The gospel story for young people

Front matter

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Book I.-the Carpenter

I. The Holy Land, 1 1

II. Jerusalem and Bethlehem, 15

HI In the Temple, 23

IV. The Wise Men, 27

V. Nazareth, 33

VI. The First Passover, 37 book: ii.— the prophet.

I. John the Baptist, -45

II. Cana of Galilee 49

III. The First Summer 56

IV. Samaria, 60

V. The First Sabbath Miracle, .... 69

VI. His Old Home, 74

VII. Capernaum, 78

VIII. Foes from Jerusalem, 87

IX. At Nain, 95

X. Mighty Work, 98

XL A Holiday in Galilee, 104

XII. In the North, no

XIII. At Home Once More, 116

XIV. The Last Autumn, 122

XV. Lazarus, 131

XVI. The Last Sabbath, 136

Book Iii.— Victim And Victor

I. The bon of David 143

II. The Traitor, 150

III. The Paschal Supper, 155

IV. Gethsemane, 163

V. The High Priest's Palace, 167

VI. Pilate's Judgment Hall, 1 70

VII. Calvary 17S

VIII. In the Grave, 184

IX. The Sepulchre 189

X. Emmaus, 198

XL It is the Lord, 204

XII. His Friends, 208

XIII. His Foes, 211

LIST OF FULL-PAGE COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS.

SUBJECT. ARTIST.

Christ Blessing Little Children, Plockhorst,

Birth of Christ, Plockhorst,

The Flight into Egypt, Hofmann,

The Adoration of the Magi, Hofmann,

Christ in the Temple, Plockhorst,

"Get Thee Hence, Satan, Hofmann,

"Make not My Father's House an House of Merchandise," . . . Hofmann,

Christ and Nicodemus, Plockhorst,

" Whosoever Drinketh of the Water that I shall give Him shall Never

Thirst," Hofmann,

Christ Healing the Sick, Dore, . .

"But a certain Samaritan had Compassion on Him," Hofmann,

"Young Man, I say unto Thee, Arise," Hofmann,

"Thy Sins are Forgiven," Plockhorst,

"Behold, a Sower went forth to Sow," ■ Hofmann,

The Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, Hofmann,

Christ Feeding the Multitude, Dore, . .

Christ and Peter, Plockhorst,

Jesus in the House of Mary and Martha, Hofmann,

Christ Raising Lazarus, Plockhorst,

Christ Entering Jerusalem, Plockhorst,

Christ in the Temple, Plockhorst,

"He that is without Sin among You let Him first Cast a Stone

at Her," Hofmann,

Preaching to the Multitude, Hofmann,

"This is My Blood of the New Testament which is Shed for Many," Hofmann,

Christ iif the Garden, Plockhorst,

"Behold the Man," Hofmann,

PAGE

Frontispiece. 2

21 22 3* s>

5 2

72 81 82

9 1

152 161 162 171 172

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

SUBJECT. ARTIST. PAGB

Christ Bearing His Cross, (?) 181

Christ Crucified, Plockhorst 182

The Entombment of Christ, Hofmann, 191

Christ Appearing to Mary, Plockhorst, 192

Ascension of Christ Plockhorst, 201

"Where Two or Three are gathered Together in My Name, There

am I in the Midst of Them," Hofmann, 202

ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Christ as a Carpenter, . . - 10

Shrine of Annunciation, . . 11

Bethlehem, 14

The Herodians — A Jewish Sect in Favor with the Romans, 16

The Annunciation, 24

"Follow Me," 44

"And was with the Wild Beasts," 47

Wedding Feast at Cana, 54

Fruit of Palestine, 59

The Wise and the Foolish Virgins, 6.

Ninety and Nine °'>

Jesus Teaching by the Seaside, 7 6

Lepers Outside the Gate, ' 84

Lowering the Sick Man Through the Roof, 86

Jews Sitting at Meat, 88

"She Touched the Hem of His Garment," 103

The Good Shepherd, Io6

"He took the Blind Man by the Hand and led him out of the Town," 114

On the Housetop, IJ 9

Lazarus. I2 3

Animals used for Sacrifice, I2 8

The Lost Sheep, I2 9

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ix

PACK

Christ Blessing Little Children, . 135

Eastern Head-dress, 14a

Washing the Hands, 157

Gethsemane, 164

Pilate Washing his Hands, 177

The Veil of the Temple Rent, 185

The Descent from the Cross, 186

Miraculous Draught of Fishes, 206

The Wise and Foolish Virgins, 214

Judas Bargaining with the Council, 215

Two Women Grinding, 222

" The Pearl of Great Price," 225

"And from that Hour, that Disciple took her into his own Home," 236

Syrian Sheep, . 239

The River of the Water of Life, 246

Christ and the Tribute Money, 253

CHRIST AS A CARPENTER.

THE WONDERFUL LIFE.

Chapter I.— The Holy Land

VERY far away from our own country lies the land where Jesus Christ was i born. More than five thousand miles stretch between us and it, and those who wish to visit it must journey over sea and land to reach its shores. It rests in the very heart and centre of the Old World, with Asia, Europe, and Africa encircling it. A little land it is, only about two hundred miles in length, and but fifty miles broad from the Great sea, or the Mediterranean, on the west, to the river Jordan, on the east. But its hills and valleys, its dusty roads and green pastures, its vineyards and oliveyards, and its village streets have been trodden by the feet of our Lord ; and for us, as well as for the Jews, to whom God gave it, it is the Holy Land.

The country lies high, and forms a table-land, on which there are mountains of considerable height. Moses describes it as "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring

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SHRINE OF ANNUNCIATION.

out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness. A land which the Lord thy God careth for : the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year, even unto the end of the year." The sky is cloudless, except in the end of autumn and in winter, and no moisture collects but in the form of dew. In former times vineyards and orchards climbed up the slopes of every hill, and the plains were covered with wheat and barley. It was densely peopled, far more so than our own country is now, and over all the land villages and towns were built, with farm-houses scattered between them. Herds of sheep and goats were pastured in the valleys, and on the barren mountains, where the vines and olives could not grow.

There are two lakes in Palestine, one in the northwest, the other southwest, with the river Jordan flowing between them, through a deep valley, sixty miles long. The southern lake is the Dead Sea, or Sea of Death. No living creature can exist in its salt waters. The palm-trees carried down by the floods of Jordan are cast up again by the waves on the marshy shore, and lie strewn about it, bare and bleached, and crusted over with salt. Naked rocks close in the sea, with no verdure upon them; rarely is a bird seen to fly across it, whilst at the southern end, where there is a mountain, and pillars of rocksalt, white as snow, there always hangs a veil of mist, like smoke ascending up forever and ever into the blue sky above. As the brown and rapid stream of Jordan flows into it on the north, the waters will not mingle, but the salt waves foam against the fresh, sweet current of the river, as if to oppose its effort to bring some life intc its desolate and barren depths.

The northern lake is called the Sea of Galilee. Like the Dead Sea, it lies in a deep basin, surrounded by hills ; but this depth gives to it so warm and fertilizing a climate, that the shores are covered with a thick jungle of shrubs, especially of the oleander, with its rose-colored blossoms. Grassy slopes here and there lead up to the feet of the mountains. The deep blue waters are sweet, clear, and transparent.

and in some places the waves ebb and flow over beds of flowers, which have crept down to the very margin of the lake. Flocks of birds build among the jungle, and water-fowl skim across the surface of the lake in myriads, for the water teems with fish. All the early hours of the morning the lark sings there merrily, and throughout the live-long day the moaning of the dove is heard. In former times, when the shores of the lake were crowded with villages, hundreds of boats and little ships with white sails sailed upon it, and all sorts of fruit and corn were cultivated on the western plain.

The Holy Land, in the time of our Lord, was divided into three provinces, almost into three countries, as distinct as England, Scotland, and Wales. In the south was Judaea, with the capital, Jerusalem, the Holy City, where the temple of the Jews was built, and where their king dwelt. The people of Judaea were more courtly and polished, and, perhaps, more educated than the other Jews, for they lived nearer Jerusalem, where all the greatest and wisest men of the nation had their homes. Up in the north lay Galilee, inhabited by stronger and rougher men, whose work was harder and whose speech was harsher than their southern brethren, but whose spirit was more independent, and more ready to rebel against tyranny. Between those two districts, occupied by Jews, lay an unfriendly country, called Samaria, whose people were of a mixed race, descended from a colony of heathen who had been settled in the country seven hundred years before, and who had so largely intermarried with the Jews that they had often sought to become united with them as one nation. The Jews had steadily resisted this union, and now a feeling of bitter enmity existed between them, so that Galilee was shut off from Judaea by an alien country.

The great prosperity of the Jewish nation had passed away long before our Lord was born. An unpopular king, Herod, who did not belong to the royal house of David, was reigning ; but he held his throne only upon sufferance from the great emperor of Rome, whose people had then subdued all the known world. As yet there were no Roman tax-gatherers in the land, but Herod paid tribute to Augustus, and this was raised by heavy taxes upon the people. All the country was full of murmuring, and discontent, and dread. But a secret hope

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CHILD'S LIFE OF CHRIST.

was running deep down in every Jewish heart, helping them to beai their present burdens. The time was well-nigh fulfilled when, according to the prophets, a King of the house of David, greater than David in battle, and more glorious than Solomon in all his glory, should be born to the nation. Far away in Galilee, in the little villages among *Jie hills, and the busy towns by the lake, and down in southern Judaea, in the beautiful capital, Jerusalem, and in the sacred cities of the priests, a whisper passed from one drooping spirit to another, " Patience 1 the kingdom of Messiah is at hand."

As the land of our Lord lies many hundreds of miles from us, so his life on this earth was passed hundreds of years ago. There are innumerable questions we long to ask, but there is no one to answer. Four little books, each one called a gospel, or the good tidings of Jesus Christ, are all we have to tell us of that most beautiful and most wondrous life. But whenever we name the date of the present year we are counting from the time when he was born. In reality, he was born three or four years earlier.

9SSMe BETHLEHEM.

Chapter Ii.— Jerusalem And Bethlehem

ERUSALEM was a city beautiful for situation, built on two ridges of rocky ground, with a deep valley between them. It was full of splendid palaces and towers, with aqueducts and bridges, and massive walls, the stones of which are still a marvel for their size. Upon the ridge of Mount Zion stood the marble palaces of the king, his noblemen, and the high-priest; on the opposite and lower hill rose the temple, built of snow-white marble, with cedar roofs, and parapets of gold, which, glistening in the bright sunshine and pure moonlight, could be seen from afar off in the clear, dry atmosphere of that eastern land. From ridge to ridge a magnificent viaduct was built, connecting the temple mount with Mount Zion and its streets of palaces.

Every Jew had a far more fervent and loyal affection for the temple than for the palace of the king. It was in fact the palace of their true King, Jehovah. Three times a year their law ordained a solemn feast to be held there, grander than the festivities of any earthly king Troops of Jews came up to them from all parts of the country, even from northern Galilee, which was three or four days' journey distant, and from foreign lands, where emigrants had settled. It was a joyous crowd, and they were joyous times. Friends who had been long parted met once more together, and went up in glad companies to the house of their God. It has been reckoned that at the great feast, that of the Passover, nearly three millions of Jews thronged the streets and suburbs of the Holy City, most of whom had offerings and sacrifices to present in the temple ; for nowhere else under the blue sky could any sacrifice be offered to the true God.

Even a beloved king held no place in the heart of the Jews beside

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THE WONDERFUL LIFE. ij

their temple. But Herod, who was then reigning, was hateful to the people, though he had rebuilt the temple for them with extraordinary splendor. He was cruel, revengeful, and cowardly, terribly jealous, and suspicious of all about him, so far as to have put to death his own wife and three of his sons. The crowds who came to the feasts carried the story of his tyranny to the remotest corners of his kingdom. He even offended his patron, the emperor of Rome ; and the emperor had written to him a very sharp letter, saying that he had hitherto treated him as a friend, but now he should deal with him as an enemy. Augustus ordered that a tax should be levied on the Jews, as in other conquered countries, and required from Herod a return of all his subjects who would be liable to the tax.

This command of the Roman emperor threw the whole nation into disturbance. The return was allowed to be made by Herod, not by the Romans themselves, and he proceeded to do it in the usual Jewish fashion. The registers of the Jews were carefully kept in the cities of their families, but the people were scattered throughout the country. It was therefore necessary to order every man to go to the city of his own family, there to answer to the register of his name and age, and to give in an account of the property he possessed. Besides this, he was required to take an oath to Cassar and the king, — a bitter trial to the Jews, who boasted, years afterward, under a Roman governor, " We are a free people, and were never in bondage to any man." There must have been so much natural discontent felt at this requirement that it is not likely the winter season would be chosen for carrying it out. The best, because the least busy, time of the year would be after the olives and grapes were gathered, and before the season for sowing the corn came, which was in November. The Feast of Tabernacles was held at the close of the vintage, and fell about the end of September or beginning of October. It was the most joyous of all the feasts, and as the great national Day of Atonement immediately preceded it, it was probably very largely attended by the nation; and perhaps the gladness of the season might in some measure tend to counteract the discontent of the people.

But whether at the Feast of the Tabernacles, or later in the year, the iS CHILD'S LIFE OF CHRIST.

whole Jewish nation was astir, marching to and fro to the cities of their families. At this very time a singular event befell a company of shepherds, who were watching their flocks by night in the open plain stretching some miles eastward from Bethlehem, a small village about six miles from Jerusalem. Bethlehem was the city of the house of David, and all the descendants of that beloved king were assembled to answer to their names on the register, and to be enrolled as Roman subjects. The shepherds had not yet brought in their flocks for the winter, and they were watching them with more than usual care, it may be, because of the unsettled state of the country, and the gathering together of so many strangers, not for a religious, but for a political purpose, which would include the lowest classes of the people, as well as the law-loving and law-abiding Jews.

No doubt this threatened taxing and compulsory oath of subjection had intensified the desire of the nation for the coming of the Messiah. Every man desires to be delivered from degradation and taxes, if he cares nothing about being saved from his sins. It was not safe to speak openly of the expected Messiah ; but out on the wide plains, with the darkness shutting them in, the shepherds could while away the long chilly hours with talking of the events of the passing times, and of that promised king who, so their teachers said in secret, was soon, very soon to appear, to crush their enemies.

But as the night wore on, when some of them were growing drowsy, and the talk had fallen into a few slow sentences spoken from time to time, a light, above the brightness of the sun, which had sunk below the horizon hours ago, shone all about them with a strange splendor. As soon as their dazzled eyes could bear the light, they saw within it a form as of an angel. Sore afraid they were as they caught sight of each other's faces in this terrible, unknown glory. But quickly the angel spoke to them, lest their terror should grow too great for them to hear aright.

" Fear not," he said, " for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you : Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Suddenly, as the angel ended his message, the shepherds saw, standing with him in the glorious light, a great multitude of the blessed hosts that people heaven, who were singing a new song under the silent stars, which shone dimly in the far-off sky. Once before " the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" because God had created a world. Now, at the birth of a child, in the little village close by, where many an angry Jew had lain down to a troubled sleep, they sang, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The sign given to the shepherds served as a guide to them. They were to find the new-born babe cradled in the manger, with no softer bed than the fodder of the cattle. Surely, the poorest mother in the humblest home in Bethlehem could provide better for her child. They must, then, seek the Messiah, just proclaimed to them, among the strangers who were sleeping in the village inn. All day long had parties of travelers been crossing the plain, and the shepherds would know very well that the little inn, which was built at the eastern part of the village, merely as a shelter for such chance passers-by, would be quite full. It was not a large building; for Bethlehem was too near to Jerusalem for many persons to tarry there for the night, intead of pressing forward to the Holy City. It was only on such an occasion as this that the inn was likely to be over-full.

But as the shepherds drew near the eastern gate, they probably saw the glimmering of a lamp near the inn. It is a very old tradition that our Lord was born in a cave ; and this is quite probable. If the inn were built near to a cave, it would naturally be used by the travelers for storing away their food from the heavy night dews, although their mules and asses might stay out in the open air. A light in the cave would attract the shepherds to it, and there they found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.. A plain working man, like themselves, his wife, and a helpless new-born child ; how strangely this sight must have struck them, after the glory and mystery of the vision of angels they had just witnessed ! How different was Mary's zo CHILD'S LIFE OF CHRIST.

low, hushed voice as she pointed out the child born since the sun went down, from that chorus of glad song, when all the heavenly host sang praises to God.

A strange story they had to tell Mary of the vision they had just seen. She was feeling the first great gladness and joy of every mother over her child born into the world, but in Mary's case this joy was brightened beyond that of all other women, yet shadowed by the mystery of being the chosen mother of the Messiah. The shepherds' statement increased her gladness, and lifted her above the natural feeling of dishonor done to her child by the poor and lowly circumstances of his birth ; whilst they, satisfied with the testimony of their own senses, having seen and heard for themselves, went away, and made known these singular and mysterious events. All who heard these things wondered at them ; but as the shepherds were men of no account, and Joseph and Mary were poor strangers in the place, we may be sure there would be few to care about such a babe, in those days of vexation and tumult. Had the Messiah been born in a palace, and the vision of the heavenly host been witnessed by a company of the priests, the whole nation would have centred their hopes and expectations upon the child ; and unless a whole series of miracles had been worked for his preservation the Roman conquerors would have destroyed both him and them. No miracle was wrought for the infant Christ, save that constant ministry of angels, sent forth to minister unto Him who was the Captain of salvation, even as they are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.— Matt. 2 : 13,

THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI.- Matt. 2 : II.

Chapter Iii.— In The Temple

OSEPH and Mary did not remain in the cave longer than could be helped. As soon as the unusual crowd of strangers was gone, they found some other dwelling-place, though not in the inn, which was intended for no more than a shelter for passing travelers. They had forty days to wait before Mary could go up to the temple to offer her sacrifice after the birth of her child, when also Joseph would present him to the Lord, according to the ancient law that every first-born child, which was a son, belonged especially to God. Joseph could not afford to live in idleness for six weeks ; and as he had known beforehand that they must be detained in Bethlehem so long, he probably had carried with him his carpenter's tools, and now set about looking for work. It is likely that both he and Mary thought it best to. bring up Jesus in Bethlehem, where he was born ; for they must have known the prophecy that out of Bethlehem should come the Messiah. It was near to Jerusalem, and from his earliest years the child would become familiar with the temple, and its services and priests. It was not far from the hill country, where Zacharias and Elizabeth were living, whose son, born in their old age, was still only an infant of six months, but whose future mission was to be the forerunner of the Messiah. For every reason it would seem best to return no more to Nazareth, the obscure village in Galilee, but to settle in Bethlehem itself.

At the end of forty days, Mary went up to Jerusalem to offer her sacrifice, and Joseph to present the child, and pay the ransom of five shekels for him, without which the priests might claim him as a servant to do the menial work of the temple. They must have passed by the tomb of Rachel, who so many centuries before had died in 4 23

^4 giving birth to her son ; and Mary, whose heart pondered over such things, may have whispered to herself as she clasped her child closer to her, "In Rama was a voice heard; lamentation and weeping, and great mourning ; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." She did not know the full meaning of those words yet ; but, amid her own wonderful happiness, she would sigh over Rachel's sorrow, little thinking that the prophecy linked it with the baby she was carrying in her arms.

At this time the temple was being rebuilt by Herod, in the most costly and magnificent manner, but we will keep the description of it until twelve years later, when Jesus came to his first passover. Mary's offering of two turtle-doves, instead of a lamb and a turtle-dove, proves the poverty of Joseph, for only poor persons were allowed to substitute another turtle-dove or young pigeon for a lamb. These birds abound in the Holy Land, and were consequently of very small value. After she had made her offering, and before Joseph presented the child to the Lord, an old man, dwelling in Jerusalem, came into the temple. It had been revealed to him that he should not see death before his eyes had beheld the blessed vision of the Lord's Christ, for whom he had waited through many long years. Now, seeing this little child, he took him into his arms, and blessed God, saying, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Whilst Joseph and Mary wondered at these words, Simeon blessed them, and speaking to Mary alone, he continued : " Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel ; and for a sign which shall be spoken against ; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

This was the first word of sorrow that had fallen upon Mary's ears since the angel had appeared to her, more than ten months before, in her lowly home in Nazareth. Hitherto, the great mystery that set her apart from all other women had been full of rapture only. Her song had been one of triumphant gladness, with not a single note of sorrow mingling with it. Her soul had magnified the Lord, because he had regarded her low estate ; she was hungry, and he had filled her with good things. She had heard through the countless ages of the future all generations calling her blessed. A new, mysterious, tender life had been breathed through her, and she had been overshadowed by the Highest, whose shadow is brighter than all earthly joys and glories. Now, for forty days she had nursed the Holy Child, and no dimness had come across her rapture. Yet, when she brings the child to his Father's house, the first word of sorrow is spoken, and the first faint thrill of a mother's ready fears crept coldly into her heart.

So as they walked home in the cool of the day to Bethlehem, and passed again the tomb of Rachel, Mary would probably be pondering over the words of Simeon, and wondering what the sword was that would pierce her own soul. The first prick of that sharp anguish was soon to make itself felt.

Besides Simeon, Anna, a very aged prophetess, had seen the child, and both spoke of him to them that looked for redemption or deliverance in Jerusalem. Quietly, and in trusted circles, would this event be spoken of; for all knew the extreme danger of calling the attention of Herod to such a matter. They were too familiar with the cowardice and cruelty of their king to let any rumor reach him of the birth of the Messiah. It does not appear, moreover, that either Simeon or Anna knew where he was to be found. But a remarkable circumstance, which came to pass soon after, exposed the child of Bethlehem to the very peril they prudently sought to shield him from, and destroyed the hopes of those who did not know that he escaped the danger.

Chapter Iv.— The Wise Men

MONG the many travelers who visited Jerusalem, which was the most magnificent city of the East, there came at this time a party of distinguished strangers, who had journeyed from the far East. They were soon known to be both wise and wealthy ; men who had given up their lives to learned and scientific studies, especially that of V$)^ astronomy. They said they had seen, in their close ™ and ceaseless scrutiny of the sky, a new star, which, for some reason not known to us, they connected with the distant land of Judaea, and called it the star of the King of the Jews.

There was an idea spread throughout all countries at that time thai a personage of vast wisdom and power, a Deliverer, was about to be born among the Jews. These wise men at once set off for the capital of Judaea ; for where else could the King of the Jews be born ? Possibly they may have expected to find all the city astir with rejoicings ; but they could not even get an answer to their question, "Where is he?" Those who had heard of him had kept the secret faithfully. But before long Herod was told of these extraordinary strangers, and their search for a new-born King, who was no child of his. He was an old man, nearly seventy, and in a wretched state, both of body and mind ; tormented by his conscience, yet not guided by it, and ready for any measure of cunning and cruelty. All Jerusalem was troubled with him, for not the shrewdest man in Jerusalem could guess what Herod would do in any moment of rage.