The Bible Story Part 231

And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through b.l.o.o.d.y seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to G.o.d?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord; I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy word.

Thy saints, in all this glorious war, Shall conquer, though they die; They view the triumph from afar, And seize it with their eye.

When that ill.u.s.trious day shall rise, And all Thine armies s.h.i.+ne In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine.

--_Isaac Watts_.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

NAZARETH.

The village of Nazareth itself lies in a basin, but from the hills all about it the most extended view can be obtained. The scenes of many of the most thrilling episodes in the history of Israel are in sight. In Jesus' time it was near the great caravan roads, and the center of a busy civilization.

"It was not as a rustic preaching to rustics that our Lord went about. He went forth in a part of the Roman empire full of Roman civilization, busy and populous."--_Walter Besant_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of Many People.

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PERSONS OF THE STORY.

_The LORD JESUS_.

_John the Baptist_.

_The Disciples of Jesus_.

_Mary, the Mother of Jesus_.

_Nicodemus, a great teacher at Jerusalem_.

_A woman of Samaria_.

_A king's officer_.

_The Evil One_.

_Pharisees, Sadducees_.

_Soldiers, a wedding party, money changers, priests, Samaritans_.

PLACES OF THE STORY.

_The Jordan River. The Wilderness_.

_Cana in Galilee. Jerusalem. Samaria_.

_Galilee_.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE LOWER FORDS OF THE JORDAN.

Photograph taken by Mrs. Frank L. Goodspeed of Springfield, Ma.s.s., and used by her kind permission.

This fine picture shows the traditional place of the baptism of Jesus. The river has been at flood, as often happens in its impetuous torrent, and quant.i.ties of driftwood are shown along its banks.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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I

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

_How John Preached to the People, and How the Lord Jesus Was Baptized by Him in the River Jordan_.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,--

'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.'"

Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out unto him the people of Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, "Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham to our father': for I say unto you, that G.o.d is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

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"And even now is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he who cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his thres.h.i.+ng-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."

And the mult.i.tudes asked him, saying, "What then must we do?"

And he answered and said unto them, "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise."

And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, "Master, what must we do?"

And he said unto them, "Extort no more than that which is appointed you."

And soldiers also asked him, saying, "And we, what must we do?"

And he said unto them, "Do violence to no man, neither take anything wrongfully; and be content with your wages."

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?"

But Jesus answering said unto him, "Permit it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

JESUS TAKING LEAVE OF HIS MOTHER.

By Bernard Plockhorst