His Life Part 19

And he said unto him, "Thou hast answered right: this do and thou shalt live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus made answer and said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he pa.s.sed by on the other side. And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, pa.s.sed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compa.s.sion, and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, 'Take care of him: and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.' Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?"

And he said, "He that showed mercy on him."

And Jesus said unto him, "Go, and do thou likewise."

IN JERUSALEM--THE ATTEMPT TO ARREST HIM.

THE FRIENDS AT BETHANY.

Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and heard his word.

But Martha was c.u.mbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

But the Lord answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

A MIRACLE IN JERUSALEM.

And as he pa.s.sed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?"

Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of G.o.d should be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. When I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

When he had thus spoken he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay, and said unto him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is by interpretation, Sent).

He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, "Is not this he that sat and begged?"

Others said, "It is he:" others said, "No, but he is like him."

He said, "I am he."

They said therefore unto him, "How then were thine eyes opened?"

He answered, "The man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, 'Go to Siloam, and wash:' so I went away and washed, and I received sight."

And they said unto him, "Where is he?"

He saith, "I know not."

They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight.

And he said unto them, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see."

Some therefore of the Pharisees said. "This man is not from G.o.d, because he keepeth not the sabbath."

But others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such signs?"

And there was a division among them.

They say therefore unto the blind man again, "What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes?"

And he said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?"

His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself."

These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, "He is of age; ask him."

So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, "Give glory to G.o.d: we know that this man is a sinner."

He therefore answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."

They said therefore unto him, "What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes."

He answered them, "I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples?"

And they reviled him, and said, "Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses. We know that G.o.d hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is."

The man answered and said unto them. "Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes. We know that G.o.d heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of G.o.d, and do his will, him he heareth. Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from G.o.d, he could do nothing."

They answered and said unto him, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out: and finding him, he said, "Dost thou believe on the Son of G.o.d?"

He answered and said, "And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?"

Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee."

And he said, "Lord, I believe."

And he worshipped him.

And Jesus said, "For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind."

Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, "Are we also blind?"