade of such, or of some lonely rock which the drift- ing sands did not cover, they rested. The Flight inio Egypt 43 At last the waters of the blue Mediterranean Sea were a pleasing contrast to the yellow sands of the desert. Crossing a shallow stream they rejoiced as they remembered that they had passed from the country of the dreaded Herod into the land of Egypt, whose king they need not fear. In a little village, for probably three or four months, they found a friendly home. There stands to-day on the spot an old sycamore tree, which is believed to be the same which stood there then, or another which has grown from its roots. When I journeyed along the same road from Egypt to the Holy Land, I stopped before this tree and saw carved in the bark the names of many w^ho have rested there on their journeys, because Joseph, Mary and Jesus had done so many years ago. It is called the Tree of the Holy Family. Herod waited for the Magi to return from Bethlehem, but as they came not he ** was exceed- ing wroth, and sent forth and slew all the chil- dren that were in Bethlehem and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under." He hoped that among the twenty innocent chil- dren that were killed, Jesus would be one : and so could never become king instead of himself. M' W^\ '.mMj! If 'I' f% 1 1 "tl ''I .,« •'! Bill aw; die.l imaj and awfl Arc The Flight into Egypt U '1 I ■ ' The Flight into Egypt 45 But He that was born King of the Jews was far away in Egypt. Soon the hour came that Herod himself must die. His death was more horrible than you can imagine, because of what he suffered in body, and especially in mind, as he remembered the awful deeds of his life. After his death his son Archelaus became king. "When Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel." By the land of Israel the angel meant the Holy Land. He did not tell Joseph into what part of it to go. He probably started for Beth- Itiiem. No wonder, for it was the birth-place of Jesus, and the home of His ancestors. There Ruth had lived. It was "the City of David," her great-grandson. As Jesus was called "the son of David," it seemed fitting that Bethlehem should be His home. It was a sacred place, to which angels had come to sing of His coming to 1- ;;■> I' ( 1 46 A Life of arist the earth. It was near the Holy City, also called "the City of the Great King," which He was to become, thouorh not in the way the people of Jerusalem expected. There was the Temple, the most sacred spot on earth, which the growing child might often visit to learn of God, and wor- ship Him as He could nowhere else. So Joseph journeyed toward Bethlehem. '' But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go thither." What should he do ? Where should he go ? God, whose angel had told him to flee into Egypt, and then to leave it, warned him in a dream not to go to Bethlehem. As the Magi had been directed to go from there by another way from what they had planned, that Jesus might escape the cruelty of Herod, so Joseph was told not to go there. Thus He escaped the cruelty of Archelaus, the wicked son of the wicked father. . Before Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary had lived in the town of Nazareth, in the northern part of the Holy Land, called Galilee. So, "they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth." Here Jesus was to spend most of His life on the earth. He was so young when taken there, and The Flight into Egypt 47 it was his home so long, that many thought He was born there. When Joseph obeyed the two commands of God — that he should go to Egypt, and then that he should not return to Bethlehem — two things came true which the Bible said would happen : one was that Jesus should be called out of Egypt ; and the other was that He should be called a Nazarene, because living in Nazareth. The Bible had also said that Jesus would be born in Bethle- hem. God only can tell what will come to pass. Such things are told in the Bible. So we know that it is the Book of God. '» :i '.V 'i^i I * 1 ■' I '?'; : . 'I Chapter VII The Early Home of Jesus Na.za.reth When Jesus lived in the Holy Land it was divided into diree parts. The southern was called Judea ; the middle, Samaria ; the northern, Gali- lee. Some portions of Galilee were beautiful plains ; others had many mountains. In this latter part was Nazareth, noar the largest plain, three hundred feet above it. In a small, rich, beautiful valley, it was encircled by fifteen rounded hills, as if they would protect the precious child whom kings would destroy. It was so full of flowers that some say Nazareth, meaning flowery, was named after them. We sometimes speak of the brightest and best child as the flower of the family. Jesus was the wisest and best of all people. He has been called the flower of the human race. So Nazareth is a fitting name for the home of Jesus'. So many of the houses were built of white stone that it was sometimes called the '^ White City." This would 'i! TT)e Early Home of Jesus 49 be another fitting name for the home of the Holy One, who lived in it. The streets were narrow and long, like the lanes of our cities. They were not well kept, and were the common places for fowls and dogs, beggars and children. One of these houses was the home of Joseph and his family. We cannot know just where it was, though a spot is pointed out to travellers as the place where it stood. As he was very poor, we may think of his house as being of only one story, its flat roof covering a single room, which was parlor, bedroom, sitting-room, dining-room and kitchen all in one. There was no chimney or glass window. By day it was lighted by a narrow opening in the wall. At night there was no cheerful gas or electric light, but a dim lamp hung from the ceiling in the middle of the room. There w^as no pretty furniture ; no pictures were on the walls, but on shelves against them were quilts rolled up by day and unrolled at night for beds on the floor or on the roof, which was flat, and used for many purposes by day and night. Much of the simple cooking was done out of doors. This was easy to do, because the climate was very mild. The wheat, ground by hand between two stones, was baked upon a hot stone. 1'^ I'll >i k i a; 'i i' ! &■ -;: h ' ■ - j \ ■\yf: W ! lis The Child in the Carpknter's Shop The Early Home of Jesus 51 Bread, fish and fruit were the chief kinds of food. In such a home was Jesus. There are no books to tell us just how He lived and what He did, but we know something of the customs of the people then and there ; and so we may think of Him as like them in many things, but without sin. We know much about Him when he was older, and this helps us to understand what He must have been as a boy. There were no photographs in those days. There are no true pictures of Him, but we may form pictures in our minds that help us to see Him in His home. He is with His mother, Mary. She has along blue dress and a cap with little brazen ornaments around it, and a white cloth over her head and shoulders. Jesus wears a red cap, a little loose jacket of white or bkie, and a sash of different colors. Sometimes he is following her as she is about her work, or is sitting near her on a mat or a wooden, painted stool ; sometimes He is watch- ing Joseph at work in the carpenter's shop. Often He goes with His mother to the village spring, to which women go to-day as Mary went two thou sand years ago. It still is called " Mary's Well." I*: !iJ I ! 1 , I ^ lis 52 A Life of Christ ■iili i As I once pitched my tent near it to spend the night I felt that there was one spot in Nazareth where I might feel sure that Jesus had been. As soon as He could speak, His mother would teach Him to pray. When He was five years old He would begin, like other Jewish boys at that age, to read the Old Testament Scriptures — that part of the Bible which was written before He was born. It has been called *'Our Lord's Bible," because it is what He read and studied. There He found the stories of Joseph and Ruth and David. There He might read about Himself, without then understanding who was meant. We know He learned much of the Bible and could repeat m:;ny portions of it. We can believe that He committed many of them to mem- ory when He was a boy. What David wrote about a good man describes Jesus : '* His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night." For the first few years Jesus studied the Scriptures only. In His home He had probably only parts of the Old Testament, because the whole was too costly for a poor family. Very few of the people had the whole, though nearly all had a part. There were no story-books or *^: The Early Home of Jesus 53 pictures such as are of so much interest and help to children now. On the Sabbath Jesus went to the village synagogue, and formed a habit he never changed. Long after His boyhood, and after He had left his home, it is said, *' He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up ; and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day." When Jesus was old enough he went to the village school, for His parents were too poor to send Him to the higher school in Jerusalem ; it was in the synagogue, which was the Jewish church. The teacher was called a Rabbi. Nearly every boy in the Holy Land went to such a school ; so that there were few Jews who could not read and write. They had no school books ; so must learn from w^hat the teacher said. They studied arithmetic, and the history of their nation, and something of natural history. But their chief study was the Scriptures. The Rabbi was not satisfied if they could only read them : they must remember what they read, and be able to answer his many questions. It was like having a Sabbath-school every day. These Scriptures were not printed. There was no printing in those days. They were written on 1: 1; i' i: p ■t I- ■ i ■[■■' |:. ; I"'"-'* '« ; ' . ; 'fj«; J III .!■;,; '■^ II 'k ^1^ If !t(kftii : K f !4 i'K ' rjl mti , ^i'^|fi;* \ ,'" m m\ a: I r-W M ^ tJ- ■ if! 4l! -li 54 A Life of Christ skins, unrolled for reading;, and dien rolled up and carefully put away for the next time. All the teaching that Jesus had was at His home and in the public school. But He Increased In wisdom, being taught also by His Father in Heaven. In thought we can follow the boy Jesus when not in His home, nor in the Rabbi's school ; when with His brothers and sisters, and the boys and girls with whom He played, among whom He must have been known as the best boy in Nazareth ; never speaking a cross or unkind word, never deceiving, never quarrelsome ; always respectful and helpful ; doing all He could to make others happy ; as a son, a friend, a pupil, the perfect boy. All we know about Jesus Is what we learn from the Gospels — the New Testament Books of Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There have been written about Him some stories which are so foolish and unlike what we do know, that we cannot believe them. It is said that when a child He could do wonders, such as stretching a short board to the length He wished, and turn- ing his playmates Into kids. Here Is another: "When the boys Interrupted Jesus in His play, ■n^r^w;,f t 1 God's Holy CoMMANDMEiNTS i m 56 A Life of Christ or ran against Him in the street of the village, He looked upon them and denounced them, and they fell down and died." That was not like Jesus. Here is another story : " He and other children went out to play together, busying themselves in iiiaking clay ir o the shapes of various birds and beasts ; whereupon Jesus com- manded His beasts to walk and His birds to fly, and so excelled them all." He did exr-1 them all, but not in this way > it was in goodness. When he was older He did wonderful things, not simply to show w4iat He could do, but to do good and to prove that He was the Son of God. But there is a story of a different kind, which we would be willing to believe if we had any proof that it was true. It is this : The boys of Nazareth gathered around the child Jesus, call- ing Him their King. They spread their garments on the ground, and He sat upon them. They made a wreath of flowers and put it as a crown upon His head. As if they were the pages of a King, they waited upon Him, standing in rows on His right hand and on His left, ready to do His bidding. They called to every one passing by, saying : '* Come hither and adore the King." With a perfect body, and doing all He could The Early Home of Jesus 57 to keep it so, we may think of Jesus' enjoyment of child-life, as He wandered about the hills around Nazareth. There grew daisies and cro- cuses, poppies and tulips, marigolds and mign- onettes, and the lilies, which He afterwards told the people to behold that they might understand about the heavenly Father's care. Like other boys He watched the flight of butterflies and sparrows and ^he many-colored birds of the mountains ; and listened to the cooing of the doves on the housetops, and the songs of the larks flying over them. The white orange blossoms, the scarlet pome- granates, the light green oaks, the dark green palms, cypresses and olives, would please His eye as He rambled among them alone or with His companions. The last Bible record we have of His child- hood is this: ''The child grew and waxed strong in spirit : and the grace of God was upon Him." ^i'iill^J u-rr '* lij; -^ MM. ^ ]0 V^'X 9 ; I ,, ,:j \\ i<'' ,» i^'!?*! Chapter VIII '^he First Journey to Jerusalem GciUtee, SamdrU The aee of twelve was the dividing line between childhood and youth. A Jewish boy was then called ''a son of God" and "a son of the law," because he was now old enough to read the Scriptures himself, and understand much of what they taught, and of the services of the syna- gogue. It was then that He went the. first time to Jerusalem to attend a great religious feast called the Passover. This was the great event in the life of a Jewish boy. Joseph and Mary went every year to the Pass- over. When Jesus was twelve years old He went with them. In the month of April, on the eighth day of which the feast began, they left their home in Nazareth for their journey of eighty miles to the Holy City. Their caravan was composed of pilgrims like themselves. The veiled women and old men rode on camels, mules, horses and The young men walked, carrying their asses. 58 • (^ The First Journey to Jerusalem 59 pilgrim staves in one hand, while with the other they led a beast of burden. The boys walked till tired, then mounted a horse or mule, or were lifted upon a camel. The caravan descended the mountains of Galilee by the same rocky and dusty road down which the traveller comes to-day. They were glad to reach the dells and hollows of the lower slopes, where grew the green olive, fig and karob trees, and the prickly pear. Reaching a plain called Esdraelon, they rode among the many-colored flowers, which made it appear like a beautiful carpet, or between vast corn-fields on either side of the road. They crossed little streams which flowed into the River Kishon, of which their Scriptures told them in story and so'ig. Mirth and music enlivened their journey, especially for the young. With drum and timbrel and harp, they sang the pilgrim psalms which they had learned from the Scriptures. They would spend the first night beside a fountain, which remains to this day, and enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the gardens about it. As they journeyed onward they passed through Samaria, with its fig-yards and olive groves. In the valley 1- *" ■ i' " :.,| p: ' ^'i *■ ft' ,i| m ^ ■ " '■■ ' ■';' W 1' ■ *\ .'I '" '■■■ ' ; "i 1 ■ ■>;^ ^l i ■'-■ ',1 '■■/% ^:S' )/ \ 1 h .ill bet the) wel thii froi well the the the and and The First Journey to Jerusalem 6i between the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, they would rest and draw water from Jacob's well, where Jesus sat in after years weary and thirsty. Here they would fill their water-skins from which to drink until they reached another well. Often they would refresh themselves with the dates, melons and cucumbers which grew by the roadside. So they journeyed on until Jerusalem was in sight. That was an hour of wonder and joy for the boy Jesus, as He looked beyond its high walls and saw for the first time the Temple — the holy and beautiful House which was to become more glorious because of His presence in it. The pilgrims entered the Holy City and attended the feast of the Passover, and then the caravan started back for Nazareth. There is an old story that the boy Jesus left the caravan and returned to the city. But Luke tells us that He *' tarried behind in Jerusalem." Why was this ? Was it, because, boy like, full of curiosity, He wanted to see more of the strange city, and wander over the neighboring hills, as He did in Galilee? Or, was the Temple so attractive to His young eyes that He wanted to linger there and enjoy yet more its beauty ? I' ,1 . t .-■. V u . fW 62 A Life of Christ Or, did he want to watch the priests in services such as he had not seen in the synagogue in Nazareth ? No, it was not from boyish curiosity that He "tarried behind in Jerusalem." Why He did so we shall see. Chapter IX In ihe House of His Heal^enly Father Jerus3Llem Thus far in our story we have thought of Jesus in Nazareth as Hke any other child, but without sin. But Jesus in the Temple, at twelve years of age, had passed His childhood. Like every other Jewish boy He was now looked upon as a youth, who was to do more and receive more than a child. But He was more than a common Jewish boy. He had reached the age when, and had come to the place where, He probably thought that He was different from all others. No one, not even His mother, understood all His thouorhts about Himself. We do not know — we cannot know — jdst what they were, though we know more about them than even Mary did, because we have the story of His life when He was older. We may believe that Jesus in the Temple began to think of Himself, if He never did before, as the Son of God, as having come from heaven, and so unlike any other being on earth. I'!i )'■'' i K I- w C3 ^:ii w m 64 A Life of Christ During the childhood of Jesus, Joseph had been in the place of a kind earthly father to Him, and probably He called Him by that name. But when He made that visit to the Temple, He thought of God as His father. He wanted to learn all that He could of what the Scriptures taught about Him. He had learned much in His home and in the synagogue in Nazareth, and from the village Rabbis. But the wisest men of the nation were in Jerusalem. They had a school in the Temple for all who wished to be taught. So He went there to learn — not to teach, as some have thought. As He entered the room and quietly seated Himself on the pavement, " in the midst of the doc- tors," — the wise teachers who encircled Him — they must have asked themselves who this stran- ger-boy, coming alone, could be. His modesty and reverence. His bright face and close atten- tion. His earnest and solemn look, must have pleased them even before He uttered a word. So when at last He broke His silence with a question, they were very ready to listen. As one question followed another, and He made answers to theirs, ''all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding." His very In the House of His Heavenly Father 65 questions must have taught them lessons of wis- dom — not so much about Jewish laws to be obeyed, as the spirit of love and obedience to God. No such pupil had ever sat at their feet. When He was older and increased yet more in knowledge, people asked in astonishment, "Whence hath this man this wisdom?" They did not understand that it was the wisdom from God. Like His forefather David, when young, He was at this time " but a youth, and of a fair coun- tenance." As those Rabbis saw it lighted up by the new thoughts burning within Him, they did not think of Him as the son of David, of whom their Scriptures told, and for whose coming they were even then looking, but in a different way from that in which He had suddenly appeared in their midst. In that Galilean boy they saw not what He was discovering Himself to be — the Son of God. '* The child Jesus tarried in Jerusalem ; and Joseph and His mother knew it not." How this happened we know not. " But they, supposing Him to be in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances." 5 ^ 1 . , t , , , .... . j_ 1 i n 1 , '■ j m m ■!■ This was at their first night's -I'll "Uii. w a, H u H 5^ C/J >< o H encaml The d ence tJ at herl word tl conceri for it. ing ch and jo ances known WH happeq His ini Herod were p eye up Th( contini withou salem. where visiting them, Ar again, In the House of His Heavenly Father 67 encampment ** A lost child " is always a sau cry. The discovery of Mary's loss was a new experi- ence to her. For twelve years her son had been at her side or within her call. Anxiety was a word the meaning of which she had never known concerning Him. There had been no occasion for it. In all the years of a sweet, obedient, lov- ing childhood, He had been a constant comfort and joy. She had been free from many annoy- ances and sorrows which many mothers have known. Where now was her faithful boy ? What had happened to Him ? Did she have a memory of His infant days when she fled with Him from Herod and Archelaus ; and did she wonder if it were possible that some jealous ruler had kept an eye upon Him ? The sleepless night passed. The caravan continued its way homeward toward Nazareth, without Joseph and Mary, who returned to Jeru- salem. They began '* seeking Him " in the places where they thought He might be found, without visiting the one where, as he afterwards told them, they should have looked first of all. Another night passed, and ''seeking Him" again, *'they found Him in the Temple " — not in ■ . ' ' " 'ji « 1 68 A Life of Christ ■l;i the part for worship, but in the school-room of the Rabbis. Had some one told the n of a strange, wonderful child that for two days had ''tarried behind" when the Passover ended? Joseph and Mary on entering the room must have been as much astonished as the doctors were when the young pupil came among them. Mary, the loving, anxious yet rejoicing mother, was the first to speak. She did not call Him by His name Jesus. The mother-heart was full, and she called. Him ''Son." Yet there was a tone of sadness in her gentle reproof as she asked, "Why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sor- rowmg. >> We feel certain that these were the first reproving words ever spoken by her to Him. What shall His answer be ? We listen to it as the first recorded words of Jesus on earth. They were spoken in the Temple — not where he after- ward addressed the multitude, but in the school- room—to His mother. He answered her ques- tion by asking another. It was this : " How is it that ye sought me ? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business ? " These words must have seemed strange to In the House of His Heavenly Father 69 Mary. He had always been so careful in speech and conduct, never saying or doing an unkind or undutiful thing, that she could not help won- dering. But though His words were strange, they were not unkind nor disrespectful. Let us remember that the same words may be spoken either in a harsh tone, with an angry look, or in a kind yet earnest manner. This latter way must have been that in which Jesus -spoke to His mother. The words were child-like, yet very wise. They are such as no other child could use with the same meaning, because no other child is like Him. Now, let us try to think what Jesus meant when He said to His mother, *' How is it that ye sought Me ? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business ?" It is as if He had said: ** I wonder that you have looked for Me along the road, and in the houses of the city. You know that God is My Father. I must learn all I can about Him, and get ready for the work He sent Me from Heaven to do. This Temple is My Father's House. Here, not in Nazareth, is the best place for Me to learn. Did you not know ? did you not think ? that I must be here ? Am I not doing the very thing you would expect Me to do here and now ?" i m f- ■< . 1 '¥1- 1 ♦i. 70 A Life of Christ We are told that Mary '* understood not the saying which He spake." She did not know all He meant, but she '* kept all these sayings in her heart," as she did those of the shepherds in Bethlehem. She not only remembered them, but thought about them over and over, year after year, until she understood them better when she saw the wonderful things He did, showing Himself to be the Son of God. When Jesus told Mary that He must be about His Father's business, He did not mean that He meant to leave His home in Nazareth, or her and Joseph, or not to obey them as He had always done. Though He now understood Himself to be the Son of God, and superior to Joseph and even His mother, He left the Temple, His Father's House, ** and went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them." Noble boy! A beautiful example for every boy and girl, in all places and at all times, who learns the story of Jesus, the loving and obedient Son of Mary. 14 ho :nt 'km T: U Jesus' Farewell to His Mother *;i. i 1 i ,i . 1 : ■ ■'-''■ I * r I I iV 1. if: Chapter X Jesus the Carpenter Nazareth When Jesus returned from Jerusalem to Nazareth He entered upon a new period of His life. Like other boys, as required by Jewish law, He learned a trade. He became ** subject" to Joseph in his carpenter's shop, and at last was known as ''the carpenter, the son of Mary." Can this be He whom the angel of the plain called "Saviour, Christ the Lord," and over whom the angels sang, and whom the Magi wor- shipped ? Do we find Him in a carpenter's shop, learning to make stools for the homes in Nazareth, and yokes for the oxen, and plows for the farmer? Yes, it is He. Then let none be ashamed of honest toil. In it we believe He was careful and faithful. ^ We have one more record of these early days — that He " increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man ;" ''a child so lovely and beautiful that Heaven and earth appear to iij--^ / Jesus the Carpenter n smile upon Him together.'* Though not in school, He "increased in wisdom." Unlike many a youth, He continued to study the Scriptures. He learned many lessons from nature, by which we mean the things which God has made. Above all, He learned from His Father. When He was older, men were so astonished that they said : ** Whence hath this man this wisdom?" He increased in favor with man. His good- ness could not be hid. He must have been known as the model young man of Nazareth. He increased in favor with God, who honored Him more and more as He saw the work of Jesus on the earth. At last He could say con- cernmg His Father's business, **It is finished." Thirty years after that saying, His Apostle Paul wrote: ** God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every naiie." For eighteen years, from the time Jesus was twelve years old until He was thirty, we have no record of His life. We wish we had. We think of His youth and early manhood in which He was preparing for the three years of His ministry. He knew Himself to be what others did not know. His brothers and sisters and companions had no thought that the most wonderful being in f. t '.) ^'^■ i t' it I » 1^ M i 74 A Life of Christ M' mm I m the world was among them. The priests and Rabbis in the synagogue thought Him the same as any other boy or young man worshipper, unless, perhaps, that He was more thoughtful ard reverent than they. Hnp of the hills above Nazareth is nearly eigK een hundred feet above the sea. It is easy to imagine that He often resorted thither, as He did to the mountains at a later day, for prayer and meditation. This was a mere fitting place than the flat roof of His home, often used for such purposes. From that height he looked down into the village, to the distant snow-covered Hermon, the near plain of Esdraelon, Mount Tabor and other places that were to become sacred because of His journeys and ministry among them. In the far distance He saw the Mediterranean Sea, over which His gospel was to be carried towards dis- tant parts of the earth unknown to the people of His day. To me this was the most sacred spot about Nazareth, for I felt that I might be tread- ing in His footsteps. What thoughts He had here of God as His Father, and of Himself as the Son of God, and of the business which the Father sent the Son into Jesus the Carpenter 75 the world to do. He was so different from all others that His life among men was i nely. But He could say, as Ht did say, ** I an^ not zjone, because the Father is with me." The time had come for Him to leave the quiet life in Nazareth and begin His work among men — ^a life of toil and trouble and opposition, but one in which He as ever to go about doing good and blessing mc^nkind. He chose his future home on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. (J iim I'ii ili: a dkv u N (( -^**»»»»ir • '% H < Chapter XI _/(?An Me Baptist 77ie Desert The Jorda\ What is a kingdom ? By it we generally mean a country ruled by a king or queen. This is a kingdom of the earth. But God does not rule like an earthly king or queen. He rules the spirits of men. All good spirits on the earth and all spirits in heaven together make His Kingdom. It is called the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven. Of this Kingdom Jesus was King. During thirty years of His life only a few people, like the shepherds of the plain, and Simeon and Anna, understood who He was or what He was to become. At last He was ready to make Himself known. But before He did so, ** There was a man sent from God whose name was John." He was not "sent" from heaven as was Jesus^ whose home was there before He came to the earth. But there were some wonderful things about J )hn's infancy. Before He was born an angel appeared to his 77 wf m \\ I i '» 78 A Life of arist father, Zacharias, and told him to call his son John, as the angel Gabriel had told Mary to call her son Jesus. The angel told Zacharias that John would "be great in the sight of the Lord," and that he would "go before" Jesus. By this he meant that John would preach about Him, telling people that they would soon see Him, and that they must get ready for Him by repenting of their sins. John was a holier man than the people about him, and was saddened by their sins. He wanted to be alone with God, to pray to Him, and pre- pare himself to '*go before" Jesus. So he left his home and lived in the wilderness of Judea, we know not how many years. It was a desert, whose rocky mountains were full of caves, where the sun never shone. In the valleys there was no variety of flowers, such as grew around Nazareth, but dry plants, which grew with- out water, and the white broom-brushes, which bloom in March and April. His food was the locusts, which leaped and flew about him ; and honey, which he found in the clefts of the rocks. His only drink was water from tne moun- tain springs, l^he only living things he saw were animals, such as foxes and wild goats on 'i; John the Baptist 79 the crags, partridges and vultures Hying over them. He was a strange-looking man. His hair was long, having never been cut when he was thirty years old. His dress was made of camel's hair, rudely woven. It was fastened with a leathern girdle, such as was worn by the poor. When the time was near for Jesus to leave Nazareth and begin His ministry, John left the wilderness, where he had lived alone, and appeared among men. He told them that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. He meant that Jesus, the King of the spirits of men, had come to the world, and that they would soon see Him. He told them that they could not be of His Kingdom unless they repented of their sins. People in all parts of the Holy Land heard of his preaching, and multitudes came to hear him on the banks of the River Jordan. They thought him a wonderful prophet, such as had not been in the world for five hundred years. Many of them were common people, who wanted to learn and become good; but some, who thc^ht them- selves wise and good enough, came only from curiosity. m t ■ i i 'I 80 A Life of Christ He told them that they must also be baptized with ^Viter. He did not mean that water would make their souls clean as it did their bodies, but that it would show their repentance, which is a change from bad to good. Many were ''baptized of him in the River Jordan, confessing their sms. M unto first i left nioth( lived He w to be things God a T of Joh sons, \ ever n- baptize asked ^^omethl Baptist 6 ' ^.i: '!^ ^5' 1^ Chapter XII The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus The Jordan, Desert of Judea. '* Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him" This was the first act of Jesus in beginning His ministry. He left His home in Nazareth, and Mary, His mother, and the quiet scenes in which He had lived in childhood and youth and early manhood. He was no longer Jesus the carpenter. He was to be the great Teacher and to do wonderful things, which would show that He was the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Though the mother of Jesus and the mother of John were cousins, we do not know that their sons, who must have known of each other, had ever met. One day, '' when all the people were baptized," a stranger came alone to John, and asked that he be also. There must have been something in his appearance that attracted the Baptist's attention. Of the multitudes who had 6 81 ■!. I- ■ fc . * \. ) ' li 4 Im, !nn|, I|^Ej[: i 1 j^ji j'|Pi ■„•• ^it S>6 A Life of Christ Every child may think of Jesus as the tempted but sinless child ; every youth may think of Him as the tempted but sinless youth ; every man may think of Him as the tempted but sinless man. Each of them may feel that Jesus knows how to pity and help because He Himself was tempted. Remember, too, how Jesus learned many Bible words, and how they helped Him in resist- ing temptation. ^^ o a X W W > 'S H m in Chapter XIII First Disciples 7'he Jordan Jesus returned from the wilderness where He had been tempted, to a place on the River Jordan, where John was preaching to a multitude of people. As He was coming toward them, John exclaimed : '' Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." " I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him." '' This is the Son of God." But the people did not understand, as John did, who and what Jesus was. They were not ready to think of Him as the Lamb of God to take away their sins, nor to become His disciples. • The next day Jesus was walking along the bank of the Jordan, thinking, we may believe, of His triumph over Satan ; of the work He was ready to do ; and of some who would be with Him in it during the rest of His life. John and two of his disciples were standing where they could see Him. John looked ear an First Disciples 89 nestly upon Him, and repeated to thcni the words He had spoken to the multitude the day before — *' Behold the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard him speak. They thought of Jesus as they had not before. They wanted to know more about Him. They wanted to be with Him, and to have Him teach them as John had taught them. So they '' followed Jesus," quietly com- ing nearer to Him until they could hear His voice, when turning around He kindly spoke to them, saying, ** What seek ye ?" With honor and reverence they called Him '' Rabbi " — teacher. These were the first to give Him that name. They believed, as John had told them, that Jesus was greater than he. They answered His question with another — '' Where dwellest Thou ?" And then He gave them this invitation, '* Come and see." The place to which He invited them was probably a little booth or shed, made of palm or other branches, but it was a charming place because Jesus was there. No doubt, one of these visitors was John, having the same name as the Baptist, whom he was now to leave for a new teacher. He was to become known as St. John the Apostle. We shall learn much of him in the story of Jesus, .1 -'iU ifc ^ ^ . ' ii M m I i 90 A Life of Christ i| Many years afur that visit, \\v. wrnW of it, n^mcm bcrin^- the clay and the hour when he; entered that little booth. The other one who followed Jesus was named Andrew. He was so full of wonder and joy at what he saw and heard that he- hastened to his brother Simon, crying out : '' We have found the Christ." ** Andhe brought him to Jesus." Simon was also called Peter. We shall learn much of him in the story of Jesus. The next day Jesus started for Galilee. Prob- ably His three new friends, John, Andrew and Peter, went with Him. On the way they saw a young man named Philip. Jesus spoke two words to him — ''Follow Me." It Avas the first time we know of His speaking these words to any man. Philip joyfully obeyed. It was the custom of pious Jews, who had right thoughts about God and the expected Mes- siah, to go daily to some quiet place in the shade of a tree, where they could be alone with God, and pray to Him and think a long time about Him. Such a man was Nathanael. As Andrew's first act was to bring his brother Peter to Jesus, so Philip's first act was to bring his friend, Nathanael to Him. As Andrew had ii First Disciples 91 exclaimed, "We have found the Christ," so Philip cried out, **We have found Him." As Jesus had asked Andrew and John to " come and see" Him, Philip asked Nathanael to "come and see " Jesus. As he came, Jesus saw him, and spoke kindly of him, telling of his goodness. Nathanael asked, " Whence knowest Thou me ?" Jesus answered and said unto him, " Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee." Nathanael, in astonishment at His wis- dom, called Him "Rabbi," as John and Andrew had done. He also believed that Jesus was more than the Great Teacher : so he said to Him, " Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel." Remember Andrew, John, Simon, Philip and Nathanael as the first disciples of Jesus ; a good and happy company, part of a larger band of friends of Jesus, to be with Him wherever He went, to learn of Him, and to teach others about Him. ^ 11 1 lii'itj 1''. 1 !. ! IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ ^\<^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 |5o ^^" M^H ■^ U2 12.2 Z ti& 12.0 u ■^ I. ■Utau I 1.4 <^ 72 / ?-, ^* o / /A Photographic Sdeiices Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. US80 (716) 873-4503 4^ V ^ The Lord's Messenger (John and the Lamb) ' i .l! Chapter XIV The Lamb of God^ John the Baptist called Jesus the ** Lamb of God." Why is He called a Lamh ? A lamb is innoceiit. It cannot do wrone. A little child does not sin. We say a child is as innocent as a lamb. Jesus was innocent. He was a holy child and a holy man. On the earth He was often tempted, but He never did wrong. A lamb is harmless. No persons or animals are afraid that it micrht hurt them. It is not cruel like a tiger. Jesus was harmless. He never gave trouble or pain. No one feared Him. He was always kind, going about doing good, and trying to make people happy. A lamb is gentle. It is quiet and tender. It is not fierce like a lion. It is never angry. Jesus was gentle. People were often unkind to Him. They spoke unkindly to Him and about ♦ From the Author's Volume, " Great Truths Simply lold." :■ 3 i.|*V:>>, it '.I m i'VJ ■ iE i1 i i 94 A Life of Christ 1 Him. They lied about Him. They treated Him cruelly, but He never spoke a cross word or did an angry thing. He tenderly took a young girl and a woman by the hand, and raised them up. He gently lifted a sick boy, and led a blind man. He softly put His hands on the heads of little children. A lamb is patient. When it is sick or in pain, it lies quietly down all day and all night. Jesus was patient. He suffered very much. He had great trouble of spirit, and pain of body. He suffered much on the cross, but he was always silent. A lamb is humble. It does not strut like a peacock, or appear proud like some men and women. Jesus was humble. In heaven he was highly exalted. Angels honored Him. He was like a great king, but He came down to earth and became a poor man. He humbled Himself. A lamb obeys and trusts the shepherd. It fol- lows him wherever he leads it, and takes food from his hand, and rests quietly in his arms. Jesus obeyed and trusted His Father. When He was on the earth he said r '• I have kept my Father's commandments." When He was dying The Lamb of God 95 on the cross His last words were, '* Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God ? Before He came from heaven to earth, the Temple of God was in Jerusalem. In it was a table called an altar. A priest put things upon it, wor shipping God. A man brought a lamb to the priest by the altar, because God told him to do so. The lamb helped him to understand about Jesus. When the man brought the lamb from his home to the Tem- ple, he remembered that Jesus would come from heaven to earth. The lamb must not be lame, or blind, or sick, but well in all its body. The man would remember that Jesus would have a perfect body and a holy spirit. The man put his hands on the head of the lamb and confessed his sins to God. He remem- bered that Jesus would forgive sins. The lamb by the altar was bound and could not walk again. The man remembered that Jesus would be bound by wicked men, and go about doing good no more. The bound lamb lay still and was dumb. The man remembered that Jesus would be patient and .•:.,i •!":i * f 96 A Life of Christ not resist cruel men, but would be willing to suffer. The lamb was killed with a knife and laid upon the altar. The man remembered that Jesus would be nailed to a cross and die upon it. God commanded a lamb to be killed, to help the man to understand about the death of Jesus. When he looked at the dead lamb, he would remember that Jesus would die for him. Jesus was innocent, harmless, gentle, patient, humble, obedient and trustful, like a lamb. He died for all men that they might live forever in Heaven, if they repent of sin, and love, obey and serve Him. So lesus is called ''The Lamb of God." I ( Chapter XV The First Miracle Jesus and His five disciples went to the little town of Cana in Galilee, a few miles from Nazareth. It was then a pretty place, but nobody lives there now. Only hunters go there for wild game. It was the home of Nathanael. But Jesus had other friends who had invited Him and His dis- ciples to a feast in their house. In it He also met His mother, whom He had left in Nazareth two months before. Much had happened to Him in that time, of which perhaps she did not know. She was delighted to meet Him again, with His new friends, John and Andrew, who would tell her of the wonderful things they had seen and heard on the Jordan, and how the Spirit of God had descended upon Him like a dove, and how a voice from Heaven had called Him God's beloved Son. She would think of what the angels had said about Him in Bethlehem, and remember 7 97 f ? ir. ^'5 i ;^:' Mmi ^' The Wedding Feast at Cana The First Miracle 99 what He~ said in the Temple about God His Father. Joseph having probably died, Mary would go to Jesus when she was in trouble, or wanted help, in Nazareth, or Cana, or anywhere else. The home in which He found her ir. Cana was that of intimate friends, perhaps relations. We can think of the kind of house in which they lived. The court or yard was surrounded on three sides by covered porches opening into rooms, one of which was a reception-room or dining-room, where the feast was given. Its ceiling was high. It was lighted in the evening by lamps and candles. When a feast was given the room was made pleasant by such ornaments as they had. Carpets were spread on the floor, and the walls were hung with garlands. Around the tables were couches or benches, covered with soft cushions, on which the people reclined when they ate. On the porch were kept jars of water for the washing of hands before and after eating, and of feet when a person entered the house Shoes were not worn, but sandals, which did not pro- tect from dust, and which were left outside the door. I 1 1 '. t ' ■ '] t; i ".'1'} Av •It' Hi P'\ 'M'! ' 1 1 1 a >' ..ImI '•It I 100 A Life of Christ In this house there was a wedding-feast. It was the home of the bridegroom. To it the bride had been brought from her father's house. She wore a long veil from her head to her feet, and a beautiful girdle, and a wreath of myrtle leaves. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders, and she wore many jewels. If she were too poor to own them, they were borrowed from her friends. When she went from her father's house to that of the bridegroom, there was a joyful procession of her friends and companions. Some carried torches or lamps on poles. Some played on flutes or drums, others sang words such as these : ** Her red cheeks are her own, Her hair hangs waving as it grew." Wine and oil were distributed among the older people, and nuts among the children. Those nearest to the bride carried myrtle branches and chaplets of flowers. As the procession moved along the streets, everybody rose and cheered, or joined it ; and all praised the bride. Then followed the wedding-feast, to which Jesus and His ^vg disciples had been invited. He would join like others in the innocent pleasures of the evening, happy in seeing the young bride and bridegroom and their companions happy ; and r^^ >- The First Miracle lOI ready to do what He could to make them so ; as we shall see. Mary, because she was an intimate friend, or relative, would be interested in having every- thing done properly, and help as she could. She discovered, before the meal was ended, that the wine was all gone. She knew that if the family found it out they would be troubled, because some might think that they had been careless in not having enough for the friends they had invited. What should she do ? We are told what she did. "The mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine." Did she expect Him to do anything about it ? Did she think that perhaps her won- derful son could and would furnish the wine in some way that others could not ? We do not know. His reply was something of the kind He gave her in the Temple — strange, hard to explain, but not unkind. In the Temple He had made her understand that He was the Son of God. Now His life with her in Nazareth had ended. He must leave her and begin His ministry, the most important part of His Father's business, of which He had spoken in the Temple. He would remember and love her as His earthly mother, but she must now '»!? "'ifr ■ f ST ' V- "i iu \ ^.-'A i 1 I02 A Life of Christ think more of Him as the Son of His Father in Heaven. His reply to Mary did not offend her. His tone and manner made her think He would do somethinir about the wine. . But whatever He meant, she felt that He was right. In all His early life H '73 y. o PJ n n « % ■ ' ^ •^ #^ ^-.f .:i*; 1 1 A JM. i ^ m 'Ti ^ 1 T?r ♦. .^ ii<-^ ^ * '^•r-^* Ir ■\ i>^ '''