Book: His Life

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




"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. It
is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant
as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub,
how much more them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for
there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that
shall not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the
light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops. And
be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall
fall on the ground without your Father: but the very hairs of your
head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than
many sparrows. Every one therefore who shall confess me before men,
him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father who is in heaven.

"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is
already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am
I straitened till it be accomplished!

"Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword. For there shall be from henceforth five in one
house divided, three against two, and two against three. For I came to
set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her
mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man's
foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that doth not take
his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth
his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall
find it.

"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me
receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of
a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward: and he that receiveth a
righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous
man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these
little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple,
verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward."

And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the
gospel, and healing everywhere.

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were
sick, and healed them.

And Jesus departed thence to teach and preach. And wheresoever he
entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid
the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch
if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him
were made whole.

At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
and said unto his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen
from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him."

But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet,
even as one of the prophets."

But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, "John, whom I beheaded, he is
risen."

And he sought to see him.




THE CRISIS IN CAPERNAUM


THE FIVE THOUSAND FED.

And the apostles, when they were returned unto Jesus, told him all
things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.

Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. And he saith
unto them, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a
while." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure
so much as to eat.

And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart. And the people
saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on
foot from all the cities, and outwent them.

And he came forth and saw a great multitude. And he welcomed them, and
spake to them of the kingdom of God, and them that had need of healing
he cured. And he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep
not having a shepherd.

And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto
him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and
country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in
a desert place."

But Jesus said unto them, "They have no need to go away: give ye them
to eat."

Philip answered him, "Two hundred shillings' worth of bread is not
sufficient for them, that every one may take a little."

Jesus saith unto them, "How many loaves have ye? go and see."

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
"There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but
what are these among so many?"

And Jesus said, "Bring them hither to me."

And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the
green grass. Now there was much grass in the place. And they sat down
in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And he took the five loaves and
the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the
loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two
fishes divided he among them all. And they all ate, and were filled.
And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the
fishes. And they that ate the loaves were five thousand men.

When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, "This
is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world."

Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him
by force, to make him king, constrained the disciples to enter into
the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should
send the multitudes away.

And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the
mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.


JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER.

And his disciples were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was
now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea was rising
by reason of a great wind that blew. And in the fourth watch of the
night, when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs,
they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled,
saying, "It is a ghost;" and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it
is I; be not afraid."

And Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come
unto thee upon the waters."

And he said, "Come."

And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters, to come
to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to
sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me."

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him,
and saith unto him, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou
doubt?"

And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased: and they
were sore amazed in themselves; for they understood not concerning the
loaves, but their heart was hardened.

And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret,
and moored to the shore. And when they were come out of the boat,
straightway the people knew him, and ran round about that whole
region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick,
where they heard he was.


THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea
saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus
entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples
went away alone (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the
place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks): when
the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his
disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum,
seeking Jesus.

And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto
him, "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?"

Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek
me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and
were filled. Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food
which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto
you; for him the Father, even God, hath sealed."

They said therefore unto him, "What must we do, that we may work the
works of God?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye
believe on him whom he hath sent."

They said therefore unto him, "What then doest thou for a sign, that
we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou? Our fathers ate the
manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of
heaven to eat.'"

Jesus therefore said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, It
was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father
giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that
which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

They said therefore unto him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread."

Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But
I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. All that
which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out. For I am come down from heaven, not to
do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the
will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. For this
is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and
believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at
the last day."

The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the
bread which came down out of heaven." And they said, "Is not this
Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he
now say 'I am come down out of heaven'?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No
man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I
will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And
they shall all be taught of God.' Every one that hath heard from the
Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen
the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. I am the
bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they
died. This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man
may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down
out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever:
yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the
world."

The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, "How can this man
give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus therefore said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have
not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood
hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my
flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my
flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. As the living
Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth
me, he also shall live because of me. This is the bread which came
down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth
this bread shall live for ever."

These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is
a hard saying; who can hear it?"

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said
unto them, "Doth this cause you to stumble? What then if ye should
behold the Son of man ascending where he was before? It is the spirit
that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have
spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you
that believe not."

For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and
who it was that should betray him. And he said, "For this cause have I
said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto
him of the Father."

Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with
him. Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, "Would ye also go away?"

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life. And we have believed and know that thou art the
Holy One of God."

Jesus answered them, "Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you
is a devil?"

Now he spake of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that
should betray him, being one of the twelve.


REJECTION OF THE TRADITION OF THE ELDERS.

And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of
the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of
his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.
(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands
diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders; and when
they come from the market-place, except they bathe themselves, they
eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to
hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.) And the
Pharisees and the scribes ask him, "Why walk not thy disciples
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with
defiled hands?"

And he said unto them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as
it is written,

'This people honoreth me with their lips,
But their heart is far from me.
But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.'

"Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men."

And he said unto them, "Full well do ye reject the commandment of God,
that ye may keep your tradition. For Moses said, 'Honor thy father and
thy mother;' and, 'He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him
die the death;' but ye say, 'If a man shall say to his father or his
mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is
Corban,' that is to say, Given to God; ye no longer suffer him to do
aught for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by
your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye
do."

And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, "Hear me
all of you, and understand: there is nothing from without the man,
that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out
of the man are those that defile the man."

Then came the disciples, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"

But he answered and said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father
planted not, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind
guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit."

And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his
disciples asked of him the parable.

And he saith unto them, "Are ye also even yet without understanding?
Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it
cannot defile him; because it goeth not into his heart, but into his
belly, and goeth out into the draught?"

This he said, making all meats clean. And he said, "That which
proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out
of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts,
murders, adulteries, covetings, wickedness, deceit, false witness,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these
evil things proceed from within, and defile the man; but to eat with
unwashen hands defileth not the man."


THE PLOT OF THE PHARISEES.

And it came to pass on a sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue
and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was
withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he
would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.

But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand
withered, "Rise up, and stand forth in the midst."

And he arose and stood forth. And Jesus said unto them, "I ask you, Is
it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life or
to destroy it? What man shall there be of you, that shall have one
sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay
hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man of more value than
a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day."

But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them
with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith
unto the man, "Stretch forth thy hand."

And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored whole, as the
other.

But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what
they might do to Jesus.

And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took
counsel against him, how they might destroy him.




=HIS WITHDRAWAL WITH THE TWELVE=

* * * * *

THE MINISTRY BEYOND GALILEE


THE PHOENICIAN RETIREMENT AND THE GENTILE CURE.

And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and
Sidon.

And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it; and he
could not be hid. But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had
an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his
feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race.

And she cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David;
my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon."

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, "Send her away, for she crieth after us."

But he answered and said, "I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of
the house of Israel."

But she came and worshipped him, saying, "Lord help me."

And he said unto her, "Let the children first be filled: for it is not
meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs."

But she answered and saith unto him, "Yea, Lord; even the dogs under
the table eat of the children's crumbs."

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith:
be it done unto thee as thou wilt. Go thy way; the demon is gone out
of thy daughter."

And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the
bed, and the demon gone out.


MIRACLES AND MULTITUDES AGAIN.

And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon
unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of
Decapolis.

And he went up into the mountain, and sat there. And there came unto
him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed,
and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed
them; insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb
speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind
seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in
his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him. And he took
him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his
ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven,
he sighed, and saith unto him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and
he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man; but
the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published
it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, "He hath done all
things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."


THE FOUR THOUSAND FED.

In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had
nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto
them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with
me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and if I send them away
fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them
are come from far."

And his disciples answered him, "Whence shall one be able to fill
these men with bread here in a desert place?"

And he asked them, "How many loaves have ye?"

And they said, "Seven."

And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took
the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his
disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded
to set these also before them. And they ate and were filled: and they
took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets. And they
were about four thousand men, besides women and children.

And he sent away the multitudes, and entered into the boat, and came
into the borders of Magadan.


THE PHARISEES AND SADUCCEES DEMAND A SIGN.

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came forth, and began to question with
him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.

But he answered and said unto them, "When it is evening, ye say, 'It
will be fair weather,' for the heaven is red. And in the morning, 'It
will be foul weather to-day,' for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye
know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the
signs of the times."

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith. "Why doth this
generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be
given unto this generation."

And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the
other side.

And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them
more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of
the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

And they reasoned one with another, saying, "We have no bread."

And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, "O ye of little faith, why
reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet
perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened? Having
eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not
remember? When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how
many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up?"

They say unto him, "Twelve."

"And when the seven among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of
broken pieces took ye up?"

And they say unto him, "Seven."

And he said unto them, "How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake
not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and Sadducees."

Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of
bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


THE BLIND MAN HEALED.

And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and
beseech him to touch him. And he took hold of the blind man by the
hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his
eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Seest thou aught?"

And he looked up, and said, "I see men; for I behold them as trees,
walking."

Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly,
and was restored, and saw all things clearly. And he sent him away to
his home, saying, "Do not even enter into the village."




JESUS THE MESSIAH


PETER'S CONFESSION.

And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea
Philippi.

And it came to pass, as he was praying apart, the disciples were with
him: and he asked them, saying, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

And they answering, said, "Some say John the Baptist; some Elijah; and
others, Jeremiah; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen
again."

And he said unto them, "But who say ye that I am?"

And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living God."

And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon
Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of
Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven."

Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was
the Christ.


THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION FORETOLD.

From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go
unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things and be rejected by the elders,
and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three
days rise again. And he spake the saying openly.

And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Be it far from
thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee."

But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and
saith, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me:
for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men."

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