Book: His Life

W >> William E. Barton, Theodore G. Soares, Sydney Strong >> His Life




And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation
concerning James and John.

And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, "Ye know that they
who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and
their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among
you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your
minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of
all. Even as the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."


THE BLIND MAN OF JERICHO.

And they come to Jericho: and as they went out from Jericho, with his
disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind
beggar, was sitting by the wayside, begging. And hearing the multitude
going by, he inquired what this meant, and they told him that Jesus of
Nazareth passeth by. And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene,
he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on
me."

And Jesus stood still, and said, "Call ye him."

And they call the blind man, saying unto him, "Be of good cheer: rise,
he calleth thee." And he, casting away his garment, sprang up, and
came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered him, and said, "What wilt thou that I should do
unto thee?"

And the blind man said unto him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my
sight."

And Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee
whole."

And straightway he received his sight, and followed him in the way,
glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto
God.


THE VISIT TO ZACCHAEUS.

And he entered and was passing through Jericho. And behold, a man
called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd,
because he was little of stature. And he ran on before, and climbed up
into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him,
"Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy
house."

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He is gone in to
lodge with a man that is a sinner."

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of
my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of
any man, I restore fourfold."

And Jesus said unto him, "To-day is salvation come to this house,
forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to
seek and to save that which was lost."


THE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because
he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom
of God was immediately to appear. He said therefore, "A certain
nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom,
and to return. And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten
pounds, and said unto them, 'Trade ye herewith till I come.' But his
citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, 'We will
not that this man reign over us.'

"And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the
kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the
money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by
trading. And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, thy pound hath
made ten pounds more.' And he said unto him, 'Well done, thou good
servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou
authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Thy pound,
Lord, hath made five pounds.' And he said unto him also, 'Be thou also
over five cities.' And another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, here is
thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee,
because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou
layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.' He saith
unto him, 'Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I
laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow; then wherefore
gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have
required it with interest?' And he said unto them that stood by, 'Take
away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten
pounds.' And they said unto him, 'Lord, he hath ten pounds.' 'I say
unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him
that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them,
bring hither, and slay them before me.'"

And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.


GOING UP TO JERUSALEM.

Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to
Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify
themselves. They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with
another, as they stood in the temple, "What think ye? That he will not
come to the feast?"

Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that,
if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take
him.


THE FEAST AT BETHANY.

Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where
Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made him a
supper there in the house of Simon the leper; and Martha served: but
Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. Mary therefore took
a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet
of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled
with the odor of the ointment.

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him,
saith, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings,
and given to the poor?"

Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he
was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.

Jesus therefore said, "Suffer her to keep it against the day of my
burying. For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not
always. She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body
beforehand for the burying. And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever
the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also
which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."

The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and
they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus
also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests took
counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death; because that by
reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.




=HIS LAST WEEK=

* * * * *

PALM SUNDAY--THE DAY OF TRIUMPH


THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY.

On the morrow when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and
Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, and
saith unto them, "Go your way into the village that is over against
you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied,
whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any one
say unto you, 'Why do ye this?' say ye, 'The Lord hath need of him';
and straightway he will send him back hither."

Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken
through the prophet, saying,

"Tell ye the daughter of Zion,
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee,
Meek, and riding upon an ass,
And upon a colt the foal of an ass."

And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the
open street: and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there
said unto them, "What do ye, loosing the colt?" And they said unto
them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go. And they bring the
colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him.

And the most part of the multitude spread their garments upon the way;
and others branches, which they had cut from the fields. And as he was
drawing nigh, even at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud
voice for all the mighty works which they had seen. And they that went
before, and they that followed, cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the
kingdom that cometh, the kingdom of our father David: Hosanna in the
highest."

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus
was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of
him, and that they had done these things unto him.

The multitude, therefore, that was with him when he called Lazarus out
of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness. For this
cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he
had done this sign.

And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, "Teacher,
rebuke thy disciples."

And he answered and said, "I tell you that, if these shall hold their
peace, the stones will cry out."

And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If
thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto
peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come
upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and
compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash
thee to the ground, and thy children within thee: and they shall not
leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the
time of thy visitation."

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying,
"Who is this?"

And the multitudes said, "This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of
Galilee."

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Behold, how ye prevail
nothing; lo, the world is gone after him."

And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked
round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto
Bethany with the twelve.




MONDAY--THE DAY OF AUTHORITY


THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE.

And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he
might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing
but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. And he answered and
said unto it, "No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever."

And his disciples heard it.


THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE.

And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began
to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that
sold the doves: and he would not suffer that any man should carry a
vessel through the temple. And he taught, and said unto them, "Is it
not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the
nations?' but ye have made it a den of robbers?"

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed
them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful
things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple
and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David": they were moved with
indignation, and said unto him, "Hearest thou what these are saying?"

And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea: did ye never read, 'Out of the mouth
of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise'?"

And the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the
people sought to destroy him: and they could not find what they might
do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.

And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and
lodged there.




TUESDAY--THE DAY OF CONTROVERSY


THE LESSON FROM THE WITHERED FIG TREE.

And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered
away from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him,
"Rabbi, behold the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away."

And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God. Verily I say
unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou taken up
and cast into the sea'; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. Therefore
I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe
that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And whensoever ye stand
praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father
also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."


THE CHALLENGE OF CHRIST'S AUTHORITY.

And they came again to Jerusalem. And all the people came early in the
morning to him in the temple to hear him. And as he was teaching the
people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him
the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; and they spake,
saying unto him, "Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things?
or who is he that gave thee this authority?"

And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "I also will ask you one
question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what
authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from
heaven or from men?"

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, 'From
heaven'; he will say unto us, 'Why did ye not believe him?' But if we
shall say, 'From men'; all the people will stone us: for they are
persuaded that John was a prophet."

And they answered Jesus, and said, "We know not."

And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do
these things."


THREE WARNING PARABLES.


THE TWO SONS.

"But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and
said, 'Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.' And he answered and said,
'I will not': but afterward he repented himself, and went. And he came
to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go,
sir': and went not. Which of the two did the will of his father?"

They say, "The first."

Jesus saith unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and
the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto
you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the
publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did
not even repent yourselves afterward that ye might believe him."


THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.

"Hear another parable: There was a man who was a householder, who
planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress
in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into
another country. And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent
his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. And the
husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and
stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and
they did unto them in like manner. But afterward he sent unto them his
son, saying, 'They will reverence my son.' But the husbandmen, when
they saw the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let
us kill him, and take his inheritance.' And they took him, and cast
him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord
of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?"

They say unto him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and
will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him
the fruits in their seasons."

Jesus saith unto them, "Did ye never read in the scriptures,

'The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner;
This was from the Lord,
And it is marvellous in our eyes'?

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from
you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces; but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust."

And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they
perceived that he spake of them. And when they sought to lay hold on
him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.


THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING'S SON.

And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, "The
kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage
feast for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were
bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come. Again he sent
forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, 'Behold, I
have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all
things are ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of
it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his
merchandise; and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them
shamefully, and killed them. But the king was wroth; and he sent his
armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then
saith he to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but they that were
bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the partings of the
highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.'
And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together
all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was
filled with guests. But when the king came in to behold the guests, he
saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto
him, 'Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having a
wedding-garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the
servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him out into the outer
darkness'; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For
many are called, but few chosen."


THREE HOSTILE QUESTIONS ASKED OF JESUS.


TRIBUTE TO CAESAR.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him
in his talk so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority
of the governor. And they send to him their disciples, with the
Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest
the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou
regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest
thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

But Jesus perceived their craftiness, and said, "Why make ye trial of
me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money."

And they brought unto him a denarius. And he saith unto them, "Whose
is this image and superscription?"

They say unto him, "Caesar's."

Then he saith unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that
are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went away.


THE QUESTION OF THE RESURRECTION.

And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that
there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, "Teacher, Moses
wrote unto us, that if a man's brother die, having a wife, and he be
childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto
his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a
wife, and died childless; and the second; and the third took her; and
likewise the seven also left no children, and died. Afterward the
woman also died. In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them
shall she be? for the seven had her to wife."

And Jesus said unto them, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God. The sons of this world marry, and are given in
marriage: but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world,
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage: for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto
the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But
that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning
the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is not the God of the dead, but of
the living: for all live unto him."

And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his
teaching.


THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT.

And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and
knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "What commandment
is the first of all?"

Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength.' The second is this, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.' There is none other commandment greater than these."

And the scribe said unto him, "Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well
said that he is one: and there is none other but he: and to love him
with all the heart, and with all the understanding and with all the
strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all
whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him,
"Thou art not far from the kingdom of God."


THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTION OF JESUS.

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them a
question, saying, "What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he?"

They say unto him, "The son of David."

He saith unto them, "How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord,
saying,

'The Lord said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand,
Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet'?

If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?"

And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from
that day forth ask him any more questions.

And the common people heard him gladly.


DISCOURSE OF JESUS AGAINST THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES.

Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, "The
scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: all things therefore
whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after
their works; for they say, and do not. Yea, they bind heavy burdens
and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they
themselves will not move them with their finger. But all their works
they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and
enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief place at
feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in
the marketplaces, and to be called of men, 'Rabbi.' But be not ye
called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. And
call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he
who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your
master, even the Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be
your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and
whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut
the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea
and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him
twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, 'Whosoever shall swear by
the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of
the temple, he is a debtor.' Ye fools and blind: for which is greater,
the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold? And, 'Whosoever
shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by
the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.' Ye blind: for which is
greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? He
therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all
things thereon. And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it,
and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by the heaven,
sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint
and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of
the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have
done, and not to have left the other undone. Ye blind guides that
strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the
outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from
extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of
the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean
also.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto
whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are
full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also
outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of
hypocrisy and iniquity.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the
sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,
and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not
have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Wherefore
ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the
prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye
offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?
Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them
shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:
that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from
the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of
Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. Verily I
say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

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