Book: His Life

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




"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them
that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say
unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, 'Blessed
is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.'"


THE WIDOW'S TWO MITES.

And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the
multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast
in much. And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which
make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto
them, "Verily, I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all
they that are casting into the treasury: for they all did cast in of
their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had,
even all her living."


THE GENTILES SEEK JESUS.

Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at
the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of
Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus."

Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they
tell Jesus.

And Jesus answereth them, saying, "The hour is come, that the Son of
man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a
grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself
alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. He that loveth his life
loseth it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it
unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me: and where I
am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the
Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father,
save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.
Father, glorify thy name."

There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, "I have both
glorified it, and will glorify it again."

The multitude, therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it
had thundered: others said, "An angel hath spoken to him."

Jesus answered and said, "This voice hath not come for my sake, but
for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the
prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto myself."

But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.

The multitude therefore answered him, "We have heard out of the law
that the Christ abideth forever; and how sayest thou, 'The Son of man
must be lifted up'? who is this Son of man?"

Jesus therefore said unto them, "Yet a little while is the light among
you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not; and
he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye
have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of
light."

These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.


THE JEWS REJECT JESUS.

But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed
not on him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled,
which he spake,

"Lord, who hath believed our report?
And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again.

"He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart;
Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their
heart,
And should turn,
And I should heal them."

These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of
him. Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out
of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that is of men more than
the glory that is of God.

And Jesus cried and said, "He that believeth on me, believeth not on
me, but on him that sent me. And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him
that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever
believeth on me may not abide in the darkness. And if any man hear my
sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge
the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the
same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not from myself; but
the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should
say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life
eternal; the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath
said unto me, so I speak."


DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE FUTURE.

And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his
disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

But he answered and said unto them, "See ye not all these things?
Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon
another, that shall not be thrown down."

And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter
and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when
shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things
are all about to be accomplished?"

And Jesus began to say unto them, "Take heed that no man lead you
astray. Many shall come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and shall lead
many astray. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not
troubled: these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not
yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be
famines: these things are the beginning of the travail.

"But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to
councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors
and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them. And
the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations. And when they
lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand
what ye shall speak; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour,
that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit. But
ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk,
and friends: and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And
ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

"And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and
shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall
lead many astray. And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love
of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same
shall be saved.

"But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her
desolation is at hand. Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the
mountains: let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the
things that are in his house: and let him that is in the field not
return back to take his cloak. For these are days of vengeance, that
all things which are written may be fulfilled.

"But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in
those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither
on a Sabbath: for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not
been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been
saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if
any man shall say unto you, 'Lo, here is the Christ,' or, 'Here,'
believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead
astray, if possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have
told you all things beforehand. If, therefore, they shall say unto
you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' go not forth: 'Behold, he is
in the inner chambers,' believe it not. For as the lightning cometh
forth from the east and is seen even unto the west, so shall be the
coming of the Son of man. Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the
eagles be gathered together.

"But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of
man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he
shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part
of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

"Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now
become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer
is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that
he is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation
shall not pass away till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that
day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither
the Son, but the Father only.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day
come on you suddenly as a snare; for so shall it come upon all them
that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season,
making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things
that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

"And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of
man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating
and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah
entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took
them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Then shall
two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left; two women
shall be grinding at the mill: one is taken, and one is left. Watch
therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what
watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready;
for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. It is
as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house,
and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded
also the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for ye know not when the
lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at
cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you
sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the lord hath set
over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is
that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily
I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. But if
that evil servant shall say in his heart, 'My lord tarrieth;' and
shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with
the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he
expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him
asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be
the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."


THREE LESSONS TO THE DISCIPLES.


THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who
took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of
them were foolish, and five were wise. For the foolish, when they took
their lamps, took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. But at midnight there is a cry, 'Behold, the
bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose,
and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us
of your oil; for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered,
saying, 'Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye
rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'

"And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was
shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open
to us.' But he answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you
not.'

"Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.


THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.

"For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own
servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five
talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his
several ability; and he went on his journey. Straightway he that
received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other
five talents. In like manner he also that received the two gained
other two. But he that received the one went away and digged in the
earth, and hid his lord's money.

"Now after a long time the lord of these servants cometh, and maketh a
reckoning with them. And he that received the five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, 'Lord, thou deliveredst unto me
five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.' His lord said
unto him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.'

"And he also that received the two talents came and said, 'Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.'

"His lord said unto him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many
things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'

"And he also that had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I
knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow,
and gathering where thou didst not scatter; and I was afraid, and went
away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.'

"But his lord answered and said unto him, 'Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where
I did not scatter; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with
interest. Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto
him that hath the ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be
given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not, even
that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the
weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'


THE JUDGMENT SCENE.

"But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels
with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before
him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one
from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; and
he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 'Come, ye blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty,
and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and
ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye
came unto me.'

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee
hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we
thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?' And the King
shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
did it unto one of these my children, even these least, ye did it unto
me.'

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from me,
ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and
his angels: for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was
thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not
in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited
me not.' Then shall they also answer, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee
hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?' Then shall he answer them, saying,
'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these
least, ye did it not unto me.' And these shall go away into eternal
punishment: but the righteous into eternal life."


THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST JESUS.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said
unto his disciples, "Ye know that after two days the passover cometh,
and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified."

Then were gathered together the chief priests, the elders of the
people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;
and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety,
and kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a tumult
arise among the people."

And Satan entered into Judas, who was called Iscariot, being of the
number of the twelve. And he went away and communed with the chief
priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them. And they
were glad, and they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from
that time he sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the
absence of the multitude.




WEDNESDAY--THE DAY OF RETIREMENT


[There is no record of the events of this day. Jesus spent it in
retirement, almost certainly in the home of his friends at Bethany.]




THURSDAY--THE DAY OF FELLOWSHIP


PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER.

And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the
passover, his disciples say unto him, "Where wilt thou that we go and
make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?"

And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, "Go into the
city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water;
follow him; and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of
the house, 'The Teacher saith, My time is at hand. Where is my
guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?' And
he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and
there make ready for us."

And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he
had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.


STRIFE AMONG THE DISCIPLES.

And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. And there arose
also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be
greatest. And he said unto them, "The kings of the Gentiles have
lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called
Benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among
you, let him become as the younger: and he that is chief, as he that
doth serve. For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that
serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am in the midst of you
as he that serveth. But ye are they that have continued with me in my
temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father
appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel."


JESUS WASHING THE DISCIPLES' FEET.

Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was
come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having
loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of
Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the
Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth
from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his
garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth
water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to
wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, "Lord, dost thou wash
my feet?"

Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but
thou shall understand hereafter."

Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."

Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head."

Jesus saith to him, "He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." For he
knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, "Ye are not all
clean."

So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat
down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye
call me Teacher, and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then,
the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash
one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also
should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A
servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater
than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye
do them.

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the
scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel
against me. From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that,
when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and
he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."


THE BETRAYER POINTED OUT.

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and
testified, and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you
shall betray me."

The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. And
they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one,
"Is it I, Lord?"

And he answered and said, "He that dipped his hand with me in the
dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth, even as it is
written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is
betrayed! Good were it for that man if he had not been born."

And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, "Is it I, Rabbi?"

He saith unto him, "Thou hast said."

There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples,
whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith
unto him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh."

He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, saith unto him, "Lord,
who is it?"

Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop,
and give it him."

So when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas, the
son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him.

Jesus therefore saith unto him, "What thou doest, do quickly."

Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
For some thought because Judas had the bag, that Jesus said unto him,
"Buy what things we have need of for the feast," or that he should
give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went out
straightway: and it was night.

When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, "Now is the Son of man
glorified, and God is glorified in him; and God shall glorify him in
himself, and straightway shall he glorify him."


THE LORD'S SUPPER.

And he said unto them, "With desire I have desired to eat this
passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I shall not eat
it until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God."

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave
to them, saying, "This is my body; which is given for you; this do in
remembrance of me."

And he took a cup, in like manner after supper, and gave thanks, and
gave to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the
new covenant, which is poured out for you, for many, unto remission of
sins. Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say unto you, I
shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the
Kingdom of God shall come."


THE FAREWELL CONVERSATION.

"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me:
and as I said unto the Jews, 'Whither I go, ye cannot come,' so now I
say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one
to another."

Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?"

Jesus answered, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou
shalt follow afterwards."

And Jesus saith unto them, "All ye shall be offended: for it is
written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered
abroad. Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into
Galilee."

But Peter said unto him, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not
I."

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