The Story of Jesus The Christ

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

33

temple. Then, too, money had to be changed; for nothing but

Jewish money would be taken at the temple, and people from

different parts of the world had to bring the kinds of money that

were used where they lived.

If these things were true, what was there wrong about it?

Why was Jesus displeased? It was not because the things were

done, but because they were done in the wrong place; for the

temple, was built to worship God in, not for a place of business.

There was plenty of room outside of the temple, and if they had

cared about God’s house, and keeping it sacred, as God had told

them, they would not have wanted to do their selling there.

The priests should not have allowed such things to be done; but

probably they got a share of the money that was taken, and so

they were willing.

These priests were astonished and angry at what was done.

They might lose some money if the buying and selling in the

temple was stopped. They had another reason, too: they were

the rulers of the people, and they did not like to have this

stranger come and take the control they thought belonged to

them. So they asked Jesus to give them a sign that he had the

right to do such things. He answered them in a way that no one

understood then; but years afterward the disciples remembered

the answer he gave, and then they knew what he had meant.

Jesus stayed in Jerusalem through the Passover week. The

Bible says that many people believed that he was the Christ

when they saw the miracles that he did, but it does not tell us

what these miracles were. One of these men was a very promi¬

nent man among the Jews, named Nicodemus. This man wanted

to learn more from this wonderful teacher, but he was afraid to

have his friends know that he did so. So he waited till one

night after dark. Then, when no one could see what he was

doing, he came to the place where Jesus was staying.

34

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Jesus was always willing to teach those who wanted to learn

from him, and now he was glad to tell Nicodemus about the new

life that every one

must live who wants to

please God and make

the best of himself. He

said that because men

did not know the best

way to live, God sent

his Son into the world

to teach them; and

whoever believes on

him and obeys his

teachings has this life

that goes on forever

and ever. He told him

that the coming of the

Son of God, like the

sunshine, brought light

into the world, showing

people what was good

Jesus and Nicodemus and what was bad. But

as people who have

been doing wrong do not like to have the light show what they

have been doing, but want to hide away in the dark, so these

people would like their own wicked ways and thoughts better

than those he had come to bring.

After the Passover was over, Jesus and his disciples left

Jerusalem and travelled through Judea, until they came to the

place where John the Baptist was still preaching and baptizing.

Jesus, too, began to preach. At first only a few people listened

to him; soon more and more became interested in hearing him

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

35

talk. Before long the crowds who had been so fond of hearing

John, left him to follow this new Rabbi, or teacher. He did not

baptize any of them, but his disciples baptized more than John

did. The friends of John did not like to have the crowds leave

their master to follow this new teacher; they went to John, find¬

ing fault with Jesus and with the people. But John said: «It

is just as it should be. I am not the Christ. My work is almost

done, but his will be greater and greater. You must take him

for your master, and believe what he tells you. He is the Son

of God.»

Some of the Jewish teachers, too, were envious because he

was winning so many friends. They did not like John very well,

but they liked Jesus even less. This was because the people who

had trusted them and come to them to be taught were leaving

them to listen to these two men. Jesus knew that they did not

feel kindly toward him, and he thought it best for him to leave

Judea for a while and to go into Galilee.

THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK IN GALILEE

The shortest road between Judea and Galilee lay through the

province of Samaria. Few Jews ever took that way, for there

had been a quarrel between the Jews and Samaritans hundreds

of years before this time, and they had never become friends

again. They hated each other so much that the Jews were

unwilling to have anything to do with them, and would much

rather take a longer journey than to go through their country.

And the few Jews who did go there were not always treated very

well by the Samaritans.

After they decided to go to Galilee Jesus and the five disciples

who were still with him left Judea early in the morning; for the

days were so hot that they wanted to travel as far as they could

before the sun was high. They took the shortest way, the one

36

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

through Samaria. At noontime they came to a well, and Jesus,

who was hungry, thirsty, and tired, sat down by the well to rest,

while his disciples went into the city to buy food. The well was

one which Jacob had built when he lived there hundreds of years

before, and it was still in use. It was wide and deep, and held

water enough for all the people and their flocks.

As Jesus sat there, weary and alone, a woman of Samaria

came to this well to get some water. Jesus spoke to her and

asked, “ Will you give

me a drink? ” It was

a little favor to ask,

was it not? Yet the

woman was so sur¬

prised to have a Jew

speak to her that she

said: “ How does it

happen that you, who

are a Jew, are asking

a drink from me, a

woman of Samaria?»

This gave Jesus

the chance he wanted,

and he told her about

the Living Water,

which was the spirit

of love and kindness

which he had himself,

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman and which lie WOllld

give to all who would

ask him for it. The woman asked him to give her some of this

water; but she did not know what he meant by it. She thought

that if she could have some of it she would never need to go to

TIIE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

37

the well again. Jesus did not explain to her what he meant; he

began to talk to her about the wicked life she was leading; for

she was not a good woman. She was very much surprised that

he should know all about her when he had never seen her before,

and she was sure he was a prophet. So she asked him one of

the questions about which Jews and Samaritans had often quar¬

relled, whether people ought to worship in Jerusalem or in a tem¬

ple they had built in Samaria. But Jesus told her that neither

was necessary; that if people prayed to God in their hearts they

would be heard wherever they were. She was not satisfied, and

said that when the Christ came he would tell them what was

right. Jesus said, “ I, who am speaking to you, am he.»

The woman was so anxious to tell her friends that the Christ

had come that she forgot her water and went right into the city.

On the way she met some of her friends, and said to them: u Come

and see a man who told me all things that ever I did. Is not

this the Christ?»

The disciples had come back while Jesus was talking to the

woman, and had been very much surprised; but they said noth¬

ing about it. They had learned that their Master had some good

reason for everything he did, although they could not understand

it. After she had gone they begged him to eat of the food they

had brought him. But he was no longer hungry. The chance

to help somebody to be better was more to him than food, or

anything else. It was this that made him so lovable.

Very soon the Samaritans came to see him, and were so

pleased with him that they asked him to stay with them, instead

of going to Galilee. He was always glad to stay where he could

do good, so he went with them and stayed there two days. In

that time many of the people believed from listening themselves

to his teaching that he was the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

At the end of these two days Jesus and his disciples started

38

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

again on their journey. They were together, however, only a

short time. The disciples went back to their homes, and Jesus

travelled alone through the towns of Galilee.

While Jesus had been doing these things John the Baptist had

been getting into trouble. John was a preacher who spoke to

any one whom he saw doing wrong, whoever he was, and wherever

he was. One day he told King Herod that he was leading a sin¬

ful life, and that both

he and his wife were

wicked people. This

was true, but they did

not like to hear John

say it. They were so

angry that they would

have killed John if

they had dared. But

the Baptist had so

many friends that

thought he was a great

prophet that Herod

was afraid to do this.

So instead of killing

him he took him and

put him in prison.

Jesus, you remem¬

ber, was travelling in

John the Baptist in Prison Galilee. The people

there were glad to

have him with them once more. Many of them had seen what

he had done at the feast at Jerusalem, and others had heard so

much about this preacher who talked so well and did so many

miracles that they wanted to know him.

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

39

In the course of liis journey he came to Cana where he had

made the water into wine. While there, one day at noon, a

nobleman came to him

in great haste. He had

come twenty miles, from

Capernaum, on purpose

to see Jesus and ask

him a great favor. He

had a son at home who

was very, very ill; it

seemed as if he must

die. But the father

had known of the mir¬

acles of Jesus, and be¬

lieved that he could

make his child well.

So when he heard

that Jesus was in Cana

he went to him as

quickly as he could, and

begged him to go to

Capernaum and heal

the boy. Jesus said to him, “ Unless you see wonders you will

not believe.» But the father only thought of his sick boy, and

said, “ Sir, come down before my child dies.» The Saviour

looked at the father who seemed to trust him so, and said, “ Go

home, your son will live.» Did the man believe that Jesus had

the power to cure a sick boy twenty miles away, without any

medicine? Yes, he believed, and went home, sure that he would

find him well.

When be was almost home he met his servants coming to tell

him that his boy was well. He asked them when he began to get

The Appeal of the Nobleman

40

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

better, and they told him it was at one o’clock, just the time when

Jesus had said, «Your son will live.» So the nobleman and all

his family believed that Jesus was the Christ, and became hi?

friends.

Though the Jews had only one temple they had in every town

places where they met to worship when they did not want to offer

sacrifices. These were called synagogues. They had only one

room. The men sat on one side of the room and the women on

the other behind a screen. There was a raised seat for the

preacher and ten «chief seats» where the leading Jews sat.

The service was much like ours. There were prayers and

hymns, and a passage was read from the Scripture, or that part

of our Bible which we call the Old Testament. The most of what

our New Testament tells had not yet happened. Any one could

read this lesson, and could explain it afterward, if he had permis¬

sion from the ruler of the synagogue, who was the man who had

the charge of the service. It was the custom for the reader to

stand while he read the lesson, and to sit down in front of the

people when he began to talk. The hymns they sang were not

like ours, and they had no hymn books. What they usually sang

were the Psalms, which we can read in our own Bibles. One

man, standing in front of the others, led the singing, sometimes

singing alone, while the people joined in the chorus.

Soon after healing the nobleman’s son Jesus spent a Sabbath

day at his old home, Nazareth. As his custom always was, he

went to the synagogue, to read the lesson and talk to the people.

They handed him the book from which the lesson was to be read,

and he found one of the places where the prophet Tsaiah tells

about the Christ that was to come, and what he was to do to help*

the people. You can find just what Jesus read to them that day

if you look in your Bibles at the first two verses of the sixty-first

chapter of Isaiah.

T1IE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

41

After reading a few words he handed the book to the man

who took care of it, and began to talk to the people. He told

them that these words that he had just read were even then com¬

ing true; that he was doing just the things that Isaiah said the

Christ would do.

For a little while they were glad to listen to him, for he spoke

very gently and lovingly. But soon they began to ask one

another: “ Is this not

the son of Joseph the

carpenter? We know

his father and mother,

and we know him.

He is no better than

we are. What does

he mean by saying

that he is the Christ?

How can he do all

these things?» They

wanted him to do some

miracle to prove that

he was the Christ.

When they saw he

would do no miracle,

but only wanted to

talk to them, they

grew more and more

angry, till at last they Jesus rejected at Nazareth

were too angry to

listen any longer. They rose, took hold of him, and led him out

of the room to a high hill, meaning to throw him down and kill

him. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went

away, very sad.

42

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Jesus went from Nazareth to Capernaum, and there the people

made him very welcome. As soon as they heard of his being in

the city they crowded around him to hear him talk. One morn¬

ing as the people were pressing close about him lie stood by the

Sea of Galilee. There

were two fishing-boats

on the shore of the lake

belonging to his four

disciples. The fisher¬

men were not in their

boats but were near

by washing their nets.

Jesus stepped into one

of the boats, which be¬

longed to Peter and

Andrew, and asked

Peter to push out a

little from the land.

He could talk more

easily if the people

were not so close about

him. Peter did as he

was asked. Then Jesus

sat down and taught

Christ on the Shore of the Lake

the people.

When he had finished talking he said to Peter, «Now push

out into deep water and let down your net for a haul of fishes.»

Peter had seen enough of his Master to trust him, and obeyed at

once. But when they came to the deep water he said, “ Master,

we have been out all night, and have caught nothing. Yet, be¬

cause you have asked me to do so I will let down the net.» And

he let it down. When he began to pull it in it seemed heavy.

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

43

He looked; the net was so full of fishes that it had broken. He

and Andrew could not pull it in, and called to their friends in the

other boat to come and help them. John and James came at

once, and together the four men pulled in so many fishes that

both boats were full, and began to sink. How surprised they

were!

Peter, who had obeyed his Master because he loved him, but

who had not believed that they would catch any fish, fell down at

his Lord’s knees and

said, “ Depart from me,

for I am a sinful man,

0 Lord.» He said this,

not because he wanted

Jesus to leave him, but

because he did not feel

good enough to be the

friend of this wonderful

Christ.

Jesus knew what he

meant, and after they

had taken their boats

to land he asked Peter

and the other disciples

too, if they would not

like to go with him and

become fishers of men.

How could they be

that? By helping to Christ and the Fishermen

save men as their Mas¬

ter was doing; by throwing a net of love around them, which

would draw them away from wicked places and wicked com¬

panions; then by teaching them to love God and keep his com-

44

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

mandments. When Jesus asked if they would do this, they

gladly left their boats and nets and followed him. They stayed

with him all the time he was on earth, travelling through the

cities and villages with him, hearing him teach the people, and

learning many things from him in their long quiet talks. After

he left them they still

tried to teach the people

what they had learned

from him.

On the Sabbath day

they went together to

the synagogue at Ca¬

pernaum and Jesus

taught the lesson.

Most of the people of

this city loved to listen

to him; for he knew

how to explain what he

had read and made the

service very interest¬

ing.

This day an insane

man was in the syna¬

gogue. The Jews be¬

lieved that if a person

was insane it was be¬

cause a wicked spirit got into him which was stronger than he

was and so made him do these strange things. They thought

that if the evil spirit could be driven out the man would be like

other people.

The people were quietly listening to what Jesus was saying

w T hen all at once this insane man called out: “ Let us alone. What

The Cure of the Insane Man

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

45

have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to

destroy us? I know who you are; the Holy one of God.»

Every one else was very much frightened; but Jesus looked

at the man and said to the evil spirit, “ Be quiet, and come out

of him.» The man fell to the floor where he tossed about for a

few minutes. When he stood again he was like other people.

The evil spirit had gone forever. He was insane no more.

Every person in the synagogue was filled with wonder, and

one began asking another: “ What does this mean? Where does

this nian get his power? For he commands even the unclean

spirits and they obey him.» And in all the country round about

in Galilee people talked of what had happened here.

After the service was over Jesus and his four friends went to

Peter’s house, for they were all to take dinner there. Peter’s

wife’s mother lived with him, and when Jesus reached the house

he found her very sick with a fever. He went right into the

room where she lay. Her skin was dry and hot, and she was in

great pain. The Saviour stood over her, took her hand in his,

and lifted her up. At once the fever left her, and she was well;

so well that she was able to get up and wait on the visitors.

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

The Jewish Sabbath ended at sunset on the day we call Sat¬

urday, and hardly had the sun gone down this Sabbath afternoon

when men and women came in crowds to Peter’s door. They

had heard of what Jesus had done that day, and every one had

brought with him some sick friend whom he wanted the Saviour

to help. All sorts of peo] 3le came; men and women, old and

young, those who had been sick a little while, and those who had

been sick so long that they never expected to be any better.

There were also many with evil spirits, like the one who had

cried out in the synagogue that morning.

46

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Jesus was tired. Do you think he felt like seeing all these

needy people and doing something for every one of them? He

did not think of himself. He thought of their pain, and, laying

his hands on all the sick ones, he cured them and drove out all

the evil spirits.

Early the next morning, long before sunrise, he slipped quietly

away from the house and walked out into the country where he

could be alone with God

and pray. For Jesus, the

Son of God, felt that he

needed to ask his Father

for help and strength to

do his work. But he was

not alone long. Peter and

the other disciples came to

him, and said, “ The people

have come again this morn¬

ing for help and are look¬

ing for you.» Jesus an¬

swered: “ We must not stay

here any longer, for people

in other places need us.

Let us go to the next towns

that I ma}» preach there

also.»

By this time many of

the men and women who

Healing the Sick had followed the disciples

joined them and begged

Jesus not to leave Capernaum. But he could not do as they

wished. He said, u 1 must go and preach the Kingdom of God

to other cities, also, for that is my work.»

TIIE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

47

So lie left Capernaum and went through other towns of

Galilee, healing the sick and teaching in the synagogues.

While passing through one of these cities a man who was a

leper saw him and kneeled down before him. Now leprosy is

a very dreadful disease or

sickness that people in hot

countries sometimes have;

and one who takes the dis¬

ease almost never gets free

from it. He is called a

leper, and is not allowed

to touch anybody, for a

touch might give the dis¬

ease to the one who did not

have it. He must leave

his home and live with

other lepers, and if he sees

any one coming near him

he must call out so that

they will keep away. The

Jews always called out

«Unclean! Unclean!»

But this leper did not

cry “ Unclean.» He went

as near Jesus as he dared,

fell down before him and said, «Lord, if you are willing you can

make me well.» The Saviour felt sorry for the poor man; he

put out his hand and touched him and said, “ I am willing; you

shall be well.» As soon as he spoke the leprosy left the man;;

he was well.

Jesus said, “ Tell no man how you were cured, but go and

show yourself to the priest.»

The Great Physician

48

A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

The leper must do that to obey the law of the country, which

was somewhat like this: If a man who thought he had leprosy

found that it was a mistake and he did not have the disease, or

if one who was a leper had been cured of his trouble, he must

first go to the priest and prove that he was free from the disease.

Then he must go through a form of cleansing, and the priest must

offer sacrifices for him. After all this had been done he was

called clean and allowed to live with his family again. The

lepers went to the priests to be sure that they did not have the

disease, because the priests were the ones who were taught to

know the disease whenever they saw it; and they were the ones

who had a right to decide. There were no good doctors, except

among the priests, so the people always went to them for such

things as this, just as we go to some doctor.

Jesus told this man to obey the law by showing himself to the

priest, and being cleansed, but not to say anything about how he

was cured. But the man was so happy and grateful that he

could not keep still; he went out and told every one he met that

the Lord Jesus had cured him, and he was well.

The news spread fast. People from far and near came to see

the preacher who made more wonderful cures than any doctor

they had ever known. Jesus needed rest, and for a few days he

kept away from the crowded cities and spent the time in the

wilderness.

But in a very few days he was ready for work again, and went

to his friends in Capernaum. It did not take long for people to

find out that he was there again, and crowds came to hear him

from that city, and from all the towns in Galilee and Judea.

Scribes and Pharisees were often among his hearers. The

scribes were lawyers; they spent much time in studying the Jew¬

ish law, and taught the people what they must do to obey it.

They were the men who made the copies of the Scriptures. You