The Life of Christ

CONTENTS.

The Fields of the Shepherds.-An Eastern Khan.-The Cave of Bethlehem.
-The Enrolment.-Joseph and Mary.-" No room for them in the
inn."-The Manger and the Palace.-The Nativity.-Adoration of
the Shepherds.-Fancy and Reality.-Contrast of the Gospels and the
Apocrypha

CHAPTER II.

THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.

PAGH

Four Circumstances of the Infancy.-Order of Events.-The Circumcision.-

The name Jesus.-The Presentation in the Temple.-Simeon.-Anna. 7

CHAPTER III.

THE VISIT OF THE MAGI.

Importance of the Epiphany.-Herod the Great.-" Magi."-Traditions.-

Causes of their Journey.-General Expectation of the World.-The

Star in the East.-Astronomical Conjectures of Kepler, &c.-Evanescent

Stars.-Gifts of the Magi

CHAPTER IV.

.. 10

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT, AND MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS.

Departure of the Magi.-Legends of the Flight into Egypt.-Massacre of

the Innocents.-Its Historical Credibility.-Character of Herod the

Great.-Silence of Josephus.-Death and Burial of Herod the Great.-

The Spell of the Herodian Dominion broken.-Accession of Archelaus.

-Settlement of Joseph and Mary in Galilee

CHAPTER V.

THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS.

Geography of Palestino.-Galilee.-Nazareth.-Reticence of the Evangelists.

-Truthfulness of the Gospels contrasted with Apocryphal Legends.

—Life of Galilæan Peasants.-Imagination and Fact.-"He shall bo

called a Nazarene"

CHAPTER VI.

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

Jesus Twelve Years old.—Journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem.-Scenes by
the Way.-Numbers of Passover Pilgrims.-Jesus missing from the
Caravan.-The Search.-Rabbis in the Temple.-"Hearing them and
asking them questions."-" Why did ye seek Me?"-"They understood
not."-Submissiveness.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE HOME AT NAZARETH.

"The Carpenter."-Dignity of Poverty.-Dignity of Toil.-The Common

Lot.-Wisdom better than Knowledge.-Originality.-The Language

spoken by Jesus.-The Books of God.-Jesus in His Home.-Work

and Example of those Years.-Peacefulness.—“The brethren of the

Lord."-Solitude-The Hill-top at Nazareth.-Plain of Esdraelon.—

Centrality of Palestine

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

Characteristics of the Age.-Darkness deepest before Dawn.-Asceticism.-

John the Baptist.-IIis Character.-His Teaching.-His Audience.-

Scene of his Teaching-His Message.-Bearing of John in the

Presence of Jesus.-Why Jesus was baptised.-Recognition as the

Messiah

CHAPTER IX.

THE TEMPTATION.

Quarantania.-"With the wild beasts."-"Forty days."-The Moment of

Exhaustion.-Reality of the Temptation.-"Tempted like as we are."

-Fasting.-Lapides Judaici.-The First Temptation.-Subtlety of it.—

"Not by bread alone."-The Suggested Doubt.-The Order of the

Temptations.-The Temple Pinnacle.-The Tempter's Quotation.-

The Splendid Offer.-The Roman Emperor.—The Victory

CHAPTER X.

THE FIRST APOSTLES.

St. John's Gospel.-"The Lamb of God."-Andrew and John.-Simon.-

Appearance and Personal Ascendancy of Jesus.-Philip.-Nathanael.

-"Come and see."- "Under the fig-tree."-" Angels ascending and

descending"

CHAPTER XI.

THE FIRST MIRACLE.

"On the third day."-An Eastern Bridal.-"They have no wine."-The

Answer to the Virgin.-The Miracle.-Characteristics of this and other

Miracles

CHAPTER XII.

THE SCENE OF THE MINISTRY.

Contrast between the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley.-Beauty of

Gennesareth.-Character of the Scenery.-Its Present Desolation and

Past Populousness. - Prophecy of Isaiah. - Centrality. Christ's

Teaching there.-Site of Capernaum

CHAPTER XIII.

JESUS AT THE PASSOVER.

Visit to Jerusalem.-Purification of the Temple.-State of the Court of the

Gentiles.-Crowd of Traders.-Indignation of Jesus.-Why they did

not dare to resist.-Question of the Rulers.-" Destroy this temple."--

Impression made by the Words.-Their deep Significance.-Extent to

which they were understood

CHAPTER XIV.

NICODEMUS.

Talmudic Allusions to Nicodemus.-His Character.-Indirectness of his

Questions-Discourse of Jesus.-His Disciples baptise.-Continued

Baptism of John.-Ænon, near Salim.-Complaint of John's Disciples.

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

Retirement of Jesus to Galilee.-Sychar.-Noontide at the Well.-The

Scene.-Conversation with the Woman.-Jerusalem and Gerizim.-

Revelation of Messiahship.-Return of Disciples.-The Fields White

unto Harvest.-Believing Samaritans

CHAPTER XVI.

REJECTED BY THE NAZARENES.

Sequence of Events.-A perfect "Harmony" impossible.-A Prophet in
his own Country.-A Jewish Synagogue.-Nature of the Service.—
Sermon of Jesus.-Change of Feeling in the Audience.-Their Fury.-
Escape of Jesus.-Finally leaves Nazareth

CHAPTER XVII.

THE BEGINNING OF THE GALILEAN MINISTRY.

The Courtier's Entreaty.-His Faith.-Sequence of Events.-St. John and
the Synoptists.-Jesus stays at Capernaum.-His First Sabbath there.
-Preaches in the Synagogue.-The Demoniac.-Peter's Mother-in-
law. The Evening. - Eagerness of the Multitude.. - His Privacy
invaded.-Preaches from the Boat.-Call of Peter, James, and John.--
"Depart from Me."-Publicans.-The Publican Apostle