CHAPTER IV. FROM BETHLEHEM TO CALVARY. IN THE TEMPLE-JOHN THE BAPTIST-BAPTISM OF JESUS-CALLING THE DISCIPLES- N the days of Cæsar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, there was peace in all the world. A general census and taxation of all the people was ordered in Palestine, and all flocked to the cities for the purpose. Among those who went to Bethlehem were Joseph, a carpenter, and Mary, his wife and they found the hotels so crowded that they had to seek shelter in a stable, where, that night, a son was born to them, according to a promise that had been made to them by an angel. That same night, outside the city, some shepherds were watching their sheep, when suddenly a bright light appeared, and they were frightened. Then an angel spake to them, telling them not to be afraid, for he brought them good tidings of great joy, that there was born in the city a Saviour, Christ the Lord. He told them how and where they might find Him; and then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men.” They found the stable without difficulty, and entering in, saw Joseph and Mary, with the Babe in the manger. They told them of all they had heard and seen, and then went back to their flocks, praising God. Then there arrived in the city Wise Men, or Magi, from Arabia. These men had heard that a king of the Jews was expected; and one night as they were watching the heavens they saw a bright star, which was the sign of some great event, and made up their minds that it indicated the birth of the King of the Jews. They asked not whether the King of the Jews was born, but where He was born, and then told the people that they had seen His star in the East, and had come to worship Him. 60 They unpacked their beasts, and, going into the house, fell down before Mary and the young Child, and worshipped Him. They then opened their treasures and presented their gifts-gold, frankincense and myrrh. God appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him that Herod the King meant to kill the Child, and told him to flee into Egypt. Then Herod ordered all the children in Bethlehem and its neighborhood, under two years old, to be put to death. But Joseph and Mary lived safely with their Child in Egypt for two years or more, until Herod died, when the Lord again appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him to return to the land of Israel, where he settled in the town of Nazareth. Here Joseph plied his trade as a carpenter. In the Temple. Luke tells us that "the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." Every year His parents went up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover. But they did not take Him until He was twelve years old. On the way back home, after the festival, they missed Him, and went back to the Temple, where they found Him in one of the courts, surrounded by the doctors and rabbis. Jesus was putting questions to the learned men such as they had never been asked before; and in His own answers to their questions was showing such knowledge that they wondered greatly. Mary addressed Him, "Son, why hast Thou so dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." He said, "How is it that ye sought me? Knew you not that I must be about my Father's business?" But they understood not what He meant. John the Baptist. In the wilderness, somewhere on the eastern bank of the river Jordan, John the Baptist retired and lived away from the busy haunts of men. He was the cousin of our Lord. It was foretold that he would be the forerunner of the Saviour, that he would prepare the Jews for the coming of their Messiah. He lived in the wilderness, away from the towns, that he might the better contemplate his great work, and be fitted by God for it. Hence, his dress was coarse and his food simple. His coat was made of the shaggy hair of camels, woven into a rough cloth, and fastened in at the waist with a leathern girdle; his food was principally the locust and wild honey. The Jews at Jerusalem, hearing of this wonderful preacher, sent messengers to ask him whether he was really the Saviour, and this thought also arose in the minds. of many that heard him. But John told them who he was, that he was "the voice of one crying in the wilderness," as their prophet Isaiah had foretold. He further said that Christ was so mighty that he was not worthy to do the most humble service for Him-to unloose His shoes; that he could only baptize with water, but that Christ would baptize those who accepted Him with the Holy Ghost, but those who rejected Him with fire. Baptism of Jesus. Then Jesus came to John to be baptized; and afterward, when he was going up out of the water, the heavens were opened unto Him for His encouragement and joy, and the Holy Spirit came down and brooded over him like a dove, which is always an emblem of gentleness, meekness, and purity. And then God's voice spoke: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Soon after this, Jesus retired into a desert place for meditation and prayer before he began his public ministry, and fasted forty days and forty nights. Then Satan came to Him, and tempting Him through His hunger, said: "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Jesus answered him by quoting from the Old Testament: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Then the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, and placed Him on a pinnacle of the Temple, and told Jesus to cast Himself down, and misapplied a text of Scripture to support his plea. But Jesus repelled the temptation by another text, and said: "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God." Again he took Jesus up into a high mountain, and offered Him all He could see if He would but worship him. But Jesus drove him from His presence, and said: "Get thee hence, Satan : for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord, the God, and Him only shalt thou serve. The devil left Him, and angels at once came and ministered unto Him. Calling the Disciples. One day John was with two of his disciples, when Jesus passed by, and he pointed Him out to them, saying: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" They at once left John and followed Jesus, who turned round and asked them what they sought. They replied: "Master, where dwellest Thou?" Jesus said: "Come and see." They spent the remainder of the day with Him, and he convinced them that He was the Messiah. One of them, Andrew, felt anxious that his brother Simon should share the privilege that he had enjoyed, and with true brotherly love brought him to Jesus. On the next day, Jesus, on His way to Galilee, found Philip. He went with Jesus, but, like Andrew, did not wish alone to have the blessing, so went for Nathaniel, and told him that he had found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth. The partners of Simon, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also called. They were to give up their calling as fishermen and He would make them fishers of men. The First Miracle. On the third day after our Lord's return into Galilee, there was a marriage at Cana, a small town a few miles north of Nazareth. Perhaps the bride or bridegroom was some relative of Mary's, as she was one of the chief guests. Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, Philip and Nathaniel, who was a resident of the town. The feast began and went on smoothly enough until the wine ran short, and it was evident that not enough had been provided. There were standing near six large waterpots. Jesus directed the servants to fill these vessels with water, and when they had done so, He said unto them, "Draw out now, and bear unto the |