From Christmas to Easter : a story for boys and girls

Chapter I

One night, in the long ago time, while shepherds watched their flocks in the fields around Bethlehem, in the land of Palestine, they were startled by the sudden appearance of an angel clothed in bright raiment, and a bright glory shone all around them. It was so light that the sheep were roused from slumber and called to their shepherds in a frightened bleat. But the shepherds were filled with awe, and stood speechless, looking at their heavenly visitor. The angel spoke to them. His voice was like music, sweet and clear, and they never forgot what he said. Listen to his words: "Fear not: 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 Savior, 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." Then the bright cloud which was above them parted, and a host of glittering angels was with them, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The shepherds watched the bright cloud, which received the angels out of their sight, until it was lost from view in the heavens; Then they said, "Let us go to Bethlehem, and see this Savior King, whose birth has been made known to us." With the echo of that first Christmas song still ringing in their ears, they hurried away to Bethlehem.

These shepherds were humble, prayerful men, and knew that God had promised to send a Savior King, and that the whole Jewish nation was looking for Him. They also knew that He was expected suddenly to appear in a mysterious way in the temple and deliver them from the Romans and reign over the Jewish nation. In low, excited tones they asked one another if it could be possible that He was born as a little child, and that God had honored them by telling them of His birth.

Now, there were many people in Bethlehem at that time, for Caesar, the Roman king, had commanded all the people to enroll their names for future taxation. The ancient Jewish custom was not to take the census in the places where the people lived at the time, but at the places where they belonged as members of the original twelve tribes.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, and they had to go nearly one hundred miles, for they belonged to the royal town of Bethlehem. When they arrived, weary with the long journey, they found that the town was full of strangers who had also come to enroll their names. Every house was crowded, but near the inn there was a stable, where they were permitted to stay. And there the Son of God was born. There the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger, just as the angel had told them. They praised God, and repeated to Joseph what the angel had said to them, also the song which the angels had sung. But Joseph and Mary already knew that her baby was the promised Savior, for God had sent an angel to tell them "That He was the Spirit of God clothed in a human body." They kept the secret locked in their hearts. It was too sacred to tell to others, but they thought much about the wonderful mystery.

When the Child was eight days old they named Him Jesus, and a few weeks later they carried Him to Jerusalem, to offer a sacrifice in the temple, as the Jewish law required. There an aged priest, whose name was Simeon, and Anna, a prophetess, openly worshiped Him, for the Holy Spirit had made it known to them that He was the promised Savior.

Chapter II

Far away to the east, in the countries beyond the Euphrates River, there lived men who studied the stars and knew a great deal about them. In some way God had revealed to these wise 1 men that a King had been born who should save all people from sin, and that if they followed the new star, which they saw in the heavens, it would lead them to Him. And the star led them to the province of Judea, in Palestine. And they said surely a king would be born in a palace, and the king's palace would be at the capital; therefore they went to the beautiful city of Jerusalem and sought out the palace where King Herod lived, and they inquired of him, saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

This question aroused jealous fears in Herod's heart. He was afraid he would lose his place as ruler. Immediately he sent for the scribes and inquired of them where it was foretold that Christ should be born. They replied, "In Bethlehem of Judea." Then Herod inquired of the wise men what time the star appeared, and with a hypocritical smile said, "Go to Bethlehem and search for the Child, and when you have found Him return and let me know, that I may also go and worship Him."

The wise men departed, and rejoiced when the star led them to the home in Bethlehem where the Savior King was, with Mary His mother. They fell down and worshiped Him, and they gave Him rich and beautiful gifts and costly spices such as loyal subjects present to their King; but God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, and they quietly departed and went home into their own country another way.

When Herod found that the wise men did not return, he was very angry. The jealousy in his heart grew until hate ruled him, and he sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem who were under two years old. He thought that in that way he would surely kill the promised Ruler.

But God was watching over His own dear Son. He told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and go into Egypt, and remain there while Ilerod lived.

When Joseph awoke Mary and told her that they must flee, for the Child in danger, she asked no questions; but, elasping her baby to her heart, followed him out into the night, and they fled with the Child into Egypt.

Jesus was safe, but all the children in Bethlehem under two years old were slain. And the poor, sorrowing mothers, how they mourned and wept for their dear little ones; and they could not be comforted.

When Joseph heard that Herod was dead, he brought his family back to Palestine; but when he knew that the wicked son of Herod reigned in Judea, he was afraid to take them to Bethlehem, and they went to Nazareth, in Galilee, the little village where they had lived and loved before their marriage; and that was the home of Jesus until He grew to be a man.

He grew and played like other boys. He went to school in the village synagogue, where the Old Testament was taught by a scribe. We know that He was a good scholar, for He often quoted passages from the Scriptures when, in after life, He taught and preached.

Every year His parents went to the Passover feast at Jerusalem, for no devout Jew ever missed going to that feast, if he could possibly help it. And when Jesus was twelve years old He went with them. A Jewish boy at that age was permitted to eat the Passover supper with his parents and friends.

It was a journey of three or four days from Nazareth to Jerusalem, through a beautiful country, at the time of year when everything was in blossom. The beauty of the hills and fields and trees, the mass of people who came to the annual feast filled with religious enthusiasm, the beautiful city of Jerusalem which every Jewish heart loved, the splendor of the temple, the lambs which were killed and offered as a sacrifice — the Boy saw it all. He remembered that night which the Passover feast commemorated, when the Lord slew the firstborn in every house among the Egyptians, and passed over the houses of the children of Israel and led them out from Egypt, the land of bondage. Every year, since He could remember, His mother had told Him the story at Passover time. Everything must have made a great impression on His mind. Do you wonder that when He found so much of interest He lingered behind when His parents, with their friends and neighbors, started for home?

They traveled a whole day before they knew He was not in the company. This shows that they trusted Him. When they found He was not with them, they returned in alarm to Jerusalem, and sought Him sorrowing.

Three days they searched, and then they found Him in the temple, with the teachers and learned men, talking with them and asking questions; and they all wondered at His understanding.

His parents were surprised to find Him there, and when His mother reproved Him He looked into her eyes and said with quiet dignity, "Did ye not know that I must be about My Father's business?" His mother did not reply to this significant question; but she thought about it often when alone, and watched with loving care the development of her boy, who, we are told, "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

He returned with them to Nazareth, and lived eighteen years longer in His home there. Nothing has been told us about these years; but we know that Joseph was a wise man, who loved and obeyed God. We know that His mother was a pure, loving, saintly woman, and that Jesus grew up in her love. We know from His after life that He was a pure,

high-minded boy and loved and honored His mother. We know that He learned the carpenter's trade and in thai way met many people and learned much about human nature; and we know that He went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover feast, where He must have learned how corrupt the prevailing religion was.

Chapter III

When Jesus was about thirty years old there appeared one day, on the bank of the Jordan River, a strange preacher. He was dressed like the prophets of old, in a long garment woven from camel's hair, with a girdle of untanned leather. His name was John, and he was the son of a priest who lived in Hebron, in the province of Judea; but for years he had lived in the desert, eating wild honey and locusts, communing with his own heart, and with God, in preparation for the work which was before him. For he knew that the Prophet Isaiah had foretold, hundreds of years before he was born, that he should be sent to tell the people to prepare for the coming of the Savior King.

It had been five hundred years since there had been a prophet among the

Hebrews, and the people went from all the country around to hear him. He told them that the promised Savior was soon coming, that they must stop sinning, and be ready to meet Him and believe on Him.

When any one said he was sorry for his sins, and wanted to live a better life, John baptized him in the River Jordan.

Some of the people thought they were good enough and belonged to God's Kingdom because they were Jews; but John told them that being Jews made no difference. And when he told them what great sinners they were some went away in anger; among these were the Pharisees.

One day when John the Baptist was preaching, Jesus came to hear him. He knew that it was time for Him to begin His work of winning men to His Kingdom.

After others had been baptized, Jesus

offered Himself for baptism, because He

wished to set an example of all right doing.

At first John was unwilling to baptize 2 17

Him. There was something in the face of Jesus which made him feel unworthy to do so; but Jesus convinced him that it was right, and when He came out of the water the Spirit of God descended and rested upon Him, and a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Then John knew that Jesus was the promised Savior, for God had told him that this should be the sign which He would give him.

This Spirit, which had been given Jesus, led Him into the wilderness there to think over the new consecration and talk with His Father about it.

Jesus knew that the people were looking for a king who would do great and wonderful things and lead a large army of soldiers against their enemies and rule over the whole world.

We are told that Jesus was tempted, by the devil, to do those things which the

Jews were expecting their Savior King to do. He knew that unless He did this that many would not believe on Him. Should He, in some measure, gratify their desire, and use the power which He, the Son of God, had to make Himself an earthly king? Then, when they were all His lo; subjects, He could tell them of the love of God which He came to reveal. Or, should He wait until, by the force of truth and the power of love, shown in His life and death, the Kingdom of God should be established in the hearts of the peopl

The struggle was great, and He suffered intensely. We are told that He remained in the wilderness forty days and nights without food. His mind was so disturbed that He did not feel the need of food, and He forgot to eat. But when the struggle was ended, and He had chosen the way of the cross, the peace of God came to Him, and angels ministered unto Him.

That trial strengthened Jesus for the great strain He would have to endure through the rest of His life here, and because He was tempted in every way, as we are, He knows how to help and pity all who are tempted.

Chapter IV

It was about six weeks after John baptized Jesus before he saw Him again. But he kept on preaching to the people, and his message was, "The Son of God has come."

One day, as he stood talking with two of his scholars, he saw Jesus coming, and pointing to Him said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. It is He, about whom I have been telling you."

The two men, whose names were John and Andrew, followed Jesus. And when He saw that they followed Him, He stopped and spoke to them, and invited them to go home with Him, because He knew that they wanted to talk with Him. They gladly accepted the invitation, and remained with Him that day. We do not know what He taught them, but we know that they loved Him and became His disciples.

They believed what their first teacher had told them, that Jesus was the Savior King, and they wanted others to know and love Him, too. Therefore the two disciples hurried to tell the good news to their own brothers. John led his brother James to Jesus, and Andrew brought his brother Simon. Jesus saw just what kind of a man Simon, with the Spirit of God in his heart, would make, and He told him that he should be called Peter, which means a rock.

The next day, as Jesus and His four disciples started to go into Galilee, they met Philip, and Jesus said to him, "Follow Me." Philip did not say, "Sometime I will follow you, but not now." He at once went with Jesus and His disciples. He knew Andrew and Peter, for he lived in the same city; and when he knew Jesus he went to his friend Nathanael and told him they had found the promised Savior King. At first Nathanael could not believe it, but when Philip urged him to come and see for himself, he went with him to Jesus.

When Jesus spoke to Nathanael, and told him about things which he thought no one but himself knew, he exclaimed, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel."

A few days later Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana, a small town of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there; and when she found that the wine had given out, she went to her Son and told her trouble to Him. She was a relative of the bride, and felt that it would be a disgrace to them all to have the wine fail before the entertainment was over. Jesus helped them out of their difficulty by turning water into wine. This was His first miracle, and when His disciples saw the manifestation of His power their faith was strengthened.

The rumor of this miracle soon reached Jerusalem, and when Jesus went to the holy city, at Passover time, He attracted the attention of all classes, for it had been four hundred years since the Jews had seen a miracle.

Jerusalem was called "the holy city" because the holy temple was there. It was the same temple where Jesus had talked with the learned doctors. It was very beautiful and cost a great amount of money, and it had been solemnly consecrated to the Lord. Here, twice a day, by the sacrifice of animals, was shown the coming of the "Lamb of God to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world."

When Jesus went into the temple and saw there those who sold oxen and sheep and doves for sacrifice, and the tables for money changers (the money in common use was Roman and had to be exchanged for Jewish coin before it could be accepted for temple fees and dues to the priests), He was very indignant, and picking up from the floor pieces of cord He twisted them into a whip and drove out the animals and the traders, who were selling them; and He overturned the money tables and said, "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house a house of merchandise." During this feast Jesus wrought miracles and taught the people who were in the city from every land.

One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus and wanted to know how he could enter the new Kingdom which Jesus had been telling them about. He was a rich man and a teacher of the law. He was also very strict about all outward forms of religion. He went to Church, and said long prayers, and people thought him very good. Perhaps he thought so, too, until he saw Jesus and heard His teaching.

Jesus told him that the Kingdom which He had come to found was a spiritual

Kingdom, and that he must be born again to enter it.

When Nicodemus replied that he could not understand what He meant by this, Jesus told him that the new life which he must have was a gift from God, and that we can not see it any more than we can see the wind.

We can see what the wind does when it blows the tree tops, and we can see that the new life, which is born of the Spirit, has come by what it does. For it is a life of love. One who has it will love God and love everybody. Then Jesus said: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Chapter V

Many of the people in Judea only looked with curiosity on Jesus as He wrought miracles and taught. They would not believe on Him as the Christ, the Savior of the world. And when Jesus heard that Herod had put in prison John the Baptist because he had told him the truth about his sins, He left Judea and, with His disciples, went into Galilee. They went through Samaria, and when they came near to a place called Sychar, while His disciples went into the city to buy food, Jesus sat down by the well which Jacob had digged hundreds of years before.

He was warm and thirsty and tired, and when a woman of Samaria came to draw water from the well, which was very deep, He said, "Give Me to drink."

The woman saw by His dress that He 27 was a Jewish teacher, and she was surprised because He spoke to her, for the Jews and the people of Samaria had quarreled and had no dealings with one another; but this made no difference with Jesus. He saw that, like Nicodemus, she was hungry for goodness, and He showed her that He knew all about her wicked life; then He began to teach her about the new life which God gives; and He told her that He was the Christ, the Son of God, who had come from His home in heaven to live in this world that every one who would might believe on Him and have the new life in earth and heaven.

The woman was so glad when she heard this that she left her water jar and ran back to the city to tell her friends and neighbors that she had found the Christ, and asked them to come and see Him; and they urged Him to stay with them, and He remained there two days and taught the Samaritans, and many believed on Him.

When they came to the city of Cana, where Jesus had helped at a wedding feast, an officer of King Herod's court, called a nobleman, begged Him to hurry to his home in Capernaum, twenty miles away, and heal his son, who was very sick. This man had heard about Jesus and the wonderful things He bad done in Judea, and he believed that Jesus could cure his child if only He could get there before he died.

Jesus wanted to teach the lesson that He could help without our seeing Him with our eyes, or feeling the touch of His hands, and He said to the man, "Go, thy son liveth." The man believed what Jesus said, and started for home. Before he had gone the whole twenty miles he met messengers who came to tell him that his son lived. He asked what time the fever had left him, and when they told him he knew that it was the very hour that Jesus had said, "Go home, for thy son liveth."

When he had told the story to the rest of the family they all believed that Jesus was the Son of God.

One of the first places Jesus visited in Galilee was Nazareth, where He had lived and grown to manhood; and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, the place where He had worshiped ever since He could remember. And when they invited Him to do so, He read the Scriptures, selecting the passage in Isaiah which gives a glowing description of the coming and work of the Christ. He closed the Book and, looking into their familiar faces, longed to tell them that the Christ had come, and that He was the promised Savior; but when He attempted to do so, they were angry and would not believe it. They said, with scorn, "Is not this the carpenter who used to live here with us?" And they drove Him out of the synagogue and out of the city.

From this time He made His home in 30

Capernaum, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was a busy, thrifty, central town, and from here He went out into the other towns and villages, preaching and teaching the people. He carried comfort and joy everywhere. Day after day He healed the sick of all classes and cured all kinds of diseases; even the lepers, whom all people shunned, were healed by the touch of His hand. Crowds of people followed Him from city to city and brought their sick friends to Him to be healed; and they heard about Him through all the land. The chief priests and rulers of the Jews thought Jesus was becoming too popular among the people, therefore they sent a committee to Capernaum to watch Him. Jesus was in Peter's house. He was preaching, and, as usual, a great multitude gathered to hear Him. The courtyard and street were crowded with people, and so eager were they to hear that they would not move to make way for four men who were bringing a helpless friend on a mat-bed to Jesus. But these men believed that Jesus could cure their sick companion, and were determined in some way to reach Him. Carefully they carried their burden up the stairs outside the house to the flat roof, then they removed the tiling of the roof over the courtyard, and let the man, on his mat-bed, down at the feet of Jesus. When He saw their faith, and that the man was very sorry for all the wrong things he had done, He said, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven." The committee of learned men from Jerusalem said within their hearts, "He speaketh blasphemies; no one but God can forgive sins."

Jesus read their thoughts, just as He had read the thoughts of the sick man, and He knew that the people could not see that the man's sins were forgiven; and to prove that He had the power to forgive sins, He turned to the helpless man and said, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go home;"

and the man immediately obeyed Him, and went home praising God.

The people were surprised. They were ready to believe whal they eould see, and were filled with awe. They glorified God. But the learned men from Jerusalem were so wicked that they would not believe that His power came from God; and while they continued to watch Ilim, they complained because He and His disciples did not keep their fasts and other outward forms of religion. They also found fault with the company He kepi, saying, "He is a friend of publicans and sinn< They were

angry because He invited Matthew, a taxgatherer, to be His disciple, and they could not see that they were even greater sinners than the tax-gatherers, whom they despised and hated.

Chapter VI

After these things Jesus went again to Jerusalem and taught in the temple; and on the Sabbath day He walked out to the pool of Bethesda. This pool was a spring of water which at times bubbled up from the bottom. The people believed that an angel caused this, and that the first person who stepped in after the moving of the water would be restored to health. Around this pool five porches had been built, where sick folks could be sheltered from the sun while they waited for the water to move. On this Sabbath day many people were lying in these porches waiting to be healed. They were crippled in various ways, and some of them were blind. When Jesus saw how wretched they were, His heart was filled with pity. One man had been helpless thirty-eight years, and he had no friends to assist him. As he lay there waiting for the chance, which he thought would never come, Jesus stopped beside him and said, "Wilt thou be made whole?"

The man looked up into the pure face of Jesus, and a gleam of hope came into his dull eyes as he answered, "I have no one when the water is troubled to put me into the pool." Perhaps he thought Jesus would do this act of mercy for him, but Jesus said, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

The man did not say, "I can't, for I have been helpless a long time." He immediately stood up, then picked up his bed, which was like a rug or blanket, and walked away.

When the Jews told him it was not right for him to carry his bed on the Sabbath day, he answered them boldly, saying, "He who had the power to cure me told me to take up my bed and carry it away." When they asked, "Who is the man that told you to break the Sabbath?" he could not tell them, for Jesus had disappeared among the crowd; but he knew that it must have been the power of God which had healed him; therefore he went into the temple to worship and praise Him. Jesus found him there and told him to sin no more, lest he be sick again.

When the man found out that it was Jesus who had cured him, he went and told the Jews. Therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, because He had broken their Sabbath law. But Jesus said, "My Father loves and takes care of you every day, and He has sent Me into the world to love and help everybody. I came to reveal My Father's love."

Then the Jews sought to kill Him, because He said that God was His Father.

Jesus tried to convince them that He was the Son of God, because He wanted them to believe on Him and be saved; but they would not, and He returned to Galilee, where He received a warm welcome, and busied Himself again with His work. He was more popular than ever. People came from all the neighboring provinces to see Him and hear Him preach. They brought their friends who were sick to Him, and He healed them, and He was so busy that He had scarcely time to eat or sleep.