The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young Part 23

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and _his_ disciples rebuked those that brought _them_. But when Jesus saw _it_, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of G.o.d. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of G.o.d as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put _his_ hands upon them, and blessed them.--_St. Mark x: 13-16._

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_In the Hebrew Bible--the Talmud--it is stated that, according to pious custom, parents brought their little children to the synagogue that they might receive the benefit of the prayers and blessings of the elders. Rabbis also, of recognized sanct.i.ty, were frequently appealed to in a like manner; and his fame as a prophet and benefactor having preceded him into Peraea, infants were now brought to Jesus, that he might lay his hands upon them in supplication and blessing. The architectural setting of the picture is adapted from that of a small square near the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem. This kindly and gentle act of our Lord has been of incalculable consequence to the life of children in the development of Christian civilization._

THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS, FOUR DAYS DEAD

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been _dead_ four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of G.o.d?

Then they took away the stone _from the place_ where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up _his_ eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said _it_, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth.--_St. John xi: 14., 15,38-44._

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The painting ill.u.s.trates a form of rock-cut tomb which, though not so common as others in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, is nevertheless selected as being in accordance with the description of what took place in the present instance. It is obviously the type of tomb which is referred to on a subsequent occasion, and explains the meaning of "the stone rolled away from the sepulchre" The entrance of the tomb is at the bottom of a flight of steps, and is covered by a disc-shaped stone, like a mill-stone, which can be rolled back into a slot cut in the rock for its reception. (The kneeling man in the background has apparently just performed this duty?) The entrance is closed by rolling the stone forward, dropping a small block behind it to prevent its recession, and finally by covering the before-mentioned slot with a slab, which, being cemented down, the tomb is "sealed."_

CONVERSION OF ZACCHAEUS, A PUBLICAN

And _Jesus_ entered and pa.s.sed through Jericho. And, behold, _there was_ a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pa.s.s that _way_. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw _it_, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore _him_ fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.--_St. Luke xix: 1-10_.

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The sycomore tree referred to in the text is a species of fig bearing small, coa.r.s.e fruit, which is used as food only in cases of necessity. Although occasionally of great size, the tree is easily climbed, as the trunk is short, and the branches are numerous and wide spreading. Jericho, rebuilt by Herod, was a somewhat fashionable town. To signalize the despised tax-gatherer in such a way was to teach a permanent lesson of absolute unworldliness_.

JESUS RESTORETH SIGHT TO BARTIMAEUS

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, _thou_ son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, _Thou_ son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.--_St. Mark x: 4.6--52._

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The site of Jericho is still an oasis in the surrounding desert, but neither its fertility nor its dimensions bear comparison with those which it attained in former days; and hardly a tree remains of the celebrated groves of balsam, spice, and fruit-bearing trees, and the palms which earned for Jericho the t.i.tle of "The City of the Palm Trees," and which made its neighboring plain the garden of Palestine--the "divine district" as Joseph us calls it. This fertility was owing entirely to skilful irrigation, traces of no less than twelve aqueducts having been discovered. No cla.s.s of sufferers more frequently claimed and obtained from Jesus the exercise of his compa.s.sion and healing power than that represented by blind Bartimaus. The malady of blindness is grievously common in Palestine, the proportion of those thus afflicted being one in every hundred of the population, whereas in Europe the proportion is only one in a thousand_.

CHRIST'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples. Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an a.s.s tied, and a colt with her: loose _them_, and bring _them_ unto me. And if any _man_ say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the a.s.s, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set _him_ thereon. And a very great mult.i.tude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed _them_ in the way. And the mult.i.tudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed _is_ he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the mult.i.tude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.--_St. Matt, xxi: 1-4., 6-11_.

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_Had Jesus omitted to command to bring its mother along with the colt, upon which he elected to ride, his disciples would probably have brought her as a matter of course. It is the custom of the country; and as journeys are accomplished at a walking pace, mares and she-a.s.ses are frequently accompanied by their foals. It may be noted that in this picture one of the gates of Hebron does duty for that through which Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem; the former being suggestive of far greater antiquity than any which are to be found at the present day in Jerusalem itself_.

CHRIST AVOUCHETH HIS AUTHORITY

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him. And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. And it came to pa.s.s, _that_ on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon _him_ with the elders. And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things?

or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence _it was_. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.--_St. Luke xix: 47, 48; xx: 1-8._

_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_

_The occasion on which Jesus encountered for the last time the opposition of his priestly enemies to his teaching, and when, in the presence of the a.s.sembled mult.i.tudes, he exposed and denounced their hypocrisy, is supposed to take place in one of the great outer courts of the Temple, the buildings of which, although begun forty-six years previously, were at this time still unfinished, and were indeed never fully completed in accordance with their original design_.