Book: His Life

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




And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her
house.


THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and
she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that
the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with
her.

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise
the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of
his father.

And his mother answered and said, "Not so; but he shall be called
John."

And they said unto her, "There is none of thy kindred that is called
by this name."

And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is
John."

And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his
tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God.

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these
sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What
then shall this child be?"

For the hand of the Lord was with him.


THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
prophesied, saying,

"Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel;
For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of his servant David
(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been
from of old),
Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us;
To show mercy towards our fathers.
And to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father,
To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of
our enemies
Should serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High:
For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready
his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people
In the remission of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
To guide our feet into the way of peace."

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts
till the day of his showing unto Israel.




THE BIRTH AND INFANCY OF JESUS


JOSEPH AND MARY.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary
had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found
with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a
righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privily.

But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou
shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people
from their sins."

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

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son,
And they shall call his name Immanuel;"

which is, being interpreted, "God with us."

And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she
had brought forth a son.


THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first
enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to
enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him,
being great with child.

And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled
that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son;
and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.


THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS.

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and
keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord
stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and
they were sore afraid.

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

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased."

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord
hath made known unto us."

And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe
lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning
the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto
them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.


THE CIRCUMCISION.

And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was
called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived
in the womb.


THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses
were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to
the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that
openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a
sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A
pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon: and
this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of
Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed
unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he
had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple:
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do
concerning him after the custom of the law, then he received him into
his arms, and blessed God, and said,

"Now, lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord,
According to thy word, in peace;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of thy people Israel."

And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were
spoken concerning him; and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his
mother,

"Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of
many in Israel;
And for a sign which is spoken against;
Yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul;
That thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the
tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband
seven years from her virginity, and she had been a widow even unto
fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple,
worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. And coming
up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all
them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.


THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where
is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east,
and are come to worship him."

And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of
the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And
they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written
through the prophet,

"'And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
For out of thee shall come forth a governor,
Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly
what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said,
"Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye
have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him."

And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star,
which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood
over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and
saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and
worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him
gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to
Herod, they departed into their own country another way.


THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to
Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his
mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." He arose and took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was
there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt did I
call my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that
were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old
and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the
Wise-men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah
the prophet, saying,

"A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she would not be comforted, because they are not."




THE LIFE IN NAZARETH


THE RETURN TO NAZARETH.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise and take the young child and
his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that
sought the young child's life."

And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into
the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room
of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned of
God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and
dwelt in their own city Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.

And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the
grace of God was upon him.


THE BOYHOOD VISIT TO JERUSALEM.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the
passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the
custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they
were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his
parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went
a day's journey: and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and
acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem,
seeking for him.

And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking
them questions: and all that heard him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers.

And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto
him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I
sought thee sorrowing."

And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that
I must be in my Father's house?"

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.


THE EIGHTEEN SILENT YEARS.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject
unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
men.




=THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS MINISTRY=

* * * * *

JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST


THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius
Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and
Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood
of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of
Zacharias in the wilderness.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leathern girdle
about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.

And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the
baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; and saying, "Repent ye;
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
And the crooked shall become straight,
And the rough ways smooth;
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

And there went out to him all the country of Judaea, and all they of
Jerusalem, and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
baptism he said unto them, "Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to
flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of
repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham
to our father': for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones
to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now the axe also lieth at
the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

And the multitudes asked him, saying, "What then must we do?"

And he answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him
impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do
likewise."

And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him,
"Teacher, what must we do?"

And he said unto them, "Extort no more than that which is appointed
you."

And soldiers also asked him, saying, "And we, what must we do?"

And he said unto them, "Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse
any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages."

And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their
hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; John
answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but
there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I
am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and
in fire: whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his
threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the
chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."

With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto
the people.


THE BAPTISM OF JESUS.

And it came to pass in those days, when all the people were baptized,
that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to
be baptized of him.

But John would have hindered him, saying, "I have need to be baptized
of thee, and comest thou to me?"

But Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."

Then he suffereth him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway from the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon
him; and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased."


THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS.

Then straightway was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to
be tempted of the devil, and he was with the wild beasts, and did eat
nothing in those days. And when he had fasted forty days and forty
nights, he afterward hungered.

And the tempter came and said unto him, "If thou art the Son of God,
command that these stones become bread."

But he answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the
pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, "If thou art the Son of
God, cast thyself down: for it is written,

"'He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard
thee.'

and,

"'On their hands they shall bear thee up,
Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.'"

Jesus said unto him, "Again it is written, 'Thou shalt not make trial
of the Lord thy God.'"

Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and
showeth him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and the
glory of them.

And the devil said unto him, "To thee will I give all this authority,
and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to
whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship before me,
it shall all be thine."

Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written.
'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'"

And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from
him for a season; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.


JOHN'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS.

And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from
Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, "Who art thou?" And he
confessed and denied not; and he confessed, "I am not the Christ."

And they asked him, "What then? Art thou Elijah?"

And he saith, "I am not."

"Art thou the prophet?"

And he answered "No."

They said therefore unto him, "Who art thou? that we may give an
answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?"

He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make
straight the way of the Lord,' as said Isaiah the prophet."

And they had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, and
said unto him, "Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ,
neither Elijah, neither the prophet."

John answered them, saying, "I baptize in water: in the midst of you
standeth one whom ye know not, even he that cometh after me, the
latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose."

These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was
baptizing.

On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, "Behold, the
Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom
I said, 'After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was
before me.' And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to
Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water."

And John bare witness, saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as
a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but
he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, 'Upon whomsoever
thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same
is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen, and have
borne witness that this is the Son of God."




THE BEGINNINGS OF FAITH


THE FIRST DISCIPLES BY THE JORDAN.

Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; and
he looked upon Jesus as he walked and saith, "Behold, the Lamb of
God!" And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them,
"What seek ye?"

And they said unto him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted,
Teacher), "where abidest thou?"

He saith unto them, "Come, and ye shall see."

They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him
that day: it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother. He findeth first his own brother Simon, and
saith unto him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is, being
interpreted, Christ). He brought him unto Jesus.

Jesus looked upon him, and said, "Thou art Simon the son of John: thou
shalt be called Cephas" (which is by interpretation, Peter).

On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth
Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from
Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael,
and saith unto him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and
the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

And Nathanael said unto him. "Can any good thing come out of
Nazareth?"

Philip saith unto him, "Come and see."

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, "Behold, an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

Nathanael saith unto him, "Whence knowest thou me?"

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Before Philip called thee, when
thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King
of Israel."

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Because I said unto thee, 'I saw
thee underneath the fig tree,' believest thou? thou shalt see greater
things than these."

And he saith unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see
the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon
the Son of man."


THE FIRST MIRACLE.

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and his
disciples, to the marriage.

And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, "They
have no wine."

And Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine
hour is not yet come."

His mother saith unto the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do
it."

Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews' manner
of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto
them, "Fill the waterpots with water."

And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, "Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the
feast."

And they bare it. And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now
become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had
drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,
and saith unto him, "Every man setteth on first the good wine; and
when men have drunk freely, then that which is worse: thou hast kept
the good wine until now."

This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his
brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.




JESUS IN JERUSALEM


CLEANSING HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.

And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep
and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of
cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen;
and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables; and
to them that sold the doves he said, "Take these things hence; make
not my Father's house a house of merchandise."

His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house
shall eat me up."

The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, "What sign showest thou
unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up."

The Jews therefore said, "Forty and six years was this temple in
building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?"

But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised
from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake thus; and they
believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.


THE VISIT OF NICODEMUS.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many
believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. But Jesus did
not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, and because he
needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he
himself knew what was in man.

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