Book: His Life

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




And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto
them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life
shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the
gospel's shall save it. For what doth it profit a man to gain the
whole world, and forfeit his life? For what should a man give in
exchange for his life? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also
shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in his own glory, and the
glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a
truth, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise
taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."


THE TRANSFIGURATION.

And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took
with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to
pray. And as he was praying he was transfigured before them; and his
face did shine as the sun, and his garments became glistering, white
as the light, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah;
who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to
accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep; but when
they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood
with him. And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter
said unto Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us
make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for
Elijah:" not knowing what he said.

While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:
and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

And behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were
sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and be
not afraid."

And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus
only with themselves.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that
they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son
of man should have risen again from the dead.

And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising
again from the dead should mean. And they asked him, saying, "How is
it that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?"

And he said unto them, "Elijah indeed cometh first, and restoreth all
things: and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should
suffer many things and be set at nought? But I say unto you, that
Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would
even as it is written of them."

Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the
Baptist.


THE EPILEPTIC BOY.

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about
them, and scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the
multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him
saluted him. And he asked them, "What question ye with them?"

And one of the multitude came to him kneeling, and saying, "Teacher, I
beseech thee to look upon my son: for he is mine only child: and
behold, he hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever it taketh him, it
dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth
away: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he
falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. And I brought him
to thy disciples, and they could not cure him."

And Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how
long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? Bring hither
thy son."

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the
spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed
foaming.

And he asked his father, "How long time is it since this hath come
unto him?"

And he said, "From a child. And oft-times it hath cast him both into
the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do
anything, have compassion on us, and help us."

And Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst! All things are possible to
him that believeth."

Straightway the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe;
help thou mine unbelief."

And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked
the unclean spirit, saying unto him, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I
command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."

And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy
became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, "He is dead."

But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose, and
Jesus gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the
majesty of God.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him
privately, "How is it that we could not cast it out?"

And he said unto them, "This kind can come out by nothing, save by
prayer. Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place,'
and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."




THE TRAINING OF THE TWELVE


THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION AGAIN FORETOLD.

And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he
would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples,
and said unto them, "Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son
of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall
kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise
again."

But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.


THE GREATEST DISCIPLE.

And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked
them, "What were ye reasoning on the way?"

But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on
the way, who was the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he said unto them, "If any
man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."

And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and
taking him in his arms, he said unto them, "Verily I say unto you,
Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise
enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name
receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him
that sent me."

John said unto him, "Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy
name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us."

But Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a
mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For
he that is not against us is for us. For whosoever shall give you a
cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you,
he shall in no wise lose his reward. But whoso shall cause one of
these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for
him that a great mill-stone should be hanged about his neck, and that
he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

"Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must
needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the
occasion cometh! And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble,
cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into
life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be
cast into the eternal fire. And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into
life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the
hell of fire, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not
quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire. Salt is good; but
if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have
salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.

"See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you,
that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who
is in heaven. How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one
of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go
unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray? And if so be
that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than
over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is
not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little
ones should perish.


FORGIVENESS.

"And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But
if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth
of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he
refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear
the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you
shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. For where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I, in the midst of
them."

Then came Peter and said to him, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?"

Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but,
Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened
unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. And
when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him
ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay,
his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all
that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down
and worshipped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will
pay thee all.' And the lord of that servant, being moved with
compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant
went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred
shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat,
saying, 'Pay what thou owest.' So his fellow-servant fell down and
besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.'
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should
pay that which was due. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done,
they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that
was done. Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, 'Thou
wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest
me: shouldst not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even
as I had mercy on thee?' And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to
the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. So shall also my
heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother
from your hearts."


THE SHEKEL FOR THE TEMPLE.

And they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said "Doth
not your teacher pay the half-shekel?"

He saith, "Yea."

And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying,
"What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they
receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?"

And when he said, "From strangers," Jesus said unto him, "Therefore,
the sons are free. But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the
sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and
when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take,
and give unto them for me and thee."




=HIS FACE TOWARD JERUSALEM=

* * * * *

THE FINAL DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE


THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand. His
brethren therefore said unto him, "Depart hence, and go into Judaea,
that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest. For no
man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly.
If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world." For even
his brethren did not believe on him.

Jesus therefore saith unto them, "My time is not yet come; but your
time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth,
because I testify of it, that its works are evil. Go ye up unto the
feast; I go not up yet unto this feast; because my time is not yet
fulfilled." And having said these things unto them, he abode still in
Galilee.

And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should
be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and
sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a
village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not
receive him, because his face was as though he were going to
Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said,
"Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and
consume them?"

But he turned, and rebuked them. And they went to another village.


THE GRATEFUL SAMARITAN LEPER.

And it came to pass, as they were on the way to Jerusalem, that he was
passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered
into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who
stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus,
Master, have mercy on us."

And when he saw them, he said unto them, "Go and show yourselves unto
the priests."

And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of
them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice
glorifying God; and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him
thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, "Were not the ten cleansed? but where are
the nine? Were there none found that returned to give glory to God,
save this stranger?"

And he said unto him, "Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee
whole."


NEW DISCIPLES.

And as they went on the way, a certain scribe said unto him, "I will
follow thee whithersoever thou goest."

And Jesus said unto him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the
heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."

And he said unto another, "Follow me."

But he said, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."

But he said unto him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go
thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God."

And another also said, "I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me
to bid farewell to them that are at my house."

But Jesus said unto him, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."




IN JERUSALEM--THE ATTEMPT TO STONE HIM


JESUS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.

Then went he up unto the feast, not publicly, but as it were in
secret. The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where
is he?" And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning
him: some said, "He is a good man;" others said, "Not so, but he
leadeth the multitude astray." Yet no man spake openly of him for fear
of the Jews.

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the
temple, and taught. The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, "How knoweth
this man letters, having never learned?"

Jesus therefore answered them, and said, "My teaching is not mine, but
his that sent me. If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of
the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. He
that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh
the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no
unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet
none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?"

The multitude answered, "Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "I did one work, and ye all marvel
because thereof. Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of
Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man. If
a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may
not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit
whole on the sabbath? Judge not according to appearance, but judge
righteous judgment."

Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, "Is not this he whom they
seek to kill? And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto
him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?
Howbeit we know this man whence he is; but when the Christ cometh, no
one knoweth whence he is."

Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, "Ye both
know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he
that sent me is true, whom ye know not. I know him: because I am from
him, and he sent me."

They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him,
because his hour was not yet come. But of the multitude many believed
on him; and they said, "When the Christ shall come, will he do more
signs than those which this man hath done?"

The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning
him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take
him.

Jesus therefore said, "Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto
him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I
am, ye can not come."

The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Whither will this man go
that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the
Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What is this word that he said, 'Ye
shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot
come'?"

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him
shall flow rivers of living water."

But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were
to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not
yet glorified.

Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said,
"This is of a truth the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ."
But some said, "What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not
the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and
from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. And some of
them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and
they said unto them, "Why did ye not bring him?"

The officers answered, "Never man so spake."

The Pharisees therefore answered them, "Are ye also led astray? Hath
any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees? But this
multitude that knoweth not the law are accursed."

Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of
them), "Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself
and know what he doeth?"

They answered and said unto him, "Art thou also of Galilee? Search,
and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet."


JESUS AND THE ACCUSED WOMAN.

And they went every man unto his own house: but Jesus went unto the
mount of Olives.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the
people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the
scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having
set her in the midst, they say unto him, "Teacher, this woman hath
been taken in adultery, in the very act. Now in the law Moses
commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?" And this
they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him.

But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. But
when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto
them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at
her."

And again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the
eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman,
where she was, in the midst. And Jesus lifted up himself, and said
unto her, "Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?"

And she said, "No man, Lord."

And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from
henceforth sin no more."


THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, "I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall
have the light of life."

The Pharisees therefore said unto him, "Thou bearest witness of
thyself; thy witness is not true."

Jesus answered and said unto them, "Even if I bear witness of myself,
my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye
know not whence I come, or whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I
judge no man. Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not
alone, but I and the Father that sent me. Yea and in your law it is
written, that the witness of two men is true. I am he that beareth
witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

They said therefore unto him, "Where is thy Father?"

Jesus answered, "Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye
would know my Father also."

These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and
no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.

He said therefore again unto them, "I go away, and ye shall seek me,
and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come."

The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he saith,
'Whither I go, ye cannot come?'"

And he said unto them, "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are
of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that
ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye
shall die in your sins."

They said therefore unto him, "Who art thou?"

Jesus said unto them, "Even that which I have also spoken unto you
from the beginning I have many things to speak and to judge concerning
you; howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard
from him, these speak I unto the world."

They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.

Jesus therefore said, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then
shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as
the Father taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is
with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that
are pleasing to him."

As he spake these things, many believed on him.


THE FREEDOM OF THE SOUL.

Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, "If ye abide
in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free."

They answered unto him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet
been in bondage to any man; how sayest thou, 'Ye shall be made free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that
committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth
not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. If therefore the
Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are
Abraham's seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free
course in you. I speak the things which I have seen with my Father:
and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father."

They answered and said unto him, "Our father is Abraham."

Jesus saith unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the
works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you
the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the
works of your father."

They said unto him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one
Father, even God."

Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for
I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself,
but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye
cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth
in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father thereof. But because I say the truth, ye believe
me not. Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye
not believe me? He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this
cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God."

The Jews answered and said unto him, "Say we not well that thou art a
Samaritan, and hast a demon?"

Jesus answered, "I have not a demon: but I honor my Father, and ye
dishonor me. But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh
and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he
shall never see death."

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