The Bible Story, Volume 7: Wonderful Jesus 0828008019, 9780828008013

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THE BIBLE STORY VOLUME

Wonderful {From Bethlehem

to the

VII

Jesus

Beginning of His Ministry)

I V/

if

.-^-^

Wonderful Jesus/Volume? ArthurS-Maxwell Published jointly by

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Mountain View.

Calif.,

Omaha, Nebr.. Oshawa, Ont.

REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Washington, D.C.

SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Nashville, Tennessee

THIS

BO OK.

IS COPYRIGHTED, 1956, by the Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights are reserved. No part of its literary or pictorial contents may be reprcxluced without permission from

the publishers.

without credit lines are by Kreigh Collins, William Heaslip, William Hutchinson, Manning de V. Lee, Lester Quade, Paul Remmey, and Herbert Rudeen. Illustrations

Russell Harlan,

CONTENTS Part I

—

Stories of Jesus as a

Matthew

1:1-2:21;

Luke

1:1-2:40

1.

The Baby Everybody Wanted

2.

Great

page

9

4.

News From Heaven Two Happy Mothers The Wonderful Name

5.

Just

Time!

27

6.

"No Vacancy"

31

7.

Night of Nights

35

8.

This

9.

Strangers

3.

10.

.-

in

Is

the

One!

From

the

18

23

47 53

Stories of Jesus'

Luke

13

43

East

Narrow Escape

—

Part II

Boyhood

2:41-52

1.

Journey to Egypt

59

2.

Happy Days

63

3.

First

4.

Teaching the Teachers

5.

Lost Boy

6.

The

lie impress of perfection

in

Nazareth

Big Holiday

Found

Carpenter's

was upon the char-

—

69 74 80

Son

even as a boy a gracious dispoition, a patience that nothing could disturb, nd willing hands ever ready to serve others. cter of Jesus

Baby

85

THE BIBLE STORY Part III

—

Stories of Jesus' Ministry

Matthew

3:1-4:22;

Mark

1:1-20;

Luke

3:1-4:13;

John

1:1-4:42

PAGE 1.

Exciting

News

93

4.

--. The Shining Light A Voice From Heaven The Lamb of God

5.

Battle in the Wilderness

6.

Three Terrible Temptations

2. 3.

_

105 109 113

_

Disciples

7. First

-

8.

Jesus Begins to Preach

9.

Wedding

Surprise

The Temple Cleansed

11.

Midnight Visitor

12.

Sudden Harvest

119 126

_

129

_

10.

Part IV

97 100

134

_

139

_

145

_

-.

—

Stories of Jesus' Miracles

Matthew

4:23-25; 8:5-34;

5:11; 7:1-17; 8:22-40;

John

Mark

1:21-2:12;

4:35-5:20;

Luke

4:14-

4:43-54

1.

Daddy's Prayer Answered

153

2.

Madman

157

3.

Flood Tide of Love

160

4.

Home Town

165

in

Church

Boy Returns

169

6.

The Master Fisherman The Man With Five Friends

7.

The

Centurion's Servant

177

8.

The

Interrupted Funeral

180

9.

Lord

5.

10.

of the

Lunatics

Winds and Waves

Made Sane

174

184 189

PART

I

Stories of Jesus as a

(Matthew

1:1-2:21;

Luke

Baby 1:1-2:40)

tfW'

Wr

/

J

—

PART ONE

STORY

1

The Baby Everybody Wanted

DID

you ever want a baby brother

trms, >f

or a baby sister

to come to your home? If so, you know how eagerly you looked forward to his coming and how happy you were when he arrived. And you loved him because he

was

yours, your very

own.

There was one baby boy, however, wanted. For hundreds of years, mothers, brothers and

would come

to their

sisters,

all

hoped that

For a long time nobody knew

would be born,

so parents

he come to our home.?

would grow up

You in the

this very special

just

every

when

little girl

mother of

or

baby

where he

hoped

that she

this baby.

baby was part of a promise made by

of Eden, after

Adam

and Eve had made

God their

God had told them that they must leave home He said to the serpent who had caused

sad mistake. After their beautiful

everybody

everywhere kept wondering. Will

And

to be the

see, this

Garden

whom

over the world, fathers and

home.

Mary looked upon this lovely babe in her and pondered the far-reaching prophecy Simeon, she was full of grateful joy and lope that here at last was Israel's Deliverer. Vs

—

THE BIBLE STORY the trouble, "I will put enniity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." all

This meant that someday a child, or grandchild, or greatgrandchild of Eve's would "bruise," or crush, the head of the

wicked serpent and undo

all the evil he had done. Someday would be born who would break the power

a wonderful baby

and regain

of Satan

Eve thought

When

that

all

Cain was born she

man had

because of

lost

would be the mother

that she

said, "I

Lord." But Cain was not the one.

have gotten a

He

sin.

of this baby.

man from

the

turned out to be a mur-

derer and killed his brother Abel.

After Abel's death Eve had another

little boy and called meaning "the appointed one." But again she was mistaken. He was not the appointed one.

him

Seth,

Of kl

w

course

Eve had baby

girls

And

too.

without doubt

them about God's promise. So when each girl grew up and married she hoped that she would be the mother she told

all

of

of the wonderful baby

God had spoken

of.

who would do

But

all

all

However, they passed on the promise

who and

told so

it

to their little girls,

on down the

years.

the glorious things

were mistaken.

who

In this

told

way

it

to their little girls, to their litde girls,

the hope of a

coming

Saviour and Deliverer was kept alive from century to century.

That Moses knew about the promise

is

certain.

He

said

Numbers 24:17

THE BABY EVERYBODY WANTED to the children of Israel:

"The Lord thy God

will raise

up

unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like

unto me; unto him ye

Balaam knew about Balak wanted him

and

of Jacob,

meant and

a

to,

it

he

shall

hearken."

too, for instead of cursing Israel, as said,

"There

shall

come

a Star out

By

a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel."

someone was coming who would be both

that

this

he^

a light

king and people wondered the more when the promised ;

Isaiah 7:14

Child would come.

The prophet

Isaiah

a virgin shall conceive,

was more and bear

Immanuel." Again, "Unto us a child is

given: and the government shall be

After a

little

this,

mother,

be the great leader

the Child

this

from mother

upon

his shoulder."

my

is

boy grow up to

has promised to

From home

to

send.^^

place

home, and

where

especially

mother, the news spread like wildfire: "But

thousands of |udah, yet out of thee shall that

name

born, unto us a son

thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be

me

wrote: "Behold,

shall call his

Micah revealed the very

to be born. to

is

be the one.? Will

whom God

the prophet

was

and

many who had lost hope hoped again. Many looking down at her precious baby boy, must

have asked, Could

Then

He

definite.

a son,

little

he come

among

the

forth unto

to be ruler in Israel."

All eyes turned toward Bethlehem. For a

little

while

every mother and child in or near the city became important.

r ns

"it

Daniel 9:25

Micah

5:

THE BIBLE STORY But nothing happened.

And

as the years rolled by,

who remembered

prophecy was forgotten. The few

Micah's

thought

it

he must have been mistaken.

Then, after the Jews had been taken away into captivity, and everybody was discouraged, another prophet brought thrilling news about the baby. Daniel claimed that the angel Gabriel had told

him

the exact time

when

the great Deliverer

would appear. had

Gabriel, he said,

of the

commandment

told

him

to restore

"from the going forth

that

and

to build Jerusalem

the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks,

unto

and threescore

and two weeks." This was the most definite word the

yet.

From

the time that

king of Persia should order the rebuilding

of

Jeru-

salem to the coming of "Messiah the Prince" would be

sixty-

nine weeks (seven plus sixty-two). Sixty-nine weeks

be here in

less

!

That's no time at

than two years

all,

But others

!

people said. He'll

said the

weeks must

be "prophetic weeks," with each day reckoned as a year.

They were

right.

And

this

meant the world had

to wait

almost another 500 years.

That

is

a long, long time,

and

as the years passed, Daniel's

words were forgotten and people came derful baby

to

think that the won-

would never come.

Then, when many had given up hope thing happened. to a

prophet but to a

WEEKS 7

The

+

girl.

WEEKS 60I3SCORE1

altogether, some-

angel Gabriel came again, this time not

He

brought great news from heaven.

WEEKS

+2

WEEKS _ — THE MESSIAH =69

!

PART ONE

STORY Great

A

S

THE

/A

X

2

News From Heaven

time drew near for the birth of Jesus there must

have been great excitement

JL heaven. To

of the ages.

them

The Lord, whom

among

the

angels

in

was the most important event

this

they adored, was about to leave

and dwell on one of the smallest To show how much He loved all His

the realms of glory to go planets

He had

created.

creatures

—even those who had

going

wrap Himself up

live

to

as a man among men. How much the angels

miracles

we

most gracious

wonderful news.

on the earth

God

rebelled against little

is

it

How

Him— He

human

must have seemed

love.

act that they

—except

bundle of

flesh

was and

understood about this miracle of

do not know, but

sublimest proof that this

in a

to

them

the

So touched were they by

wanted

to tell

everybody the

they must have marveled that the people for a very

few

—did

not give a thought

to His coming, that nobody was preparing a welcome for

Him

Eagerly they watched as the 483 years of Daniel's prophecy 13

f

GREAT NEWS FROM HEAVEN gradually came to a a

moment

Gabriel to

fly

do know

chose

Mary

that "the eyes of the

the whole earth, to

whose heart

He

best girl

all

her

"perfect toward him."

He

this very great

course

town, the very

Lord run

all life

to

No

upon

called

Mary.

a girl called

and

we

throughout

fro

in the behalf of

the world just then.

believed

He

them

doubt Mary was the

and knew

He had

that her heart

was

could trust her with

honor.

He knew street,

exactly

where she

lived

—the

very

when moment

the very house, the very room. So

Gabriel drew near to Nazareth he later

and find

God

the Bible does not say. But

shew himself strong

could find in

been watching her

Of

too late,

perfect toward him."

is

not

at exactly the right time,

moment

swiftly to the earth

why God

Just

Then,

close.

too soon, not a

made no

mistake.

A

he was beside her. "Hail, thou that art highly favoured," he said, so kindly

and

Lord

tenderly, "the

is

with thee: blessed

women." Mary wondered who her meant by

among women" village like

Seeing still.

visitor

How

these strange words.

—

an unknown

she,

thou

art

might be and what he

could she be "blessed girl in

.

.

.

an out-of-the-way

Nazareth!

how

frightened she was, Gabriel spoke

"Fear not, Mary," he

said, "for

more gently

thou hast found favour

with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy

and bring forth

"He

among

a son,

and

shalt call his

and

shall be great,

God

Highest: and the Lord

name

shall be called the shall give

womb,

Jesus.

Son of the

unto him the throne 15

^

PAINTIN.; BV

RUSSUL HAFUAN

© 1M6. BV

REVIEW AND Hl.ALD

Gabriel made the astonishing announcement: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt bring .

forth a son,

and

shalt call his

.

name

.

Jesus."

THE BIBLE STORY of his father for ever;

David and he

To Mary To

kingdom

of his

seem

this didn't

must be dreaming. Anyway,

no end."

there shall be possible.

To

on David's throne!

sit

house of Jacob

shall reign over the

:

and

it

Her son

to be a king!

Oh, no! She

reign forever!

couldn't happen, because she

wasn't married. She was just betrothed to Joseph, that was

and she

all,

Of answer.

If

knew

Mary were

it,

words

to be

found

Ghost

shall

come upon

to her. In

in all the Bible, thee,

born of thee

Seeing that

perhaps the most beautiful he said to her: "The Holy of the Highest

also that holy thing

shall be called the

Mary

Son

of

doubted, he told her a secret that

still

beth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age:

month with

her,

who was

"Elisabeth having a baby!" to herself.

that

it's

"Not

going

Elisabeth!

Elisathis

is

called barren."

can hear

Mary whispering know

does this stranger

"With God nothing

shall be impossible,"

said.

Mary bowed Lord," she

said,

A moment

her head.

"be

it

later

alone wondering what

happen 16

I

And how

and

to be a boy.?"

Gabriel smiled.

he

which

God."

must have surprised her very much: "Behold, thy cousin the sixth

his

something very, very

and the power

overshadow thee: therefore

shall be

it.

and he was ready with

willing, he said,

wonderful would happen

shall

know

told Gabriel so, in case he didn't

course Gabriel

to her.

unto

"Behold the handmaid of the

me

according to thy word."

Gabriel vanished, and it

all

Mary was

meant and what was going

left

to

—

many another God-fearing girl in Israel she had how honored she would be if she could be the mother wonderful baby so many people had been expecting for

Like thought of the

hundreds and hundreds of

hope

might be

it

so.

but she had never dared to

—

an angel

—had

HERS

She was going

!

years,

And now somebody

told her that this to be the

it

must have been

baby was going to be hers

mother of the Messiah. Her

son would be the great Deliverer of her people, the

whom

patriarchs

time. Yes

!

And He would

and "the Son It it

was

of

and

it

of

be called "the Son of the Highest"

God."

was too wonderful real

One

and prophets had spoken from the dawn of

was

to be real, too

good

to be true.

Yet

true.

The wonderful baby was on His way. 17

—

PART ONE

STORY

3

Two Happy

Mothers

ELISABETH!" "Mary!" Surprise and happiness were in their eager greeting.

Though Travel was

close relatives, they

difficult in those days.

One had

to

or not at

all.

go from place

So anxious was Mary stranger all

the

When

had

had not met

for

There were no

to place

some

on donkeyback or on

to find out

foot,

whether the mysterious

told the truth about Elisabeth that she

way "into

time.

cars, of course.

had gone

the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda."

she found Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias there,

she realized at once that Gabriel had

What

a story Elisabeth

had

made no

to tell!

She

mistake.

said that for a

long time she and her husband had been praying that they

might have six

months

for he

18

was

a baby, but

none had come. Then one day, about

before,

when

a priest

—an angel had appeared

Temple him and said,

Zacharias was busy in the to

TWO HAPPY MOTHERS "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer thy wife EUsabeth

name

shalt call his

"And

"He

and

drink; and he shall be

he turn

Lord

didn't see

on

shall

filled

their

else

he said about the baby," 'he shall be great in

drink neither wine nor strong

with the Holy Ghost, even from

God.

of the children of Israel shall

And

and the disobedient

make ready

"My

and thou

he

shall

go before him

and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers

to the children, to

what

husband that

womb. And many

to the

in the spirit

my

told

the sight of the Lord,

his mother's

heard; and

John."

you'll never guess

she went on.

is

shall bear thee a son,

to the

wisdom

a people prepared for the Lord.'

of the just;

"

husband," Elisabeth continued, "told the angel he

how

in years.

this

could happen because

But the angel replied,

the presence of

God; and am

'I

am

sent to

we

are both getting

Gabriel that stand in .

.

.

shew thee

these

glad tidings.'

"Then he

said that

my

husband would be dumb, and not

able to speak until the baby should be born.

And he's still dumb."

-4>

THE BIBLE STORY Then Mary who had spoken

told her story, sure

now

that

it

was Gabriel

to her.

Elisabeth listened with growing surprise. Suddenly she

caught the

to

full

meaning

among women,"

thou

of Gabriel's message.

she said to Mary.

me, that the mother of

Then

the

these beautiful

Holy

Lord should come

this

is

to me.?"

came upon Mary, and she spoke

Spirit

words of

my

"Blessed art

"And whence

praise to the

One who had honored

her so greatly:

"My

soul doth

rejoiced in

magnify the Lord, and

God my

estate of his

handmaiden:

generations shall call

"For he that

and holy

is

his

is

name.

from generation

my

me

hath

for,

behold, from henceforth

all

blessed.

mighty hath done

And

his

mercy

is

to

me

on them

great things; that fear

him

to generation.

"He hath shewed

strength with his arm; he hath scattered

the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

down

spirit

Saviour. For he hath regarded the low

the mighty

from

their seats,

He

hath put

and exalted them of low

degree.

"He

hath

filled the

rich he hath sent

"He Israel,

mercy; thers,

hungry with good things; and the

empty away.

hath holpen his servant

remembrance of

in as to

he spake to our

Abraham, and

to

his fa-

his

seed for ever."

Mary 20

stayed in the

home

of

TWO HAPPY MOTHERS Zacharias for three months, until

it

was time

for EUsabeth's

baby to be born.

There was quite a

then about naming the baby.

fuss

EUsabeth said he was to be called John, but the neighbors insisted his

name should be

Zacharias, after his father.

When

made signs that he wanted to say something. They brought him writing material and this is what he wrote: "His name is John." At once his dumbness left him and "he spake, and praised they asked Zacharias, he

couldn't speak, but he

still

God." Then he told the neighbors

from the day Gabriel spoke were amazed and shall this

Zacharias,

now

with the Holy

filled

Lord God

his people,

and hath

hand

of

we should all

Spirit,

went on,

of Israel; for he hath visited

of his holy prophets,

began: that the

had happened Temple. They

one another, "What manner of child

raised

for us in the house of his servant

mouth

that

in the

all

be!"

"Blessed be the

redeemed

said to

him

to

up an horn

David;

as

which have been

and

of salvation

he spake by the since the

world

be saved from our enemies, and from

that hate us; to

perform the mercy promised

THE BIBLE STORY to

our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath

which he sware unto

us, that

might

serve

before him,

to

our father Abraham, that he would grant

we being delivered him without fear, all

"And thou

the days of our

out of the hand of our enemies in holiness

and righteousness

life.

child," he said, looking

down

lovingly at

little

John, "shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou

go before the

shalt

knowledge of

give

of their

sins,

that

sit

from on high hath

in darkness

our feet into the I

way

can almost

of people gathered I

Lord

to prepare his

through the tender mercy of our

the dayspring

them

face of the

ways;

to

salvation unto his people by the remission

and

God whereby ;

visited us, to give light to

in the

shadow

of death, to guide

of peace."

feel the

hush that came over the

round baby John

little

group

as they listened to Zacharias.

think they sensed that a great It

had

moment in history had arrived. Heaven was drawing very near to earth. God for two baby boys. One was born, the other was on

had.

called

His way. One was

to be "the

other "the Son of the Highest."

when

they grew up!

prophet of the Highest," the

What

a stir they

would makt

PART ONE

STORY

4

The Wonderful Name

A FTER

r\

^

J-

been

the birth of John,

What it.

had

a story she

There was Gabriel's

surprise at getting a baby;

Gabriel's strange

and

He

to tell

visit

how John

thrilling

As Joseph Ustened very worried.

to Nazareth,

Joseph was waiting eagerly for her return.

where

full of

Mary returned him

!

She must have

to Zacharias; Elisabeth's

got his name; and finally

message

to herself.

to this part of her story

didn't

know what

to

make

of

he became it.

It

was

it. Was Mary Had she really seen an angel.? Would her baby be the Son of God and the king of Israel.? How strange! But God knew his thoughts, and that very night He sent

unusual that he could hardly believe

all so

him

the truth.?

Gabriel to speak to

need not worry. to

telling

him

God's plan. What's more, he

a son,

and thou

him that he Mary was according

in a dream. Gabriel told

What had happened shalt call his

said,

name

to

"She

Jesus: for

shall bring forth

he

shall save his

people from their sins."

23

o

When

Joseph

awoke

am

sure he

next morning

Mary

told

I

him

hear

spoken

me

about

all

dream. Indeed,

I

his

can almost

saying, Gabriel has

to

me

too.

He

told

is

true,

that your story

and he wants

me

to call the

"

baby

'Jesus.'

"He told me the same," Mary may well have said. "But

there's

nobody

in

our family by that name."

know. Surely

"I

it

must

have some special meaning." "It does; iour.'

said,

from

it

means

'Sav-

This Child, Gabriel is

to save

His people

their sins."

i'^i

h

am

I

neither

sure

what Gabriel meant. of Israel they

the

Mary understood

Joseph nor

Not

hoped someone would come

Romans—from

fully

then. Like the rest of the people to save

the cruelty of their soldiers

them from

and the mean-

ness of their tax collectors. But they never thought that such a person

would

save

them from

Yet God knew

help.?

other troubles

that

if

would come

to

their sins.

this

How

should happen,

the

the most precious secret ever told.

first

to

know

that this

was the very one who,

power

as

all

that

Israel's

an end.

In these wonderful words Gabriel tried to

Mary

would

baby boy

God had

tell

Joseph and

He wanted them

who was coming

to

to be

them

promised, would break the

of Satan. This precious child

would grow up

to be the

He He would make them good and true and noble. And day He would lead them back to long-lost Eden and re-

Saviour of the world.

would help people to stop doing

wrong. one

store everything that Satan took

"Thou

shalt call his

away.

name

every time anyone should call

Jesus," said Gabriel, so that

Him

by

this

name

they would

THE BIBLE STORY think of

wilHng

Him

as a

"Thou

Saviour and remember that

them from

to save

shalt call his

the worst of

He

is

and

able

sins.

name Jesus," that people of all naas One who would help them in

Him

tions should think of

every time of need.

"Thou

name

shalt call his

to the hopeless

and joy

Jesus," that

to the sad, to the

hope might come

ends of the earth and

the end of time.

No

wonder

the prophet Isaiah said that "his

be called Wonderful."

It

is

name

shall

wonderful— the most wonderful

name anyone ever was given. "Thou shalt call his name

Jesus:

for he shall save his

people from their sins."

More than

nineteen

hundred years have passed

Gabriel spoke these words to Joseph, but they

mean

as

since

much

and more today. They glow more brightly every passing day. Their glorious message can save us and will save us

is

He mil

from

all

our

for you, for

save us sins.

if

we

me, for everybody. will let

He

Him. And He

PART ONE

STORY

5

Just in Time!

SLOWLY the

am

the weeks passed as

Mary looked forward

to

day when her wonderful baby would be born. I sure she prayed over and over again that God would

make her the best little mother that ever was. She wanted so much to be worthy of the great honor He had shown her. Then one morning there was wild excitement in the sleepy little

village of Nazareth.

the market place. in

They

Roman

said

came galloping into they had orders from the emperor soldiers

Rome. Soon everybody was running toward them, eager

to find

out what was going on. Boys and girls pushed through the

gathering crowd to get a better view of the splendid uniforms the soldiers were wearing.

"This

is

unrolling a to

a decree

scroll,

from Caesar Augustus," cried an officer, to read. "Every citizen is

which he began

make his way at once to As the people listened,

his

home town

to be registered."

their hearts sank.

They guessed 27

THE BIBLE STORY was part

this

of a

new

plan to get more taxes out of them.

But there was nothing they could do about

it.

They had

to obey.

much upset. Because he was "of the house of David" his home town was Bethlehem, eighty miles or so away. The last thing he wanted to do just now was to take Mary all that way. Her baby was due any time, and Joseph Joseph was

was

afraid something

might go wrong.

Today, of course, one can

lehem by car a long, trails

travel

from Nazareth

in a couple of hours, but in those days

tiring journey

and rough, rutted

on donkeyback over roads.

was top speed, which meant

steep

to Bethit

meant

mountain

Three or four miles an hour

a four

day

trip at least,

with no

nice auto courts to stay in at night.

Joseph and

Should they

Mary must have

stay in

Nazareth and

talked

it

over very seriously.

risk trouble

with the Romans,

or should they try to get to Bethlehem in time, trusting to

watch over them on the way.?

God

JUST IN TIME! They decided

to

go

to

Bethlehem.

Mary was

Ufted care-

fully onto a donkey, and Joseph either walked beside her or

rode another animal.

was rough going, and no doubt many a time Joseph asked, "Are you all right, Mary.? Are you sure.?" Many a time, too, he must have wished that the donkey It

would move

And

faster.

never had

were on

But

their if

Never,

it

seemed, had

it

gone

so slowly.

much traffic. So many people as the Romans had bidden them.

there been so

way

to register

Joseph was worried,

his

concern was nothing com-

pared to that of the watching angels. Better than anybody on earth they knew that the wonderful baby was to be born in

Bethlehem, not in Nazareth, or Jerusalem, or somewhere in between. so,

God had

somehow,

it

said so,

through the prophet Micah.

And

must surely happen. But here was Mary on

donkeyback, miles away from Bethlehem and time running out

fast.

Would

she

make

it.?

THE BIBLE STORY Oh,

Why

that donkey!

must have wanted

to get

wouldn't

behind

it

go

faster!

How

they

and push!

it

Mile after weary mile the two

tired people traveled.

At

night they rested as best they could, moving on next morn-

ing at break of day.

Two

days passed. Three days.

"Are you

all right,

Mary.^"'

—

so. Is

"I think so

"Not

far. It

I

hope

there

Evening was drawing on again salem, where the six

much

farther to

go.''"

won't be long now."

traffic

as they slowly passed Jeru-

was worse than

ever.

They had only

miles to go now.

Another hour went

by.

Darkness was

falling.

Soon pin-

points of light could be seen in the distance.

"Bethlehem!" cried Joseph.

"Thank God!" murmured Mary. "Bethlehem!" They had made it just in time.

—

—

PART ONE

STORY

"No

6

Vacancy'

HAVE"No

you ever been traveling

a

If so,

thought that there was no place to just too

much

late at

rest,

nowhere

how

poor Joseph and

reached the only inn in

town and found

"There was no room

for

them

wasn't the innkeeper's

ably he was

to go,

seemed

to take, didn't it?

Imagine then

It

night and found

Vacancy" sign on every auto court and motel? you know how very tired it made you feel. The

Mary it

when

they

in the inn."

fault.

He

couldn't help

beside himself trying to find food,

for all the people

felt

full to overflowing.

crowding into the

city to

let

it.

Prob-

alone rooms,

obey the decree of

Caesar Augustus.

When he saw Mary, and guessed what was the matter, I am sure he was sorry for her. Who would not have been? But what could he do? When a hotel is full it's full, that's all. Of that

it

course,

if

the innkeeper

had known

was the Messiah Himself who was

all

to be

Mary knew

born that night

31

!

!

THE BIBLE STORY

—he

would have found

he had had

up

to give

What

great blessing.

the rest of his

life

own

room.

somewhere, even

And

famous

his inn

if

here he missed a

he would have had

a story

How

!

a place for her

his

to tell for

would have become

People would have talked of his good fortune to the end of time.

By he

failing to

lost a great

"Inasmuch

day,

did

it

comes

do the

best he could for a poor,

opportunity. Jesus as ye did

not to me."

How

may

well say to

not to one of the

it

careful

we

needy

girl

him some-

least of these, ye

when someone

should be

to us in need!

But in the hurry and bustle of the moment the innkeeper did not think of

all this.

Instead, he offered his stable.

"The stable!" said Joseph. "Is that all you have.?" "At least it's shelter, and better than nothing." The stable As Mary heard the word her heart sank. All day she had longed for a comfortable place to but a stable

!

Maybe

she cried.

Gabriel had said to her: the

him

Son

"He

of the Highest:

I

rest.

am

Now

there

shall be great,

and

and the Lord God

the throne of his father David:

the house of Jacob for ever;

and of

was nothing

sure she thought of

and he his

what

shall be called

shall give

unto

shall reign over

kingdom

there shall

be no end."

Could she have been mistaken.? she wondered. Gabriel had said was true

why was

If

what

there nothing ready for

her baby.? Surely "the Son of the Highest" should not be

born in a smelly old

32

stable!

A

door creaked in the darkness. Joseph

went ahead with

a lantern.

A

A

horse neighed.

A

cow mooed.

rooster crowed.

"This way," said Joseph. "There's some clean straw over here." Peering through the gloom, Mary saw an empty manger, half

with hay for the cows to eat. "This will do for the baby," she

filled

A

said.

would do. But what a strange place for the "Son of the Highest" to lie. Strange indeed! He could not have chosen a humbler because place for His coming into the world. Perhaps it was manger!

He wanted them and

No heaven 7-3

Yes,

the humblest

that

He was

it

and the poorest

know

willing to share their

red carpet was spread for to earth.

to

that

He

loved

lot.

Him when He

came from

There was only the straw on a muddy

floor.

33

f

THE BIBLE STORY No

fine linen,

no downy

quilt,

was provided

for

His bed,

only the fragrant hay.

No

trumpets blared a welcome

no sound

at

all

save the

mooing

when He came. There was of cows, the neighing of

horses, the braying of donkeys, the barking of dogs, as the

dumb

creatures of His creation tried their best to say,

"We're

glad you've come to see us."

Then, suddenly,

And

born.

Nobody was Yet

it

it

they called

happened. The wonderful baby was

Him

Jesus.

and Mary and the angels. was the most wonderful event in history. All heaven there save Joseph

had waited thousands of

and prophets had longed

years for this

moment.

Patriarchs

dawn of time. Yet nobody was there. Nobody knew. Nobody cared. In His infinite love the Son of God had stepped from heaven to earth to take on "the likeness of man" and "the form of a servant" that

and here

Lord

He

He

for

it

since the

might be our Saviour and Redeemer;

was, lying in a manger. Here was the all-powerful

weak and helpless as a little child; here was King Eternal unable to speak a single word; here

of creation

the all-wise

was the Source of

all life

dependent for food upon a

This was indeed "love divine, heaven, to earth

all

girl.

love excelling, joy of

come down."

Don't you wish you could have been there to welcome Him.? Just to say, "Thank you, dear Lord," for such love as this.?

^'£f

PART ONE

STORY

7

Night of Nights

you had been living in Bethlehem that night when Jesus was born. What would you have seen and

SUPPOSE heard?

Imagine for a moment you are

there.

You and

your brother.

roof of It is a warm night, so you are lying on a bed on the you but is asleep, family of the rest a flat-topped house. The stars. the count to trying sky, the are awake, looking up at "I never "I

saw

so

many

people in our town," you say. will stay.?" says your brother.

wonder how long they

"Till the taxing

There

is

is

over,

silence for a

"I've been

I

suppose."

moment.

wondering," you

say.

"Wondering what.?" "About what father has been about the Messiah's coming.

He

telling us lately.

says the time

is

You know,

nearly

up and

the old prophecies must be fulfilled soon." "Isn't

He

to

come

to Bethlehem.?"

35

"Yes. He's to be born here. I

wonder

The prophet Micah

says so.

when.'*"

There

"Look

is

a pause.

at that!

Then

Up

a cry.

there in the sky!"

"What.? Where.?"

"The hght! The "Looks Uke

beautiful Ught.

a star.

It's

over the stable behind the inn.

go and

see!

Silently

What

Quietly now. Don't

can

No,

it

be.?"

it isn't. It's

can be happening.? Let's

wake everybody!"

you both creep downstairs, cross the road, and

walk toward the to

What

right over the inn.

inn.

Suddenly you

stop, for the light

seems

have moved outside the town.

You run to the place

You

past the guards at the gates

where the shepherds keep

see a

group of

men

and

across the fields

their sheep at night.

standing open-mouthed as a

glorious being talks to them.

:.5»»

:^.

fy>A«^

^ *n

f:>

^

#

Can

be the Messiah? you wonder. Surely not.

this

must be an angel! You hear him

it

behold,

I

bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be

to all people. a Saviour,

For unto you

which

is

"Did you hear that

He

Then

saying, "Fear not: for,

is

born

this

day in the

city of

David

Christ the Lord." that.?"

you

ask.

"He

says

Messiah

is

here,

has just been born!"

"Sh-sh! Listen.

The

"And

be a sign unto you," the angel says.

this shall

shall find the

angel

is

speaking again."

"Ye

babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a

manger."

Suddenly you

see a perfectly

marvelous

sight.

Right before

your eyes appears a multitude of shining angels, thousands

upon thousands of them, in the highest,

it

is

all

singing together, "Glory to

and on earth peace, good

will

God

toward men."

The whole heavens are flooded with light. Everywhere as bright as day. You can see the rugged mountains all

around, the awe-struck shepherds, the trembling sheep, and every building in Bethlehem. Oh, yes, and the angels. So many angels, all singing their loudest as

ing ages and ages to sing this song.

38

^^x^

though they had been wait-

NIGHT OF NIGHTS "Glory

The

est!"

to

God Glory !

to

God Glory !

to

God

in the high-

majestic music seems to roll clear round the world

and out toward the stars, "Glory to God in the highest!" Then, more gently, "On earth peace, good will toward men." How tenderly and hopefully they sing these closing words of

men

their lovely

hymn

of praise

!

It is as if

they long to see

everywhere welcome their Saviour with open arms and

make Him the Lord of their lives. As suddenly as they came, the settles

again over the fields and

to see

what they

will do.

You

angels disappear. Darkness

hills.

You watch

the shepherds

hear them say, "Let us

now go

even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." "Let's

ing

off

go

at

once!" they

toward the

city gate,

in their haste, but getting

all cry,

and you

see

them hurry-

stumbling over rocks and briers

up and hurrying

on, eager to

news they have heard. somebody them to see where they behind You run

tell

the great

A

will go.

They

pass a sleepy-eyed citizen near the inn.

"Was

a

"Yes,

down

baby born around here tonight.?" a shepherd

asks.

there in the stable."

They run on. It is still dark, though dawn is on dim light comes through cracks in the door. MJ

the way.

!

THE BIBLE STORY And what

is

They push open

A

that?

the door

baby's cry! This

and peer

in.

must be the

You

place.

are right behind

them.

At

the far end a

woman is

on a

resting

a baby,

wrapped

man

is

standing. Beside

him

is

pile of straw. Beside her, in a

in

swaddling

a

young

manger,

clothes.

Surely this must be the baby the angel spoke about. if so,

He must

And

be the promised Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reverently the shepherds enter the stable. Joseph and Mary look up starded, wondering what these strange, rough men are doing here at this time of night.

them

No

indeed!

One

They have come

to see the baby.

of the shepherds begins to explain.

he

says,

very night the Messiah

Him

would be born and they would find

lying in a manger.

Mary's eyes glow. She understands. she

to turn

They were in the keeping watch over their flocks by night, when of a sudden they saw an angel, who told them that this

field, all

Have they come

out.f^

is

baby

sure is,

God

has not forgotten her.

even though

He

is

And she is glad. Now He knows where the

lying in a manger.

Over and over again the shepherds

tell

their story,

with

NIGHT OF NIGHTS first

add some fresh

one, then another, breaking in to

about what happened that night. looking

As

down it

And

baby and saying

at the

dawns upon them

ever

all

how

more

detail

the while they keep lovely

He

is.

clearly that this

is

in-

deed the long-promised Messiah, the Son of the living God, they kneel beside the manger and worship Him, the first in all

the world to

do

so.

By-and-by they bid good-by to Joseph and Mary and go

on

their

way. As they do so the sun

mountains.

A new day

People are

just

is

is

coming up over the

dawning for Bethlehem and

waking up and getting

are tending their animals.

They look

at the

the world.

breakfast.

men

ishment, for with faces aglow these roughly dressed "glorifying and praising

God"

right in the

Some

shepherds in aston-

main

street

'

are

Eagerly

—

"

THE BIBLE STORY they are stopping passers-by and telling them about the marvel-

ous things they saw and heard that night.

"You mean you saw angels?" somebody

says to them.

"Angels here in Bethlehem.'^" "Yes, indeed, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising " saying

God and

"Impossible

"But we

!

They

did.

"Messiah born here "Yes, indeed.

It's

told us Messiah last

true

!

night

!

Oh,

was born."

no.

That couldn't

be."

He's in the stable over there behind

the inn."

"And that

all they that heard it wondered were told them by the shepherds."

Some

those things

at

Some went to They

believed their story; others did not.

the stable to see the Christ Child. Others didn't bother. let

the greatest event of the ages go right past

a thought.

washing

They

in their midst.

How

those

said they

careful

we do who went

get so busy that

just

we

wanted

should be

not realize

when

to the stable that

another baby, and some saw God.

ever since.

whom

making money much was right we let ourselves

dishes, cleaning house, feeding animals,

—while the very one they Of

them without

busied themselves with their daily chores

It

do you

is

that

see?

way

still.

It

so

lest

Jesus

is

near!

morning, some saw has been that

As you look

at

Him

way

today,

PART ONE

STORY This

IF

the One!

YOU could have been in

six

weeks

a very old

and

Is

8

fathers

Temple

looking eagerly

were bringing

at

Jerusalem about

was born you would have seen

Jesus

after

man

the

at the babies that

mothers

to the priests for dedication.

His name was Simeon, and he had been interested in babies for a long time now. Mothers loved the way he looked at their children as though he really cared about them. They thought he must be a very kindhearted old man, and he was.

But he was more than

was

a scholar,

just a

kindly old grandfather.

He

and knew the Holy Scriptures from Genesis

to

Malachi. For years and years he had been looking for "the consolation of Israel." the Messiah for

Him

to appear.

he would not die That's to the

He had

and was sure

why

studied

all

the prophecies about

in his heart that the time

What's more, the Lord had

until

told

had come

him

that

he had seen the Child of promise.

he looked so keenly

at

every baby brought

Temple. Of course, the parents didn't know what was

43

!

THE BIBLE STORY going on in

Could

this

mind, but he was asking himself

his

be the one?

Or

this?

Or

all

the time,

this?

Every day mothers and fathers would be there with

new-born children offerings,

to dedicate

and Simeon never

looking at their babies.

them

God and

to

tired of talking

Day

after

their

thank

offer

with them and

day he searched for the

One he longed to see. One day as he entered the Temple he noticed two poorly dressed people who had come to dedicate their little son. That they were Galileans he could they were poor was clear from the two birds

see

in a cage as their offering.

two young pigeons" was the were supposed to bring.

by

their garments.

fact that they

"A

gift that

That

were carrying

pair of turtledoves, or

only the poorest people

Simeon had never seen these people before, but there was something about them that interested him very much, particularly the

he

felt sure,

about

young

woman

with the sweet, gentle

Here,

face.

was one who loved the Lord. There was no doubt

that.

He

looked down at the child and suddenly his heart stirred. Somehow it came to him, all of a sudden. It was as though the voice of God had spoken to him saying, "This is the Messiah This is the One for whom you have been looking so long!"

Tears of happiness rolled

down

the old man's cheeks as,

taking the precious baby and holding

"Lord,

now

lettest

ing to thy word

:

for

mine eyes have seen thy

thou hast prepared before the face of

44

Him

close,

he

said,

thou thy servant depart in peace, accord-

all

salvation,

which

people; a light to

and the glory of thy people

lighten the Gentiles,

Israel."

Joseph and Mary looked on, amazed. The Bible says they

marveled

at the things

And Mary may Did Gabriel

Then

Simeon was saying about

well have said to herself,

tell

him

the old

"How

their child.

does he know.?

too.?"

man

turned to Joseph and

Mary and

them. Looking into Mary's eager, upturned

face,

blessed

he spoke

45

THE BIBLE STORY directly to her, saying, "Behold, this child

and

rising again of

many

in Israel

;

and

is

set for

for a sign

the fall

which

shall

own many hearts may be revealed." Mary wondered what he meant. What strange destiny was

be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy soul also,) that the thoughts of

ahead of her precious to fall

and

How

again.''

rise

piercing her

little

souLf*

Was

Jesus.

'^

How

would He cause people

And what was

this

not her child to become

then could there be any

suffering.^'

about a sword

King

Some day

of

Israel.?

she

would

understand, but not now.

Hardly had she time words before an elderly

to

think about Simeon's strange

woman came

Her name was Anna. She was

hurrying over to them.

eighty-four years old,

prophetess. All excited, she took one look at

God

baby, and began to thank

Messiah

at

last.

what was going

aloud that

and

Mary and

He had

a

her

sent the

People around heard her and came to see on. Eagerly

Anna

told her story

and "spake

him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." Some believed her; others doubted; but most just said, "What a lovely baby!" and went on their way without giving of

the matter another thought.

But deal.

to

Now

Mary

the

she was

words of Simeon and Anna meant

more

a great

sure than ever that her baby

indeed the Messiah, the Child of promise and prophecy.

46

mmt

^

was

PART ONE

STORY

9

Strangers

HOW

many when the

angels

it

came

to

nobody

Bethlehem will ever

was seen hundreds of miles away there Far to the

a

the East

people saw the wondrous light in the sky

the birth of Jesus it

From

group of

little

had some

How

is

to rejoice over

know. But

that

no doubt.

east of Palestine, possibly in Arabia, or Persia,

men

special

not only saw the light but were convinced

meaning.

old they were the Bible does not say, but

they were wise and learned. Certainly they

knew

we know

the

Scriptures well, for they were sure that the time

Hebrew

had come

They must have

studied the

prophecies of Daniel, Moses, Isaiah, and others.

They had

for the

king of

Israel to appear.

worked out the seventy-week prophecy better than the leaders of Israel had done, and had taken literally the promise "there shall

come

When

a Star out of Jacob."

they saw the strange light they said to themselves,

"This must be what

we have been

expecting."

Then

they

set

47

THE BIBLE STORY out to find what they

came

To

it

Day

meant.

day they journeyed

till

at last to Jerusalem.

found

their surprise they

about their business as usual.

coming

after

new

of a

"Where

the people there going

Nobody was

talking about the

king.

he that

is

all

is

born King of the Jews.?" they asked

someone.

"King on

of the Jews.?" replied the

man

with a puzzled look

"You mean Herod.?" new King. Your King. We saw His star in the and are come to worship Him." "There's no new king around here," said the man. "But there must be," said the Wise Men as they went on

his face.

"No. east

to tell

A

why

they had

in Jerusalem

began

soon the entire

so far. After a while a

come

to believe that they

city

was talking about

had traveled hundreds

must be

few people

right. Pretty

these strangers

of miles to find the

new King

who

of the

Jews.

Presently

and

it

news of the Wise Men's

sounded

were about

like treason.

to rebel again,

was part of the and demanded

plot.

So he

that they

He was

and

story reached

this tall tale

about a

called "the chief priests tell

Herod,

worried. Perhaps the Jews

him "where

new king

and

scribes"

Christ should be

born."

"In Bethlehem of Judaea," they told him, "for thus it is And thou Bethlehem, in the land of

written by the prophet, Juda, art not the least thee shall

come

among

the princes of Juda: for out of

a Governor, that shall rule

my

people Israel."

STRANGERS FROM THE EAST Somehow, from Herod

felt

the

way

and

the priests

scribes talked,

sure that they did not beheve that any new king

had been born. So might not appear

far as they in

were concerned

Bethlehem

their

"governor"

for hundreds of years yet. But

Men from the He would find

he was troubled by the rumor that the Wise

had

started.

Was

there anything to

it.^*

East out.

Wise Men. They were still in town and came gladly. He treated them graciously, and asked them to tell him exactly what they had told so many others. They

Herod

did; and

"When

sent for the

Herod

did you

They

with great

interest.

Then he

told him.

"And how They

listened

first see this star.?"

told

long have you been on your way-f""

him

that too.

asked,

"Do you

thinkf that this

new king

is

to

be born in Bethle-

hem?" "Certainly."

"And you

believe he

is

already born?"

"The prophecies suggest it." "H'm. I'll tell you what," said Herod. "You go to Bethlehem and find this child. Then send me word, and I will come and worship him also." The Wise Men thanked the king and left. This was the best thing that had happened to them since they arrived in Jerusalem. The great King Herod was now going to help them in their search!

With

lighter hearts they set out for Bethlehem.

saw something

tha|:

filled

There, in the sky above the the very one they

had seen

them with "exceeding little

town, they saw the

in the east

many weeks

Then

they

great joy." star again,

ago.

I

almost hear them saying to one another, "Look! There

can it

is

'v^>^

!

THE BIBLE STORY Now they

urged their camels forward with new eagerness,

sure that their search

As

was almost

who

looked up and wondered

might

at

an end.

they clattered through the gates of David's

be.

city,

people

these wealthy-looking strangers

But the taxing had brought so

many

people to town,

both rich and poor, that they took no special notice of them.

At

last

the three

Wise

and Mary were now

young

child with

Men came to the

staying.

Mary

his

house where Joseph

As they entered "they saw

mother, and

fell

the

down and wor-

shipped him."

What Men,

a sight that

must have been

clad in their rich garments, bent

as these three

Wise

low before the Baby

Jesus

Imagine what Mary must have thought! Can't you

see

her eyes growing wide with amazement as the strangers opened

up bags and boxes

of various kinds

and brought out

treasures

such as she had never seen before.? Gold, frankincense, and

myrrh were in joy

and

little

boy!

I

think she must have cried

gratitude.

"Thank kind of you

Then

and here they were being

gifts fit for a king,

poured out before her

you! to

they

Thank you!"

come left

what happened will live forever.

to

so far

I

can hear her saying.

and vanished

into

"How

much!" history. Nobody knows

and give us

so

them. Yet that one gracious deed of theirs

PART ONE

STORY

10

Narrow Escape

KING HEROD to return.

waited and waited for the Wise

They had planned for they thought the

worship Him, visited

as

king

he had

to

really

said.

Joseph and Mary,

go home through Jerusalem,

wanted

to find the

But the very night

God warned them

Child and

after they

had

dream not

in a

Herod. So "they departed into their

to return to

Men

But they never came.

own

country

another way."

For a while Herod was not worried.

He

their story about seeing a strange star in the sky,

as

he

recalled sending

them

to

Bethlehem

had not believed

and he chuckled

to find a

baby

who

was to be king of the Jews. Such a wild-goose chase! he had thought. There couldn't be any such child.

But

after several days

him from

had passed and no word had reached what they

the strangers, he decided to find out

were doing. So he sent messengers them.

Then

to

Bethlehem

he learned that they had secretly

to left

check on the city

53

THE BIBLE STORY long since and gone

home without

saying a

word

anybody.

to

Now he was angry. How dared they go off like this! Why hadn't they told him the result of their search, as they had promised

He

.f"

began

to be suspicious.

Perhaps they had

found the child they were looking for and wanted the secret to themselves. Yes! parties to a plot to set

up

a

That was

new king

it!

to

king will come out of Bethlehem

do with

keep

of Israel!

"All right!" the cruel king said to himself.

No new

to

They must be "I'll fix that.

have anything

if I

it."

In his rage he ordered a company of soldiers to go to

Bethlehem and

They were

to

every child of two years old and younger.

kill

do

a

thorough

job.

Not

a single

baby was

to

be spared. It

was

soldiers obey.''

the

a terribly

it.

to do,

and even the hardened

Yet what could they do but

Sick at heart, but with swords sharpened, they

doomed

set

out for

city.

But even all

wicked thing

must have hated doing

as they clattered out of the gate of Jerusalem

heaven moved into action

had reckoned without God's

to save the

Baby

secret service.

Jesus.

Herod

Scarcely had his

order been heard by the watching angels than one was sent

where Joseph and Mary were was night, and they were both asleep.

posthaste to the house It

"Get up!" the angel

young Child, and

Herod

is

flee

Take

said to Joseph. "Quickly!

into Egypt. Stay there

planning to destroy the Child."

till

staying.

I

tell

the

you.