Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1914 — INCIDENTS IN THE LITE OF CHRIST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INCIDENTS IN THE LITE OF CHRIST

NE day an angel came to Mary and said: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne- of his father

David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob foverever.” Mary and Joseph went away into a city of Judea, into the city called Bethlehem, because they belonged to the house of David. When the child was born there were many shepherds watching their flocks. When they heard of Christ’s nativity many were afraid, and the angel said unto them: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!"

When the shepherds came to the manger they found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. There were angels and a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory be to God in - the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men.” The shepherds fell down before Christ and worshiped him. They then made known abroad what they had heard. Then came wise men from the East guided by a star which stood over the young child. They opened their treasures and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Forty days after Jesus’ birth his parents carried him to the temple at Jerusalem. There was one Simeon, who had long

been expecting the coming of a Savior to the Jews. He took the child up in his arms and exclaimed: "Lord, now lettest thou they servant depart in peace according to thy words: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Joseph and Mary remained but a short time with their child in Egypt. The death of Herod later recalled them toPalestine, and they returned to their old place of abode, the little town of Nazareth in Galilee. They did this because the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: “Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” He grew strong in both body and spirit Tradition says he wore a garment without seams, made of a kind of woven hair of a purplish brown color. The Gospels tell us nothing of his occupation as a young man. Tradition relates, and it appears truly, that he spent the whole thirty years before he began his ministry in retirement. John was the first to announce the great work Jesus intended doing. He abandoned the solitude of the desert for the banks of the Jordan. He gathered the people together in hosts. He announced that they were to be delivered from sin and bondage, and to prepare for the Messiah's coming. It was at Bethabara that John the Baptist saw Jesus for the first time, and looking upon him said: "Behold the lamb of God.” It was here that the 12 stones were set up, marking the spot where the children of Israel had crossed the Jordan dry shod to enter the promised land. Jesus had come to be baptized, but John refused until he heard Jesus say: “Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness.” After Jesus had spoken to the people he was led into the wilderness by the spirit. Here he was tempted for 40 days by the devil. He was an hungered «nd the devil said unto him: "If thou be the Son of God command that this stone be made bread,” and Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” He next brought him to Jerusalem and sat him on a pinnacle of the temple and said unto him: “If thou be the Son dt God cast thyself down from hence." Jesus answered, "It is said thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Then the devil tempted him a third time, offering Christ the kingdom of this world if he would worship him. The answer came, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve." The temptation is the expression of the period that intervened between Christ’s private life and

his public ministry. One day Jesus was walking by the sea and he saw two men —Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net in the sea. And he said unto them: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” They straightway left their nets and followed him. He walked od farther, when he came upon James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his. brother, who were also, in the ship mending their nets. Hp straightway called them and they left their father“ln the ship and followed him. Nathaniel was more doubtful about Christ’s spiritual power until one day Jesus saith unto him: “Verily, verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." And Christ went from place to place until he had found his 12 apostles. He was unwilling to rest then. He began to give food to the hungry, sight to the blind, health to the sick and comfort to aching hearts. Among the most illustrious of his miracle* was w-hen he constrained his disciples to go on board the boat and fbw across the lake to Capernaum. Then he sent away the great crowd of people who were still eager that he should be their king. When they were all gone and he was left alone he went up into the mountain to pray. While he was praying in tho night a great storm came up on the lake. When the storm was at its height Jesus went to his disciples wal*«lng on the water as though the sea were dry kind. Then the men in the boat saw a strange figure coming near them and Jesus called out to them: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” , After Jesus had performed many miracles the people asked him to do these things to satisfy their curiosity. When he refused them they became angry and left him. Finally, Jesus turned to his 12 apostles and asked: “Will ye also go away and leave me?” But Simon Peter answered him: “IzJrd, to whom shall we go? For thou only hast tb4 words of everlasting life.” One day, on entering the temple, he saw that the merchants and brokers were making everything subservient to their avarice. His anger rose at his seeing these unholy doings in the temple. He did not hesitate as to what should be done. He threatened the traders with a scourge of small cords, drove them out and said to them: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” After he left Jerusalem he went directly to Aenon, near Salem, which was the field of John the Baptist’s labors. Here he spent most of his time from the Passover to the late harvest. He 'wished to Instruct his dieclples more thoroughly In his teaching. He did not go back to Jerusalem until the feast

of the Pashover. It was then he healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. It was then that he told them that the bread which he was about to give them was to be the self-sacrifice of the bodily life for the salvation of mankind. Soon after Jesus left Bethabara with his disciples and came to Bethany. There he found a man named Laza- » rus that had been dead for four days. Martha and Mary could not be comforted concerning the death of their brother. Jesus, weeping, said: “Take ye away the stone,” and cried in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth,” and he that was dead came forth. Then he went to the Mount of Olives, where his disciples followed him. When he came down he rode into Jerusalem, followed by a crowd of many men, women and Children bearing palms. As he rode into the city all the throng was curious and asked, “Who is this?” And the multitude answered: “This is Jesus, the prophpt of Nazareth.” He then went to the temple time*and again teaching many things and performing miracles. It was at this time that Jesus and his disciples partook of the last supper. While they were eating he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and passed it to each onb of his disciples. At the same time he said: “This is my body which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me.” Afterwards he took the cup of wine and passed it to each of his disciples with the words: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” When the feast was going on he washed the feet of all his disciples. This means that all who follow him should serve each other. While he was talking he grew sad and said: “Verily, verily I say to you that one of you that is eating with me shall betray me and give me up to those that will kill me.” Then Jesus dipped a piece of bread and gave it to Judas, saying: “Do quickly what you are going to do.” After he had waited a few minutes he added: “Before morning comes every one will leave me alone; yet I will not be alone, for my Father will be with me.” He wanted to be alone for he knew that in a little time Judas would be there with a band of men who would seize him. Suddenly the disciples heard the noise of a crowd. When they saw the swords flashing they knew that had betrayed Christ. Before-he was seized he made a speech to his disciples and the crowd. He was then led away to Caiaphas, the high priest, and when morning was come they delivered him to Pontius Pilate and he was tried before this Roman governor, who was an enemy of Jesus, and was therefore glad of an opportunity to vex him. After Judas saw that Christ was condemned he felt remorse. In honor of the coming Passover one criminal was to be pardoned and he wished that It should be Christ It was now too late. With two condemned criminals, Jesus himself carried the Instrument of death to the place of execution. Stripped of nearly all his clothing, he was lifted up to the cross and *nailed by his hands and feet After many hours Joseph and his friends took down the body, wrapped it In fine linen, and laid it in the tomb. • The body lay there from one evening of Friday, when he died on the cross, to the dawn of Sunday, which Is Easter. When the women came to the sepulchre they saw that the seal was broken and the stone was rolled away. It was empty and an angel appeared and said: “Fear ye not, for I know he. seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here, for,he is risen as he said.” And afterward Jesus appeared to his disciples and they gave him food and he ate. They talked with him and he rejoiced, saying: "Peace be upto you. Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” This was the fifth time Jesus had showed himself to his fntads. Finally, leading his disciples out as fnr ns Beth* any, “he lifted, up his hands and blessed them , . . whilst he blessed them he was parted from them and was carried up into heaven."*