Book: His Life

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





THE NINETY AND NINE.

Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear
him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This
man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."

And he spake unto them this parable, saying, "What man of you, having
a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the
ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost,
until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his
friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, 'Rejoice with me, for I
have found my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that even so
there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than
over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.


THE LOST COIN.

"Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece,
doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until
she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth together her
friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece which I had lost.' Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."


THE PRODIGAL SON.

And he said, "A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said
to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of thy substance that
falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his living. And not many days
after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into
a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that
country; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to
one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields
to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks
that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. But when he came to
himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread
enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger! I will arise and
go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son:
make me as one of thy hired servants.' And he arose, and came to his
father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was
moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and
in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.' But the
father said to his servants, 'Bring forth quickly the best robe, and
put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and
bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found.' And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the
field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and
dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what
these things might be. And he said unto him, 'Thy brother is come; and
thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him
safe and sound.' But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father
came out, and entreated him. But he answered and said to his father,
'Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a
commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might
make merry with my friends; but when this thy son came, who hath
devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted
calf.' And he said unto him, 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that
is mine is thine. But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this
thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is
found.'"


THE UNJUST STEWARD.

And he said also unto the disciples, "There was a certain rich man,
who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was
wasting his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, 'What is this
that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou
canst be no longer steward' And the steward said within himself, 'What
shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I
have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to
do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me
into their houses.' And calling to him each one of his lord's debtors,
he said to the first, 'How much owest thou unto my lord?' And he said,
'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said unto him, 'Take thy bond, and
sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then said he to another, 'And how
much owest thou?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He saith
unto him, 'Take thy bond, and write fourscore.' And his lord commended
the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of
this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the
light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the
mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive
you into the eternal tabernacles. He that is faithful in a very little
is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little
is unrighteous also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in
the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will
give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold
to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


A PARABLE TO THE LOVERS OF MONEY.

And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things;
and they scoffed at him.

And he said unto them, "Ye are they that justify yourselves in the
sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted
among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and
fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named
Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed
with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the
dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar
died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom:
and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up
his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus
in his bosom. And he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on
me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,
and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham
said, 'Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good
things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is
comforted, and thou art in anguish. And besides all this, between us
and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from
hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence
to us.' And he said, 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren; that
he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of
torment.' But Abraham saith, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let
them hear them.' And he said, 'Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to
them from the dead, they will repent.' And he said unto him, 'If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if
one rise from the dead.'"


"INCREASE OUR FAITH."

And the apostles said unto the Lord, "Increase our faith."

And the Lord said. "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
would say unto this sycamine tree, 'Be thou rooted up, and be thou
planted in the sea'; and it would obey you. But who is there of you,
having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him,
when he is come in from the field. 'Come straightway and sit down to
meat'; and will not rather say unto him, 'Make ready wherewith I may
sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken;
and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?' Doth he thank the servant
because he did the things that were commanded? Even so ye also, when
ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are
unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to
do.'"




NEAR JERUSALEM--THE PLOT TO KILL HIM.


THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary
and her sister Martha. And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with
ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was
sick.

The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom
thou lovest is sick."

But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not unto death,
but for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified
thereby."

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When therefore he
heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place
where he was.

Then after this he saith to the disciples, "Let us go into Judaea
again."

The disciples say unto him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to
stone thee: and goest thou thither again?"

Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk
in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this
world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light
is not in him."

These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them. "Our friend
Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of
sleep."

The disciples therefore said unto him, "Lord, if he is fallen asleep,
he will recover."

Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of
taking rest in sleep.

Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I
am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may
believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his
fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days
already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and
many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them
concerning their brother.

Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met
him: but Mary still sat in the house. Martha therefore said unto
Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. And
even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give
thee."

Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again."

Martha saith unto him, "I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection at the last day."

Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever
liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

She saith unto him, "Yea, Lord. I have believed that thou art the
Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world."

And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister
secretly, saying, "The Teacher is here, and calleth thee."

And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him. (Now
Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place
where Martha met him.) The Jews then who were with her in the house,
and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly
and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb
to weep there.

Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down
at his feet, saying unto him. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died."

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who
came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said,
"Where have ye laid him?"

They say unto him, "Lord, come and see."

Jesus wept.

The Jews therefore said, "Behold how he loved him!" But some of them
said, "Could not this man, who has opened the eyes of him that was
blind, have caused that this man also should not die?"

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it
was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus saith, "Take ye away the
stone."

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, "Lord, by
this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days."

Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst,
thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said,
"Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou
hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I
said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me."

And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus,
come forth."

He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes;
and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them,
"Loose him, and let him go."

Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he
did, believed on him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and
told them the things which Jesus had done.


THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL.

The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and
said, "What do we? for this man doeth many signs. If we let him thus
alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take
away both our place and our nation."

But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said
unto them, "Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye take account that it is
expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the
whole nation perish not."

Now this he said not of himself: but being high priest that year, he
prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; and not for the
nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the
children of God that are scattered abroad.

So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to
death.




HIS WITHDRAWAL TO EPHRAIM


THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed
thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called
Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.

And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he
answered them and said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation: neither shall they say, 'Lo, here!' or, 'There!' for lo,
the kingdom of God is within you."

And he said unto the disciples, "The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see
it. And they shall say to you, 'Lo, there!' 'Lo, here!' go not away,
nor follow after them; for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of
the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under
heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day. But first must he
suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.

"And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also
in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, they married,
they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it
came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought,
they sold, they planted, they builded; but in the day that Lot went
out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed
them all: after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of
man is revealed. In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and
his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away; and let
him that is in the field likewise not return back. Remember Lot's
wife. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it; but
whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it."


THE UNJUST JUDGE.

And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to
pray, and not to faint; saying, "There was in a city a judge, who
feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that
city: and she came oft unto him, saying, 'Avenge me of mine
adversary.' And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within
himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this
widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her
continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous
judge saith. And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day
and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say unto you, that
he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man
cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"


THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.

And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: "Two men went
up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a
publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I
thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give
tithes of all that I get.' But the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast,
saying, 'God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.' I say unto you, This
man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every
one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted."


CONCERNING DIVORCE.

And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, "Is it
lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"

And he answered and said, "Have ye not read, that he who made them
from the beginning made them, male and female, and said, 'For this
cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' So that they are no more
two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not
man put asunder."

They say unto him, "Why then did Moses command to give a bill of
divorcement, and to put her away?"

He saith unto them, "Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to
put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. And I
say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for
fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that
marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery."

The disciples say unto him, "If the case of the man is so with his
wife, it is not expedient to marry."

But he said unto them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but they
to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, that were so born from
their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by
men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the
kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him
receive it."


JESUS AND THE CHILDREN.

And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch
them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was
moved with indignation, and said unto them, "Suffer the little
children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the
kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the
kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein."

And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon
them.


THE RICH YOUNG RULER.

And behold, as he was going forth into the way, a certain ruler ran to
him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what good thing
shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

And he said unto him, "Why askest thou me concerning that which is
good? None is good, save one, even God: but if thou wouldest enter
into life, keep the commandments."

He saith unto him, "Which?"

And Jesus said, "Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy
father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

The young ruler saith unto him, "All these things have I observed from
my youth up; what lack I yet?"

And Jesus, looking upon him, loved him, and said unto him, "One thing
thou lackest yet: if thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come, follow me."

But when the young man heard the saying, his countenance fell, and he
went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.

And Jesus said unto his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, It is hard
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." And the disciples
were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again and said unto them,
"Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into
the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's
eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly,
saying, "Who then can be saved?"

And Jesus looking upon them said to them, "With men this is
impossible: but with God all things are possible."

Then answered Peter and said unto him, "Lo, we have left all, and
followed thee; what then shall we have?"

And Jesus said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that ye who have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the
throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left houses, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for
my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses,
and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with
persecutions, and in the world to come shall inherit eternal life. But
many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.


THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder,
who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he
sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and
saw others standing in the market-place idle; and to them he said, 'Go
ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.'
And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and the
ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out,
and found others standing; and he saith unto them, 'Why stand ye here
all the day idle?' They say unto him, 'Because no man hath hired us.'
He saith unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard.' And when even was
come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, 'Call the
laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the
first.' And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour,
they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they
supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received
every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against
the householder, saying, 'These last have spent but one hour, and thou
hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and
the scorching heat.' But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend,
I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take
up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto
this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I
will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?' So the
last shall be first, and the first last."




THE LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM


THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going
before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid.
And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that
were to happen unto him, saying, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and
all the things that are written by the prophets shall be accomplished
unto the Son of man; and he shall be delivered unto the chief priests
and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall
deliver him unto the Gentiles: and they shall mock him, and shall spit
upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three
days he shall rise again."

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from
them: and they perceived not the things that were said.


THE SONS OF THUNDER.

Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons James
and John, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.

And he said unto her, "What wouldest thou?"

She saith unto him, "Command that these my two sons may sit, one on
thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom."

But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to
drink the cup that I am about to drink? or to be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with?"

And they said unto him, "We are able."

And Jesus said unto them, "The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and
with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: but
to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give; but it
is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father."

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