mmm bethlehbm mmm -R-MILLER / THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST ILLUSTRATED BY MODERN PAINTERS / BETHLEHEM TO OLIVET ?getf)lei)em to ©libet BY J. R. MILLER, D.D. Author of " Making the Most of Life," " Silent Times," etc. THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST ILLUSTRATED BY MODERN PAINTERS NEW YORK THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO. PUBLISHERS ..y^ CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAOB THE GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY ... i CHAPTER II THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST ... 7 CHAPTER III THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD ... 13 CHAPTER IV THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD ... 19 CHAPTER V THE HOLY CHILDHOOD .... 25 CHAPTER VI THE YOUTH OF JESUS CHRIST . . • 3X V CONTENTS CHAPTER VII PAGE THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS ... 37 CHAPTER VIII "NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH " . . -43 CHAPTER IX "LORD, SAVE ME" 49 CHAPTER X THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND . . . .55 CHAPTER XI THE TEACHER BY THE SEA . . . 6i CHAPTER XII CHRIST AT THE DOOR 67 CHAPTER XIII THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD ... 73 CHAPTER XIV THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST . . -79 vi CONTENTS CHAPTER XV UNREQUITED LOVE . . . • • 85 I'AGE CHAPTER XVI THE COMING OF THE KING • Qi CHAPTER XVII REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST . . • • 97 CHAPTER XVIII THE LESSON OF SERVICE . • .103 CHAPTER XIX THE REFUGE IN SORROW . . . • »09 CHAPTER XX •'COULD YE NOT WATCH ONE HOUR?" • "5 CHAPTER XXI WHY DID PETER FAIL? ..••"! CHAPTER XXII "WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?" • "7 vii CONTENTS CHAPTER XXIII PAGE "BEHOLD THE MAN" 133 CHAPTER XXIV THE GREAT MYSTERY OF LOVE . .139 CHAPTER XXV LAST AT THE CROSS, FIRST AT THE GRAVE 145 CHAPTER XXVI THE WOMEN FRIENDS OF JESUS . . .151 CHAPTER XXVII THE WALK TO EMMAUS .... 157 CHAPTER XXVIII THE PATHOS OF DIVINE LOVE . .163 CHAPTER XXIX THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM ... 169 CHAPTER XXX THE PARTING BLESSING . . . .175 viii ILLUSTRATIONS THE ARRIVAL OF THE SHEPHERDS. By Henry LerolU. ConUmporary French School. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. By Sir Edward Bume-Jones, Bart., British School. MARY AND THE CHILD JESUS. By P. A. J. Dagnan-Bouveret, Contemporary French School. THE REPOSE IN EGYPT. By Luc Olivier Alerson, Contemporary French School JESUS CHRIST AS A CHILD. By Jef Leempocls, Contemporary Flemish School. THE CHILD CHRIST. By P. A. J. Dagnan-Bouveret, Contemporary French Scliool. THE SHADOW OF DEATH. By W. Holman Hunt, O.U., Contemporary British School. ix ILLUSTRATIONS THE RAISING OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER. By G. P. Jacomb-Hood, Contemporary British School. CHRIST AND PETER ON THE LAKE OF GALILEE. By Frederick J. Shields, Contemporary British Scliool. " SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME." By Mile. OttiUe Roederstein, Contemporary Swiss School. CHRIST PREACHING BY THE LAKE. By F. von Uhde, Contemporary German Scltool. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. By W. Holman Hunt, O.M., Contemporary British School. THE GOOD SHEPHERD. By Frederick J. Shields, Contemporary British ScJwol. "COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN." By Anton Dietrich, Contemporary German School. CHRIST WEEPS OVER THE CITY. By Paul Hippolyte Flandrin, Contemporary French School. CHRIST ENTERS JERUSALEM. By yean Leon Gerome, Contemporary French School. X ILLUSTRATIONS THE LAST SUPPER, By'iEduard ivn Gebhardt, Contemporary German School. CHRIST WASHING PETER'S FEET. By Ford Uadox Brown, British School. CHRIST AT GETHSEMANE. By J. M. Heinrich Hofmann, Contemporary German School. GETHSEMANE. Byf. H. F. Bacon, A.R.A., Contemporary British School. PETER'S DENIAL. By Gra/ Harrach, Contemporary German School. CHRIST BEFORE PILATE. By Michael de Munkacsy, Hungarian School. ECCE HOMO. By Antonio Ciseri, Italian Scltool. THE CRUCIFIXION. By Lion Bonnat, Contemporary French School. MARY MAGDALENE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. By Juki Joseph Lefebnnc, Contemporary Fraich School. xi ILLUSTRATIONS THE HOLY WOMEN AT THE TOMB. By William Adolphe Bouguereait, French School. THE SUPPER AT EMMAUS. By Eugene Girardet, Contemporary French School. THE LOST SHEEP. By A. U. Soord, Contemporary British Sclwol. CHRIST'S MISSION TO THE APOSTLES. By Joseph Auhert, Contemporary Frettch School. THE ASCENSION. By Ernst von Liphart, Contemporary German School. xn THE GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY TXTE look for the glory of the life of Jesus in His manhood's years. Then He wrought great miracles, re- vealing His divine power. Then He spoke His wonderful words which have touched the world with their influence of blessing. Then He went about doing good, showing the love of God in all His common life, and on His cross. We do not turn to the infancy of Jesus for supernatural re- vealings. The apocryphal Gospels have their stories of infant prodigies, but we do not accept these, and are THE GOSPEL OF careful to say that Jesus wrought no miracles and showed no revealings of deity until He had been anointed with the Holy Spirit. Yet in no portion of the life of Jesus Christ is there really greater glory than in His birth. Nothing showed more love for the world than His condescending to be born. We should say that the heart of the gospel was the cross, but the first act of redemption was the Incarnation, when the Son of God emptied Himself of His divine attributes and entered human life in all the feebleness and helplessness of infancy. In its reveal- ing of love and grace, the cradle of Jesus is as marvellous as His cross. It is impossible to sum up the blessings of this holy Infancy. Child- Q K o U -§ X '^ fl. ^ a i: CO '*. w 1^ h *• u. I > c < i s ^ h THE INFANCY hood everywhere is exalted by it. Something of the light of the manger shines now about every child's cradle. Wonderful has been the ministry even of the pictures of the infant Jesus. Where the story of the birth of Christ is known the world becomes a safer place for all children ; hearts are gentler and truer, and the air is sweeter where the Christmas message is told. Since Christ, the Son of God, was born the Son of Mary, all infancy is sacred. *' Trailing clouds of glory do we come From God who is our home : Heaven lies about us in our infancy." We should learn to reverence child- hood. The home to which a baby has come is a sacred place. It is 5 THE GOSPEL nigh to heaven. The parents who fail to understand the blessing that has come to them in their little one are missing a revelation as glorious as the burning bush, before which Moses was bidden to take oflt his shoes. THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST '\1[7'E wonder at the strange recep- tion Jesus had in this world. We would have said that He would be welcomed enthusiastically. But He came almost unobserved. Some lowly shepherds, learning through an angelic vision of what had happened, came in to see the wonderful Child. But that was all. The great event made no stir in Jerusalem. '' His own received Him not." But one day Jerusalem was startled by the coming of a delegation of wise men from the far East. They spoke 7 THE COMING OF of a King who had been born in the country of the Jews. Neither Herod nor the rulers had any thought of such an event in their midst. The world does not recognise its true royalty. Tradition says they were kings who came. They certainly were thought- ful men — reverent, devout, sincere seekers after that which is good and true. They were men of character ; they were also rich, for they came laden with treasures — gold, frankin- cense and myrrh. Yet they bowed down to this Child King, whom they found in lowly circumstances, giving Him highest honour, and laying their gifts at His feet. Even this incident, however, made no lasting impression. The people were indifferent. None 8 w •= a 5 w (^ •-> - a ^" h 6a JESUS CHRIST of them followed the Magi to worship their King. The only result was the tragedy of Bethlehem — the slaying of the little children in Herod's jealous plot to destroy the new-born King. So it is always. Jesus divides men. Many turn from the glory of His life with indifference. They ignore Him. They laugh at the adoring of His friends and their faith in Him. They see no beauty in Him. Yet always there are those who see in Jesus the King of glory. They are drawn to Him in love that becomes a very fire in their hearts. They stop at no cost or sacrifice in follow- ing and serving Him. They bring Him their best treasures — not money, but the gold, frankincense and myrrh of their hearts. 1 1 THE COMING Christ never disappoints any who are drawn to Him in adoration and devotion. Visions of beauty and blessing in Him never fade out. Every hope in Him is realised. None who ever turn to Him in need and heart-hunger will fail to be satisfied. Every promise that He gives becomes a glorious reality to those who accept it. 12 THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD 'T^HE picture of the Virgin Mother and the Holy Child has wrought itself inextricably into the life of Christendom. It is a blessed evangel wherever it is seen, sweetening homes, softening hearts, inspiring heavenly aspirations. But in the light of the story of Jesus Christ every mother and child have a deep interest to all true- hearted men. To the reverent mind, motherhood is always sacred. It stands near to God. When a little child is laid in the arms of a mother, a holy 13 THE MOTHER AND trust is committed to her, an immortal life in its first beginnings, which she is to train and make ready for its mission. Croons a reverent young mother, ** My child, I fear thee ; thou'rt a spirit, soul ! How shall I walk before thee ? keep my garments whole ? O Lord, give strength, give wisdom, for the task To train this child for Thee." It was a holy trust indeed that was committed to Mary, when she was chosen to be the mother of the Redeemer. It behoved her to be holy in her own person and diligent in her care of her child. But scarcely less serious is the responsibility of every mother. She does not know for what lofty mission her child has been born. Her hand must never slacken, nor must she fail God in her duty as a 14 Copyrifihl Holders: MARY AND THE CHILD JESUS By P. A. y. Dafinan-Bouveret, Contemporary Freiuh School Brauu, CUmenI fr Co , Paris, tqo2 THE CHILD mother, else she may wreck a divine plan for a life. Great is a mother's joy as she sees her child grow up in beauty and strength — the answer to her prayers, the fruit of her faithfrilness. Ofttimes, too, sorrow falls to the lot of mother- hood. When Mary presented her Child to God in the Temple, she was granted a vision of His future great- ness, but she was shown a vision also of a day when she should stand by His cross, her own heart pierced by the nails that pierced His hands and feet. The veil is not lifted to reveal to other mothers what experiences their children may meet, yet there are few mothers whose love does not bring them grief as well as joy. There is always pain in the responsibility of 17 c THE MOTHER, THE CHILD motherhood, in love's solicitudes. Many times, too, is there sorrow over the failure of bright dreams. Some- times it is suffering in her children that makes the mother stand pale and with anguished heart beside them. Or it may be their early death that is the cause of her grief. Motherhood never misses pain. But pain enriches. Only the mother who suffers learns love's holiest secrets. i8 THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD T^OES God watch over the lives of little children on the earth ? Does He keep guard over imperilled infancy ? The story of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt answers the question in the case of one infant life. It was a flight divinely ordered and directed. The Child Jesus was in danger. There was no human way of escape. He who had come to earth to be the Redeemer of men was about to be slain in His cradle. Then Heaven interfered for His deliverance. An angel came to Joseph, 19 THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD bidding him hasten away because the Ufe of the Child was in peril. Instantly the command was obeyed, and when Herod's soldiers came, the Child they were sent to destroy was safe beyond their reach. The Child Jesus was unique in the world's history, but the same provi- dence that watched over His infancy watches over the infancy of every child. To our eyes evil seems to strike where it pleases. Weakness appears to have no defence against strength. Pestilence knows no distinction when it comes into a community, but enters the homes of the evil and the good with like impunity. But ever Heaven is watching. There are lives no pestilence can touch. There is a wall of protection about them which noth- 20 I THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD ing can pass. The child who has a mission for God in the future cannot be stricken in his cradle. Only one thing need concern us — the doing of our duty, hour by hour, as it comes to us. We have nothing whatever to do with the keeping of our own lives. We never need to ask whether a certain way is safe for us. Absolutely the only question we need to ask is, what God would have us to do. His way is the safe way, though it be through a thousand perils. If we listen for the divine voice, and then follow it without question, we shall ever be under the wings of God. The legends tell of the way the Holy Family were led, protected and provided for, in the flight to Egypt. We call these apocryphal stories. But 23 THE WATCHFULNESS OF GOD no matter. Heaven was really open over these peasant travellers all the way. So heaven is open over every one who seeks safety and care in obedience to the divine command. 24 THE HOLY CHILDHOOD TXT'E are apt to think that, as a child, Jesus must have been different from other children. When we remember that He was the Son of God, it seems to us that there must have been divine revealings even in His infancy. The apocryphal Gospels make the story of Christ's boyhood a " blaze of miracle." But in their efforts to show His divine character they give us a most undivine por- traiture. The Child Jesus, as they depict Him, is cruel, vindictive, smiting down other children that resist His desires. His bearing is 25 THE HOLY CHILDHOOD forward and ungentle. He is mis- chievous and domineering. Altogether different, however, is the portraiture of the childhood of Jesus given in the Gospels. He grew up among other children, with nothing in Him to set Him apart from them. He was not precocious, but learned His lessons by hard study, as they did. He was humble and simple in His manner, obedient to His parents, gentle to all about Him, sweet and beautiful in His disposition. He was the Son of God, but the divine glory in Him was revealed in a perfectly natural human childhood. We may think of the influences amid which this Holy Child grew up. His home life was pure and gentle, with an atmosphere of love and prayer. 26 Cotyriaht Hctders : JESUS CHRIST AS A CHILD By JcJ Uentpocls. Co«/ FUtr.nh School Broun. CUinent Sr Co., Paris, i«)o» THE HOLY CHILDHOOD Nazareth was like a garden in its beauty. The village, nestling within a circlet of hills, has been described as " like a handful of pearls in a goblet of emeralds." We know that in one sense the Child Jesus was different from other children — He was sinless. This means that He lived a life of communion with God from His earliest years. But this did not make Him unnatural or un- wholesome in His life, — it only made Him the sweeter. Love always ruled in Him. He was gentle and thought- ful, never unkind, severe, censorious. His sinlessness did not make Him a prodigy among His playmates. The divine in Him was revealed in the graces which everywhere are recognised as the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 29 THE HOLY CHILDHOOD Artists seek to put the most mar- vellous beauty into the face of the Child Jesus. No doubt He was beau- tiful. The heart makes the face, and the perfect love and grace that dwelt in Him must have made His counte- nance altogether lovely. 30 THE YOUTH OF JESUS CHRIST npHOUGH it be so little, enough is told us of the youth of Jesus Christ to enable us to fill out a very beautiful picture. One of the charms of childhood is its continual unfolding, as when a rosebud opens, little by little, till the full-blown rose delights us. The growth of Jesus was not abnormal, but natural. It was not in piety only that He grew, but physically, as well — He " waxed strong," and " advanced in stature." He also be- came " filled with wisdom," which means that He was a diligent learner. 31 THE YOUTH OF We are told also that " the grace of God was upon Him," and that He " advanced ... in favour with God and men." This means that His life grew more and more beautiful and lovable continually. A single word gives us another glimpse of His youth — the " car- penter." He wrought at a trade until He dropped His tools to begin His public ministry. It means a great deal to a tired man, as he reads the story, to be able to say, " Yes, yes, a carpenter, same trade as mine, It warms my heart as I read that line. I can stand the hard work, I can stand the poor pay. For I'll see that Carpenter at no distant day." Another thing about the youth of Jesus is that He found the sphere for 32 THE CHILD CHRIST By P. A. y. DiJf^nan HiU.iKl. d iilimp\:niiy Frciuh School Copyright HoUUrs : Braun, CUmtnt &■ Co., Parii, and the Painter Ccpyright, igoj, by Braun, Cl.'incnt & Cv. JESUS CHRIST His glorious life with all its powers in life's common duties. We might think that being the Son of God He would be exempt from the tasks of ordinary childhood. But He differed in no sense in this respect from other children. At His first visit to the temple He seems to have become fully aware of His relation to the heavenly Father. But with this new glory in His heart. He went back to His peasant home with His mother and Joseph and was subject to them. He found His " Father's business " in the obediences, obligations and tasks of His lowly station. The youth of Jesus teaches that the truest and divinest life is the one that in its place, high or low, does best the will of God. Browning tells of an 35 YOUTH OF JESUS CHRIST angel who took the place of a dis- contented boy and did his lowly task- work. " He did God's will — to Him all one If on the earth or in the sun." Jesus teaches us that the life of the carpenter's apprentice is as holy as the ministry of a radiant angel about God's throne. 36 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS npHE artist's thought in his picture is that the shadow of the young Carpenter as it fell upon the wall was a prophesy of His life. The cross did not come to Him as a surprise — its shadow rested on Him in the brightest, busiest days. There was no hour when He did not see what the end would be. Other men are born to live — Jesus was born to die. Other men look forward to a goal of splendid success in the world — great achiev- ments, worthy attainments, power, 37 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS position, honour — the goal of Jesus was His cross. In His earliest infancy the shadow fell over Him. He was saved from death only by flight into Egypt. When John the Baptist pointed Him out to his friends as the Messiah, he spoke of Him as the Lamb of God, the Lamb of Sacrifice. In His teaching Jesus revealed from the first His consciousness of His appointment to death. One of the earliest incidents of His public life was His conversation with Nicodemus, to whom He said that the Son of Man must be lifted up, that is, on His cross, that all might see Him and believe. He told the people, too, that they would destroy the temple, meaning His body. When Peter, 38 THE SHADOW OF DEATH By W. Hohnan Hunt. OM., ConUmporaiy British School Reproduced from a Large Engraving by F. Slacfoole, AJljt. Copyright Holders ; Thomas Agnew & Sons. 39*, Old Bond Street, London, W. THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS speaking for all the disciples, said that He was the Christ, thinking, however, of a glorious earthly royalty, Jesus began at once to say that He must suffer many things and must be killed. This was His own interpretation of the Messiahship which His disciples had so nobly confessed. When two of His followers, dream- ing of the brilliant court of the great King that they supposed their Master about to become, asked first places in His kingdom. He spoke to them of a cup He must drink and a baptism with which He must be baptized, and asked them if they were ready for such a course as His must be. When a feast was given in His honour and a woman anointed Him, He said she had done it for His burial. When He would give 41 THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS His friends a memorial of His love, it was not His wonderful teachings, nor His great miracles that He asked them to remember, but that He had given Himself for them. Thus from the infancy to the close, the shadow of the cross rested upon the soul of Jesus. Yet it did not sadden Him. Never sunnier-hearted man lived than He. He knew the meaning of the cross, that it would make redemption for the world, so He went to it with joy, singing a hymn as He left the upper room for the garden. 42 "NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH " TT is a charming story. Probably Jairus had not sought to know Jesus hitherto. Probably he would not have sought Him now but for his distress. Trouble turns to Christ many a heart that otherwise would never have gone to Him. This little girl was the father's only child. That made her dearer. She was now at the point of death. That made the case most urgent. Jairus believed that if only Jesus would come and lay His hands on her she would live. The Master responded 43 "NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH" instantly, and He set out with the anxious father. But there was an interruption. As they were pressing their way through the crowd, a poor woman reached out her hand and touched the Master's garment. We might think that Jesus would not have allowed Himself to be detained for a moment even by another case of need, but He lingered to help the woman. When He was ready to go on, a messenger came and said to the ruler, " Thy daughter is dead ; why troublest thou the Teacher any further ? " When death comes all is over. But Jesus said quietly to the father, " Fear not, only believe." It is never too late for Him to help. So they went on to the house. Already the professional mourners 44 H § o *: < "c Q (Q 05 £* « 1 < 5 O ^ "NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH " were in charge, making their noisy clamour. Jesus sought to quiet the tumult, but the mourners paid no heed to His words, only laughed at Him. The world still laughs at the hope of immortality. Then He exercised His authority and bade them all leave the room. Only the parents and three of His own disciples did He permit to be with Him. Only love and faith could be admitted to a scene of such solemnity and awe. Besides, it was fitting that when the little girl awoke she should not be abashed by the presence of a crowd in her room. The manner of working the miracle was beautiful. The Master had a most tender love for children, and this was a child. He did not merely call her, but took her hand, and then said, 47 "NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH " " Talitha cumi ; Damsel, I say unto thee. Arise." There was no delay, no slow returning of the life. Instantly the child rose up, and walked. Either their great joy at having their daughter back again, or their feeling of awe at what had taken place, caused the parents to forget the child's need, until Jesus bade them give her something to eat. 48 " LORD, SAVE ME " TT was one of the strangest nights of our Lord's Hfe. In the evening He sent the disciples out upon the sea alone. Then He went up into the mountain and spent the night with His Father. A storm came on, and the little boat was wildly tossed in the waves. From His place of prayer Jesus kept His eye on His disciples. He saw them distressed in rowing, and toward morning He came to them walking on the water. Then it was that Peter called to Jesus, " Bid me come unto Thee upon the waters." It was just like Peter, 49 E "LORD, SAVE ME" loving and eager, but impetuous and rash. Still, the Master said " Come," and instantly the disciple stepped out from the boat. While he kept his eye on his Master he walked on the water as if it were a solid pavement. But for a moment he saw the waves, and at once began to sink. In his despair he cried, " Lord, save me," and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and lifted him out of the waters. But while He was rescuing him, He said, " O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? " The words show that Peter need not have sunk into the sea. He could have continued to walk on the water as he began. Jesus had bidden him to come, and the bidding implied ability to do it. 50 CHRIST AND PETER ON THE LAKE OF GALILEE By Frederick J. Shitlds. Contemporary British School Copyright Holders . The Autotype Co., 74, New Oxford Street, London ^'LORD, SAVE ME" Nothing is impossible to faith. A good man said, " Doing what can't be done is the glory of Christian living." Anybody can do the things that can be done, but it is the privilege of the Christian to do what cannot be done. It was a prayer of Augustine's, '' Com- mand what Thou wilt, then give what Thou commandest." It is only the littleness of our faith that causes our achieving to fall below what our Master expects of us. Though Peter's peril was caused by his own fear, the Master did not dis- regard his cry. He is patient with our failures, pitiful with our weak- nesses, and His love never wearies in delivering us. But why should our faith be so small ? The Strong One is ever beside us. When we are doing "LORD, SAVE ME" what He has bidden us to do, when we are in a place to which He has sent us, we need never fear nor faker ; we cannot fail but through the failure of our own faith. 54 THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND TESUS loved the children. He was pleased, too, to have them come to Him. His disciples would have kept back the mothers with their babies, but He said, " Suffer the little children to come unto Me ; forbid them not : for to such belongeth the kingdom of God." Then He took them in His arms and blessed them. Jesus repeatedly showed His love for children. Once when His disciples asked, '' Who is greatest in the king- dom of heaven ? " He called a little child, and, taking him in His arms, said, " Whosoever shall humble him- 55 THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND self as this little child, the same is greatest." Then He went on to speak of the clearness of the children in Heaven's sight. It is a great crime. He said, to hurt a child. He spoke also of the honour in which children are held in heaven. Sometimes they are despised on earth. " It is only a child," men say, and pass on. But there is one place where no child is despised. " I say unto you," said Jesus, " that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven." The angels set to guard the children have peculiar privilege in heaven. They always have precedence. It is related of the Jesuit missionary, Francis Xavier, that once in utter exhaustion he said he must have rest. 56 SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME By MIU. Otiilu RoecUr-.tciit. OjnUmporiiry Hwiis School Copyrifihl HoUUn : Hraun, CUment Sr Co., Paris, and tht Painter THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND So he retired to his tent, charging that no matter who came he must not be disturbed. Soon his servant saw the monk's white face at the tent door, and heard him say, " I made a mistake. If a Httle child comes, waken me." That was Hke Jesus. He was never too weary to give attention to a Httle child. On every page of the gospel we see the figure of Jesus standing, reaching out His hands to the children. Indeed, there is no place in His kingdom for any but children. The old must become children again before they can enter the heavenly household. A picture by Watts represents an old man, worn and feeble, lying back in his chair, dying. Round him lie the signs of all that he has been doing in 59 THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND his busy life. Then above his head is an angel bearing awav his soul, new- born through death, in the form of a baby child. That is the way it must be at the last with us all. Before we can enter heaven we must become little children. Of such and of such only is the kingdom. 60 THE TEACHER BY THE SEA JESUS loved the Sea of Galilee. It is only a small lake, and yet no other body of water on the earth is so sacred. It is associated with many holy memories of our Lord's life. He wrought many of His miracles along its shores. He often sailed upon its waters with His disciples. Several times He was in the storms that are so frequent on the Lake, and by His word quieted the winds and calmed the raging waves. Many of Christ's wonderful words were spoken by the Sea. Sometimes He would sit in a fishing-boat, 6i THE TEACHER BY THE SEA anchored a little way from the land, and speak to the people on the shore. He was a wonderful teacher. He was the Son of God. Other great teachers declare the truth — Jesus was Himself the truth. He revealed God in His teaching. He was called the Word. A word reveals. The world could not by any searching find out God, but Jesus declared Him. He was God Himself, speaking to men. Not in His teach- ings only did He make God known, but also in His life. People saw the heart of God in Christ's life of purity, gentleness, kindness, compassion and mercy. He said, " He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." Other men have taught beautiful lessons, inculcated a lofty morality, but in their own lives 62 THE TEACHER BY THE SEA have failed to exemplify their teachings. Every word that Jesus spoke was a beam of light shining out in His own character. Jesus was a most gracious teacher. The world was stained with sin and He brought the revealing of divine mercy. Everywhere men were un- happy, unsatisfied, and He spoke of rest. There was sorrow in every home and He came with comfort. People were groping in darkness and He came to lead them in the right way. The influence of the teachings of Christ is immeasurable. Dr. Fairbairn compares the words of Christ to a handful of spices cast into the world's bitter waters to sweeten them. They are also, as suggested in one of His own seaside parables, a handful of 65 F THE TEACHER BY THE SEA heavenly seeds scattered over dreary w^astes to change them into a garden. They have touched all the w^orld's life and have left cleansing, enriching and uplifting everywhere. There is silence now on the lonely and deserted shores of the Sea of Galilee, where once the great Teacher spoke, but the words that fell there from His lips have lost none of their graciousness, their life, their heavenly music. " Heaven and earth shall pass away," He said, " but My words shall not pass away." 66 CHRIST AT THE DOOR pERHAPS no other great picture ever painted is richer in its spiritual teachings than Holman Hunt's " Light of the World." It is a gospel in itself. The Saviour of men stands before us in imposing beauty, masterful and kingly in his strength. He is clad in a priestly robe, indicating His office as Redeemer. On His head is a crown, suggesting royalty, but it is a crown of thorns, reminding us of His suffering and sacrifice. His form is luminous — He is the Light of the world, not only in His teaching, but also in His person. His character. He 67 CHRIST AT THE DOOR carries in His hand a lantern, symbol of His teachings, which have gone into all the world, a lamp to men's feet, showing them how to live and giving joy and comfort everywhere. The attitude of the Saviour is also in accordance with the representation of the Scriptures. He is standing at the door of a cottage, interpreting His own word in the Revelation : " Behold, I stand at the door and knock." His face shows eager love and yearning. He longs to be admitted. He does not wait to be sought, but seeks to save and to bless, coming Himself from heaven to men's very doors to be their guest. In this representation we have the whole meaning of the Incarnation, with its love and condescension, its revealings of tenderness and compas- 68 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD By William Holman Hunt. OM . Contemporary British Sikool From a Copyright Photograph by the Autotype Co., 74, New Oxford Street, London CHRIST AT THE DOOR sion, its sacrifice. He is knocking, and there is no indication that His knocking is heeded within. The door o is still shut, — there is no sign that it is being opened. Yet the heavenly Friend has not grown impatient, does not turn away. He stands in a listening attitude, and continues to knock. All divine love, grace, and yearning are expressed in His face as He stands there. As we look closely at the picture, we find another teaching in it. There is no knob or latch outside the door. It can be opened only from within. We have this also in the words in Revelation : '' Behold, I stand at the door and knock : if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to Him." Why does He not force the door and enter with the blessing 71 CHRIST AT THE DOOR He longs to bestow ? That is not the way of love. It only knocks and waits. We can shut it out if we will. We can shut out the mighty, patient, loving Christ, if we will. Have we opened ? Will we ? 72 THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD 'T^HE shepherd is a favourite Scrip- tural picture of the divine love and care. In the Old Testament, the twenty-third Psalm gathers the whole wonderful truth in exquisite lines which are dear to young and old wherever the Bible is known. Then in the New Testament, when our Lord would give His friends the sweetest revealings of His heart toward them, and tell them what they are to Him and what He would be to them. He says, '' I am the Good Shepherd." The eastern shepherd lives with his 73 THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD sheep. If they are out in the storm, he is with them. If they are exposed to danger, so is he. Christ lives with His people. He enters into closest relations with them. In all their afflictions He is afflicted. The storm that smites them smites Him. The shepherd knows his sheep. He has a name for each one and calls them all by their names. Christ knows each one of His friends, has intimate personal knowledge of each one. He knows the best in us and also the worst, our faults, our sins, our wanderings. Yet, knowing us as we are, He loves us still and never wearies of us. The shepherd is most gentle with his sheep. He does not drive them, but goes before them and leads them. 74 THE GOOD SHEPHERD Hy Frederick J. Shields, CcnUmforary Brthsh School Cofyrii^hl Holders The Autotypt Co.. 74. Neic Oxford Street, London I THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD When they need rest on the way he makes them He down, and chooses for their resting-place not the dusty road, but green pastures. He is specially kind to the lambs, gathers them in his arms and carries them in his bosom. All this is an exquisite picture of the gentleness of our Good Shepherd in His care of His sheep. He is thoughtful toward the weak. He loves the children and makes room for them on His bosom. Whatever the need is, there is something in the heart of Christ which meets its craving and supplies its lack. The shepherd defends his flock in all danger. Often he has to risk his own safety, even his life, in protecting his sheep. The Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep. 77 THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD " In His feet and hands are wound-prints, And His side." Christ's sheep are absolutely safe in His keeping. " I give unto them eternal life," He said ; " and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." Then at last He v^ill bring His own all safely home, " and they shall become one flock, one shepherd." THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST T^VERY revealing of Christ showed His sympathy with the weak and the wronged. That was not the way of the world in His day. The strong oppressed the weak. No provision was made for the feeble, the destitute. All that we see in the world to-day of pity, of sympathy, is the fruit of Christ's own life and teaching. All hospitals, homes, refuges, all the vast work done now in institutions for the blind, the crippled, the insane, the aged, the orphaned, is the continuance of the gracious ministry of Jesus Him- 79 THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST self begun nineteen hundred years ago. The heart of Christ was ever sensi- tive to human distress. No cry of pain failed to awake sympathy in His breast. The people soon discovered this. They were not used to it in their teachers and rulers. But they soon learned that Jesus really cared for them, that He felt with them in their suffering and need and that He could help them. Wherever He went, the sick were brought to Him, the blind, the demoniac, and no one was ever turned away unhealed. But it was not only those with physical ills that found sympathy at the hands of Jesus. There are sorer needs than those of the body. An Arctic explorer was asked whether, in 80 Sibd^faer "COME UNTO ME. ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN " by Anion Dietrich, ConUmt^rary German School i^i^yr l/Cfc/ HoUUrs ; The Berlin PhotographU Co.. 133. New Bond Street. London O THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST their long experience of want, he and his companions had suffered greatly from the pangs of hunger. He an- swered that they forgot their hunger in the sense of abandonment, in the feeling that their countrymen were making no effort to relieve them. The hardest thing the poor, the sick and the suffering of our Lord's time had to bear was that nobody cared for them. But Jesus cared. He had pity on them because of their physical needs but His compassion was stirred chiefly because He saw them as sheep that had no shepherd. Wherever Jesus appeared, human distress found Him. There can be no truer picture of Him than one which represents Him in the midst of needy ones, all of whom look to 83 THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST Him for help. He was ever speaking gracious words which fell like heavenly music on the ears of those who heard them. Take one of His words for illustration : *' Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." If Jesus had never spoken another word but that, He would have been the world's greatest benefactor. What millions have heard His call and in Him have found blessed rest ! For ever will that gracious word continue to be spoken to earth's weary ones and for ever will hungry hearts welcome it as offering all they need. 84 UNREQUITED LOVE TESUS came as the Messiah of His people, but His own received Him not. A few individuals accepted Him, among them the Twelve and a little company of men and women. These were ardently devoted to Him. They believed in His Messiahship, although they did not understand what it meant. But His nation accepted Him not. The rulers never believed in Him. They opposed Him from the beginning, and their opposition grew in bitterness until at last they had Him on a cross. This was their return for His love. 85 UNREQUITED LOVE Christ's reproofs of His people for their rejection were very severe. Some of them were spoken in the temple, before He finally left it. Some were spoken to the disciples from the Mount of Olives. He laid bare the hearts of the teachers and rulers. They bound heavy burdens on the people, but they themselves did not touch them with one of their fingers. They devoured widows' houses, and then made long prayers that men might think them holy. They paid tithes of the smallest things, but judg- ment, mercy and faith they omitted from their lives. They were careful to keep their dishes clean, but they paid no heed to their own inner lives. It was with breaking heart that He told them of the doom that was im- 86 CHRIST WEEPS OVER THE CITY By Paul Hippolytc Fiaiulrin, Contemporary French School Copyrtf^hl Holders : Copyright ic/]4 by llraun Cl.ment & Co., Paris, and the Painter UNREQUITED LOVE pending. " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her ! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not ! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." There are two marvels here. One is that the rulers could have rejected Jesus Christ. He came doing good, going about in a marvellous ministry of mercy. He came offering them all the blessings of eternal life. How could they despise and reject Him ? The other marvel is that Jesus kept love in His heart through all their rejection. On Palm Sunday, as He was riding into the city amid the acclaim and enthusiasm of the people, 89 UNREQUITED LOVE when He passed the crest of the hill and the city came into His view. He broke into loud weeping and cried, " If thou hadst known, in this thy day, even thou, the things which be- long to thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes." The love of Christ failed not, though unrequited, though treated so unjustly, though the answer to it was a cross. His answer to the rejection was redemption. 90 THE COMING OF THE KING TT was only five days before the crucifixion. This day Jesus was the people's idol. Was He Himself deceived by this popular outpouring and acclaim ? Did He suppose that at last, after their rejection of Him for so long, they were now going to accept Him as their Messiah ? No : He knew it was only the outburst of a day. He knew this was but the first stage of His last journey to the cross. As He heard the cries of the throng, " Hosanna to the Son of David ! " there was an undertone ringing in His 91 THE COMING OF THE KING ear, and the words of the undertone were — " Ride on, ride on in majesty, In lowly pomp ride on to die." There must have been a deep spiritual meaning in the triumphal entry, since Jesus Himself planned for it. It was a declaration of His Mes- siahship. The prophet had foretold that the Messiah should come in this very way. "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee : He is just, and having salvation ; lowly, riding upon an ass." In thus claiming that He was the per- son to whom the prophet referred, and in thus bringing about the fulfil- ment in Himself, Jesus clearly pro- claimed to the rulers that He was the Messiah. There was also in the manner of 92 6s II I < ^ 2 ^ W ^ ■"■ c w ^ 51 w -t Otf - S p THE COMING OF THE KING this triumphal entry an announcement of the character of His kingdom. If it had been an earthly royalty that He was proclaiming, He would have come riding in a war chariot. The ass sug- gested lowliness and peace. He was the king of love, not of strife. He came to fill the world with blessing, not with carnage. As we look at the people in their enthusiasm and hear their rejoicings, we cannot forget that in five days the Passover throngs cried "Crucify Him ! " and we learn how fickle worldly en- thusiasm is. A picture by Tintoretto gives the scene of the Crucifixion after all was over. It is evening. The multitude has dispersed. The crown of thorns is lying near by. Then in the background an ass is nibbling at 95 THE COMING OF THE KING some withered palm leaves. That tells the story of the trans cience of the world's honour. The Palm Sunday pageant was but a day's spectacle. Jesus went to a cross and not to an earthly throne. But in its deeper meaning His entry into Jerusalem was a triumph indeed. The cross was the way to His true glory. Now He is our King and we are with Him in His triumph. 96 REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST /^UR Master craved to be remem- bered. This showed His human- ness — none of us want to be forgotten. We want to live in the hearts of those we love. But this was not the only reason why Christ wished to be re- membered. He had come to save the world. This was to be done by getting men personally to love Him. This love must be strong enough to rule our whole life and lead us to the most complete devotion. Therefore His disciples must remember Him, for remembering is part of love. The Lord's Supper was intended to 97 H REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST keep Christ always vividly in remem- brance. We are to think of Him when we have in our hands the sacred memorials of His love, reminding us of what He did to redeem us. But we are to think of Him just as de- voutly when we are away from the sacramental table, in the midst of worldly tasks and circumstances. If we always remember Christ it will keep us faithful in our loyalty. He wants us to be as true to Him out on the streets, and when we are tempted and tried, as when we are at His feet in prayer. In a battle, there was a young soldier, only a few days from home, who fought as bravely as any old veteran, and fell on the front line. After the battle they found in his blouse pocket, just over his heart, 98 REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST the picture of a fair girl's face. That was the secret of his courage. If we carry the memory of Christ in our hearts in the places of trial and testing, we will never fail Him. The secret of all the noble heroisms of the Church has been passionate love for Christ. Remembering Christ will transform us into His likeness. Our thoughts are the builders that rear the temple of our character. If we think of unclean things our lives will become unclean. If we think of earthly things we will grow earthly. If we think of Christ, if thoughts of Him are in our mind and heart continually, we will come moment by moment into His beauty. The highest attainment in Christian life is always to remember Christ, never lOI REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST to forget Him, to keep ever before us His blessed face. Then we shall never lose His peace out of our hearts. Then we shall never fail Him in any duty or struggle. Then we shall never be lonely, for remembering Christ will keep us ever conscious of His presence. 1 02 THE LESSON OF SERVICE OERVING is not an easy lesson to learn. But it is a lesson we must learn if ever we would become like our Master. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He served to the uttermost, just as He loved to the uttermost. Anything that needed to be done for another He did as natu- rally and as simply as He breathed. He loved people, and was interested in them and was ready always to be helpful to them. Then it never mat- tered what the service was, whether it was the saving of a soul, the curing 103 THE LESSON OF SERVICE of a grievous sickness, or the giving of a cup of water — He did the least as graciously and as divinely as the greatest. The washing of feet was the lowliest service any man could do for another. It was the work of the lowliest slave. Yet Jesus without hesitation did this service for His own disciples. Thus He taught them that nothing any one may ever need to have done by another is unlit for the whitest hands. We begin to be like Christ only when we begin to love others enough to serve them without asking whether the ser- vice is something that we may do without the loss of dignity. " One day a stranger entered an artist's studio in Milan. The artist was busy within. He was engaged 104 CHRIST WASHING PETER'S FEET lt\ Ford Uadox Hrcuit, lintish School From a Photograph by W. A. Mansell & Co.. London THE LESSON OF SERVICE upon a copy of one of the great masters. He was working at the head of a Christ and appeared to take no notice of the stranger. At last he broke the silence, and turned upon the man with feverish impatience, ' Speak to me, sir, is it like — is it ever so little like ? ' " There is no surer test of the genuineness of Christian life than in this matter of serving others. Is it like — is it ever so little like the Master's serving ? We are too care- ful of our dignity. When we see the Son of God washing His disciples' feet, we should be ashamed ever to ask whether anything another may need to have done is too menial for us to do. A king may do the low- liest kindness to the poorest peasant 107 THE LESSON OF SERVICE in his realm, and his honour will only be enhanced by it. **0 blessed Jesus, when I see Thee bending, Girt as a servant at Thy servants' feet, Love, lowliness, might, in zeal all blending, To wash their dust away and make them meet To share Thy feast, — I know not to adore, Whether Thy humbleness or glory more." 1 08 i THE REFUGE IN SORROW TT7HERE to go in sorrow is one of life's great questions. For there are none to whom sorrow does not come at some time. The Master, whose footprints are on all life's paths, shows us the way to the refuge in the time of trouble. He found it in prayer. " Being in an agony He prayed." We may listen at the gate of the Garden and learn how our Master prayed. He was facing a great sor- row and He pleaded with His Father that it might not come to Him. We have a right, therefore, to ask in 109 THE REFUGE IN SORROW prayer that the trouble which seems imminent may pass, or that we may be relieved of the bitter anguish we are enduring. God will never blame us for such pleading. There was another element, how- ever, in our Lord's praying. In His most intense pleading for the passing of His sorrow He still referred all to His Father. " Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." There is no true prayer which is not modelled after this pattern. We do not know what is best. We do not know what is in the sorrow for us, for others, or for the divine glory, nor what would be lost if we failed to endure it. We must leave all with our Father, saying, "As Thou wilt." Then the Master found the comfort no Copyright HoUUn CHRIST AT GETHSEMANE By J. M. HcinrUh Hofmann, Contemporary German School The Berlin Photographic Co., 133. ^'w Bond Street, London THE REFUGE IN SORROW which He sought. His prayer was answered. The cup did not pass. The bitterness was not lessened in the smallest degree. So far as we know, not a single cruel element in the terrible experience was eliminated or even mitigated because of the prayer in the Garden. The answer came in another way. The Holy Sufferer was strengthened to accept the sorrow and endure it. And was not that an answer ? Was it not a better answer than if the dreadful anguish had been diminished ? The pleading grew less intense as He went back again and again into the depths of the Garden, and at the end the struggle was over, victory had been won and He was at peace. Prayer is always answered. It is 113 I THE REFUGE IN SORROW answered either directly in the giving to us of what we ask, or in ourselves, in enabling us to accept the will of God and rejoice. We shall never seek this refuge in vain. We shall always find comfort there, and peace, and always God's angel will meet us to strengthen us. 114 "COULD YE NOT WATCH ONE HOUR?" /^NE of the saddest elements in the Gethsemane experience was our Lord's disappointment in His disciples. He chose the three best loved of them all and asked them to be near Him during His great agony. He hoped to get strength from their sympathy. While He went through His mysterious struggle He supposed that they were waking near by. But when He returned to them to be helped by their love, they were asleep. This happened three times. His 115 "COULD YE NOT friends failed Him in His hour of sorest need. One of the legends of the Brittany peasants tells how the robin got his red breast. The day of the Cruci- fixion, as Jesus was being led out to Calvary, a bird, pitying Him as He went on His way of sorrows, flew down and plucked one thorn from the crown of thorns He was wearing. The blood spurted from the wound and splashed the bird's breast. Ever since, the peasants say, the robin has had a spot of red upon its breast, in remembrance of its pity for the Master that day of sorrows. The disciples had it in their power that night, not literally to pluck thorns from their Master's brow, but to strengthen Him by their sympathy ii6 0} z -s-