Volume 4 — How the Lord Jesus Began to Win the Love of Many People. (continued 3)

{264}

VI THE BETRAYAL How the Lord Jesus Fell into the Hands of His Enemies. (FRIDAY, THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION.)

And he came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, "Sit ye here, while I pray."

And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be heavy-hearted, and deeply troubled. And he saith unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch." And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.

And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt."

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

{265}

{266}

CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE. By Heinrich Hofmann (1824-

{267}

And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: It is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.".

And straightway, while he yet spoke, came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely."

And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, "Rabbi"; and kissed him.

Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said unto Peter, "Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

Then Jesus said. "Suffer ye thus far." And he touched his ear, and healed him.

And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, which were come against him, "Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

{268}

VII THE TRIAL How the Lord Jesus Was Falsely Charged with Crime. The Trial Before Annas.

So the soldiers and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

Annas therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spoke I nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spoke unto them: behold, these know the things which I said."

And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"

Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"

Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

{269}

The Trial Before Caiaphas, the High Priest.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there came together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. And there stood up certain men, and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"

And not even so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"

But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"

And Jesus said, "I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, "What further need have we of witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?"

And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his eyes, and {270} to buffet him, and to say unto him, "Prophesy who is it that smote thee," and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

How Peter Denied His Lord.

But Peter had followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking steadfastly upon him, said, "This man also was with him."

But he denied, saying, "Woman, I know him not."

And after a little while another saw him, and said, "Thou also art one of them."

But Peter said, "Man, I am not."

And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, "Of a truth this man also was with him: for he is a Galilaean."

But Peter said, "Man, I know not what thou sayest." And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, "Before the cock crow this day, thou shalt deny me thrice."

And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The Trial Before the Jewish Court.

As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and {271} scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying, "If thou art the Christ, tell us."

But he said unto them, "If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask you, ye will not answer. But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

And they all said, "Art thou then the Son of God?"

And he said unto them, "Ye say that I am."

And they said. "What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."

{272}

VIII THE JUDGMENT How the Lord Jesus Was Unjustly Condemned to Die. The Hearing Before Pilate.

They led Jesus therefore into the palace: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the palace, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, "What accusation bring ye against this man?"

They answered and said unto him, "If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee."

Pilate therefore said unto them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law."

The Jews said unto him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."

Pilate therefore entered again into the palace, and called Jesus, and said unto him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?"

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?"

{273}

{274}

CHRIST BEFORE PILATE. By Munkacsy

{275}

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

Pilate therefore said unto him, "Art thou a king then?"

Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

Pilate saith unto him, "What is truth?"

And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, "I find no fault in this man."

But they were the more urgent, saying, "He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place."

But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.

The Trial Before Herod.

Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he had been for a long time desirous of seeing him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him as one of no account, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became {276} friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

The Sentence of Death.

Now at the feast it was Pilate's custom to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. And Pilate answered them, saying, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have been much disturbed to-day in a dream because of him." But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, "What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?"

Then they shouted, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him." And he said unto them the third time, "Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him."

But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for.

{277}

{278}

A STREET IN JERUSALEM, LEADING TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her kind permission

This picture shows the street leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of those streets which have steps and are therefore accessible only to foot passengers.

{279}

But Jesus he scourged. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they struck him with their hands.

And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, "Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him."

Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold, the man!"

When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him."

Pilate saith unto them, "Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him."

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."

When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the palace again, and saith unto Jesus, "Whence art thou?"

But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto him, "Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?"

Jesus answered him, "Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin."

Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou release this man, thou art not {280} Caesar's friend: everyone that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."

When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, "Behold, your King!"

They therefore cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him."

Pilate saith unto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.

{281}

IX THE CRUCIFIXION How the Lord Jesus Died on the Cross.

They took Jesus then: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

And they compelled one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

And there were two thieves led with him to be put to death.

And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And they crucified him, and parted his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him, and they crucified the thieves, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

{282}

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

And the superscription of his accusation was written over him,--

"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, "Write not, 'The King of the Jews'; but, that he said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross."

In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe."

And they that were crucified with him reproached him. And one of the thieves railed on him, saying, "Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us."

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."

{283}

{284}

THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER, JERUSALEM. Over the traditional site of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. Used by special permission of the Detroit Photograph Company.

{285}

And he said, "Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom."

And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."

But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold, thy son!"

Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calleth Elijah."

And one ran, and filling a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. But others said, "Let him alone; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down."

When Jesus therefore had received the wine, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up his spirit, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."

{286}

X THE BURIAL How the Body of the Lord Jesus Was Buried in a Rich Man's Tomb.

The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), and because bodies should not remain on the cross upon the Sabbath, asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.

And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councilor, a good man and a righteous (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

{287}

Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, 'After three days I rise again.' Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, 'He is risen from the dead': and the last error will be worse than the first."

Pilate said unto them, "Ye have a guard: go your way, make it as sure as ye can."

So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

{288}

{289}

{290}

THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB. By Bouguereau (1825-1905)

{291}

CHRIST, THE LORD, IS RISEN TO-DAY

"Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day," Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply. Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won. Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er; Lo, He sets in blood no more. Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of hell; Death in vain forbids His rise: Christ has opened Paradise. Lives again our glorious King: Where, O death, is now thy sting? Once He died our souls to save: Where thy victory, O grave? Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head: Made like Him, like Him we rise; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven! Praise to Thee by both be given: Thee we greet triumphant now; Hail, the Resurrection Thou!

--Rev. Charles Wesley.

{292}

THE NEAREST FRIEND

Dear Jesus, ever at my side, How loving Thou must be, To leave Thy home in heaven to guard A little child like me. Thy beautiful and shining face I see not, though so near; The sweetness of Thy soft voice I am too deaf to hear. I cannot feel Thee touch my hand, With pressure light and mild, To check me, as my mother did When I was but a child. But I have felt Thee in my thoughts, Fighting with sin for me; And when my heart loves God, I know The sweetness is from Thee. Yes, when I pray, Thou prayest, too, The prayer is all for me; But when I sleep Thou sleepest not, But watchest patiently.

--F. W. Faber.

{293}

STILL, STILL WITH THEE

Still, still with Thee, my God. I would desire to be; By day, by night, at home, abroad, I would be still with Thee. With Thee when dawn comes in, And calls me back to care, Each day returning to begin With Thee, my God, in prayer. With Thee when day is done, And evening calms the mind; The setting, as the rising, sun With Thee my heart would find. With Thee, in Thee, by faith Abiding I would be; By day, by night, in life, in death, I would be still with Thee.

--James D. Burns.

{294}

OH, WORSHIP THE KING

Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above, And gratefully sing his wonderful love; Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girdled with praise. Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light, It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender! how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

--R. Grant.

{295}

How the Lord Jesus rose again from the dead, how He comforted His disciples, and how He sent them out to teach all men in His name.

{296}

{297}

I THE RESURRECTION How the Lord Jesus Rose from the Dead, and Appeared to Mary of Magdala.

Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him."

Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, which came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

{298}

But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She saith unto them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"

She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

Jesus saith unto her, "Mary."

She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, "Rabboni"; which is to say, "Master."

Jesus saith to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"

Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and that he had said these things unto her.

{299}

{300}

THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB.

{301}

II ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS How on the Same Day He Joined Two of His Disciples, as They Walked into the Country.

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was three-score furlongs from Jerusalem. And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, "What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk?"

And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, "Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?"

And he said unto them, "What things?"

And they said unto him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and beside all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. Moreover {302} certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not."

And he said unto them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?"

And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew near unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. And they constrained him, saying, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."

And he went in to abide with them. And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, "Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us on the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

{303}

{304}

CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS. By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- )

"He blessed the bread, but vanished at the word And left them both exclaiming, "T was the Lord! Did not our hearts feel all he deign'd to say? Did they not burn within us by the way?'

--Cowper.

{305}

III DOUBTING THOMAS How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples Twice at Jerusalem.

Those disciples with whom Jesus had eaten at Emmaus rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, in the evening, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. The eleven told them in secret, the doors being shut for fear of the Jews, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." And the two disciples told the others the things that happened on the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

And as they spoke these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, "Peace be unto you."

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. And he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having."

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, "Have ye here anything to eat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.

{306}

And he took it and did eat before them.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said unto them, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be unto you."

Then said he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God."

Jesus said unto him, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."

{307}

IV "FEED MY SHEEP." How the Lord Jesus Appeared to His Disciples as They Fished at the Sea of Galilee.

After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Galilee in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said unto them, "I go a fishing."

They say unto him, "We also come with thee."

They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said unto them, "Children, have ye ought to eat?"

They answered him, "No."

And he said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find."

They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, "It is the Lord."

So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little {308} boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. So when they got out upon the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now taken."

Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty-three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. Jesus said unto them, "Come and break your fast."

And none of the disciples dared inquire of him, "Who art thou?" knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus came, and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise.

So when they had broken their fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these?"

He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."

He said unto him, "Feed my lambs."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?"

He said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee."

He said unto him, "Tend my sheep."

He said unto him the third time, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?"

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."

{309}

Jesus said unto him, "Feed my sheep."

And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, "Follow me."

Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; and said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?"

Jesus said unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me."

{310}

V THE ASCENSION How the Lord Jesus Appeared Again in Galilee, and How He at Last Went Away from Earth to Heaven.

But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying,--

"All authority hath ben given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Then they all went again to Jerusalem, where Jesus appeared once more to them, and spoke with them about the kingdom of God. They, still thinking that he meant an earthly kingdom of which he would be king at Jerusalem, and wondering when it would come, asked him, saying, "Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

And he said unto them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority. But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

{311}

{312}

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. By G. Biermann

{313}

And he said unto them, "These are my words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me."

Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; and he said unto them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high."

And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, blessing God.

{314}

{315}