Book: His Life

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




And he said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven."

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves,
"Who is this that even forgiveth sins?"

And he said unto the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."


THE MINISTERING WOMEN.

And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities
and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom
of God, and with him the twelve, and certain women who had been healed
of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from
whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's
steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of
their substance.




GROWING POPULARITY AND RISING OPPOSITION


THE CONCERN OF JESUS' FRIENDS.

And he cometh into a house. And the multitude cometh together again,
so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends
heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, "He is
beside himself."

And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come
at him for the crowd. And it was told him, "Thy mother and thy
brethren stand without, desiring to see thee."

But he answered and said unto him that told him, "Who is my mother?
and who are my brethren?" And he stretched forth his hand towards his
disciples, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever
shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and
sister, and mother."


WARNING OF ETERNAL SIN.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb:
and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw. And all
the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"

But when the Pharisees heard it, and the scribes that came down from
Jerusalem, they said, "This man doth not cast out demons, but by
Beelzebub the prince of the demons."

And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, "Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house
divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan casteth out
Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom
stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons
cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I by the
Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon
you.

"When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are
in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and
overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted,
and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me; and he
that gathereth not with me scattereth.

"Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons
of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never
forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:" because they said, "He
hath an unclean spirit."

"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree
corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit. Ye
offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out
of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out
of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. And I say unto you,
that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account
thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be
justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."


THE DEMAND FOR A SIGN.

Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying,
"Teacher, we would see a sign from thee."

But he answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the
sign of Jonah the prophet; for even as Jonah became a sign unto the
Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The
queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this
generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than
Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the
preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

"But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth
through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Then he
saith, 'I will return into my house whence I came out;' and when he is
come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and
taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and
they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh
worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil
generation."

And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of
the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, "Blessed is the
womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck."

But he said, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God
and keep it."




THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM


THE SOWER.

On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And
there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into
a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach. And he
spake to them many things in parables, saying, "Hearken: Behold, the
sower went forth to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed
fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured it. And other
fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway
it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth: and when the sun
was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered
away. And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and
choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And others fell into the good
ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought
forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold." And he said,
"Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve came,
and said unto him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"

And he answered and said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For
whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which
he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they
see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And
unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith,

"'By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand;
And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive;
For this people's heart is waxed gross,
And their ears are dull of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed;
Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes.
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And should turn again,
And I should heal them.'

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they
hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men
desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear
the things which ye hear, and heard them not."

And he saith unto them, "Know ye not this parable? and how, shall ye
know all the parables? The sower soweth the word. The seed is the word
of God. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away
that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by
the way side. And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he
that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; yet hath
he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation
or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.
And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the
word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and
the pleasures of this life, choke the word, and he becometh
unfruitful. And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that
heareth the word in an honest and good heart, and understandeth it,
who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty."


THE TARES.

Another parable set he before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is
likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: but while men
slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went
away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then
appeared the tares also. And the servants of the householder came and
said unto him, 'Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence
then hath it tares?' And he said unto them, 'An enemy hath done this.'
And the servants say unto him, 'Wilt thou then that we go and gather
them up?' But he saith, 'Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares,
ye root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the
harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers,
Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but
gather the wheat into my barn.'"


THE GROWING GRAIN.

And he said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed
upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed
should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit
of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the
ear. But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the
sickle, because the harvest is come."


THE MUSTARD SEED.

And he said, "How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what
parable shall we set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed,
which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the
seeds that are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and
becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches;
so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof."


THE LEAVEN.

Another parable spake he unto them: "The kingdom of heaven is like
unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal,
till it was all leavened."


THE UNDERSTANDING OF PARABLES.

All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and
without a parable spake he nothing unto them: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,

"I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his
disciples came unto him, saying, "Explain unto us the parable of the
tares of the field."

And he answered and said, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of
man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons
of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the
enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the
world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered
up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The
Son of man shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of
his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and them that do iniquity
and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the
weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears let
him hear."


THE HID TREASURE.

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field;
which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all
that he hath, and buyeth that field."


THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant
seeking goodly pearls: and having found one pearl of great price, he
went and sold all that he had, and bought it."


THE DRAG NET.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into
the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was filled, they
drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into
vessels, but the bad they cast away. So shall it be in the end of the
world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among
the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there
shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

"Have ye understood all these things?"

They say unto him, "Yea."

And he said unto them, "Therefore every scribe who hath been made a
disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a
householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and
old."




A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE LAKE


JESUS STILLS THE STORM.

And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, "Let us go
over unto the other side."

And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in
the boat. And other boats were with him. And there ariseth a great
storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the
boat was now filling. And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the
cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, "Save, Lord; we
perish."

And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be
still."

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto
them, "Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?"

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "Who then is
this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"


THE LEGION OF DEMONS.

And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over
against Galilee. And when he was come forth upon the land, there met
him a certain man out of the city, who had demons; and for a long time
he had worn no clothes, and abode not in any house, but in the tombs.

And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and
with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son
of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not." For he was
commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For
oftentimes it had seized him; and he was kept under guard, and bound
with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven
of the demon into the deserts.

And Jesus asked him, "What is thy name?"

And he said, "Legion;" for many demons were entered into him.

And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into
the abyss. Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the
mountain. And the demons besought him, saying, "If thou cast us out,
send us away into the herd of swine."

And he said unto them, "Go."

And they came out, and went into the swine: and behold, the whole herd
rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and
they were drowned in the sea.

And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the
country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. And
they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons
sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion:
and they were afraid. And they that saw it declared unto them how it
befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.
And they began to beseech him to depart from them; for they were
holden with great fear.

And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with
demons besought him that he might be with him. And he suffered him
not, but saith unto him, "Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell
them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had
mercy on thee."

And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great
things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.


THE DYING CHILD AND THE SUFFERING WOMAN.

And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side,
the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him; and he
was by the sea.

And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name;
and seeing him, he falleth at his feet, and beseecheth him much,
saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee,
that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole,
and live."

And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they
thronged him.

And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered
many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and
was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, having heard the things
concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched the border of
his garment. For she said, "If I touch but his garments, I shall be
made whole." And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up;
and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.

And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding
from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, "Who
touched my garments?"

And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, "Master,
the multitudes press thee and crush thee, and sayest thou, 'Who
touched me?'"

But Jesus said, "Some one did touch me; for I perceived that power had
gone forth from me."

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. And
when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and
falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for
what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

And he said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in
peace, and be whole of thy plague."

While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house,
saying, "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any
further?"

But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the
synagogue, "Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole."

And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and
John the brother of James. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house,
and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult, and many
weeping and wailing greatly, he said, "Give place: why make ye a
tumult and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth."

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. But he,
having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her
mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was.
And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her. "Talitha cumi;"
which is, being interpreted, "Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise."

And her spirit returned. And straightway the damsel rose up, and
walked: for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway
with a great amazement. And he charged them much that no man should
know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.

And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.


HEALINGS BY THE WAY.

And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying
out, and saying, "Have mercy on us, thou son of David."

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and
Jesus saith unto them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?"

They say unto him, "Yea, Lord."

Then touched he their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it
done unto you."

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying,
"See that no man know it."

But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man
possessed with a demon. And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man
spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, "It was never so seen in
Israel."

But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons casteth he out
demons."




WIDER EVANGELIZATION OF GALILEE


A VISIT TO HIS HOME.

And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and his disciples follow him.
And when the sabbath was come, he entered, as his custom was, into the
synagogue, and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the
book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the
place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor;
He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat
down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

And he began to say unto them, "To-day hath this scripture been
fulfilled in your ears."

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which
proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, "Whence hath this man these
things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and
what mean such mighty works wrought by his hands? Is not this the
carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and
Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?" And they were
offended in him.

And he said unto them, "Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable,
Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum,
do also here in thine own country."

And he said, "Verily I say unto you, A prophet is not without honor,
save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the
days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and unto
none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of
Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And there were many lepers in
Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was
cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian."

And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard
these things; and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city,
and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built,
that they might throw him down headlong. But he passing through the
midst of them went his way.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon
a few sick folk, and healed them.


PREACHING IN THE VILLAGES.

And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. But when he saw the
multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were
distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.

Then saith he unto his disciples, "The harvest indeed is plenteous,
but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he send forth laborers into his harvest."


THE TWELVE SENT FORTH.

And he calleth unto him his twelve disciples, and began to send them
forth by two and two; and he gave them power and authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease
and all manner of sickness.

And he charged them, saying, "Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and
enter not into any city of the Samaritans: but go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, 'The
kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give.

"Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. Take nothing
for your journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet; neither have
two coats, nor shoes, but go shod with sandals: for the laborer is
worthy of his food. And into whatsoever city or village ye shall
enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go
forth. And as ye enter into the house, salute it. And if the house be
worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your
peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear
your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off
the dust from your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say
unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men:
for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they
will scourge you; yea and before governors and kings shall ye be
brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But
when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak:
for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is
not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his
child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to
be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men, for my name's sake:
but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. But when
they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say
unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till
the Son of man be come.

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